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Help a beginner with Perspective

Ljorges

Ljorges

May 26, 2013
71
5
#1
Hey guys,

So I've been taking classes here in Chicago for the last 4 months (Old Town school of folk music) meeting once a week for an hour and twenty minutes. I'm having a great time and I look forward to my classes much more than I did when I was taking guitar classes. I try to practice at least an hour everyday. Sometimes more, sometimes a little less. We practice scales, triads, alternating bass, some bass runs and a little theory. Some songs we've covered Love Me Do, I feel fine, Mr. Tambourine man, These arms of mine, Pressure Drop, Like a rolling stone, stir it up and Still the night. I've been practicing Merle Haggard's Okie from Muskogee. Those dotted notes are throwing me off a bit but still having fun trying to master it.
So what do I need perspective on (You might ask after that long intro)?
I'm trying to figure out how well I'm doing. I see some of the videos posted here and it shows how little I know. Lol
Are there some milestones that I should be hitting as I progress? Things that can help me gauge how well/not so well I'm doing?
Also what can I do on my own to augment a fairly loosely structured class?

Les
 
#2
When you play those songs what are you playing from? Standard notation, tabs, fake chord sheet music showing chord names - what are you using to play the songs.

I understand how you would be doing scales, arpeggios, etc. Its what method are you using when playing songs? I need to know that to answer your question.
 
#3
MalcolmAmos said:
When you play those songs what are you playing from? Standard notation, tabs, fake chord sheet music showing chord names - what are you using to play the songs.

I understand how you would be doing scales, arpeggios, etc. Its what method are you using when playing songs? I need to know that to answer your question.
Click to expand...

We did a few at the beginning that showed the chord names. Playing a lot with G,C, A and D. (Sloop John B comes to mind)
Most of it is tab. The instructor does make an effort to help us see the actual triads, bass runs and chord progressions that make up those tabs.

Les
 
#4
I personally would be less concerned about hitting benchmarks set by others and instead focus on 1) having fun, 2) understanding that you *are* improving, and 3) continuing to improve upon that.

I have almost no formal training and I will be the first to admit that I need to really get to work on my theory, chords, and scales (I'm good in Major, decent at Pentatonic, and can fumble gracefully with the Minor). In the meantime, I've gigged with two highly original metal bands and since I've auditioned and jammed with many more bands and musicians, many of whom either require me to learn and improve quickly or I take their material and make it more technically difficult to teach myself something.

My personal benchmark is writing and playing my own original tunes, and between where I started a year and some change ago I most certainly have improved as my material has become more technically and structurally complex, and I'm playing it better sooner. That's improvement for me, but it's my goal and mine alone. Someone else's goals are going to be vastly different, and there's no real "roadmap" to musical excellence. You just gotta figure it out...whether you're happy with that or not :)

Peace,
Greg
 
#5
Yeah, there's an awful wide range of knowledge here, so there's people here who know 10's of times more than you, and they still feel like you do reading some of these threads. ;)

Are you learning to read music at the same time you're taking these lessons? Your comment about the dotted notes sounded like that to me.

Perspective? It's hard for you to find it here. I think you have to find it within your own progression: reminding yourself what you can do today that you couldn't do a couple months ago. That's how to measure your own progress: compared to yourself. Set specific goals for yourself, and you will be able to have that feeling of a sense of accomplishment as you achieve them and set new higher ones.
 
#6
If u just keep on learning new stuff u cant do yet and never alter that philosophyu will do well and be well rewarded mentally(hopefully monetarily too)...keep on doin what ur doin...as long as that spirit neved dies u will come up with the answers ur lookin for. Good luck
 
#7
Once you start the journey with music, there's always something to learn, or practice, or correct, or whatever.

Enjoy the ride, focus on being able to express yourself with your instrument. When you can play the notes in your head, you're on the right path. Everything else is just stops on the journey.

Have fun. Enjoy the music you make. Everything else will fall in line.

I started my journey in 1981. I'm still traveling.
 
#8
Here's my benchmarks
Does learning something new come easier than it would have 6 weeks ago?
Is it getting easier to hear something in your head or on radio etc and pick it out on the fretboard -- finding the notes and playing along -- not necessarily perfect, but getting better.
Can you play for longer stretches without messing up, hitting a wrong note or hesitating? Finding the flow where your fingers know what to do?

That's really all it is -- I'd throw in reading noation at some point, but those areas are lifelong -- trained orchestral or studio players are very good at these skills, but still developing.
 
#9
Progress is usually gradual and since it's hard work, it doesn't always feel like you're making huge strides. However, the way you'll really know is when you look back in a year and see where you started and where you are now. Maybe when you move up to the next level class, pay a visit to the beginner's class and see how far you've come.

Old Town (Harlan Terson?) has a pretty good curriculum and they'll teach you the right way. If you follow the program, you'll be hitting benchmarks without fully realizing it. It sounds like you're taking group classes. Maybe take some private lessons after a while. Then do the more advanced group classes.

Then, do one of the easier Old Town ensemble classes like the rock or soul ensemble so you can play with a drummer and other musicians. When you can do that consistently and the rest of the ensemble doesn't look at you funny during each song, you've probably made some progress!
 
#13
Ljorges said:
Hey guys,

So I've been taking classes here in Chicago for the last 4 months (Old Town school of folk music) meeting once a week for an hour and twenty minutes. I'm having a great time and I look forward to my classes much more than I did when I was taking guitar classes. I try to practice at least an hour everyday. Sometimes more, sometimes a little less. We practice scales, triads, alternating bass, some bass runs and a little theory.
Click to expand...
That's the basic stuff we all have to get under our fingers. Sounds like you are on the right track.
Some songs we've covered Love Me Do, I feel fine, Mr. Tambourine man, These arms of mine, Pressure Drop, Like a rolling stone, stir it up and Still the night. I've been practicing Merle Haggard's Okie from Muskogee. Those dotted notes are throwing me off a bit but still having fun trying to master it.
Click to expand...
Again sounds like you are still on track. Dotted half notes, this helped me. Each lyric syllable gets a note (beat) "Ma-ry" gets two beats, "had" gets one beat as does "a" and then "lit-tle" gets two beats - If I sing the song under my breath singing the words helps my timing.
So what do I need perspective on (You might ask after that long intro)?
I'm trying to figure out how well I'm doing. I see some of the videos posted here and it shows how little I know. Lol
Are there some milestones that I should be hitting as I progress? Things that can help me gauge how well/not so well I'm doing?
Also what can I do on my own to augment a fairly loosely structured class?
Click to expand...
Well we have to get our scales and arpeggios down first and I'm sure you are making progress here. I am glad to see that you are also working on some songs. That is why you went to the bass - to play some songs, but, to get there we all have to do our scale and arpeggio exercises so our fingers know where the notes are and our ears recognize the good notes from the bad notes.

All in all I'd say you are on track. I do not use tab, as I play from fake chord sheet music and build my bass lines from the notes of the chord shown on the fake chord sheet music. Root on one is a given, if I have time I'll grab a 5, still have time the 8 normally comes next. And then if there is still room (there seldom is) the correct 3 and 7 get thrown into the bass line. Pound out roots first - one root note per lyric syllable. When that gets boring add some of the other notes found in the chord, i.e. like the 5, 8, 3 or 7. http://www.studybass.com/lessons/common-bass-patterns/roots-and-fifths/ Click the exercise button.

If your group is using tab - use tab. But, keep in the back of your mind there is another way. Trust your instructor. He is taking you down a road of discovery, right now it's time to discover tabs.....

You are doing fine for the short time you have been playing.
 

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