I know this post will likely get lost in all the other comments, but I would like to share the best advice I was ever given. When I was around 8 years old my father took me to my first concert. Me being an 8yr old kid at the time... well... I didn't really appreciate it. I didn't even make an effort to remember the name of the band. As far as I was concerned it was just a bunch of old dudes on stage playing music. Anyway, my father at the time was a photographer and would shoot concerts. Thats how he got us into the show in the first place, and thats also how he got us backstage. So there I am, backstage, when one of the old dudes crouched down to talk to me. He asked me if I wanted to play guitar when I grow up. Of course I gave him a hearty "yeah!!!". Then he told me "well make sure that when you practice: slow down and play accurately. Speed will come later. Otherwise you'll just be practicing your mistakes". For whatever reason I never forgot that. It just stuck in my head. So last year it occurred to me that I never asked my dad who that was. So I called him up and asked. He told me it was Stevie Ray Vaughn. So there ya go. Thats the best advice I've ever been given.
He was a wonderful cat! Sincere, beautiful, and looked you right in the face when he spoke! I had the pleasure a couple of times... It was right when he was doing the tour with Joe Cocker, and I'm hanging out with him backstage at shoreline amphitheatre right outside of San Francisco, and he tells me that he actually knew who my band was! ( Albert King had just come to town and play a gig the night before he was headlining the Monterey Blues festival, and we were supposed to be his backing band I'm the one off show in San Francisco. But we got bumped because somebody knew somebody, who knew somebody... Yeah well you get the point! The worst part is that the cats who we're backing him up didn't even take the time to listen to the records and get the songs right! And Albert was a little pissed off about that!!! ) And Stevie was saying that there wasn't many decent blues bands in town. Then here off-handedly told me; "I've got to finish up this tour - but I'll be back and maybe bring the guitar, that Strat that I've been WAITING to sign all week! ( My best friend at the time was the general manager of shoreline. And I used to work for BGP on and off when I didn't have a gig myself. My friend mentioned to him what a fan I was, and believe it or not I'm so stupid that because of the Ungodly traffic, I waited the entire week and then never showed up to hang out, and I have him sign my axe, and they were also rehearsing there! Instead, I waited till the gig, but DIDN'T BRING MY GUITAR? Yeah, like I said I'm stupid! ) I told him the traffic sucked, and in my mind I figured he'd be around for a long time. He said; "Well - hey Man - bring your axe down and you can jam with us! I was kind of freaked out and didn't even tell my old lady! When I asked him why he would do that? He said "Hey Brother, I used to sleep on pool tables! I know how hard it is to make a living doing this - but I'm always happy to lend a helping hand to another cat who wants to play the blues!" A Few weeks later - I heard the news on the radio and I was inconsolable! When I first moved to California I was living with his protege "Doyle Bramhall II" for about a month - and when I mentioned that I knew Doyle, he opened up even more. So here I am talking to SRV and I yoked out the playbill, and said hey man since I'm here and I have this, & I feel like a jerk for even asking - but maybe you might be kind enough to write something inspiring for me here? Until I catch up with you on the back end of the tour? He did and I will always cherish it! And then he never did come back... I LOVE AND MISS YOU MY BROTHER ✌️🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷 RIP PAL... ( Once he got rid of all the other hangers-on, we spoke just like we had known each other all our lives! There was no strange adoration, it was just two cats talking about pedals and amps and Guitars, Lightning Hopkins, Albert King and all the other Blues cats that we adored! The funny thing was - that I said; and remember so clearly was that; "I find it interesting that we both listen to the same people, I use basically the exact rig that you use - but I don't sound anything thing like you! Not worse, not better, Just different!" At that point he slapped me on the back and said; "THAT'S the best thing that you have accomplished! And THAT IS to have your OWN sound! We all learn from everybody else but it's SO IMPORTANT - PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING is to have our OWN VOICE/ YOUR OWN TONE...!!! ) I don't go to jam sessions anymore but, sometimes I end up out in the club and there's always somebody there who is trying to emulate or be a clone of SRV! They never get it right, and he would just shake his head, and be the first guy to tell them to LISTEN LEARN and get your OWN thing going man! A story I thought that someone might be interested in? PEACE Y'ALL AND ALWAYS REMEMBER; "PLAY FROM THE HEART!!! SLEEP WELL MY BROTHER - SLEEP WELL... 🙏🏼✌️💖💖💖💖🌷🌷🌷
Dedication. I failed as a young guy to do just that. So I went through a life of admiration of others and only wishing I could play and be good at it. Finally after retirement I decided this was my goal. It's too late to become that great guitarist you once dreamed of. There aren't enough years left,fingers and reflexes aren't great,and yes after 7 years of pretty constant playing I can play. Enough that I've been out entertaining mostly seniors with a very accomplished partner. But because I lacked dedication in my youth I may never unlock my potential musical ability. Don't be me and live a life of regret. Specially for something so enjoyable as music.
