What is a great guitarist ? Is it someone that can shred like crazy ? Is it someone that knows all the chords ? Or someone creative and orginal ? I have friend who is really good, can solo very well and is fast, awesome guitarist. Is he than better than say, David Gilmour ? For me the creative guitar players are the best. Like Gilmour, Frusciante, Morello….
That is a fantastic question, to me a great Guitarist is one who is able to make real, the music he hears in his head, play it cleanly, and make it his own.
I always refer to this exact philosophy you are talking about… guitars stores are full of 16 year olds who can play the entire passion and warfare album note for note. But are merely photocopy machines, ultra technical - yes, able to write original music, can improvise - no. After a certain level technique becomes less important and the players choice of notes at a certain time is far more important.
Great question For me, a great guitar player can sit down and play with anyone without having to ask what key they're playing in. A great player will enhance the other guitarist. He knows he could blow them away, but rather play with them then to just play for himself.
I’m sure you don’t really fall under that category, maybe you just need some encouragement! I’ll tell you what, DM me a link to your playing on my Instagram page @rob_chappers and I will hit you back with some tips
Sure and that's why all intermediat players are thinking they are advanced players, and everyone else calls himself dabbling a bit in the art of guitar, but still being a beginner. ;-)
Same category here :) intermediate after 10 years of playing . Although the way Rob put it I might be more advanced than I thought. Still a long way to go. Never ending journey . Nicely put btw 😂
I'm just a hobbyist guitar player, never going to play on a stage or with anyone else. It's just something fun and relaxing to do after a long day. I know enough to get around the fretboard and make some nice sounds, and I can play a few songs, that's all I really need to be happy.
I have played a lot and have been with a drummer or another guitarist to jam and those skills are ok but my theory and knowledge is horrible so I'm kind of all over the board.... eh, whatever works for you. My judgemental, opinionated years are long behind me. You'll get no hate from me.
Playing by or for yourself is loads of fun, but if you run across a couple of like minded guys play with others is a lot of fun. Know body says we have to be great, just have fun.
Most guitarists today are, they just film themselves with a nice camera and cheap lighting from Amazon and start UA-cam channels. Which you should as well
Been playing for about 8 years now and somehow feel like a beginner, intermediate and advanced player at the same time. Learning new things every day along with new ways to apply them
That's funny i feel "kind of the same", and been playing for about 10 years. If you do the same as me and start now learning what you are actualy doing after 9 years of random self tought playing it will be much easyer cause you have a much better ear than most beginers.
Any good musician will always attempt to keep the beginners mind in some fashion. If you're attempting to learn you're forever growing. The second you think you've got it all figured out you're stagnant. The beginner's mind is a gold mine.
Agreed. Based on his description of the categories I'm definitely an advanced player. However, I still spend most of my time working on new techniques and concepts as a beginner would.
I read about this the other day. There is two types brains. One thinks bottom up. Get all the detail then build up and see where they end up. This mind set isn't finished when the figure it out. Then top down type brains. They figure out outline with in limits creating a big picture of what should look like. Once they have it all figured out they done. Most people are top down types. Example of bottom up people are artistic people that don't know what they are painting till the painting is done. Imagine the with guitar, playing something and not knowing what it will be till it's done. Love to play like that.
Hey Rob, I am 67 years on this planet. I've been playing guitar off and on for a little over fifty years. I taught myself how to transpose without having formal training. Sight reading is a bit beyond my skill level. One of my crowning achievements was figuring out Hotel California from the middle of the song out to both ends and embarrassingly still didn't know the notes the individual strings were tuned to. On another occasion I was attending a house party and was told to bring my guitar. I left the guitar in my vehicle while I checked out the calibre of musicians also attending. ( I knew one of them and he was a stunning guitarist). 8 consummate musicians in the room with several variations of stringed instruments fantastic music and no singer. My girlfriend at the time retrieved my guitar and once seen I was encouraged by the others to tune up and join in. I became the party singer encouraging all to sing along. It was a great time. After much music I was taking a break when an elderly gentleman approached striking up a conversation stating he was enjoying the music. I asked if he played, he smiled and said yes, piano. When he told me that he was the music professor at the local University I was instantly embarrassed and apologetic for butchering some of the tunes played earlier. He assured me that I did no such thing and said, " I cannot teach what you have. As good as those musicians are here tonight, they are not having fun with music as you are". (the musicians in the room were the professors students). I was humbled and honoured by his comment and took them for words of encouragement and promised myself to always have fun with music where learning and playing guitar is concerned. I love open and alternate tunings and dreamy chord arrangements. And Yes I am a student of guitar. still and always! I would say I am an Intermediate guitarist. Love your stuff Rob. Cheers!
That's a beautiful story, I don't believe it happened but- beautiful, none the less. The turth is that playing by ear is no more fun than playing by sight reading- I've done both, both have value and their place. But ppl who seem to think formal training will somehow steal your soul- are morons. It's just not true- and I don't know of any music professor who wouldn't agree. It's akin to believing if you know optical physics a rainbow isn't as special to you- b.s.
At the start of the video, I believed I was an intermediate player. By the end and according to you, it seems that I am an advanced player. I've never improved so fast before and without even having to practice. Thanks for that.
I now feel somewhere between Intermediate and Advanced. I understand a lot of relations about music theory, chords and harmony, but I still struggle with the fretboard and even the fretting differences between the G and B strings (one being a Major Third above rather than a full fourth). My skills are really scattered because I learned what interested me (as best I could) which is a lot of progressive metal and other subgenres, as well as drums, piano and bass.
I’ve been playing over 30 years and still see myself as just scratching the surface of playing the guitar and understanding music … it’s a lifelong quest to me that I’ll never get tired with.
I am a beginner / intermediate. 38 years of playing. But you say intermediate Rob! That makes me feel a bit better. But I have taken breaks for years. I own 9 guitars, 1 bass, 1 Roland TD-27 VAD 507 Drum Kit. And all the gear to record. I am in my Mid 50's. I used to play out at open mic nights in the late 90s and that was the best time of my life. I wish to get back to that. My good friend that kept me going doesn't want to play anymore. Finding friends at 55 years old that wanna jam is impossible. I am in some Facebook groups for open mic's but have not attended any yet. Some of them the kids are much younger than me. So I won't fit in well. But! Still going and I am happy I got into this in the the 80's. Good video Rob! Lifted me up a bit!
Doesn’t matter about age as long as you enjoy the learning, I’ve even gone back to basics to discover that there’s better more comfortable ways to hold a pick, I’m 38 and been playing since 15 and still go back to basics and discover something new
It is a very interesting thing to ask yourself as a guitar player. Because I feel like the “ego” wants to immediately go to advanced. But being a guy that literally learned everything I know by ear, there is probably so much beginner knowledge that would benefit my playing overall. So higher end intermediate would be my self evaluation even though there is so much chordal knowledge that I have yet to discover. But that’s what keeps you going! So many comments about having a beginners mindset so you don’t become stagnant, which is such great advice for any guitar player at any level. Just keep picking up the wood and wire baby🤘🏼
I've been playing for 40something yrs., various bands, in studio, small live venues, countless jam sessions, about 30 or so completed original songs mixed & mastered, and never cared if I were a beginner, intermediate, or advanced musician. Never really thought about it to be honest. The only thing I did early on was play with other musicians who were much better than me. Like that I always had something to learn
@@rodnyg7952 Every once in awhile, you find other musicians that can "just play", and a little magic happens, and something amazing is born. Those times are what keeps me playing...
@@nohillforahighstepper ya, it's kind of uncommon, but sometimes you find other musicians that just completely click with your artistic thinking and playing. For me it's always been others who play to contribute to the song rather than feel they have to always be the most important part in it
I've been playing various instruments almost my entire boomer life and performed in various ensembles, but I've only been playing guitar for about 10 years. I read and understand music, but learning the mechanics of the guitar and how to translate what I learned on piano (one linear scale) to guitar (five/six different linear scales in parallel which vary by tuning) has been challenging and addictive. From that perspective, my level is a blend of competencies that are further complicated when considering musical genres and playing styles. Bottom line, I don't see a practical purpose is slotting myself into a generic level. Instead, I focus on what I want to continue to improve. From that perspective, I'll never stop being a learner, and that's the most useful level for categorizing my abilities.
Everyone is a beginner. My guitar teacher taught me when I was first learning “you don’t know that you don’t know what you don’t know.” So we are constantly learning. the cup is never full, but it’s also not empty.
Similar, but I consider myself an advanced intermediate. I know all the notes and chords and theory, but could never move into the more advanced topics like jazz or improvisation. Can’t really write lyrics or melody. Don’t really have that great of an ear for it.
Guitar is my hobby, I love the way they look the way they sound, I love guitars in general. Been playing/goofing for about 6 years I’m an intermediate beginner and I’m stuck there.
I had thought I as an intermediate player for some time, but later last year I noticed I had missed several important beginner skills. So I dug out my Hal Leonard guitar books and started working through the basics again, and already I am enjoying guitar playing more.
After playing Bass,(Double and Electric) for over 60 years as both pro and semi and achieving grade 8 on pianoforte (classical) I am still learning from those whom I consider better at certain aspects of playing than I. Although no longer being able to participate at a pro level due to disability I still love to sit at home and practise techniques that I have not learned yet.
FLAC! HEAT! I think I'm an intermediate and I teach for a living and play out most weekends. Music/Guitar/ is my primary income, and I've still got loads to learn. I know a lot of stuff, but there's way more I don't know and can't play. I can't Guthrie or Gatton, or Martin Taylor
@@oneirdaathnaram1376 Thank ya kindly pal 😀🙏 "Intermediate" might be a subjective term 🤔. 1 min you think you're great then you watch UA-cam for 5 mins and realise... "Oh 😐... John Cordy Exists" 🙈
By your definition (which I enjoyed hearing and thinking about), I am advanced, but each day I feel just as I did when I first picked up a guitar: excited and trying to master ‘the next thing’.
Been “playing” since 2010. I’m still a beginner. I will proudly proclaim that. I wish I had time to invest to make it to that next level but being a business owner and father to a 4 year old my time is spent mostly running scales silently on the couch at night unplugged while my family sleeps. The JCM800 sits quietly waiting for the day I can unleash its fury. Someday. Someday. Thanks for the content Rob! Watched your stuff for years!
Keep playing so when you have time you’ll be just that much further along. Oh, and stay healthy. It’s much easier to learn and advance that way. And you can start you kid too if they want. Music is great for learning anything else.
