Why do so many people believe there is only one correct way to learn or play guitar?

Greetings all,

Everyone who has answered is a serious player who grew up in the "old" days. Without tabs, videos, You tube, DVD's, Yahoo answers, computers, cell phones, thousands of guitars to choose from, you get my drift.

We had Mel Bay and cheap guitars like Kay or Teisco or, if lucky, a Yamaha.

We get tired of the kids who gripe that they think it's hard and wonder why they are not playing at an advanced level after a month.

We get tired of the kids who use tabs and think they know how to play guitar.

Then they ask how to play in a certain Key. Or what scales are.

We all grew up in a time when an acoustic was pretty much the beginner's instrument of choice. And we all turned out pretty good, right?

Acoustics are cheap, no other accessories are necessary, and you do learn good techniques of proper fretting and clean note generation. Electrics can help hide poor fretting and finger strength.

But you do have a point. If all you really want to learn is electric guitar styles, then it is not essential to learn on an acoustic.

It is easier to get electric packages to learn on these days. It is not necessary to sight read music.

You don't really need to take years of lessons. But one does need to have at least a few at the beginning, or a few later when you need refinement. I see lots of kids who don't even know how to read a chord sheet for a song or know how to figure out strum patterns.

I took 2 months as beginner starting at 9 yrs old and got tired of Twinkle, Twinkle or the Mexican Hat Dance and that single note music reading style of teaching.

Then I took lessons in a group from Dave Guard of the Kingston Trio. Unfortunately, he used a color coded system that used short cuts for chords. When I joined a folk group at church at 11, I had to re-learn everything I knew about standard open chords.

And I also self taught, only taking a couple of months more lessons about guitar soloing scales and how to apply them a few years later.

There are no "musts" but there are a few "good ideas", that a serious beginner should apply.

Also , as a last thought, I think many of the veterans stress a "must" because they don't want to give the lazy little cretins a choice. If you just "suggest", there is a strong possibility that suggestion will be judged "too hard" or "boring" and be ignored. If we say "you really need to" or "must" perhaps our suggestions will actually be followed.

You , like many of us, were blessed with the talent and desire to better yourself at playing. You show the proper attitude that you are not a master or virtuoso. Only those who think that are actually good and know that there is always more to learn. I, too, have never thought of myself as a master, and have gone so far as to post my own, "am I good enough" question to have you guys take a look and tell me if I passed muster. Harry was kind enough to actually answer and tell me that I did, and pointed out the insecurities that prompted my post. all true.

If I didn't have confidence in my ability, I wouldn't be constantly trying to answer and teach the young.

Last, there was a comment that all good guitarists are not necessarily good teachers.

I find this forum much easier than actually having to look at and listen to and try to teach the young without wanting to throttle them! It came so easily for me to play, that I have no patience with those who just don't seem to get it. And it's true that some teachers will only teach a certain way and ignore the needs or desires of the student.

I guess that's it for now, probably rambled on a bit. It's morning and I'm still waking up.

Hi, cnewshadow. Good reading this and the responses so far - hope more jump in!

I think that, to the extent that it happens, it's from three sources.

First is the very nature of the subject, the art of music, as applied to an incredibly versatile instrument, the guitar. It's so wide and deep that there are "camps" or "schools" of thought and practice, some of which "do not play well together". I'm just an old rocker who probably got paid more and performed more than I was really "worth" as a guitarist, and just enjoy a lot of what I read and sometimes respond to here. I have great respect for others who have been down a long but different path.

Second is, as mentioned, "human nature". Some of us have spent so much in time, sweat, tears, and "the school of hard knocks" that it can feel threatening to hear a different point of view. Kind of protecting the Ego, or becoming defensive when a lot of what one has worked for is questioned. I'm grateful that I had the experiences I've had, good and some not so much, and don't need to "win" much of anything anymore.

