3Libras (played by ear)

[na_th_an]

If you keep getting that bitter, you will turn red :lol:

I learned to play bass, guitars, keyboards, flute, melodica, percussions and metalophone by myself. That's why I think that you don't need a teacher. It's a waste of money, unless you need classical instruction to play the Oboe.

To master music you have to study. Understand harmony and music theory. You don't need a teacher for that.

To master an instrument you have to play it all day long. You don't need a teacher for that.

Or at least I didn't need one. And I am not "gifted" nor specially intelligent.

[marzecTM]

agreeing on everything nathan said...

[NovaProgramming]

me too. If I had patience I could learn to play the piano without a teacher... my mom says I should... But I'm too lazy!! ARGH MY LAZINESS!!

[aetherfox]

It's not that guitar teachers suck.

I had one for about 2 lessons. He was a total dude, excellent musician, a great friend and jam partner.

But, the thing with playing guitar is style. Unfortunately, most people don't realise that style is the most important thing to learn first.

I personally think if a beginner was to take lessons, he should start after 6 months of playing, so he has his own natural style.

I am pretty much completely self taught. Outside of classical guitar (inc. flamenco), technique is fairly easy and can be picked up with practice.

The only thing I think should be taught is flamenco guitar. The problem is, the technique is extremely difficult to master and has to be perfect. I have learned from personal experience, stuff like repeated rasguedos and classical sweeps are things that you just cannot learn from a bunch of pictures or text. It has to be shown. Now that can be a friend, a teacher, anyone. Doesn't matter.

Great thing about guitar is, you can play most string instruments once you know the tuning.

I can play the guitar, bass, sitar, mandolin, banjo, oud (arabic instrument), and even violin (plucking though, my friend's bow is 200$ and he doesn't let me use it).

As for playing by ear. Well, it's no 'gift.' People aren't naturally better or anything, it comes with practice.

When I started, I was completely tone deaf. Now I can pick out complex jazz stuff, classical stuff, etc etc.

And finally, the 3 libra's.

Well, your fingering is correct, but for standard tuning it's not. The other way, while not accurate, gives the proper key and makes it easier to sing to as well.

You way, should you tune to C# Standard (if I remember correctly) would then work.

When I get a bunch of money, then, I will buy lots of guitars and just keep them in the tunings I want. One day...*sigh*