Im currently in the exact same situation! Been trying to focus all my "downtime" to just guitar and not being a potato in front of the computer like many nights might look like
My fingers don't like playing my acoustic much anymore and my ears don't like loud so I think that puts me in your category unplugged with my Strat LOL!
@@Robert-Smith Nice! Epiphone Les Paul for me. I never played standing up so now I'm making the best use of my time trying to relearn everything while standing. Changes the hand position and finger reach immensely.
Never stop... always keep an open mind... everyone started laughing at jazz in the 70's until evh started channeling holdsworth, then everyone started listening to holdsworth and Coltrane. Never stop learning, always broaden your horizons
Thank you for clarifying this Rob! 🙂 I thought that I was an intermediate player but I now know I have a lot more work to get there. This is a great explanation!
I began playing guitar when i was about 12yrs old… I am nearly 60yrs old…. I had lessons and this enabled me and my mates to form a band, we were terrible, but, it was great fun. Over the years i got much better and in the early 80s started playing in London supporting some great bands like New Model Army, Billy Bragg, The Men They Couldn’t Hang, The Pogues etc. I even went for an audition for a band called The Sex Gang Children at Apple Music in Soho Square… a great experience, but i didn’t get in….. I do feel though that it was a lot easier to play live,especially in London and the surrounding areas. Today i just play for my own enjoyment, I’m fortunate to have a guitar room, with my amps, pedals and various instruments. How would i rate my progress? I have no idea… But, I ain’t arf enjoyed it and i still do. Charlie.
Been playing since 1981. Completely self-taught. Have done pretty well. Made a few records etc, been on a few tours blah blah. The light bulb moment for me was when I gave up trying to emulate what everyone else was doing and concentrated on my own strengths and developed my own style. I'm no genius but I can confidently say that I am the best at what I do! However, had youtube been around back in the day I would probably be a more "rounded" player but then I wouldn't be me! Although every time I play is a learning experience. Cool video. Very entertaining.
other than the obvious (beginners and people who just cant play) its really subjective. what do you want to do? shred? learn covers? write songs? play around camp fires? i think it depends on what your personal goal is with playing and how far along that path you are at the current moment. id classify myself as an intermediate player but im a songwriter so i just write what i think sounds cool. so, to me, it doesnt matter
This was such a great video! I feel that someone needed to say this. I felt that it was very well stated about the different levels and where you are as a guitar player. I also enjoyed a lot of the references you used about constructing music.
Thanks Rob. This really makes sense. What you are essentially explaining is Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning. There are six stages, each thought to require deeper cognitive reasoning. The stages are knowledge (remember an A chord) / understanding (relationships between chords) / applying (putting together some chords)/ analysing (read music and figure out what it means) / evaluating (being able to tell why something is good or bad) / synthesis (using all the above to create something new). Noone will probably read this, but I hope it's of interest to someone :)
I genuinely think, after watching this video, i am right in between intermediate and advanced. I know chord relations and western music quite well, i know many scales and can play them in most positions in all keys. I am able to write my own music and i make new music in a band. I play blues, metal, jazz, pop, whatever, and i learn most songs by ear. You gave me some confidence Rob ;) The thing that does not make me advanced yet, is technique (I think). I can't play super fast, i struggle with techniques like sweep picking and hybrid picking etc. I guess practice makes perfect
I've been playing for over 30 years and teach guitar fulltime. I see beginner level as at least 3 levels. Intermediate covers around 4-5 levels. And advanced covers at least 10 levels or so. And an advanced rockguitarist can be a beginner jazz player at the same time. The beauty of the guitar is, that it's universe is so big - no single guitarist in history has been able to really fully master ALL of it's possibilities.
Interesting discussion. I’m in the category of players who’ve played for a very long time. Know my cords and can play along with songs of my favorite bands, however I lack the theory knowledge. Just now trying to grasp that, I would say I’m intermediate player but beginner at theory 🤣
I have been playing since 1977. I play every day and sit in with a band once a week. I have never ever needed to pigeonhole myself into any category. In terms of learning I tend to only get lessons in person from a teacher that I think will know what I am looking to better understand. I think I learned what notes were on the fretboard in my first year of playing due to the insistence of my teacher at that time.
Same here.. 20 years as well. I blame just not devoting my entire childhood/teenage years to just music.. it’s all coming together easier though when I really dig in on music theory and new stuff. It’s a lifetime journey that never ends for anyone really.
63 and have been playing guitar for much of the past 50 years, with a few years off for career and family concerns. Still taking lessons for Classical and Jazz, focused on learning the fundamentals correctly -- and this continues even while advancing into more complex techniques and pieces. Progress is slow yet rewarding. Not comparing myself with others brings peace. Focusing on being a musician first and guitar player second.
Thanks for this Rob. I struggle with guitar and had thought maybe I am an intermediate, but now feel comfortable saying I am an intermediate player. You echoed something my guitar teacher told me about my song writing. I haven't written that many and frankly they all have the same vibe - minor. And he said one day I have a "tendency to float towards the minor side of things". I guess this is what you mean about having a sound. But heh, I'm an old guy, I've earned my sorrows lol! Thanks again for the video!
Been trying to learn on and off for years and never really thought of myself as anything other than a ‘Beginner’ but having just watched your analysis of the various stages of learning I’ve just realised I’m now probably classed as an ‘Intermediate’ guitarist. Rock on Rob, It’s made my night.
I love this conversation Rob. Because as guitar collectors, we obsess over the material instrument. But then as guitar players, we look inward and the material disappears.
I got my first guitar Christmas 2001 when I was 65 & started having lessons. I'm still having lessons because I enjoy them and get to learn new songs from my era - 70' & 80's mostly. I class myself as a beginner & always will be. Now I might have become an intermediate beginner & maybe on my way to be an advanced beginner, but I can't see that I will be able to achieve intermediate, nor do I really need to or want to .... I just enjoy what I can do and look forward to being able to do it better - the main difficulty at my age is remembering everything !!!!
by this metric I would be an advanced player but let me tell you this, it definitely doesn't feel like that! I am constantly being humbled by the sheer musical prowess that you can see on a daily basis!
Beginner for sure. Started my learning process when I was 18 and it didn't take (didn't have the drive to push through the frustration at the early stages). Fast forward 22 years, I'm now almost 40 and I'm well beyond what I was back then after almost two months of work. This helps me know that once I can piece together the guitar "language" and form paragraphs then I'm intermediate. Once I have my own voice and can put together a full on short story of my own I've achieved at least low levels of advanced. Thanks Mr. Chapman. If I have that wrong someone correct me.
Well, I have been playing for 41 years. (I know, damn near an eternity lol) It's been a heck of a journey, I gotta say. Playing guitar has opened many more doors in my life that would have never been opened had I not started to learn. For that I'm thankful. I also extend my gratitude and thanks to the biggest inspiration for sparking my want to learn how to play in the first place. That player is James Marshall (Jimi) Hendrix. I remember like it was yesterday. It was a Sunday evening in 1982. A then 13 year old me was watching the 1969 Woodstock movie with my mother, on channel 11 WTTW Chicago. At the very end, out came Jimi. I was intrigued by his playing, even his wardrobe. But... It was when he played his rendition of The Star Spangled Banner and near the end he hit this high note and it turned onto feedback in the same pitch of the note that absolutely blew my mind. When his performance ended, I looked wide eyed at my mother, pointed at the TV at Jimi and said, MOM, I WANT TO DO THAT! So, in 1983 I got a guitar for my 14th birthday (Ikr, late bloomer lol) and this fantastic journey started. I would wonder from time to time where I stood as a guitar player. Before watching this video I categorized myself as intermediate. But, by Robs scale I can confirm I'm in the advanced levels. (Damn, I would hope so after 41 frickin years Hahaha). Back in 1983 I did not have all the amazing resources beginners have access to today. Mine was a turn table record player, pulling back the needle over and over and over to learn a song. I think that helped with discipline and patience. The first three years or so of learning, I could not get enough. I would come home from school, do my homework and have dinner. From the point of dinner ending till I went to bed, I practiced. So, I played four to five hours every night for the first 3 years. That really set me apart from others learning by HUGE strides. I mean I left them in the dust. Once in a while, someone would ask me, What's the "secret" for learning how to play like you do so fast?" First, I would slowly look side to side to insinuate I was making sure nobody could hear us. Then, I would slightly lean over to also insinuate I was going to say something very quietly and in a quiet voice, I would say...after an odd pause..."Practice". Man, some of the sour looks I would get, haha. That's not what they wanted to hear, but it was the truth. So if I were to give any pointers to beginners, #1. obviously first and foremost is practice. #2. Hang around with guitar players better than you. Watch how they do things. Ask them how you do this or that. If they show you something too fast, tell them to slow it down so you can get a grasp on it. Once you have down where you got to go, practice the hell out of it. First slow then gradually build speed. And #3. when someday, you get to the advanced levels always, always be humble. I get people to this day say, oh yeah, I heard about you..I heard you play a mean guitar....I shrug my shoulders and say, well, I know a few chords... I've never had a huge ego about my playing because it seems no matter what level you are, you always feel you can do better. But beginners don't give up! Put in some determination, patience and discipline....and yes, the "secret", a few hours every day practicing and you to shall reap gratuitous rewards for your efforts in the future, trust me. Until next time, right on and rock on! \m/>_
I really like this description because your definition of 'advanced' doesn't involve knowing ALL the theory, it just involves the development of your own voice with some theory. This makes sense, because we can for sure say that a great, idiosyncratic blues player is advanced, but they may not know all the modes etc. Good definitions, well considered!
When young I seemed to be inspired by the classic metal rock bands (Sabbs, Zeppelin, Purple among many others) in the early 70s. I had a few guitar tute books but found them boring. I could never afford lessons but did have an allowance which I used to buy the music books for these bands and learned from these. Other stuff I learned by ear and practiced till the neighbors complained. Within 6 years I had started my first band with friends, we started to write, and got heaps of gigs. There's nothing like being able to apply your skills to original music, although I always say I am still learning. Because music, within its perceived simplicity, can offer infinite possibilities. Great post Sir.
Thank you so much for this! I've been calling myself an intermediate player for years. But after watching this, I feel confident saying that I am an advanced player. Thank you for the confidence boost!