It’s true you won’t be as good as if ur parents made u play every day since u were 7 but if you practiced for 10 min a day in a very concerted disciplined way, you would surprise yourself. But only if you’re willing to really put in the effort
Hendrix could not read music. However, he did practice all day and night. There is infinite discovery in learning the guitar, and that is a motivation.
I love my Tele..I bought it new when I was 16, that was 20years ago..I play it nearly everyday...there's something about a Tele bridge pick up, using the tone& volume to create some of the best tones you're ever gonna hear
My guitar teacher always said “learn as much theory as you can, then forget it when you play” and the further I get on my musical journey, they more true that rings. Good content man!
I tell my students, “it is hard to play guitar, or any instrument. If it wasn’t, everyone would play guitar. But if you do the little things and stick it out until you start playing some tunes you like, you’ll be so happy you put the effort.”
But everyone plays guitar. The people who don't are just those who are not interested, thinking that a guitar is mehhhhhhhh. That's why so much successful guitar tutorials on YT, because SOOO MANY people play guitars and also so many sell guitars on ebay.
Do what you feel if its real. John Fayhey plays his own stuff, not according to Bach at all. There are no rules, after all its always called "theory" of harmony by the frustrated pedantic. Much of this theory was only engineered after they got to the top of the mountain and often can be too complicated and nuanced to be of great benefit, beyond comprehending the key. It all becomes self evident at a point anyway, the nuances, which are only a case of everything that you do can be heard by the listener, even if they are not aware of it. The best players are great liars.
Totally get what your saying, To put a simpler way, the person or people that thought up the theory had to learn from the beginning like we all do, you figure it out as you play, obviously it helps having people to teach you through these videos, but you learn so much yourself, everyone is capable its just putting that time in.
i was waiting for a comment like that,but figured most viewers would not get it. i did,and you nailed it.he is calm and pleasant to listen to,it doesnt matter if you paint or play the guitar,i seem to hang on te every word. thks
His european-ness gives him that "don't know if he's doing deadpan or actually serious" quality. Really got me with the "neon is easy" joke, didn't see the punchline at all.
My first week of playing guitar I was looking at a bunch of tutorials and the best advice i recieved from the videos is to never put your guitar away or out of sight. Its been a little over a year and i cant remember a day that i haven’t picked it up. It’s such a simple act but the impact it can and will have an somebody’s playing is insane. Another piece of advice… watch Paul Davids
A "good" guitar is temperamental and requires a good meter for humidity and temperature and should always be wiped down and put in the case. I can tell when my guitar is getting under 40% humidity, it has very low action. Respect in all things is a secret to life. The guitar teaches that there is nothing too subtle that doesn't have an effect and sometimes the most subtle has the most effect.
Neon is so easy, I've taught people who never touched a guitar in their lives and they could play it within 10 minutes. The Smoke on the Water riff on the other hand, you can play it for 20 years and never really get the feeling right. I'm still working on that one.
The epiphany that occurs when you under stand that keys, chords, scales and modes are all connected is one of the most amazing experiences I've every had in life. Sadly, I need to get better at learning how to connect them.
That is about where I am at as well. I feel like I'm just starting, after 40 years or so. Now that I'm retired I can play for 3-4 hours a day. I have all the mechanics and very little of the practiced techniques.
