Guitarists and pianists question please?

Question:please how important is it to take lessons vs. trying to teach yourself? Or did you do both? Which is best way to learn fast, especially to be able to play beautiful pop songs? Thanks

Also how often do you practice and for how long? Anything really help you advance fast? (e.g. books DVDs or certain methods)

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: please how important is it to take lessons vs. trying to teach yourself? Or did you do both? Which is best way to learn fast, especially to be able to play beautiful pop songs? Thanks

Also how often do you practice and for how long? Anything really help you advance fast? (e.g. books DVDs or certain methods)

I think both lessons and the ability to learn on your own are valuable. You will want lessons (especially in classical) because they will teach you a ton of technical stuff that will make rocking out easier to understand. At the same time, you want to develop your own style so you don't sound like everyone else, and this is where learning on your own comes in. I would suggest by just playing along to songs that you know. You can find guitar tabs and the instructions to read them on several websites (mxtabs.net, christianguitar.org, and so on...google. it). Also, buy yourself a chord book so you can look up stuff when you need to. When you get a decent understanding of it, then maybe take some lessons to get the background and technique down.

This is how I learned to play guitar, and it has worked beautifully. I love to play, and I really enjoy both my own methods developed and the technical knowledge gained through classical guitar training.

Good luck.

I think that it is important to take lessons, I started to take piano when I was six. I think that it is important because you can't ask a question to a DVD or a book, but when you need help with something, you can always ask your instructor. I started to take guitar when I was 12, and I also play the alto saxaphone. I will practice up to an hour every day on my piano alone, and I think that if you want to get good at something, you have to practice each song over and over again. You could definitely try to teach yourself with a book for older beginners, and have someone you know who plays well check your playing out every once in a while. I have never used a video. Go to a nearby music store and get some books with easy pop songs, and you'll be playing We Will Rock You and Let it Be in no time!

I play guitar and five-string banjo and I learned both skills with chord books and basic music theory. I have never taken a professional lesson since I began to play in 1956. Learning to read and write music was the major stepping stone to guitar expertise.

My primary style is of Chet Atkins, but I favor de Lucia's flamenco habits as well. When I wanted to learn a particular song and it didn't materialize in my mind I would simply buy the sheet music, learn the essentials, and then innovate.

The first five years of playing guitar were spent in much practice each day, and on the weekends I lived with it. An Army career had some interruptions in my guitar schedule, but I also made time to play professionally during my career.

The secret is to keep the calluses as tough as a boot, apply yourself in music theory, and experiment with chords and their progressions. A little tablature knowledge is good for the fretboard mastery as well, but I would not recommend tablature as the sole method in playing a song.

Accompany as many different instruments as possible. The piano is a great way to go, but so are other guitars, saxophones, clarinets, trumpets, organs, and just drums. Be willing to play music with anyone that can play an instrument and with anyone that enjoys singing.

I don't practice now as much as I used to do because of other interests, but I keep a guitar handy always to teach by or to simply enjoy the day strumming and picking.

I tried to teach myself, but didn't really have the willpower to stick to it.

Right now my kids are learning piano, so I listen to the lessons, then practice along with them every day. That has been extremely helpful.

The thing about a teacher is that they can show you the proper fingerings, and give you feedback as to rhythm, tempo, etc. It can be hard to catch all that by yourself.

The drawback: when you learn from a book, you play only what's in the book. I had much more freedom when I was playing by ear, and did some kind of cool stuff with black keys. But now I'm almost afraid to experiment with that.

I practice two to six short songs a day. I run through them at least once (sometimes three times, if I need the practice), and work at them for several weeks at a time. When I add a new song, I drop an old one that I've mastered, and I go back and review the songs about three times a year. Right now, I have a lot of songs because I'm reviewing for Christmas. After Christmas, I'll probably be working on Begin the Beguine again, and whatever the kids are learning.

I find it good to take lessons to get the basic idea of how to play the instrument. Personally, once I have the technique, lessons do little for me. The most beneficial thing you can do is learn to read and understand music, it makes it very easy to pick up any instrument. Sometimes it can be hard to find time to practice, but it does help. How much practice you do depends how good you want to be. 15 minutes to half an hour a day is a good amount if you want to be fairly decent after a period of time. If you want to be excellent that needs to be several hours a day.

I HAVE THE ESTABAN LESSONS.YOU CAN LEARN SONGS IN JUST A WEEK