Came into this thinking that I might be a beginner -> intermediate, but left realizing that I’m probably more on the intermediate -> advanced side. Understanding why certain intervals/lines fit within a progression and always noodling in a way that sounds less and less derivative as I age. Bless ya Rob, I was expecting it to be more of a consideration of how a musician understands the ins and outs of theory, but in reality it’s about understanding what an individual enjoys and then contributing constantly through experimentation. I’d add that it also could be important for an advanced individual to be able to explain why what they’re doing makes good sense and is a strong decision ( to a degree).
This is a great video! I have long wondered where I fit. I’m 62 and i have lived and breathed guitar since i was 12. Ive had plateaus that lasted for years and I’ve at times taken big leaps in a matter of weeks. I often think I should be way better for my time and love. This gives me confidence to call myself intermediate with some hope to creep into advanced, writing songs and developing riffs. I hope to keep improving and this gives me inspiration .Thank you!
Thank you so much for making this! I’m very guilty of skipping building blocks and fundamentals my goal a year ago was to shred and rock out lol and I have gotten to that point. But my current goal is to get more building blocks chords understanding of how they actually fit together. I feel inspired to not give up on that and keep creating and being creative. Because at the end of the day that’s the best part for me is speaking part of me through my guitar that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
A great guitarist is one whose music people want to listen to. It may be shreding, jazz or country, but it must be tastefully and beautifully done, whether it's lightening fast or a slow ballad.
After seeing this video I've reached the conclusion that it's very difficult to be a "fully" begginer, intermediate or advanced guitar player. I play in a band, we make constant gigs/rehearsals, and we love to both compose our own music and to improvise/jam on spot. I can deal with it quite well, i can improvise into any key, into different chord progressions, into different rhytms/styles and do it with my own personal sound/taste. But at the same time I still know many things that I can't apply freely in my playing, and there are many more things that I know only the basis or don't even know nothing about. In conclusion I guess we are "trapped" in a cycle of learning, applying and mastering the guitar, never reaching the "end goal". And I think this is amazing. I mean, we don't need to know everything or be an absolute master at everything to be a good player or to make good music or even enjoy playing with friends for other people. And we also don't need to be bored because there's always something new to learn, apply and master. We're all begginers, intermediates and professionals in our own way.
I'm a solid beginner/ starting intermediate. Currently learning all the notes of the fretboard and starting to be able to play licks. It's truly rewarding to be this far but also what's to come is exciting as the guitar journey continues truly excites me!
Thank you for helping me determine my skill level-I'm at an intermediate stage. I've developed some additional techniques like pinch harmonics and finger tapping, and I've also dabbled in Travis picking for blues. However, I still struggle to spontaneously create music, so I recognize I have a journey ahead to reach advanced level. It's been a challenge picking up where I left off after a 25-year hiatus-it's not as easy as riding a bike. I've essentially forgotten 90% of what I knew as a teenager. Despite this, I've made progress over the past year with lessons, but I know there's still a long road ahead to reclaim the proficiency I had in my youth. Rock on...
I've been playing for many years and consider myself intermediate+ guitarist. I can learn most anything by ear unless it is severe shredding, in that case I don't have that picking technique mastered. I learned on Zep, early Aerosmith, Allman Bros., Skynyrd, Deep Purple, Stevie etc. so I gravitate to those styles The past few years I have been learning the theory aspect. I knew a slew of chords (Aug, dim, sus) but did not all the names or scales they were associated with.
Asking guitarists which level they're at will never yield accurate results. We're marking own own homework and the guitarists' ego is, generally....er....not recessive let's say, certainly when new to the island. I've been playing since about '83 - a gigging and recording musician for bands I was in and, surprisingly to me, I fall easily into your definition of an "advanced" player...and I can totally understand the context of the three brackets as you describe them...but some days I feel like I know nothing. Some 15 year-old will be on UA-cam just being incredible and I'm sat there watching, head shaking in disbelief. It's all just so brilliant - I don't know what I'd do without it in my life. Great video.
56 now. Been playing since a teenager. Learned a couple of the boxes of the pentatonic scale enough to jam with neighbor somewhat compenently. Couple of years ago decided to ditch all the electrics and steel string acoustics and go with the nylon for good. Definitely back to beginner!!
I always considered myself (well for the last 20 years or so, been playing for 36 lol) an intermediate player. Mainly because, yes, I can definitely 'play', but i wasnt really up to scratch on knowing very well what I was playing ie: identifying modes etc. But: I have a the 'themness' as you call it. No matter what I use, amp, guitar, what have you, and no matter what i play whether its a cover or something original, i definitely sound like me. And it wasnt easy to accept that, especially when I was trying to learn some of the things other players were doing, like playing along to Van Halen or something. It was actually frustrating cuz I was so focused on sounding like them, and of course I couldnt. Took me awhile to realize that i had actually crossed that threshold, and had developed the 'ME' sound. Interesting ponder Chappers.
Dear Rob Dear Rob Thank you very much for your informative explanation of levels of playing i would just like to ask you were you would put myself in those categories,my Dad was an amazing guitarist born in 1944 and as you can imagine was inspired by every form of music from beatles/shadows,clapton,beck, the underlying feel to his playing was always blues learning from all those guys back then my Dad had an amazing memory could play any song and knew the chords he had the most fantastic and unique feel to his playing,obviously as a child right up through to today i took all this into my subconcious experiencing the wonderful music in our house when all my friends were listening to pop music i was listening to all froms of blues,country, jazz,rock and everything inbetween i started playing guitar when i was 13 im 55 now but at the same time i was playing snooker and within 12mths i had made my first 100 break which back then i was hailed as a local talented player and received backing travelling the country playing tournaments after a few years i decided to get a job and pack up playing to support my Mum and Dad so life began, my Dad sort of retired from playing professionally and we both got into recording and developed it into a recording studio in Liverpool up until 2010 i am sorry for the very long message but i just want to let you know were im coming from so you can understand were i am at the moment playing wise my Dad suddenly passed away in 2021 and it has took a terrible toll on my well being i have only just started to live again so roughly 12mths ago i started noodling in the house on Dads guitars trying to remember all the things Dad taught me when i was 13 and also watching you tube tutorials it is coming back to me it doesn,t take me long to play something once i have watched someone playing muscle memory is a great thing haha my Dads playing is in me as it comes out all the time when i noodle as friends always say my playing is just like Dads i just don,t know were i am or what the next step is i f you can give any guidance at all i would be so grateful me and Dad always watched your Andertons videos always great and funny anyway take care of yourself you cna message me on if you have time kind regards,Lee
It's been 7 years, playing about an hour every day, and I'd go with early intermediate. I know the chords, I can build the keys, I understand how it all fits together, but I've just started playing with other people in the past couple months, and holy crap, that's a whole next level of learning to do. It's pretty fantastic. I look forward to never running out of new stuff to learn. I expect I'll be intermediate for most of the rest of my life.
Started playing in ‘91. I was doing very well. Has some friends that’s played longer than I. Learned a lot from them. Went in the service in ‘93. Met some great people that played. Was still in my mind a beginner. Got out of the service in ‘97. Life happened. Did not touch my guitar(which I had bought in Japan in ‘96 Grover Jackson still have). It wasn’t til late 2021 before I picked it back up. It had been a long time that I missed. I had shattered my hip and needed something to do again. So out came old dusty. Still by in perfect shape. A wipe down, new strings checked the setup. Sounded perfect. Started to play and I had forgotten just about everything. So I’m still a beginner after all. Hahahaha. Still love. Have a lot to relearn but that’s the best part.
I completely agree with your assessment. I learned a lot of advanced music theory concepts early on but was basically navigating a maze due to a weak knowledge the notes on the fretboard. Not having the right pieces in place absolutely stifles your ability with any skill. I made it a mission to go back and master these concepts so I can finally feel like an actual guitar player. Great video!
Excellent summation. I'd like to add my own opinion; it is essential to develop the ability to learn and / or adapt an entire arrangement for any given song, and to be able to play it from the intro all the way to the ending. Although simple (and often overlooked), it is not as easy as it seems, and is every bit as important as staying in tune and hitting the right notes.
Thanks Rob. I play the guitar for more than 30 years now and would have never considered myself being advanced. But according to your explaination I seem to be there. I have met so many players who literally shredded my into the ground, but most of them weren't able to write proper songs. I played with bands, wrote my own stuff. I don't do shredding, I'm slow as hell, but my own music flows and to me, that matters the most.
lots of good info here...been playin long time, and I know where I fit...but here is a way for others to understand and not get confused about the "gear" status...
Gosh I love these " Guru " moments. Your playing is wonderful and your inciteful wisdom was a great boost on many levels. 💯👍🎸🔥 Thanks for your time and talents.
Wow! That gave me something to think on. I feel like a beginner because I'm excited to have learned something new. Yet I've memorized the fret board and different chord voicings/ scales etc., so that could put me in the intermediate position. When I pick up the guitar, I'll do a little warm up then come up with something of my own and try and expand upon it. So that puts me in the advanced territory. It feels like I keep going back and forth through all the categories not locking into one.
Been playing over 20 years. I still consider myself intermediate. Even though I can improvise I find myself constantly wanting to learn more scales make more riffs. Staying humble helps me a lot. Thanks for your knowledge chappers.
My guitar journey when I first started was about transferring my advanced keyboard skills to the fretboard. I could already improvise, create my own compositions, arranging those compositions etc so it was about learning the navigation of the fretboard and the techniques to manipulate the strings to be able to make the music in my head with a guitar. So many guitarists spend so much time learning the fretboard and the multitude of techniques associated with the guitar while their musicianship, understanding of harmony and melody fall short and thus they might never reach their full potential as a musician. If you have the understanding of music, the playing part on a fretboard will always flourish along with that knowledge. I think its first better to evaluate where you lie as a musician rather than a guitarist first which will help in one's musical journey whatever instrument you play.
