Posted: Nov 12, 2015 6:46 pm
chairman bill wrote:As a blues player (more enthusiasm than skill), who plays wholly by ear (no theoretical musical knowledge), this certainly interests me, and I'm keen to see what arises from it.
I couldn't learn to play like that, it just didn't work for me, I had several abortive attempts at learning to play because: I didn't have much rhythm, had no clue what I was hearing, and found it pretty hard to find books that helped me. I eventually decided I needed lessons but the teacher I had wasn't all that much help either.
But I kept trying to work through the theory, I don't really understand why that was so hard for me, I think it was some combination of not being very good at language and the confusing terminology. Eventually I sorted out the basics, and found a series of books that explained the CAGED system, called Fretboard Logic - then things started to fall into place. So, in short, I lead with trying to figure out what I'm trying to do then try to do - not so much if I'm just playing or noodling, then I just do what I feel - but to raise the bar a bit I have to think first. Not that that helps as much as I'd like but it seems to be my only way forward.
If there's any theory you want to learn then I suggest you ask here in this thread and someone will cover it.