I agree 100% about the "boring" work. It pays off so quickly if you just put in the work to learn your scales, arpeggios and chord shapes. Learn all the modes in just one key (learn C major) and then learn all the pentatonic shapes up the neck. And then learn it in E, and figure out why they are the same but different, and then you're halfway to being able to apply it to any key anywhere one the neck.
I learned to transcribe to other keys so that every song I learn is an avenue of new learning about how the guitar works. I had 4 different keys to the Rain Song (G,A,E and open tuning) , I guess Jimi Page had 3.
Thank you Paul. I've been on a long journey with my guitar, and it seems that every time I'm starting to lose motivation you show up and give me a new way to look at things and restore my confidence.
Although I have been playing for many years I decided to take Paul Davids beginner guitar course just to refresh my memory of scales and basic theory. I found it refreshing and actually picked up a few things that I had forgotten along my musical journey. I am going to do his intermediate course and hopefully he has an advanced course as well. Thank you Paul for your instructional abilities and communication skills. I will continue practicing and look forward to your intermediate course.
I learned some basic guitar chords as a teenager. I am now in my 60's and am starting again. Paul, I really stay engaged with your teaching style. I have watched three of your videos and have already learned so much! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
When you drive your car, run thru your mind counting a key in 3rds, such as C-E-G-B-D-F-A-C-E, or to say 1-3-5-7-9-11-13 ..., is just about all the chords. Also all the key sharps are spoken for at the 1st fret "F (1st string)-C(2nd..)-G-D-A-E, covers a lot that is necessary and of course know that the key of F has 'b' as its flat. Jus'say'n
Learning intervals (both theoretically and on the neck) has been one of the most enlightening things I’ve ever learned. Scales and chords now make sense, instead of just being abstract shapes that I have to learn they actually mean something.
I have been watching this video for years, but I never really got it. After several years of practice, learning the modes, getting to know arpeggios, etc. it finally clicked for me after coming back to this video one more time. Mind BLOWN! THANK YOU PAUL DAVIDS!
One of my favorite things about watching you play is we can genuinely tell how much fun you're having. That's probably the most important thing for younger players to see. Rock on, man
THIS IS AMAZING!!!! I'm 32 now and I first started playing when I was 14. I was pretty good at first, learning quickly but got discouraged as I realized how little I actually knew. I play from time to time but I've never taken the time to learn theory and progression, it all seemed so intimidating. The way you break it down makes me want to go back and learn everything again. I can't wait to see your series teaching the levels of play. Subbed for this great video. Keep it UP!
Everything is connected! If you change the Ionian mode's major 7th to minor 7th, you'll get the Mixolydian mode. If you change the Mixolydian mode's major 3rd to minor 3rd, you'll get the Dorian mode. If you change the Dorian mode's major 6th to minor 6th, you'll get the Aeolian mode. If you change the Aeolian mode's perfect 4th to augmented 4th, you'll get the Shanmukhapriya raga. If you change the Shanmukhapriya raga's major 2nd to minor 2nd and its minor 7th to major 7th, you'll get the Shubapantuvarali raga. If you go to North India and play the Subhapantuvarali raga on your guitar, they will call it "Miyan ki Todi." Now you know the connection between the Ionian mode and the Miyan ki Todi raga.
Well this video makes it all sound so simple. This is actually YEARS of study and practice distilled down to 10 minutes. It is good to look for and understand connections as you learn, but it ain’t getting you out of the years of hard work.
Yeah and a 20 page book you can buy at a local music store run by real musicians, then reiterated so even at 8 year old could read it. He just told me to go buy it and don't bother with lessons.
I always like “perfect practice makes perfect”. Bc People often forget or dont even know that you have to practice correctly to get better faster and to get to the higher levels. Obv you arent gonna be perfect and can practice perfect point is do good practice where your mind is being active and not passive.