Third is this forum, and the way it seems to function, or sometimes fails. I always try to speak from the heart, to encourage people, to support people, to maybe add a bit to wise advice from others. The only time I hit a thumbs-down is when I think somebody is being hurtful, or (over in maintenance and repairs) recommending something that is totally wrong or even potentially dangerous. Others seem to feel that the best way to post is to first thumbs-down everyone else. As also previously noted, sometimes the questions here are so innocent, naïve, or totally removed from what I've come to value in guitar and music that it's best for me to just pass. I've even wondered how it might work to have Performing Arts - Beginners, and the Performing Arts - Advanced, or just adding something like "Easy/Easiest/Cheap Guitar" as a category, or perhaps "Advanced Musical Fame and Fortune Tips for the Adolescent".

Have a great day.

I think Tony speaks for a lot of us here (and I wish I could express it as well!). I suspect the general mindset he describes is fairly common for many of us born in the 50's. We're likely to have been raised by parents to whom the guitar was an instrument of only marginal social acceptability, but to whom some form of music education was important - so we got the dreaded violin or piano lessons, and taught ourselves to play guitar later (from books - there was no Internet or video). At the very least, we learned the most basic rudiments of musical notation in school, even if we half-forgot them later. We also expected that learning an instrument was going to be work - the words "user-friendly" did not exist.

A lot of the players I admire (players of Southeasterm country blues styles in the 20's-30's, mainly) didn't take formal, paid music lessons - but they usually learned from other players, and came from communities with ongoing traditions of making their own music. Many had a better musical education than you might think offhand.

People who don't have any sort of musical background have a lot to make up. We're getting people here who don't realize the connection between the name of a string and the note it's tuned to, what a note, chord, key, or scale is, the relationship between pitch and string length or tension, or even that guitars don't come equipped with "songs"! Answering queries here sometimes requires a form of triage - you evaluate musical background and degree of maturity, and answer accordingly. For some people, lessons ARE the best option. It's the same with repair/setup issues - some folks you feel safe recommending a DIY process to, others should probably see a tech and may get in trouble if you suggest something beyond their comfort level (or may have a grossly miscalibrated comfort level!).

As for the acoustic/electric thing, it doesn't seem to me that most of the experienced players here are dogmatic about it. I don't feel there is any intrinsic virtue in huge calluses (beyond what's needed to do the job). But unless a student has no interest in anything but an electric, an acoustic guitar is usually a simpler and more direct (and certainly cheaper) approach to the basics of playing.

I echo the comments given by Tony B in that opinions are expressed on this site based upon experiences with playing the guitar. I never demand that a student start out with an electric guitar; I merely recommend that the acoustic guitar will determine how much a student is motivated to learn because of the need for chord mastery, rhythm, and the dreadful callus buildup.

As Tony and others have professed here I've never had a professional lesson presented me either; primarily because I was able to move quickly beyond the initial basics and then focused on accompaniment with others. Much was dependent upon personal finances as well. What I learned was supported through watching others, jamming with all types of instrumentalists and vocalists, and a strong study in music theory wherein I composed over a 100 songs that, today, gather dust.

It is true that a credible guitar instructor is best to have so improper habits can be caught and corrected early in the beginning phase, but we all know that lessons can be expensive. Most of us, like Tony and other accomplished guitarists on this forum, learned through books, focused study of theory, and playing music with others regardless their choice of instrument.

I think it's important to accept that we are all opinionated in our approach to playing the guitar based upon our own experiences. That is human nature and we ought to expect some guitarists to have within certain techniques they strongly support.

In principle I agree with what you say. I taught myself from books in the mid 70s (I've never had any lessons), started on acoustic but bought an electric before I'd really mastered the basics and am by no means a good reader.

I don't feel that there is only one "right way" to learn to play but I do believe there are some wrong ways. My attitude has been affected by some of the questions and answers I've read here and by the level of incompetence and ignorance displayed not only by some people's questions but, worryingly, by some people's answers (no, not you!). There seem to be some people who lack the foresight, good sense or whatever it was that allowed you and I and lots of other people to just, "learn the guitar". They want to know if they should buy a guitar, which one and how they can possibly learn to play "songs" on it, how "tight" their strings should be, can't manage to use a tuner. The thing is, if people ask these sort of questions here they'll get answers that are based on people's own personal opinions and experiences. Maybe some people, like me, are at times irritated by people seeming to treat guitar and everything else that goes with it with contempt - they just can't be bothered - "What's an easy way of...", "I know how to play tabs but...". This is the instrument I love and spent many hours alone with learning how to play!

