Update on my music lessons

[Nick Bidmade]

I thought Will's description was spot-on. Take it slowly, understand the terms being used and it'll soon make sense.
For those schooled in the Nashville system, the 'three chord trick' is 1, 4, 5 in any given key.
Play the blues? - 1, 4, 5, ie E,A & B in the key of E. C, F & G in the key of C etc. Gazillions of pop songs and folk songs are three chord tricks. 'Ride a White Swan'. 'In the Summertime'. Bob Dylan? Hundreds of songs. 'From a Buick 6' 'Desolation Row'. 'Highway 61'. 'brand New Leopardskin Pill Box Hat'. The list goes on. And on, and o........n

[Johan Forsman]

I thought Will's description was spot-on. Take it slowly, understand the terms being used and it'll soon make sense.

Yes, just what I started doing, first read, nothing, 2nd read = more, 3rd read, lost again. Will sit down by the piano now

[Nick Bidmade]

There's a steel player on the US Forum, Mike Perlowin. He has written the best, simplest and most practical explanation of music theory I have ever seen. It is cheap, clearly written and I pretty much guarantee that you'll understand his explanations of how music 'makes sense'. Contact him via the US Forum. Best way of making sense of it all. There's even a pedal steel appendix (extra, but still cheap and worth it).

[Nighthawk99]

There's a steel player on the US Forum, Mike Perlowin. He has written the best, simplest and most practical explanation of music theory I have ever seen. It is cheap, clearly written and I pretty much guarantee that you'll understand his explanations of how music 'makes sense'. Contact him via the US Forum. Best way of making sense of it all. There's even a pedal steel appendix (extra, but still cheap and worth it).

Hi,my music tutor is teaching me music theory,and it all makes sense,having him go over things slowly until I can understand it is so much easier than reading it off a page.
I do appreciate your suggestion though,and thanks for telling me,

[sabatica]

I am happy you are going to a music teacher, great disciplined approach.

Not sure that this approach method is what is needed for a sound musical understanding foundation. Sounds like Rock guitar teaching and although serves as an extremely basic start seems like a longer journey to eventually get where you want to go.

Mike Neer and Doug Jernigan reminded me that in my learning listen to steel players ALOT. Emmons used to wear the records out.

As for the theory side I'm really wary of guitar teachers who don't teach The Circle of Fifths at the outset and musical relations/intervals. For Steel you need to study Jazz because of our limitations in most tunings with chords that came before it was extremely common to use the same voicing principles when approaching a song or chord melody.

Just my thoughts, I may be completely wrong about your teacher but I'm pretty wary of not understanding the circle of fifths for Pop/Rock/Country and then backwards called the circle of 4ths for Melody and Jazz and a deeper understanding.

[Nighthawk99]

Thanks for your ideas/opinions..six months ago when I bought the guitar,I couldn't play a note.
Since starting with my tutor three months ago,I can now play simple fill ins to my country music mp3s.
This is all I want to do,with no intentions of doing solos or playing in a band.
My tutor is a highly respected guitarist and on the Registry of Guitar Tutors and teaches rock/jazz/blues/bass and mandolin.
I'm more than happy to go each week and have learnt a lot and will continue to do so.
I feel you are trying to over-complicate things,which may suit the majority of people on here,but not me I'm afraid.
My tutor said from the start that he doesn't teach lap steel..no-one in my area does..but the theory skills are transferrable.
I am gaining a lot from the lessons,if there's a particular song I want to learn,he's happy to write a tab for it and then go over it with me so I understand it.

[sabatica]

Thanks for your ideas/opinions..six months ago when I bought the guitar,I couldn't play a note.
Since starting with my tutor three months ago,I can now play simple fill ins to my country music mp3s.
This is all I want to do,with no intentions of doing solos or playing in a band.
My tutor is a highly respected guitarist and on the Registry of Guitar Tutors and teaches rock/jazz/blues/bass and mandolin.
I'm more than happy to go each week and have learnt a lot and will continue to do so.
I feel you are trying to over-complicate things,which may suit the majority of people on here,but not me I'm afraid.
My tutor said from the start that he doesn't teach lap steel..no-one in my area does..but the theory skills are transferrable.
I am gaining a lot from the lessons,if there's a particular song I want to learn,he's happy to write a tab for it and then go over it with me so I understand it.

As long as you are reaching your musical goals that is all that matters in the end.

I agree Theory is transferrable. So keep at it.

Music is a language like any other. Whether you decide to be able to simply speak or be able to read and write decide what your dream would be but I will always say learning all three is how you communicate with a language in all forms regardless of the teacher.

PS anyone can become a registered Guitar teacher - http://www.rgt.org/joinrgt.php

[Nighthawk99]

Thanks,I relate to my tutor on a personal level too..he makes the lessons fun and interesting.Having been a trainer in the security industry for many years I know how important it is to be able to relate on that level,in order to get the information across.
I chose mine because he came highly recommended by musicians I've known for many years.
I have no interest for anyone trying to teach me if there's no connection on that level(,this forum being the obvious exception!)and if I thought that about my guy I'd have dropped out at the first lesson.
The fact that I'm still seeing him after three months,and learning and improving each time, says it all I think?