[the Purp]

[FONT=Optima][SIZE=14][COLOR=purple][COLOR=purple] Ok I just started to take lessons and I wanted know how to just play and have fun but the guy who i'm taking lessons from Well he's good but he mostly just handed me a book and let me learn on my own I spent $80.00 for four lessons So I want to know anything that you can tell me! I need the help!

[stuartmerenbloom]

Sounds like you and your teacher need to sit down and talk about what you want to learn. Do you read music? Do you know tabs? What style do you want to play?
There are many questions you need to answer in order to get your money's worth from your lessons. I would learn the basic chords and practice them until you can change from one to another without thinking. Build up your callouses so it won't hurt that much. Search the songs found here and find a few easy ones that you like and that you can learn easily. Learning won't come over night, but it will happen IF YOU PRACTICE. Good luck ....you have us to help!

[mrbreeze]

I agree. You need to talk to him about what you want to accomplish...you may need to space you lessons out over time. I would have a couple lessons...then take what he/she taught you and learn on your own some. Then when your wheels are spinning and want more lessons then go get some more lessons. You can always ask us here for basic (even advanced) questions.

have fun.

[dadfad]

Great players are not always great teachers. Even great teachers are not always great teachers for everyone. Many concentrate too heavily on theory, scales, etc, but if a new guitarist can't have fun and be rewarded with a few tunes he can play and work with, he'll soon lose interest. While the theory, etc is important, there needs to be a degree of immediate (almost) satisfaction psycologically. There is no need whatsoever to teach theory beyond the skills of the student (or at least no farther than the next step). Like everyone said, talk to your teacher. Maybe he'll know what you mean and alter "the Program" a bit. Or maybe he won't. Never feel any qualms about dumping a teacher. If you aren't getting what you need from him, find another. Just like eating in a restaurant where you don't like the food. Don't go there anymore and find one you like. Good luck, and welcome to GTU.

[wannalearn01]

First off welcome to the GTU! Where you get out whatever you put in.

Teachers are usually a good idea, unless they are either bad teachers or not knowledgable enough to be teaching. Another common thing is that teachers try to mold students instead of letting them develope...which isn't cool.

At your stage in lessons I can only assume the book he is giving you is a book of scales and then is just telling you to learn one...this although seems dumb at first is truely good for you to learn, it helps getting your fingers able to be used like they should eb on a gutiar and also helps your ear to reconize notes by sound and not just by name.

So then I have to ask you what you want from your lessons:

Are you just wanting to play songs?
Are you wanting to be able to understand how songs work?
How long do you think you will want lessons for?

Lessons by themselves won't make you a good player, it is how much you get from those lessons that will.

T^roy

[the Purp]

Thanx for the words of wisdom guys!

I told him that I would stop doing lessons and I have things that I can learn on my own before I start to take lessons again! I need the basics before I try any thing else!

With Love
The Purple Lady