Guitar Help: Intermediate Books/Lessons?

[RunDownHouse]

I'm hoping someone can help me with this, because I'm a bit lost and all Google turns up is dubious products trying to get me to subscribe and whatnot.

I played guitar for a few years somewhat casually. I haven't played much for the last 2-4 years because I just haven't had time, but I want to start making time. I think I'm at an intermediate level: I can handle the rhythm parts for most Metallica stuff (for example), do an ok job at classical pieces as long as the fingerpicking pattern isn't toooo complicated, can play a good number of the selections in this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0897245865/002-1077229-5032046?v=glance&n=283155) book, etc. I'm pretty weak when it comes to lead/solo stuff, music theory (although I know a bit there), improv, etc. I think I've got the most basic parts of playing down, but don't know where to go from there.

So I'm looking for recommendations on good intermediate books to teach some of the theory behind leads/solos and improvs, exercises to improve things like speed, and so on. I'm also looking for advice on just what I need to learn next.

I don't think I really want to pay for private lessons at this point, although I took them when I first started.

Any help is appreciated, and sorry for no hot chick, since I'm at work.

[fire_fly]

kinda at the same place as you.

f books and lessons. online guitar tabs are best.

"blackbird" is rated one of the hardest fingerpicking songs, but I really don't think so, and it's very satisfying once you learn it. "wonderwall" easy strumming/fun to sing along to. "crash" to make the girls panties wet. "under the bridge" if you really want to be challenged.

Hope this helps. Any new songs for me to learn?

oh yeah and if you're not familiar with this one site called "google," www.guitartabs.cc (http://www.guitartabs.cc)

[PoBoy321]

It's really pretty hard to get good without some kind of lessons. I took lessons for about a year and although I had taught myself a lot before and have taught myself a lot since, I never would have been able to grow the way I have without them.

That said, I think that you would do best to look for a book on general music theory rather than one on intermediate guitar play if you really want to advance.

[SammyKid11]

For help specifically on leads/soloing, you do need to know a decent amount about music theory (or have a really good ear)...but the most basic thing you need to know is scales. I need to be able to tell you what key the song is in and you be able to play individual notes in that key in several different registers on the guitar. Then you run those scales backwards and forwards over and over again, working on improving your speed and dexterity. Then you just get to a point where you can start throwing different wrinkles into those scales (instead of just going up and down) that start to sound like solos. Then you start to work on things like bends and multi-string slides...things that give your leads character and feel, rather than just being individual notes. For these later things, you'll either be good enough to grasp them on your own or you'll need someone to show you the techniques involved.

But for the earlier things you ought to be able to buy a good book for guitar scales and practice your ass off 'til the point that you're good at basic, melodic, Noel Gallagher style soloing.

[diebitter]

This is probably witnit, and you sound way beyond it, but do you know your blues scales?

They work as a solid basis for rock/blues lead guitar.

[baumer]

Work your way through the Elementary Rudiments of Music.
Then download Guitar Pro, and start getting GP4 tabs off of www.mysongbook.com (http://www.mysongbook.com) or some other sweet guitar pro tab site.

These enhanced tabs usually have the accompanying instruments right in the tab file, allowing you to play along to the tune while practicing. (Although the sound is MIDI, it's still a very good practicing tool)

Once you feel you've accomplished something, you can click this link.

Probably NSFW (http://img104.exs.cx/img104/637/guitarchick.jpg)

[crunchy1]

Steve Vai's 10-Hour Workout (http://powertabs.net/pta.php?page=song,13364)

[RunDownHouse]

I just want to make sure you mean this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887970044/qid=1134483442/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-1077229-5032046?n=507846&s=books&v=glance) book. If so, I will consider picking it up for Christmas.

Thanks for the link and suggestions. That stuff looks pretty good. I'll have to check it out when I get home.

Diebitter: Yes.

[ QUOTE ]
kinda at the same place as you.

f books and lessons. online guitar tabs are best.

"blackbird" is rated one of the hardest fingerpicking songs, but I really don't think so, and it's very satisfying once you learn it. "wonderwall" easy strumming/fun to sing along to. "crash" to make the girls panties wet. "under the bridge" if you really want to be challenged.

Hope this helps. Any new songs for me to learn?

oh yeah and if you're not familiar with this one site called "google," www.guitartabs.cc (http://www.guitartabs.cc)

[/ QUOTE ]

Tabs are terrible for becoming a good musician. You are much better off to learn the scales/chords that the song is written in and learn the music by ear.

[imported_The Vibesman]

Try this! (http://www.estebanmusic.com/guitars.html?product_id=EM513)

[turnipmonster]

my advice is to forget about learning things from books, tabs or any sort of visual medium, music is a game of the ear.

to develop your ears, play along with some of your favorite records. try to learn the chords and also the melodies. playing melodies is how you learn to solo, playing a solo is really just hearing a melody in your head and playing it on your instrument.

learn to play melodies that you already know really well on guitar, start with something simple like "happy birthday" or a beatles tune. it may be hard/frustrating at first, but eventually you can get to a point where you can play anything you hear right away. nothing magic about this at all, just experience and practice.

also, a great way to get better really fast is to find some people to play with that play better than you. find a good bassist and drummer and rock out.

--turnipmonster

[RunDownHouse]

wrt ear training, when I played regularly I could turn on the alternative rock station and pick up the chord progression for just about everything pretty quickly, and the melody and lead parts with enough fiddling around (I'd try for a couple hours at a time sometimes). I'm fairly confident that I could still pick up basic stuff (Green Day's latest, etc) within 10 minutes.

That's kind of the problem. I have this foundation, haven't played in forever, and have no idea where to go. Short of private lessons, I think learning theory inside and out may be my best step. I'd love to hear I'm wrong though, as well as more suggestions. Thanks to all.

[OrangeCat]

Most every book by Hal Leonard publishing is great. Their transcriptions are very accurate.

Sheetmusic.com is a good source.

Except for very simple songs, most of the free tabs on the net are crap.

For jazz Jamie Abersold is the best.
http://aebersold.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=JAZZ&Category_ Code=GUIBOO

Get some kind of recording setup. Even if it is a really crude low fidelity rig, it helps a lot to listen to yourself on playback.



The best thing to do if find something you like that is hard to play, get the book and learn to play it. Or is you have the ear, teach yourself from the CD.

honestly...i would recommend lessons. i know the analogy isnt exact...but think about the difference between reading Phil Hellmuth's books and posting hands on 2+2. Most (non-academic) music theory books read at the same level as "Play Poker Like the Pros." and the seriously academic classical texts (those by Schoenberg, Piston, etc etc etc) dont necessarily have much bearing on what you're trying to accomplish. i think its really important to have someone to talk to about music, especially if you're interested in theoretical concepts.

it took me months to understand what a tritone substitution was. if i had thought to even mention it to my teacher at the time, he would have just said "dominant 7th chords a tritone apart share the same 3rd and 7th. the 3rd of one is the 7th of the other, and vice versa. and since the 3rd and the 7th are the important notes of the chord...you can substitute F#7 for C7, if you feel appropriately inspired."

so...i know you dont want to pay for private lessons....but i think you should reconsider. find someone who's young, talented, and up-to-date on modern music, and the lessons will be well worth the money.

jon