Originally Written for Quora
Context
I started playing and collecting guitars as a middle-aged adult fifteen years ago and have written all sorts of things about my love of the instrument, including posts on vintage acoustic guitars, collecting guitars, my favorite guitars and guitarists, “boutique guitars”, guitar comparisons, reviews, the state of the industry, guitar maintenance, improving technique, but not so much on learning guitar from scratch. There is already an overwhelming amount of information available online and via YouTube, which is already a big enough problem with learning guitar today.
This was a very specific question that both irked me in its unwitting audacity and had me feeling compelled to provide a solid answer for the “greater good”. Almost every player wrestles with”improvisation” (learning to be a good “lead” guitarist) and tries, with mixed results (usually ending in quiet, long-term frustration), to accelerate the process by cutting every corner they can think of.
——–
You mention chords and scales as if there are a few, when there are hundreds. No offense, but it’s become pretty mainstream to want to shave learning guitar down to a few simple stages. Because it’s become a part of popular culture doesn’t make it any easier than it was twenty years ago. In fact, with more and more people wanting to play, there’s so much conflicting and complete misinformation now that it may be more difficult than at any time before. Too many choices. Try to focus on what I’m telling you here.
Here’s the deal: If you’re that far along with chords and scales, then you invariably know your keys. This is the “playing by ear” part for each of us, or, at least where it really comes into play (NPI)…if not far sooner.
In the beginning, choose a popular (used in countless tunes, as, say “E” for blues) key in your preferred genre and load some slow to medium tempo backing tracks in the chosen key. You may be able to hear the chord transitions right away (or you can use an app that shows you…or, just lookup the song). Listen carefully and play along with the chords only to get the tempo and your rhythm down.
Next, use the applicable scale or scales that you wish to try, and choose a starting place on the finger board and, while listening carefully for the chord transitions, begin to experiment (improvise) with single note phrasings over the chords.
If you do this enough, your ears should take you where you want to go.
Then begin experimenting with some of your favorite songs, playing along and attempting to nail the leads note for note or see if you can compliment those leads as you might picture a “call and respond” session between two guitar greats sharing the stage. The tempo will dictate whether this is workable or there just isn’t enough space. You’ll note that they only do this fun exercise on certain songs. Then go back to challenging yourself and play your favorite genre on your preferred platform. I use Spotify the most. Play a station or selection of tracks on that search and see how you do without skipping through songs (which is fine at first) as you progress.
You’ll quickly find what your stregths and weaknesses are and what guitar styles you wish to emulate, while always bearing in mind that the ultimate goal is to find and refine your own style.
Take ample, separate, practice time to work on your technical abilities like bends, vibrato, pull offs, hammer ons, and all the tools necessary to turn yourself into a complete player.
You owe me $200! Ha! 😆