I hit a progress barrier about 7 or 8 months ago and got extremely frustrated to the point where I could only play my guitar around once a week without hating it. This video finally helped me break through that barrier and now I understand scales and some more chords. And all it took was him mentioning that the fourth note of a scale made the chord a sus4. I feel like an idiot, but I'm so grateful holy hell.
When playing gets bad, that is the best time to concentrate on the boring shit, like learning to read notes from some classical or constructing chords or going after that impossible song or watching a lot of Paul David, or worse yet Rick Beato. The function of the 7th and the 4th was a big revelation to me.(the voices, I call them 7-4-2, '11th and 9th') I still can't figure out how the flat 5 functions other than it does.
I wish I had started playing guitar and watching videos like yours ten years ago. I cant believe how much learning the guitar and other instruments have benefited my mental and emotional health. Now I understand why it’s such a travesty that music programs in American public schools are getting cut. Thank you for making these videos, I feel like I’ve learned so much from you and always look forward to trying to put your teachings to practice.
I started at 14 but was not dedicated until I was 26 then I really started w acoustic then electric watched other guitarists techniques and played 6hours a day, started learning song by song each band is a stepping stone to another song. I got good enough to teach. I wanted to show the how's and unlock playing guitar for others. There is no end to learning music!! Get a guitar you can watch video tutorials get a live teacher go watch others play and enjoy the life of a musical journey
Awesome story, I’m in the same boat now and will be picking up my guitar again after 1 whole decade. I’m excited to reignite my old passion, and hopefully gain lots of discipline along the way :)
I’m playing my best guitar licks @ 63 after having written over 200 songs and recorded at least 50 since 16 - so its never too late to learn new tricks - i now have the time and I’m paying attention and the creations just get better ! And the UA-cam lessons are so vivid!
I love this guy. Bought a Guitar, like a month ago, without ever playing one and found you on UA-cam. I could listen to you for days and still learn new stuff ^^ I became a lot better thanks to you!
I guess it is easy to get stuck on trivial things like: "What level of guitarist am I?". I think Paul has it right when he says that an intermediate course is appropriate for those who have played a lot of songs, know all of the open, barre , power chords and the basic variations, major minor scales , pentatonic and have a passing knowledge of music theory with respect to chords and modes. But it is also appropriate for those who consider themselves beginner guitarists and yet, use barre chords, most of the open chords in songs with a working music theory knowledge but are motivated to learn more. I have been playing guitar for a year and consider myself a beginner, having learned very few songs and having barely touched on chord timbre variations and inversions along the neck of the guitar. I am starting to believe that very few people are 'intermediate' but are either beginners learning guitar or are: advanced guitarists, engaged in mastering new styles, song writing and/or teaching.
I know all my chords and starting to understand 'voice movement' and would consider myself approaching intermediate, in my own eyes.( I don't believe in 'modes' because they only exist in the context of chords and keys, unless you're a democrat, or Joe Satriani, in which case 'context' is not an issue.)
My guitar teacher's advice - don't be shy when you are slow in your progress. The most important is that you are progressing, and keep playing, be it everyday or just once a week or two times a week, just keep playing on your guitar. After like two years, I could play the rhythm guitar parts of few songs with him doing the lead guitar and gradually improved my skills.
I've reached level 4!! Playing 22 years and pretty solid on my journey. My Brother has reached level 4 many times 😆 He's truly a great guitarist/Musician. This made me want to start into advancing my theory with deliberate and structured practice! Man..Thank you!!
his voice is amazing its like really smooth and calm . So when I listen I feel like absorbing as much information I can from him. I'm not musically talented or even did music at school but these kind of people make it fun and more interesting for me to try. I thank these people a lot.
I remembered my first song I wanted to learn was "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica. I was so in love with the song I tried to play it without any guitar knowledge at all. Now, I'm at the level of being able shred (feels proud man) aftee 5 years.
Basic stuff at 1:34 totally got me, hahaha nearly threw my guitar out the window! Found this video at a perfect time, been playing for 10 years but really plateaued majorly for the last 5 or so. Thanks!
