For self-taught guitar players: How did you learn guitar?
I’m a guitar player for almost 3 years now. I first studied bass guitar on my own then after about one year, I learned my first songs (those with mostly power chords) on guitar. It was easy then for me to move on to guitar because I already have knowledge of bass. A few weeks later I learned the actual guitar chords and learned more songs. Then I made my first rock cover about 2 years ago and I wrote my own original song about a year ago. Right now I’m a decent rhythm guitarist but I’m still learning song per song. I still can’t solo or play lead impromptu though given enough time I can learn a guitar solo or compose one.
If you’re a self-taught guitar player, how did you learn?
An amateur guitar player drew down on a sheet of paper 11 basic chords and then prompted me in forming them and playing basic rhythm for Country tunes. I focused heavily on more chords and their progressions by buying chord books and a Nick Manoloff Guitar Book which had chords, notation, and fretboard identification.
A year of vocal in high school was the pivoting point for my building guitar expertise because I learned to read and write music notation. Through constant study and research from materials at the music store or library (there was no Internet at the time) I gradually became proficient in writing my own compositions, both instrumentals and vocals.
My music writing abilities came into focus after I wrote my first Flamenco piece which was based upon Malaguena. I learned much more by playing with other guitarists, both in the fields of Country, Blues, and Rock, and also accompanying pianists, saxophonists, clarinetists, and other instrumentalists.
Teaching guitar through the formative years required constant study and intensive research and playing in bands helped to pay for some of my efforts.
Today, 53 years later, I can compose a song as easily as I breathe, but my time spent playing has decreased–partly because I am living in a rural area and the call for guitar teaching and playing is secondary in the economy.
I began on a small LG-3 Gibson parlor acoustic and spend my days playing my HD-35 Martin more than I do the remaining five guitars in my possession. During my professional years I used my Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Nashville extensively, but prefer the acoustic sound and feel in these later years.
Only with preservering with constant study and research was I able to perfect my playing abilities. My preferred styles of playing is similar to the great Chet Atkins more than anyone else, but I did develop my own particular style of delivery. So should you.
Bottom line is to jam whenever and wherever possible with other musicians and focus on music theory and its applications.
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