Based upon your definitions, I suppose I am an advanced player. I know a variety of basic chords (almost none of the cool "jazz" chords), and can put things together in a song. I know when to fall back, and I know when to step out in a song to compliment what is going on. I can improvise solos, and can "create" chord patterns, rhythms, etc. during a free form jam. I have a good ear, so I can often learn songs by listening and playing along. As a kid I just loved Cream/Blind Faith/D&D ear Clapton, and would learn to play his solos close to note-for-note, within the boundaries of my ability. I also can play a solo that hints at what Clapton (or others) did, but adding my own spin to the solo. And I usually know when something sounds wrong (my band plays down a 1/2 step, and once in a while our keyboard player hits a button accidently and is back to concert pitch -- but I notice right away). BUT, according to MY own definitions, I am an "advanced beginner". I am totally self taught (well, I had a half dozen lessons when I was 11 or 12, but the Mel Bay book hardly counts). I don't read music, my knowledge of the fretboard is more about shapes than it is about notes (yea, I can figure out what note is where, but it is not second nature to me at all), I know no theory, my technique could use improving, I have no finger style capbillities (although I can hybrid pick a bit), and I am a slower player (ie: Slowhand Clapton, or Dickie Betts type). No shredding here. So in my mind, not at all advanced, and perhaps not even fullly blown intermediate. I am soon to be 67 years old, and will be retiring in a year or so, and I hope to take lessons at that time so that I can advance, more for my own satisfaction than anything else. Will likely start with Trufire, but if I can find the right teacher to deal with someone who can play, but knows little and needs a more disciplined approach to technique, I would defintely prefer in person lessons, and think they would be more beneficial.
I've been playing guitar for over 50 years, have performed solo and in numerous bands playing different genres (eg folk, country, blues, rockabilly, rock, new wave, pop covers, soul, jazz, etc), have jammed with some very well-known musicians, played fairly large venues (1500-2000 seats), a little radio and TV work, done paid sessions on a number of albums and taught guitar for a living at various points in the last twenty years (including now). In my head, though, I'm still an intermediate player (although with some advanced traits) when compared to some of the guitarists I've played with. My big advantage, though - and probably the reason why I've worked more than people I've played with who were more technically proficient than I was - was that early on I knew that I needed to understand enough music theory to allow me to play anywhere on the fretboard and be able to follow chord progressions and improvise in any key (whatever style I was playing), so over the years I taught myself. I also took whatever work came along, and didn't limit myself to any particular musical genre, and discovered that I could often import something that worked in one genre into others, where it sounded completely different. I don't know why so many younger players seem to be almost obsessed with obscure modes and techniques such as shredding - professional violinists and cellists don't have arguments about who is the fastest player, because that's probably the least important aspect of playing. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was from an older guitar player I played with in a band back in the late 70s. He said that all music consists of two things: the sounds you make and the silences that come between them, and each is as important as the other. This is really, really good advice for anyone learning how to play.
You can not know all the notes, chords, scales etc., and how it all fits together (i.e. theory), but still be an advanced player. BB King, for example, had his own particular and rather limited lane and didn't know a whole lot outside of that lane, but he was very advanced within his lane. One of the greats, in fact. He could say more with one note than many guitar players could with many notes. His feel, dynamics, etc. were amazing.
I was a beginner from the age of 7, when I was given my fist guitar. At 45, I began playing with a band and graduated to intermediate beginner within a year. Having left the band 15 years later, I’m now a knowledgeable beginner. I do miss jamming with other musicians. Incredible learning curve.
I was expecting to be intermediate because I’m not a very technical player. But based on your definition of having the tools and knowledge to freely create, I’m definitely advanced. It helps that I have a vast musical background that I’ve built my guitar journey upon
So, being a general musician, started on accordion!! And then keyboards and bass, before becoming obsessed with 6 string, and doing the full on gear acquisition thing, my understanding of ‘music’ is pretty good…. And by your definitions I’d probably be advanced… but believe me, I’m NOT an advanced guitarist, a can do a lot, but there are areas where my technique is way below my musical knowledge or fluency…. I think I’m a better musician than I am guitarist, if that makes sense?? But I know I love every minute I spend making music, and have had the best times of my life over the past 40+ years when jamming, or performing gigs big and small with good people and just connecting! For me now, I don’t care, I can pick up a guitar or whatever, in any room of people, I know I’m not the best, or the worst, but I’ve mastered pinched harmonics and I have decent vibrato control, and I know how to use a trem, so I’m gonna have fun! That’s what it’s really about!!
I started playing guitar again at 44 years old and was never good at the guitar. I'm still not good at the guitar. I am getting better and noticing progress. Mostly I don't even try to learn songs. I'm getting to know the building blocks. Because several times a week I get music in my head. I can hear every note and beat and it's awesome. I'm very good with language so I always have words that go with it. I'm a beginner at playing guitar, and always will be. But I'm doing this so that I can all of this new music out of my head and put it into a tangible form.
This is a really interesting conversation Rob. I'm a professionally trained trumpet player who over the years dabbled on guitar and bass for fun. Lockdown gave me the opportunity to devote time to writing more of my own material and required me to improve my guitar skills. Musical knowledge is something I had as an advanced musician and I have applied it to guitar playing, songwriting and looping. I know my way around a bass and a guitar fairly well now but I would never class myself as anything more than technically average and just above beginner ON THOSE INSTRUMENTS. It's a complicated subject to try to attach labels to! Love your content, have followed you since the dreadlock days 😉. Keep up the good work.👍
Great points! I recently realized that I've been overly concerned with gear and not practicing enough. Great gear is nice to have. It makes playing more enjoyable. But it's not a substitute for practice. "Practice Makes Improvement".
Excellent video Rob. I agree that someone at a higher level has a sense of personal style. they have looked at the building blocks and made conscious decision of what to play and what NOT to play
I grew up in a musical family, can’t say when I started playing guitar but I remember performing Me and Bobby McGee at a family gathering when I was in 5th grade. High school bands, and bar bands for many years, I pretty much quit plying “out” around 2012 as what I would consider an intermediate player but with my own sound I think. I got very interested in stringed instrument repair over the years and always have something on the bench these days. (You can’t spend THAT much money on files and only use them once! 😳) Over my 50 years or so of playing I spent very little time on theory, I just played what I had in my head or attempted to copy for cover songs. Early on I had a few Mel Bay books for the basics and in the 1980’s I tried to follow a Rick Emmet Star Licks VHS but my tape player ate it before I got through all the modes. Flash forward to now and I have a “music Room” upstairs with several amps, PA with a mixer, computer stuff etc. but I spend way more time in the garage at the workbench playing through a tiny Fender Frontman (upgraded speaker), noodling along to backing tracks on an iPad, getting more pleasure out of it than ever and I’m still not sure what key I’m in 😁. Nobody hears me except my wife or the occasional customer. A few good jam session have sparked up when someone came to pick up an instrument I’ve repaired. Anyway, playing has brought a lot of joy to my life so far and Lord willing, into the future. While I understand the point of the video, at this point I’m not too concerned about labels or skill level assessment. It was never a competition anyway.
Excellent video. I love the way you separate gear knowledge from playing ability. I'm almost 70 and first picked up a guitar when I was 12. I think today I can still sometimes be a 'beginner' in some aspects and advanced in others. I fell victim to essential tremor about 8 years ago and that became humbling to lose accuracy and precision. But now I know what I can play within my limits and what I cannot. I play a lot more acoustic these days and use DADGAD as much as I do standard tuning. And strangely it has led to me being more creative than I ever was, writing many more songs than before. There is much more "me" in what I play and less imitation. It's not technically advanced but it is what and who I am. Thank you for your perspective and keep up the good work.
A friend, Rick, and I had a garage band in the 60s. In the 90s we got back together. Rick and I were discussing modes. I wasn't that familiar with them. My daughter, who is a piano pedagogist, showed me on the piano very simply. I caught on immediately and showed the trick to Rick along with some other basic music theory my daughter had shown me. Although not all new to us, we both agreed we should have learned all this 30 years previously. Don't call me advanced or even intermediate. As Will Rogers once said, "All men are ignorant, only on different subjects." We're all beginners to one degree or another. I hope none of us ever thinks we've reached the advanced stage. That being said, a good foundation is priceless. A drummer friend, Hank, asked me to join his band to play for his mother-in-law's 90th birthday party. I met these guys the day of the party. We had never practiced before. The only other person any of us knew was Hank, yet we were all experienced enough that none of our listeners knew we hadn't practiced. Hank picked simply classic rock tunes. I knew them all. I would call out to the bass player "1-4-5 in 'C' " and he had no problem. The other guitar player was better than I was and only asked once what key we were in. That's not advanced or intermediate. It's only being a well-rounded beginner enough to where we could have been skilled intermediates if we had had more practice together.
What is a great guitarist ? Is it someone that can shred like crazy ? Is it someone that knows all the chords ? Or someone creative and orginal ? I have friend who is really good, can solo very well and is fast, awesome guitarist. Is he than better than say, David Gilmour ? For me the creative guitar players are the best. Like Gilmour, Frusciante, Morello….
That is a fantastic question, to me a great Guitarist is one who is able to make real, the music he hears in his head, play it cleanly, and make it his own.
I agree. A great guitarist can create music from his influences.
I always refer to this exact philosophy you are talking about… guitars stores are full of 16 year olds who can play the entire passion and warfare album note for note. But are merely photocopy machines, ultra technical - yes, able to write original music, can improvise - no. After a certain level technique becomes less important and the players choice of notes at a certain time is far more important.
It's not sport, it's art. All subjective.
Great question
For me, a great guitar player can sit down and play with anyone without having to ask what key they're playing in.
A great player will enhance the other guitarist. He knows he could blow them away, but rather play with them then to just play for himself.
Why is my category, 'Shite Guitarist', not covered in this video. A terrible oversight, sir!!!
:-) If you're in to that category, you can only improve yourself.
@@mlambrechts1 45 years of disappointment says otherwise. But I still love playing.
I’m sure you don’t really fall under that category, maybe you just need some encouragement!
I’ll tell you what, DM me a link to your playing on my Instagram page @rob_chappers and I will hit you back with some tips
@@RobChappersthat’s really cute and wholesome. Interesting video!
@@RobChappers Hey, Rob, very kind of you. DM coming later this evening.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect is very strong with guitarists
Excellent point!
Specially with the guy who made the video! Kkkk
_Fake it 'til you make it_ has its benefits.
Sure and that's why all intermediat players are thinking they are advanced players, and everyone else calls himself dabbling a bit in the art of guitar, but still being a beginner. ;-)
And all humans!!!
Intermediate.
As the saying goes. When I was a young man I wanted to play the guitar badly. Now I am older, I have achieved that aim.
😅 sweet.
🤣🤣🤣
😂
Same category here :) intermediate after 10 years of playing . Although the way Rob put it I might be more advanced than I thought. Still a long way to go. Never ending journey . Nicely put btw 😂
Then there is "EXPERT!"
I've been playing for over 40 years and still count myself as beginner since I am always learning new things about the guitar.
Everyone is a beginner. There are no 'advanced' players, except in their own little minds!
I'm just a hobbyist guitar player, never going to play on a stage or with anyone else. It's just something fun and relaxing to do after a long day. I know enough to get around the fretboard and make some nice sounds, and I can play a few songs, that's all I really need to be happy.