Something that changed my whole way of learning was not to worry about getting everything or even not getting anything at all. Just let the knowledge soak in naturally. If you have good motivation this could be a good way to think about learning. When you do learn something its more rewarding than if you stress about trying to learn a concept/ song or anything in a day/ session. Just have fun with what you do and you’ll surprise yourself how much you learn in a way less stressful way.
Exactly that! Probably why i didnt bother for months an years it seemed to hard never thinking id be good enough then thought fck it i just want to make beautiful sounds on this guitar, messed around. An that messing around that didn’t seem like i was learning anything i actually did. Because when i wanted to learn a song properly i did it in one day.
I'm speechless. You are a real story teller. Your philosophy is what i want to say but can never put all words together. Thank you very much.I recently leaped into level 3 from level 2 where I stucked 5 years , and I will keep learning
It recently occurred to me that mastering any instrument involved 4 steps. Learn to play with your: 1. Body 2. Mind 3. Ears 4. Heart That's the way I see it.
I loved that you addressed ear training as something happening actively or passively. I agree 100%. One may focus on ear training exercises, recognizing intervals or chords, and so on, but those skills also get some passive XP count whenever you learn songs, transcribe stuff, play with a band, and so on. I feel that I haven't really put many hours into ear training (but I definitely should) and, however, my ears have developed over the years by practicing repertoire, chords, scales arpeggios, and licks to the extent of having the skill to figure out songs and solos by ear, or figuring out the key of a jam, and stuff like that. Figuring out stuff by ear is something I thought impossible when I was coming up with the guitar.
Hey guys, just another old dude here. Listen I thought that playing guitar would be easy, When I heard my first Hendrix song it sounded raw and primal, like an entity a living thing. It was moving and powerful yet it made me feel that I could duplicate it, no problem. Boy was I wrong. I appreciate guitar music played by almost anyone. However I must confess, mastery of guitar comes in many forms. I know many of you have your guitar heros as do I. In order to reach the unreachable star one must first believe that it's worth reaching for. What I am trying to say is practice, if you are or are not a prodigy, I really wanted to play like Hendrix. I have come to realize that the perfect storm that was the man, the myth, indeed the legon need not repeat in my life time. The forces that elevated his passion have shifted. If you love to play guitar do so with your heart, mind and soul.
If i had to pick 4: 1) Look after your timing 2) Look after your sound/tone/gear 3) Master your rhythm playing 4) Practice every day, don't just play everyday: 1) Look after your time, as in learn to play in time, practice with a metronome if you don't have a solid drummer to play with, always think and consider your timing, it separates great players from good players that rely on others to underpin everything, when you improvise, think about timing as much as you think about melody, harmony or any kind of technical demonstrations or fall-back licks etc 2) Look after your sound, tone and having the right sound is crucial 3) The Guitar is fundamentally a rhythm instrument, never forget that 4) Practice, or at least pick your guitar up on a daily basis.
Bouncy Spring Ha ha, I think when I started accompanying singers in Duos I realised how important it was to have a serious command of tempo, playing jazz and fusion brought in all the different time signatures and meters but the biggest step forward I had whilst soloing was when I really thought about time and rhythm as opposed to obsessing about the harmony, where I was on the neck, bursting out notes etc. Thinking about time/timing in all those different contexts improved me more than anything else I can think of
I think I learned guitar backwards, first I taught myself music theory, saw everything is connected, but then learned songs, and now I’m going back through different scales.
Stopped playing for almost 10 years. Sold my guitar as I lost interest. My brother gifted me a new guitar this past Christmas and I’ve learned a ton from this guy and others on UA-cam. Happy to be back playing. Seem to have more patience. Just a little rusty at it. That you sir for your awesome way of teaching and such a great personality 😊
this is such a mind opener to what I'm learning now on guitar, i really appreciate all these amazing videos your putting out. i have had struggles putting this kind of stuff together and currently im diving deeper into learning theory on notes and chords more than just the guitar itself, and i said out loud "wow" right when you were saying it in the video it made me laugh, to see that yes this is a "wow" moment for me and many other people. thank you again for everything you do it is a great help when it comes to connecting the pieces
I know nobody will ever see this but Paul David's has single handedly made me want to play guitar. Just something about his smooth and relaxing playing really speaks to me and while I'll never get to where he is skill wise I will forever be greatful to him for these videos
I'm currently in the middle of my "music is win" course, and I'm definitely going to pick up your new one when I'm finished. Thank you for all your insightful work
Madlad risked getting copyright claimed just to drop those 0 3 5 memes. 11/10 Edit: I reached the sweet child o mine part. Someone arrest this man pls.
