TB-040 • My Thoughts On Learning

[justinguitar]

Questions...

[Jeremy]

Hello, Justin,

My 1st post here.

 I have a sincerely troubling question regarding tab or learning how to read notation.  A little over 10 yrs ago I took a bunch of private lessons and it was all tab, not note reading. Like many, I wanted to play ASAP..I think you know where this is going!

I'm 58 yrs (young) now and my then school-age son who was into private clarinet lessons and did very well told me over and over to learn to read notes. I tried and gave up out of the need to make music sooner than I should.

Well, here I am again..wanting to learn how to play. I found you via YouTube and was really impressed..
Your blues online stuff turned me back to the guitar. The Blues!!!

Now I'd really like to go at it the proper way. So, would you please give me your honest assessment ... should I not rely on TAB and learn how to read notation (as I'm thinking I "should") or go the easy route? I'm wanting to make this a serious returning effort and as such I'm guessing to go the reading route....even though it'll be one damn struggle initially.

Thank you SO MUCH for any help. You have given me a lot of wonderful listening and I have to learn as much bluesy stuff as I can. It's simply a wonderful sound!

Regards,
Jeremy...I'm hoping to get into your lessons and buy as much for my progressions as possible. I have to learn from scratch! You can count on that!
Cheers

[Fuzzel]

Justin answers that question in one of the Q&A vids, I think he said that you only should if you're plannin on going pro otherwise it takes alot of time and is quite difficult and not really worth it.

Though I could well be wrong and it's worth checking the vids to make sure, besides there's lots of useful info in them, your bound to learn some new stuff

[Jeremy]

Thank you Fuzzel. I appreciate it.

Jeremy.

[justinguitar]

yes. correct

[licksnkicks]

I absolutely hate tab!! Not only that I can't do it fast enough, I just feel IMHO that it's just an easy way out! I feel like the brain cells are on vacation.  I find reading music a whole lot easier for me anyways!   I have a musical background in piano so I knew the notes before I started on my guitar journey.  I have tab for some stuff but I would rather look at the notes and really figure it out myself.  I find too that some tabs are just WRONG!!!  I guess it's up to each to choose which way they wanna go.  I think too that if you learn to read music, it will take you that much further cuz than you have to study the theory and stuff which can get complex at times but then again if you really love to play then I personally would learn to read music. This is ONLY my very humble opinion!!

PLEASE DON'T HATE ME YOU TAB LOVERS!!!

Licksnkicks

[royp]

Justin answers that question in one of the Q&A vids,

Though I could well be wrong and it's worth checking the vids to make sure, besides there's lots of useful info in them, your bound to learn some new stuff

I see that Justin confirmed you are right Fuzzel.

I would like to see the videos you mention, for the useful info you mention. Can you post links please? I keep reading about Q&A videos, and I would like to watch them, but I do not see them on the Lesson Index.

[licksnkicks]

Why even if your not planning on going pro would NOT learn how to read music?? It gives you a way more freedom when playing opposed to just learning tabs.  I don't plan on going pro in this lifetime I think but I want to learn everything I can.  Theory, practical the whole nine yards.  I in my opinion think this is the best way to learn for me.

Licksnkicks