I have played a lot and have been with a drummer or another guitarist to jam and those skills are ok but my theory and knowledge is horrible so I'm kind of all over the board.... eh, whatever works for you. My judgemental, opinionated years are long behind me. You'll get no hate from me.
Playing by or for yourself is loads of fun, but if you run across a couple of like minded guys play with others is a lot of fun. Know body says we have to be great, just have fun.
Most guitarists today are, they just film themselves with a nice camera and cheap lighting from Amazon and start UA-cam channels. Which you should as well
Same - Just play my favourite jams in the basement
Quite a bit of waffle going on !
Been playing for about 8 years now and somehow feel like a beginner, intermediate and advanced player at the same time. Learning new things every day along with new ways to apply them
That's funny i feel "kind of the same", and been playing for about 10 years.
If you do the same as me and start now learning what you are actualy doing after 9 years of random self tought playing it will be much easyer cause you have a much better ear than most beginers.
You're probably an intermediate guitar player with holes in your knowledge. I feel exactly like that.
Any good musician will always attempt to keep the beginners mind in some fashion. If you're attempting to learn you're forever growing. The second you think you've got it all figured out you're stagnant. The beginner's mind is a gold mine.
Well said
Agreed. Based on his description of the categories I'm definitely an advanced player. However, I still spend most of my time working on new techniques and concepts as a beginner would.
Growth mindset
I read about this the other day. There is two types brains. One thinks bottom up. Get all the detail then build up and see where they end up. This mind set isn't finished when the figure it out. Then top down type brains. They figure out outline with in limits creating a big picture of what should look like. Once they have it all figured out they done. Most people are top down types. Example of bottom up people are artistic people that don't know what they are painting till the painting is done. Imagine the with guitar, playing something and not knowing what it will be till it's done. Love to play like that.
absolutely agree, its all in your head
Hey Rob, I am 67 years on this planet. I've been playing guitar off and on for a little over fifty years. I taught myself how to transpose without having formal training. Sight reading is a bit beyond my skill level. One of my crowning achievements was figuring out Hotel California from the middle of the song out to both ends and embarrassingly still didn't know the notes the individual strings were tuned to. On another occasion I was attending a house party and was told to bring my guitar. I left the guitar in my vehicle while I checked out the calibre of musicians also attending. ( I knew one of them and he was a stunning guitarist). 8 consummate musicians in the room with several variations of stringed instruments fantastic music and no singer. My girlfriend at the time retrieved my guitar and once seen I was encouraged by the others to tune up and join in. I became the party singer encouraging all to sing along. It was a great time. After much music I was taking a break when an elderly gentleman approached striking up a conversation stating he was enjoying the music. I asked if he played, he smiled and said yes, piano. When he told me that he was the music professor at the local University I was instantly embarrassed and apologetic for butchering some of the tunes played earlier. He assured me that I did no such thing and said, " I cannot teach what you have. As good as those musicians are here tonight, they are not having fun with music as you are". (the musicians in the room were the professors students). I was humbled and honoured by his comment and took them for words of encouragement and promised myself to always have fun with music where learning and playing guitar is concerned. I love open and alternate tunings and dreamy chord arrangements. And Yes I am a student of guitar. still and always! I would say I am an Intermediate guitarist. Love your stuff Rob. Cheers!
The more you know, the more you know what you don't know ....
😊
good comment chrisjaillet
That's a beautiful story, I don't believe it happened but- beautiful, none the less. The turth is that playing by ear is no more fun than playing by sight reading- I've done both, both have value and their place. But ppl who seem to think formal training will somehow steal your soul- are morons. It's just not true- and I don't know of any music professor who wouldn't agree. It's akin to believing if you know optical physics a rainbow isn't as special to you- b.s.
I would say you are advanced chrisjaillet
been playing for 20+ years, still a beginner! :)
43 years for me. Never fully grasped it. Just about becoming a beginner.
I've only been a beginner for 37 years 😂 I do love gear though 😯
I can play along to a bit of acdc then it's stops...its been like that for many years...😂
@@neilkeepingitrealI was a bit like that then I started breaking on through to the other side , a bit .
Advanced but no shredder. Been playing for 40+ years and still learning new stuff.
At the start of the video, I believed I was an intermediate player. By the end and according to you, it seems that I am an advanced player. I've never improved so fast before and without even having to practice. Thanks for that.
I now feel somewhere between Intermediate and Advanced. I understand a lot of relations about music theory, chords and harmony, but I still struggle with the fretboard and even the fretting differences between the G and B strings (one being a Major Third above rather than a full fourth). My skills are really scattered because I learned what interested me (as best I could) which is a lot of progressive metal and other subgenres, as well as drums, piano and bass.
I’ve been playing over 30 years and still see myself as just scratching the surface of playing the guitar and understanding music … it’s a lifelong quest to me that I’ll never get tired with.
Are you toothless
I am a beginner / intermediate. 38 years of playing. But you say intermediate Rob! That makes me feel a bit better. But I have taken breaks for years. I own 9 guitars, 1 bass, 1 Roland TD-27 VAD 507 Drum Kit. And all the gear to record. I am in my Mid 50's. I used to play out at open mic nights in the late 90s and that was the best time of my life. I wish to get back to that. My good friend that kept me going doesn't want to play anymore. Finding friends at 55 years old that wanna jam is impossible. I am in some Facebook groups for open mic's but have not attended any yet. Some of them the kids are much younger than me. So I won't fit in well. But! Still going and I am happy I got into this in the the 80's. Good video Rob! Lifted me up a bit!
Almost 50 and I’m a beginner, in life and especially the guitar. Proud of it!
Doesn’t matter about age as long as you enjoy the learning, I’ve even gone back to basics to discover that there’s better more comfortable ways to hold a pick, I’m 38 and been playing since 15 and still go back to basics and discover something new
Same I’m 45 this year, played a little in my teens but not touched a guitar in over 20yrs, so just starting my journey now
Are you like me? I started learning guitar because I can't afford a motorcycle. 😆
Beginnermediate! Is that a thing? If it is that would be me after 30years of noodling and only recently trying seriously to play for realsies
It is a very interesting thing to ask yourself as a guitar player. Because I feel like the “ego” wants to immediately go to advanced. But being a guy that literally learned everything I know by ear, there is probably so much beginner knowledge that would benefit my playing overall. So higher end intermediate would be my self evaluation even though there is so much chordal knowledge that I have yet to discover. But that’s what keeps you going! So many comments about having a beginners mindset so you don’t become stagnant, which is such great advice for any guitar player at any level. Just keep picking up the wood and wire baby🤘🏼
I've been playing for 40something yrs., various bands, in studio, small live venues, countless jam sessions, about 30 or so completed original songs mixed & mastered, and never cared if I were a beginner, intermediate, or advanced musician. Never really thought about it to be honest. The only thing I did early on was play with other musicians who were much better than me. Like that I always had something to learn
Same goes for me.
I'm 58 now and still learning new stuff, still playing with pickers that I consider better than me.
@@nohillforahighstepper sure, makes sense to me. Nothing more boring or frustrating than playing with other musicians who are worse than you :)
@@rodnyg7952
For sure!
@@rodnyg7952
Every once in awhile, you find other musicians that can "just play", and a little magic happens, and something amazing is born. Those times are what keeps me playing...
@@nohillforahighstepper ya, it's kind of uncommon, but sometimes you find other musicians that just completely click with your artistic thinking and playing. For me it's always been others who play to contribute to the song rather than feel they have to always be the most important part in it
Love the way Rob is non judgmental and it’s about sharing the individual journey and enjoying the experience. Great stuff Mr Chapman 🤘
I've been playing various instruments almost my entire boomer life and performed in various ensembles, but I've only been playing guitar for about 10 years. I read and understand music, but learning the mechanics of the guitar and how to translate what I learned on piano (one linear scale) to guitar (five/six different linear scales in parallel which vary by tuning) has been challenging and addictive. From that perspective, my level is a blend of competencies that are further complicated when considering musical genres and playing styles. Bottom line, I don't see a practical purpose is slotting myself into a generic level. Instead, I focus on what I want to continue to improve. From that perspective, I'll never stop being a learner, and that's the most useful level for categorizing my abilities.
Everyone is a beginner. My guitar teacher taught me when I was first learning “you don’t know that you don’t know what you don’t know.” So we are constantly learning. the cup is never full, but it’s also not empty.
Absolutely. Always learning, never learned.
I classify myself at the top end of beginner. I've been playing for 55 years but I never got any better.
Resonates with me too. Played for 14 years and consider myself as a really advanced beginner 😊 no time, nor talent nor drive to get any better
Similar, but I consider myself an advanced intermediate. I know all the notes and chords and theory, but could never move into the more advanced topics like jazz or improvisation. Can’t really write lyrics or melody. Don’t really have that great of an ear for it.
Guitar is my hobby, I love the way they look the way they sound, I love guitars in general. Been playing/goofing for about 6 years I’m an intermediate beginner and I’m stuck there.
I had thought I as an intermediate player for some time, but later last year I noticed I had missed several important beginner skills. So I dug out my Hal Leonard guitar books and started working through the basics again, and already I am enjoying guitar playing more.
Done that a few times over the years
After playing Bass,(Double and Electric) for over 60 years as both pro and semi and achieving grade 8 on pianoforte (classical) I am still learning from those whom I consider better at certain aspects of playing than I. Although no longer being able to participate at a pro level due to disability I still love to sit at home and practise techniques that I have not learned yet.
FLAC! HEAT!
I think I'm an intermediate and I teach for a living and play out most weekends.
Music/Guitar/ is my primary income, and I've still got loads to learn.
I know a lot of stuff, but there's way more I don't know and can't play.
I can't Guthrie or Gatton, or Martin Taylor
Ha ha what’s up Steve, nice to see you here man, I’ve seen you playing and you’ve got nothing to worry about ❤
@@RobChappers I'll take it from the ManChap! 😀🙏
You are way too humble.
But I like the way you are ... 🥰
@@oneirdaathnaram1376 Thank ya kindly pal 😀🙏 "Intermediate" might be a subjective term 🤔.
1 min you think you're great then you watch UA-cam for 5 mins and realise... "Oh 😐... John Cordy Exists" 🙈
You’re definitely not intermediate mate , not from what I saw/heard the other day , definitely advanced 👍👍🤠🎸
I'm 57yrs old, playing for a year as a hobby and still very much a beginner. Useful and instructive video, thank you, Rob.