I realise that you're just making a point but, to be fair, I've never actually heard anyone say that a person "must" start on acoustic. Personally, I think a guitar is a guitar and that a person can learn on either type but I think there are many, many good reasons for starting on acoustic and very few for starting on electric. That's what I'd say if someone asked me.

I struggle to read now and have no problems with the idea of learning something from tab. I think learning something from a written sheet is only a tiny part of what playing guitar is about. I also accept that many of the greatest players ever didn't read music. BUT, I think it is absurd for anyone to be serious about learning an instrument not to at least understand the basics of standard written notation - not to know what a sharp or flat is, not to recognise a C note on sheet music and be able to find it on their guitar. They relegate these things to something they call "guitar theory", something that is separate to playing the guitar!

A while ago, someone wanted, amongst other things, "notes and scales" explained. Some people tried but my attitude was, where would you begin trying to explain, using only text, "notes and scales". So it is with some guitar-related questions posted here. They demonstrate such a total lack of knowledge and so much confusion and misunderstanding that the only thing to advise is, "Take some lessons from a teacher." I used to feel that the "best" way to learn was from a teacher. Then I realised it needed to be a "good" teacher. Finally I realised it needed to be a "good" teacher but that what a "good teacher" was needed explaining: it wasn't a person who would help a beginner play bits and pieces from tab without teaching them the basics!

Now, I still thank that any player of any ability can benefit from a good teacher but I do wonder just how many "good" teachers there are out there and how many beginners at paying for the privilege of being misinformed and badly taught.

To summarise, a person (or at least some persons) can definitely learn to be an exceptional player never having had a lesson, not being able to read music, and having learnt on an electric. However, if a person felt they needed to ask how they could learn to play, what type of guitar to learn on and if they should learn the basics of reading music If they wanted to be "told" what to do, then outlining all the options and really just saying, "whatever you want", maybe isn't really being that helpful. Personally, I'd say, lessons from a good teacher are the best way to start, learn on an acoustic, and learn the basics of reading music.

Yep.

There was a question posted by an instructor (James) but a few days ago asking about how we here thought in what was important in teaching student players.

And as you all have related systems of approach and pointed instructions, the real issue would be what the individual has in mind who wants to know more about guitar, with varying degrees of real user applications.

And it all fell upon us as the 'baby boomer' heads from that era of learning experiences and disciplines. Be it of pure hands-on and ear training, to the more academic or technical prowess we had come to master... or at least came to understand and apply.

So what it all boils down to in being a sincere comparative, would be that one (of us) should represent the guide that tries to provide some standard regulation so tempered with patient considerations for one who is going to be discovering a new adventure in guitar, and continued music appreciations through it.

Not to stress out with the tough stuff... but becoming comfortable and continue to enjoy such the instrument we all here have come to love and appreciate in all its forms, performances, musical tastes, history and styles.

Then, the real teaching can begin.

If, it already hasn't taken off from all that.

p.s.: @ Tony B. in reference to an earlier Q with Cnrew's answer:

Don't be so sensitive as being an 'old timer' but think if it as one who has gained such wisdom that there is always more time to continue to learn, even for us sages and baby boomers.

It is the rare, but real, offensive comebacks from questions that tell us to ('blank' off) and say we know nothing, that takes away the real respect that we do deserve.

There is definitely more than one way i have no idea why people think there is only one way. I know some people who use books and a lot of people have taught themselves. I've taken lessons from a teacher for about three years and i can play some of jimi hendrix's songs. That's 3 examples that there is not ONE SINGLE WAY to learn guitar.

Why do you read those "MUST" texts?

I don't like "MUST" myself, I do like recommendations and suggestions. People don't like the "MUST" force to do something, people enjoy the inspiration.

It seems that good guitarist isn't good teacher (not always). That's the way it is. You can't be good anywhere.

From all "MUST do that and must do this" we can find something informative and it doesn't mean to get upset or nervous while reading it. That's how I see this. Maybe someone has different view.