What to look for in a Guitar Teacher? (Page 1 of 2)

I started up with acoustic after I won a nice quality guitar in a contest and used the Gibson lessons with cd and dvd support after recommendations from this board. Was going well on my own until an injury to my left hand stopped practice for 5 months. Strained tendon in the thumb and I couldn't put any pressure in a grip without extreme pain. I'm just to the point of getting back into it now.
Rick

Hi Sirona,

As it has been said above...A great teacher for one may be an awful teacher for another.  I only ever had one teacher, he came with recommendations, but it did not work out for me.  I still think he was a good teacher though.  I needed someone who could teach to my needs and he either couldn't or wouldn't.  Think for example if Tony Iommi or Django Reinhardt had needed a teacher, they would have needed to think outside the box...my teacher had his box and stayed right in the middle of it! 

To me, what you would like to play, or who you would like to play like, is a consideration but not a deciding factor if you are a new player.  There is a foundation that needs to be built first, then as you build on it, your teacher should be able to lead you in the direction you want to go.  How well they can teach you that foundation is most important.  Lets say he/she doesn't know Joe for example, but knows and likes other great blues players, to me that should work for you just fine. 

Taking acoustic is a great way to start.  It is a bit harder, but if you ever switch to electric it will be easy.

Regards, Steve

You make a good point and I guess I was more forgiving in him not having heard of Joe but when he said he'd never heard of Steve Clark, Vince Gill, Rory Gallagher, Richie Sambora or Dave Mustaine I started to wonder if the guy had been living under a rock.

There is a teacher down the street from where I work who lists on his website his influences which seem to be varied and in line with mine.  I haven't heard from him yet but hope to soon.

Regardless, I'm still looking around for a teacher so we'll see what happens. I would at least like to give it a shot and if it turns out playing the guitar is not my thing I'm fine with that.  It won't change my love for the instrument I'll just watch other people play and drool over their guitars. 

funny how different people judge others, - I say this not as a personal criticism but not sure I would pay too much attention to them having the same taste in music as you, - and essentially that is what it comes down to, - if that teacher would have asked you about a number of (say) jazz guitarists and bands would they have judged you as having lived under a stone? - Maybe, maybe not. I would look at it as if the teacher had a different taste in music to you, perhaps he can teach you something that you don’t already know? But as others have said it does male life easier if you share an understanding of the same music as the tunes are what at first help drive you to work at things.

- 8 plus years ago I went looking for a guitar teacher for my son, and the first guy I found has been teaching him ever since. - What I looked for was the way that the two of them interacted, - or more to the point how my son reacted to being taught. I also asked him about his views on grades, structure etc. Taste in music; - my sons main teacher is a jazz guitarist and session musician, however he has an understanding of what type of music kids like so he has made the effort to teach him Green day/RHCP etc but now is teaching him to improvise. It was only a few years on when in conversations that I learned that he has played with Eric Johnson and played on the Royal Albert Hall stage. Over the years they have developed a good working relationship, (and this is the key IMO) - to the point where a couple of years ago he was very honest in being constructively critical telling me son that he had got to the point where he could play almost anything by watching a lesson on YOuTube, but if he wanted to go further and learn things the right way he needed to focus on more detail and learn different styles. If he did n’t it was fine, but he would not be teaching him any longer. - This proved to me that he was not just doing it for the money, but was in it for the right reason.

- good luck.

The motivation must come from within. A teacher who you are comfortable with is important, but the motivation to take on the challenge is all on you. Be forewarned, learning guitar is hard, it can be painful at times, and its not much fun early on. You need to commit yourself to giving it your best effort, and be willing to get through the early struggles in order to reap the benefits long term. Good luck.

What in the world does this topic have to do with Joe's Guitars, Amps or Gear?

hmm Rocket patrol.. I better look out.
Guess if this needed to be in another topic (other than Joe's Gear) would be the "Other Artists" section.. since she wants to become another artist (like us all) but I digress..
I find there are 2 teachers in music stores.
Those that are there to make a regular living in just teaching their chosen instrument.
and
Those filling in time looking for the next gig.

Those looking for the next gig are probably not the best teachers, since they'll drop you for the gig and are really more interested in 'look at how good I can play' than teaching you.

try and find a teacher that consistently is there and helps your progress.
Don't sweat over "he doesn't know X guitarist"
Most wouldn't be able to tell you who played in The Nine Inch Monkey Band.

The best learn at home DVD set is the Learn and Master Guitar by Steve Krenz.
It's well worth the money and he is on his forum all the time helping, runs a live lesson (free) on his UTube Channel most Tuesday's and has just added a new Skype Live Lesson ($$) to help those over come some obstacles that they wouldn't pickup being at home

This course helps you learn to play, read music (something Joe claims not able to do), and theory
I don't work for them but it’s a good course
Get over the "master" part in the title of the course,, as they said it was just a catchy name they picked,,, the master part is up to you.. but I bet Joe doesn't even look at himself as a master yet…

Grab your Picks…

I am curious if you think that's true for a beginner?  I hadn't really thought about it that way before. When I was taking lessons I never lived anywhere long enough for it to be an issue but it has logic to it.  For a beginner I am wondering if continuity and finding someone you can work with might be more important.  Thanks Paul