Been a beginning guitarist since 1968...and I still got a looooottttt to learn
By your definition (which I enjoyed hearing and thinking about), I am advanced, but each day I feel just as I did when I first picked up a guitar: excited and trying to master ‘the next thing’.
Been “playing” since 2010. I’m still a beginner. I will proudly proclaim that. I wish I had time to invest to make it to that next level but being a business owner and father to a 4 year old my time is spent mostly running scales silently on the couch at night unplugged while my family sleeps. The JCM800 sits quietly waiting for the day I can unleash its fury. Someday. Someday. Thanks for the content Rob! Watched your stuff for years!
Keep playing so when you have time you’ll be just that much further along. Oh, and stay healthy. It’s much easier to learn and advance that way. And you can start you kid too if they want. Music is great for learning anything else.
Im currently in the exact same situation! Been trying to focus all my "downtime" to just guitar and not being a potato in front of the computer like many nights might look like
My fingers don't like playing my acoustic much anymore and my ears don't like loud so I think that puts me in your category unplugged with my Strat LOL!
Remind yourself often that we improve in some way every time we play for at least ten minutes 🙂
@@Robert-Smith Nice! Epiphone Les Paul for me. I never played standing up so now I'm making the best use of my time trying to relearn everything while standing. Changes the hand position and finger reach immensely.
Given this definition I'm an advanced player, but when anyone asks me I'll say I'm a beginner. I'm always learning. . Great video Rob.
Never stop, never stop learning! Even masters learn something everytime they play!
Randy Rhoads signed up for a lesson everywhere he went with Ozzy, AND his family ran a music school!
Never stop... always keep an open mind... everyone started laughing at jazz in the 70's until evh started channeling holdsworth, then everyone started listening to holdsworth and Coltrane. Never stop learning, always broaden your horizons
Thank you for clarifying this Rob! 🙂
I thought that I was an intermediate player but I now know I have a lot more work to get there. This is a great explanation!
I began playing guitar when i was about 12yrs old… I am nearly 60yrs old…. I had lessons and this enabled me and my mates to form a band, we were terrible, but, it was great fun. Over the years i got much better and in the early 80s started playing in London supporting some great bands like New Model Army, Billy Bragg, The Men They Couldn’t Hang, The Pogues etc. I even went for an audition for a band called The Sex Gang Children at Apple Music in Soho Square… a great experience, but i didn’t get in….. I do feel though that it was a lot easier to play live,especially in London and the surrounding areas. Today i just play for my own enjoyment, I’m fortunate to have a guitar room, with my amps, pedals and various instruments. How would i rate my progress? I have no idea… But, I ain’t arf enjoyed it and i still do. Charlie.
Been playing since 1981. Completely self-taught. Have done pretty well. Made a few records etc, been on a few tours blah blah. The light bulb moment for me was when I gave up trying to emulate what everyone else was doing and concentrated on my own strengths and developed my own style. I'm no genius but I can confidently say that I am the best at what I do! However, had youtube been around back in the day I would probably be a more "rounded" player but then I wouldn't be me! Although every time I play is a learning experience. Cool video. Very entertaining.
other than the obvious (beginners and people who just cant play) its really subjective. what do you want to do? shred? learn covers? write songs? play around camp fires? i think it depends on what your personal goal is with playing and how far along that path you are at the current moment. id classify myself as an intermediate player but im a songwriter so i just write what i think sounds cool. so, to me, it doesnt matter
This was such a great video! I feel that someone needed to say this. I felt that it was very well stated about the different levels and where you are as a guitar player. I also enjoyed a lot of the references you used about constructing music.
Glad you enjoyed it! 🤘🏽
Thanks Rob. This really makes sense. What you are essentially explaining is Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning. There are six stages, each thought to require deeper cognitive reasoning. The stages are knowledge (remember an A chord) / understanding (relationships between chords) / applying (putting together some chords)/ analysing (read music and figure out what it means) / evaluating (being able to tell why something is good or bad) / synthesis (using all the above to create something new).
Noone will probably read this, but I hope it's of interest to someone :)
After 20 years. I'm still a beginner...
I think you’re absolutely right mate.
I genuinely think, after watching this video, i am right in between intermediate and advanced. I know chord relations and western music quite well, i know many scales and can play them in most positions in all keys. I am able to write my own music and i make new music in a band. I play blues, metal, jazz, pop, whatever, and i learn most songs by ear. You gave me some confidence Rob ;) The thing that does not make me advanced yet, is technique (I think). I can't play super fast, i struggle with techniques like sweep picking and hybrid picking etc. I guess practice makes perfect
That's why they call it guitar playing, not guitar knowing.
@@EETMySheet Exactly. You've hit the point, I'd say. 👌
I've been playing for over 30 years and teach guitar fulltime. I see beginner level as at least 3 levels. Intermediate covers around 4-5 levels. And advanced covers at least 10 levels or so. And an advanced rockguitarist can be a beginner jazz player at the same time. The beauty of the guitar is, that it's universe is so big - no single guitarist in history has been able to really fully master ALL of it's possibilities.
Interesting discussion. I’m in the category of players who’ve played for a very long time. Know my cords and can play along with songs of my favorite bands, however I lack the theory knowledge. Just now trying to grasp that, I would say I’m intermediate player but beginner at theory 🤣
I have been playing since 1977. I play every day and sit in with a band once a week. I have never ever needed to pigeonhole myself into any category. In terms of learning I tend to only get lessons in person from a teacher that I think will know what I am looking to better understand. I think I learned what notes were on the fretboard in my first year of playing due to the insistence of my teacher at that time.
a 20 year beginner
same here. Sadly😂
So do I, how do we do it?
Same here.. 20 years as well. I blame just not devoting my entire childhood/teenage years to just music.. it’s all coming together easier though when I really dig in on music theory and new stuff. It’s a lifetime journey that never ends for anyone really.
63 and have been playing guitar for much of the past 50 years, with a few years off for career and family concerns.
Still taking lessons for Classical and Jazz, focused on learning the fundamentals correctly -- and this continues even while advancing into more complex techniques and pieces.
Progress is slow yet rewarding. Not comparing myself with others brings peace. Focusing on being a musician first and guitar player second.
Thanks for this Rob. I struggle with guitar and had thought maybe I am an intermediate, but now feel comfortable saying I am an intermediate player.
You echoed something my guitar teacher told me about my song writing. I haven't written that many and frankly they all have the same vibe - minor. And he said one day I have a "tendency to float towards the minor side of things". I guess this is what you mean about having a sound. But heh, I'm an old guy, I've earned my sorrows lol! Thanks again for the video!
Been trying to learn on and off for years and never really thought of myself as anything other than a ‘Beginner’ but having just watched your analysis of the various stages of learning I’ve just realised I’m now probably classed as an ‘Intermediate’ guitarist.
Rock on Rob, It’s made my night.
I consider myself an "Advanced Beginner" after 22 years of playing. lol
I love this conversation Rob. Because as guitar collectors, we obsess over the material instrument. But then as guitar players, we look inward and the material disappears.
My level is 0 because I am a drummer.
I got my first guitar Christmas 2001 when I was 65 & started having lessons. I'm still having lessons because I enjoy them and get to learn new songs from my era - 70' & 80's mostly. I class myself as a beginner & always will be. Now I might have become an intermediate beginner & maybe on my way to be an advanced beginner, but I can't see that I will be able to achieve intermediate, nor do I really need to or want to .... I just enjoy what I can do and look forward to being able to do it better - the main difficulty at my age is remembering everything !!!!
by this metric I would be an advanced player but let me tell you this, it definitely doesn't feel like that! I am constantly being humbled by the sheer musical prowess that you can see on a daily basis!
Beginner for sure. Started my learning process when I was 18 and it didn't take (didn't have the drive to push through the frustration at the early stages). Fast forward 22 years, I'm now almost 40 and I'm well beyond what I was back then after almost two months of work. This helps me know that once I can piece together the guitar "language" and form paragraphs then I'm intermediate. Once I have my own voice and can put together a full on short story of my own I've achieved at least low levels of advanced.
Thanks Mr. Chapman. If I have that wrong someone correct me.
Well, I have been playing for 41 years. (I know, damn near an eternity lol) It's been a heck of a journey, I gotta say. Playing guitar has opened many more doors in my life that would have never been opened had I not started to learn. For that I'm thankful. I also extend my gratitude and thanks to the biggest inspiration for sparking my want to learn how to play in the first place. That player is James Marshall (Jimi) Hendrix. I remember like it was yesterday. It was a Sunday evening in 1982. A then 13 year old me was watching the 1969 Woodstock movie with my mother, on channel 11 WTTW Chicago. At the very end, out came Jimi. I was intrigued by his playing, even his wardrobe. But... It was when he played his rendition of The Star Spangled Banner and near the end he hit this high note and it turned onto feedback in the same pitch of the note that absolutely blew my mind. When his performance ended, I looked wide eyed at my mother, pointed at the TV at Jimi and said, MOM, I WANT TO DO THAT! So, in 1983 I got a guitar for my 14th birthday (Ikr, late bloomer lol) and this fantastic journey started. I would wonder from time to time where I stood as a guitar player. Before watching this video I categorized myself as intermediate. But, by Robs scale I can confirm I'm in the advanced levels. (Damn, I would hope so after 41 frickin years Hahaha). Back in 1983 I did not have all the amazing resources beginners have access to today. Mine was a turn table record player, pulling back the needle over and over and over to learn a song. I think that helped with discipline and patience. The first three years or so of learning, I could not get enough. I would come home from school, do my homework and have dinner. From the point of dinner ending till I went to bed, I practiced. So, I played four to five hours every night for the first 3 years. That really set me apart from others learning by HUGE strides. I mean I left them in the dust. Once in a while, someone would ask me, What's the "secret" for learning how to play like you do so fast?" First, I would slowly look side to side to insinuate I was making sure nobody could hear us. Then, I would slightly lean over to also insinuate I was going to say something very quietly and in a quiet voice, I would say...after an odd pause..."Practice". Man, some of the sour looks I would get, haha. That's not what they wanted to hear, but it was the truth. So if I were to give any pointers to beginners, #1. obviously first and foremost is practice. #2. Hang around with guitar players better than you. Watch how they do things. Ask them how you do this or that. If they show you something too fast, tell them to slow it down so you can get a grasp on it. Once you have down where you got to go, practice the hell out of it. First slow then gradually build speed. And #3. when someday, you get to the advanced levels always, always be humble. I get people to this day say, oh yeah, I heard about you..I heard you play a mean guitar....I shrug my shoulders and say, well, I know a few chords... I've never had a huge ego about my playing because it seems no matter what level you are, you always feel you can do better. But beginners don't give up! Put in some determination, patience and discipline....and yes, the "secret", a few hours every day practicing and you to shall reap gratuitous rewards for your efforts in the future, trust me. Until next time, right on and rock on!
\m/>_
I really like this description because your definition of 'advanced' doesn't involve knowing ALL the theory, it just involves the development of your own voice with some theory. This makes sense, because we can for sure say that a great, idiosyncratic blues player is advanced, but they may not know all the modes etc. Good definitions, well considered!
When young I seemed to be inspired by the classic metal rock bands (Sabbs, Zeppelin, Purple among many others) in the early 70s. I had a few guitar tute books but found them boring. I could never afford lessons but did have an allowance which I used to buy the music books for these bands and learned from these. Other stuff I learned by ear and practiced till the neighbors complained. Within 6 years I had started my first band with friends, we started to write, and got heaps of gigs. There's nothing like being able to apply your skills to original music, although I always say I am still learning. Because music, within its perceived simplicity, can offer infinite possibilities. Great post Sir.
Thank you so much for this! I've been calling myself an intermediate player for years. But after watching this, I feel confident saying that I am an advanced player. Thank you for the confidence boost!
Came into this thinking that I might be a beginner -> intermediate, but left realizing that I’m probably more on the intermediate -> advanced side. Understanding why certain intervals/lines fit within a progression and always noodling in a way that sounds less and less derivative as I age. Bless ya Rob, I was expecting it to be more of a consideration of how a musician understands the ins and outs of theory, but in reality it’s about understanding what an individual enjoys and then contributing constantly through experimentation. I’d add that it also could be important for an advanced individual to be able to explain why what they’re doing makes good sense and is a strong decision ( to a degree).
This is a great video! I have long wondered where I fit. I’m 62 and i have lived and breathed guitar since i was 12. Ive had plateaus that lasted for years and I’ve at times taken big leaps in a matter of weeks. I often think I should be way better for my time and love. This gives me confidence to call myself intermediate with some hope to creep into advanced, writing songs and developing riffs. I hope to keep improving and this gives me inspiration .Thank you!
Thank you so much for making this! I’m very guilty of skipping building blocks and fundamentals my goal a year ago was to shred and rock out lol and I have gotten to that point. But my current goal is to get more building blocks chords understanding of how they actually fit together. I feel inspired to not give up on that and keep creating and being creative. Because at the end of the day that’s the best part for me is speaking part of me through my guitar that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
A great guitarist is one whose music people want to listen to. It may be shreding, jazz or country, but it must be tastefully and beautifully done, whether it's lightening fast or a slow ballad.
You hit the nail on the head with this chat. The only thing that might be missing is the connection you may have with music to express your self.
After seeing this video I've reached the conclusion that it's very difficult to be a "fully" begginer, intermediate or advanced guitar player. I play in a band, we make constant gigs/rehearsals, and we love to both compose our own music and to improvise/jam on spot. I can deal with it quite well, i can improvise into any key, into different chord progressions, into different rhytms/styles and do it with my own personal sound/taste. But at the same time I still know many things that I can't apply freely in my playing, and there are many more things that I know only the basis or don't even know nothing about. In conclusion I guess we are "trapped" in a cycle of learning, applying and mastering the guitar, never reaching the "end goal".
And I think this is amazing. I mean, we don't need to know everything or be an absolute master at everything to be a good player or to make good music or even enjoy playing with friends for other people. And we also don't need to be bored because there's always something new to learn, apply and master. We're all begginers, intermediates and professionals in our own way.
I'm a solid beginner/ starting intermediate. Currently learning all the notes of the fretboard and starting to be able to play licks. It's truly rewarding to be this far but also what's to come is exciting as the guitar journey continues truly excites me!
Thank you for helping me determine my skill level-I'm at an intermediate stage. I've developed some additional techniques like pinch harmonics and finger tapping, and I've also dabbled in Travis picking for blues. However, I still struggle to spontaneously create music, so I recognize I have a journey ahead to reach advanced level. It's been a challenge picking up where I left off after a 25-year hiatus-it's not as easy as riding a bike. I've essentially forgotten 90% of what I knew as a teenager. Despite this, I've made progress over the past year with lessons, but I know there's still a long road ahead to reclaim the proficiency I had in my youth.
Rock on...
I've been playing for many years and consider myself intermediate+ guitarist. I can learn most anything by ear unless it is severe shredding, in that case I don't have that picking technique mastered. I learned on Zep, early Aerosmith, Allman Bros., Skynyrd, Deep Purple, Stevie etc. so I gravitate to those styles The past few years I have been learning the theory aspect. I knew a slew of chords (Aug, dim, sus) but did not all the names or scales they were associated with.
Asking guitarists which level they're at will never yield accurate results. We're marking own own homework and the guitarists' ego is, generally....er....not recessive let's say, certainly when new to the island.
I've been playing since about '83 - a gigging and recording musician for bands I was in and, surprisingly to me, I fall easily into your definition of an "advanced" player...and I can totally understand the context of the three brackets as you describe them...but some days I feel like I know nothing. Some 15 year-old will be on UA-cam just being incredible and I'm sat there watching, head shaking in disbelief.
It's all just so brilliant - I don't know what I'd do without it in my life.
Great video.
56 now. Been playing since a teenager. Learned a couple of the boxes of the pentatonic scale enough to jam with neighbor somewhat compenently. Couple of years ago decided to ditch all the electrics and steel string acoustics and go with the nylon for good. Definitely back to beginner!!
I always considered myself (well for the last 20 years or so, been playing for 36 lol) an intermediate player. Mainly because, yes, I can definitely 'play', but i wasnt really up to scratch on knowing very well what I was playing ie: identifying modes etc. But: I have a the 'themness' as you call it. No matter what I use, amp, guitar, what have you, and no matter what i play whether its a cover or something original, i definitely sound like me. And it wasnt easy to accept that, especially when I was trying to learn some of the things other players were doing, like playing along to Van Halen or something. It was actually frustrating cuz I was so focused on sounding like them, and of course I couldnt. Took me awhile to realize that i had actually crossed that threshold, and had developed the 'ME' sound. Interesting ponder Chappers.
Perpetual beginner, I’ve been playing for years and learn something new every time I play.
What you've just described is the hallmark of every truly advanced/professional/expert guitarist I've ever met.
Dear Rob
Dear Rob
Thank you very much for your informative explanation of levels of playing i would just like to ask you were you would put myself in those categories,my Dad was an amazing guitarist born in 1944 and as you can imagine was inspired by every form of music from beatles/shadows,clapton,beck, the underlying feel to his playing was always blues learning from all those guys back then my Dad had an amazing memory could play any song and knew the chords he had the most fantastic and unique feel to his playing,obviously as a child right up through to today i took all this into my subconcious experiencing the wonderful music in our house when all my friends were listening to pop music i was listening to all froms of blues,country, jazz,rock and everything inbetween i started playing guitar when i was 13 im 55 now but at the same time i was playing snooker and within 12mths i had made my first 100 break which back then i was hailed as a local talented player and received backing travelling the country playing tournaments after a few years i decided to get a job and pack up playing to support my Mum and Dad so life began, my Dad sort of retired from playing professionally and we both got into recording and developed it into a recording studio in Liverpool up until 2010 i am sorry for the very long message but i just want to let you know were im coming from so you can understand were i am at the moment playing wise my Dad suddenly passed away in 2021 and it has took a terrible toll on my well being i have only just started to live again so roughly 12mths ago i started noodling in the house on Dads guitars trying to remember all the things Dad taught me when i was 13 and also watching you tube tutorials it is coming back to me it doesn,t take me long to play something once i have watched someone playing muscle memory is a great thing haha my Dads playing is in me as it comes out all the time when i noodle as friends always say my playing is just like Dads i just don,t know were i am or what the next step is i f you can give any guidance at all i would be so grateful me and Dad always watched your Andertons videos always great and funny anyway take care of yourself you cna message me on if you have time kind regards,Lee
I roam the vast realms of the intermediate kingdom. Thanks for this Rob!
It's been 7 years, playing about an hour every day, and I'd go with early intermediate. I know the chords, I can build the keys, I understand how it all fits together, but I've just started playing with other people in the past couple months, and holy crap, that's a whole next level of learning to do. It's pretty fantastic. I look forward to never running out of new stuff to learn. I expect I'll be intermediate for most of the rest of my life.
Started playing in ‘91. I was doing very well. Has some friends that’s played longer than I. Learned a lot from them. Went in the service in ‘93.
Met some great people that played. Was still in my mind a beginner. Got out of the service in ‘97. Life happened. Did not touch my guitar(which I had bought in Japan in ‘96 Grover Jackson still have). It wasn’t til late 2021 before I picked it back up. It had been a long time that I missed. I had shattered my hip and needed something to do again. So out came old dusty. Still by in perfect shape. A wipe down, new strings checked the setup. Sounded perfect. Started to play and I had forgotten just about everything. So I’m still a beginner after all. Hahahaha. Still love. Have a lot to relearn but that’s the best part.
I completely agree with your assessment. I learned a lot of advanced music theory concepts early on but was basically navigating a maze due to a weak knowledge the notes on the fretboard. Not having the right pieces in place absolutely stifles your ability with any skill. I made it a mission to go back and master these concepts so I can finally feel like an actual guitar player. Great video!
Excellent summation. I'd like to add my own opinion; it is essential to develop the ability to learn and / or adapt an entire arrangement for any given song, and to be able to play it from the intro all the way to the ending. Although simple (and often overlooked), it is not as easy as it seems, and is every bit as important as staying in tune and hitting the right notes.
Thanks Rob. I play the guitar for more than 30 years now and would have never considered myself being advanced. But according to your explaination I seem to be there. I have met so many players who literally shredded my into the ground, but most of them weren't able to write proper songs. I played with bands, wrote my own stuff. I don't do shredding, I'm slow as hell, but my own music flows and to me, that matters the most.
I'm a true old beginner. Still getting excited about learning 7th chords 🙂
lots of good info here...been playin long time, and I know where I fit...but here is a way for others to understand and not get confused about the "gear" status...
Gosh I love these " Guru " moments. Your playing is wonderful and your inciteful wisdom was a great boost on many levels. 💯👍🎸🔥 Thanks for your time and talents.
Wow! That gave me something to think on. I feel like a beginner because I'm excited to have learned something new. Yet I've memorized the fret board and different chord voicings/ scales etc., so that could put me in the intermediate position. When I pick up the guitar, I'll do a little warm up then come up with something of my own and try and expand upon it. So that puts me in the advanced territory. It feels like I keep going back and forth through all the categories not locking into one.
Been playing over 20 years. I still consider myself intermediate. Even though I can improvise I find myself constantly wanting to learn more scales make more riffs. Staying humble helps me a lot. Thanks for your knowledge chappers.
My guitar journey when I first started was about transferring my advanced keyboard skills to the fretboard. I could already improvise, create my own compositions, arranging those compositions etc so it was about learning the navigation of the fretboard and the techniques to manipulate the strings to be able to make the music in my head with a guitar. So many guitarists spend so much time learning the fretboard and the multitude of techniques associated with the guitar while their musicianship, understanding of harmony and melody fall short and thus they might never reach their full potential as a musician. If you have the understanding of music, the playing part on a fretboard will always flourish along with that knowledge. I think its first better to evaluate where you lie as a musician rather than a guitarist first which will help in one's musical journey whatever instrument you play.
Based upon your definitions, I suppose I am an advanced player. I know a variety of basic chords (almost none of the cool "jazz" chords), and can put things together in a song. I know when to fall back, and I know when to step out in a song to compliment what is going on. I can improvise solos, and can "create" chord patterns, rhythms, etc. during a free form jam. I have a good ear, so I can often learn songs by listening and playing along. As a kid I just loved Cream/Blind Faith/D&D ear Clapton, and would learn to play his solos close to note-for-note, within the boundaries of my ability. I also can play a solo that hints at what Clapton (or others) did, but adding my own spin to the solo. And I usually know when something sounds wrong (my band plays down a 1/2 step, and once in a while our keyboard player hits a button accidently and is back to concert pitch -- but I notice right away). BUT, according to MY own definitions, I am an "advanced beginner". I am totally self taught (well, I had a half dozen lessons when I was 11 or 12, but the Mel Bay book hardly counts). I don't read music, my knowledge of the fretboard is more about shapes than it is about notes (yea, I can figure out what note is where, but it is not second nature to me at all), I know no theory, my technique could use improving, I have no finger style capbillities (although I can hybrid pick a bit), and I am a slower player (ie: Slowhand Clapton, or Dickie Betts type). No shredding here. So in my mind, not at all advanced, and perhaps not even fullly blown intermediate. I am soon to be 67 years old, and will be retiring in a year or so, and I hope to take lessons at that time so that I can advance, more for my own satisfaction than anything else. Will likely start with Trufire, but if I can find the right teacher to deal with someone who can play, but knows little and needs a more disciplined approach to technique, I would defintely prefer in person lessons, and think they would be more beneficial.
I've been playing guitar for over 50 years, have performed solo and in numerous bands playing different genres (eg folk, country, blues, rockabilly, rock, new wave, pop covers, soul, jazz, etc), have jammed with some very well-known musicians, played fairly large venues (1500-2000 seats), a little radio and TV work, done paid sessions on a number of albums and taught guitar for a living at various points in the last twenty years (including now). In my head, though, I'm still an intermediate player (although with some advanced traits) when compared to some of the guitarists I've played with. My big advantage, though - and probably the reason why I've worked more than people I've played with who were more technically proficient than I was - was that early on I knew that I needed to understand enough music theory to allow me to play anywhere on the fretboard and be able to follow chord progressions and improvise in any key (whatever style I was playing), so over the years I taught myself. I also took whatever work came along, and didn't limit myself to any particular musical genre, and discovered that I could often import something that worked in one genre into others, where it sounded completely different. I don't know why so many younger players seem to be almost obsessed with obscure modes and techniques such as shredding - professional violinists and cellists don't have arguments about who is the fastest player, because that's probably the least important aspect of playing. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was from an older guitar player I played with in a band back in the late 70s. He said that all music consists of two things: the sounds you make and the silences that come between them, and each is as important as the other. This is really, really good advice for anyone learning how to play.
Hell yeah! I'm intermediate/advanced
You can not know all the notes, chords, scales etc., and how it all fits together (i.e. theory), but still be an advanced player.
BB King, for example, had his own particular and rather limited lane and didn't know a whole lot outside of that lane, but he was very advanced within his lane. One of the greats, in fact. He could say more with one note than many guitar players could with many notes. His feel, dynamics, etc. were amazing.
Dimebag only learned a major n minor scale
I was a beginner from the age of 7, when I was given my fist guitar. At 45, I began playing with a band and graduated to intermediate beginner within a year. Having left the band 15 years later, I’m now a knowledgeable beginner. I do miss jamming with other musicians. Incredible learning curve.
I was expecting to be intermediate because I’m not a very technical player. But based on your definition of having the tools and knowledge to freely create, I’m definitely advanced. It helps that I have a vast musical background that I’ve built my guitar journey upon
So, being a general musician, started on accordion!! And then keyboards and bass, before becoming obsessed with 6 string, and doing the full on gear acquisition thing, my understanding of ‘music’ is pretty good…. And by your definitions I’d probably be advanced… but believe me, I’m NOT an advanced guitarist, a can do a lot, but there are areas where my technique is way below my musical knowledge or fluency….
I think I’m a better musician than I am guitarist, if that makes sense?? But I know I love every minute I spend making music, and have had the best times of my life over the past 40+ years when jamming, or performing gigs big and small with good people and just connecting!
For me now, I don’t care, I can pick up a guitar or whatever, in any room of people, I know I’m not the best, or the worst, but I’ve mastered pinched harmonics and I have decent vibrato control, and I know how to use a trem, so I’m gonna have fun! That’s what it’s really about!!
I started playing guitar again at 44 years old and was never good at the guitar. I'm still not good at the guitar. I am getting better and noticing progress. Mostly I don't even try to learn songs. I'm getting to know the building blocks. Because several times a week I get music in my head. I can hear every note and beat and it's awesome. I'm very good with language so I always have words that go with it. I'm a beginner at playing guitar, and always will be. But I'm doing this so that I can all of this new music out of my head and put it into a tangible form.
This is a really interesting conversation Rob. I'm a professionally trained trumpet player who over the years dabbled on guitar and bass for fun. Lockdown gave me the opportunity to devote time to writing more of my own material and required me to improve my guitar skills. Musical knowledge is something I had as an advanced musician and I have applied it to guitar playing, songwriting and looping. I know my way around a bass and a guitar fairly well now but I would never class myself as anything more than technically average and just above beginner ON THOSE INSTRUMENTS. It's a complicated subject to try to attach labels to!
Love your content, have followed you since the dreadlock days 😉. Keep up the good work.👍
Great points! I recently realized that I've been overly concerned with gear and not practicing enough. Great gear is nice to have. It makes playing more enjoyable. But it's not a substitute for practice. "Practice Makes Improvement".
After 30+ years of self teaching, I would say I'm a beginner intermediate.
UA-cam has accelerated my learning, it's such a great tool.
Excellent video Rob. I agree that someone at a higher level has a sense of personal style. they have looked at the building blocks and made conscious decision of what to play and what NOT to play
Classic Rob style! Thanks! Helps guide my learning after many years as a beginner
I grew up in a musical family, can’t say when I started playing guitar but I remember performing Me and Bobby McGee at a family gathering when I was in 5th grade. High school bands, and bar bands for many years, I pretty much quit plying “out” around 2012 as what I would consider an intermediate player but with my own sound I think. I got very interested in stringed instrument repair over the years and always have something on the bench these days. (You can’t spend THAT much money on files and only use them once! 😳) Over my 50 years or so of playing I spent very little time on theory, I just played what I had in my head or attempted to copy for cover songs. Early on I had a few Mel Bay books for the basics and in the 1980’s I tried to follow a Rick Emmet Star Licks VHS but my tape player ate it before I got through all the modes.
Flash forward to now and I have a “music Room” upstairs with several amps, PA with a mixer, computer stuff etc. but I spend way more time in the garage at the workbench playing through a tiny Fender Frontman (upgraded speaker), noodling along to backing tracks on an iPad, getting more pleasure out of it than ever and I’m still not sure what key I’m in 😁. Nobody hears me except my wife or the occasional customer. A few good jam session have sparked up when someone came to pick up an instrument I’ve repaired. Anyway, playing has brought a lot of joy to my life so far and Lord willing, into the future. While I understand the point of the video, at this point I’m not too concerned about labels or skill level assessment. It was never a competition anyway.
Excellent video. I love the way you separate gear knowledge from playing ability. I'm almost 70 and first picked up a guitar when I was 12. I think today I can still sometimes be a 'beginner' in some aspects and advanced in others. I fell victim to essential tremor about 8 years ago and that became humbling to lose accuracy and precision. But now I know what I can play within my limits and what I cannot. I play a lot more acoustic these days and use DADGAD as much as I do standard tuning. And strangely it has led to me being more creative than I ever was, writing many more songs than before. There is much more "me" in what I play and less imitation. It's not technically advanced but it is what and who I am. Thank you for your perspective and keep up the good work.
Been playing for about 5 years and I would say I am a Beginner coming up to the Intermediate stage.
A friend, Rick, and I had a garage band in the 60s. In the 90s we got back together. Rick and I were discussing modes. I wasn't that familiar with them. My daughter, who is a piano pedagogist, showed me on the piano very simply. I caught on immediately and showed the trick to Rick along with some other basic music theory my daughter had shown me. Although not all new to us, we both agreed we should have learned all this 30 years previously.
Don't call me advanced or even intermediate. As Will Rogers once said, "All men are ignorant, only on different subjects." We're all beginners to one degree or another. I hope none of us ever thinks we've reached the advanced stage. That being said, a good foundation is priceless. A drummer friend, Hank, asked me to join his band to play for his mother-in-law's 90th birthday party.
I met these guys the day of the party. We had never practiced before. The only other person any of us knew was Hank, yet we were all experienced enough that none of our listeners knew we hadn't practiced. Hank picked simply classic rock tunes. I knew them all. I would call out to the bass player "1-4-5 in 'C' " and he had no problem. The other guitar player was better than I was and only asked once what key we were in. That's not advanced or intermediate. It's only being a well-rounded beginner enough to where we could have been skilled intermediates if we had had more practice together.
"The emotions of the builder at the time..." Wonderful! I shall like and subscribe!