Something I've recently discovered to be pivotal in learning scales and chord shapes in various location, is the concept of "Anchor Points" and "Chord Grips". By that I mean, how to play every chord in given key from either one or two fixed points on the neck, where specific fingers within the shape don't move. For example, barring the bottom 4 strings with your index finger, then using your other three (or 4 if you fancy using your thumb) to hit every chord in a given progression. It's astounding how many chords you can play without ever sliding up or down the neck when you use a combination of base chords, inversions, sus chords, 7th chords, 5th chords, etc. The second part of this concept is chord grips. The position in which your hand actually holds your neck to ensure your fingers can comfortably hit the notes you want. This is massively useful when you're actually intending to mute strings. If you're including a muted string within a chord shape, like with octave chords, you're not going to use the standard classical guitar grip. It's just impractical and unconformable. I truly wish these concepts were taught to me early on in my guitar learning process, because they opened so many doors. I don't know why these concepts aren't in every beginner/intermediate guitar tips video on the planet.
My favourite guitar lesson on UA-cam by far! Liked and saved to my guitar playlist. I’ll be watching this for years to come. Thanks paul David’s. One word.....LEGEND!
Your awesome connectivity theory extends way beyond music; it’s cool to hear what you say and extend it to the meaning of life itself. At a different scale music itself is connected to….everything. I think at all levels when playing music one “feels” that connection, as if music somehow allows a person to “plug into” the great vastness of it all….
I really improved my playing when I realised what you said that everything is connected and I developed my aeolian/ ionian formula to be able to improvise and make riffs and play different shapes like you showed on the video. This is what EVERY guitar player needs to realise and understand - that everything is connected. Cheers man, keep it up!
I would like to say, as a learning guitarist, I have watched this video several times. Each time, I laugh, I come to several realizations, and I relate. Out of all the philosophies and videos on learning guitar, this one is most definitely my favorite. Excellent video and channel, please keep up the fantastic work sir.
I have been playing the guitar off and on for 30 or more years. I have just decided I need to learn music theory before I die. This channel has proved to be an awesome source of learning advanced concepts. The relaxing atmosphere has me watching these videos until the end every time. Glad I found this channel.
He is certainly cheerful and presents an always-optimistic perspective. I would like to be this upbeat and sunny in all my interactions with others. Well, almost all of them.
I love how you teach and keep things fun. Just about everything I watch is still over my head, but I'm learning. I'm still level 2 trying to learn notes and scales.
So I way late but I saw on Google images over a hendrix photo. But the quote read "Music is a mistress that demands you're attention" I don't know if that was a hendrix quote but it has stuck with me and every time I think I've practiced enough I just remember that then I go back and practice some more!
Wow... I’m the first!!! Ohhh... almost the first...!!! Another amazing video Paul...! I’ve been trying to get good at guitar too in the recent years, and would love to know what you think how I am doing as a musician. Would really appreciate any suggestions you have, Paul, for my growth. I’ve been following you for a long time and you never cease to amaze! Thank you Paul, for your inspiration on my music playing! 😊💕👍
@@awkwardslothshaun yeah I mean I didn't pick up guitar because i thought it would be easy, i did it because it would be a challenge and I always wanted to learn the instrument since I was a kid.
@@martinstensby7377 yeah, I mean I know that consciously, I even have taught specific songs and pieces to people I know who've been playing much longer, and I know I'm not terrible, but it just always FEELS that way, you know? I mean, I don't think anyone says the guitar was just the easiest instrument and that's why they do it.
@@RingsOfSolace I understand how you feel. There is a really frustrating phase in learning how to play guitar. A suggestion, if I may, learn something that you wouldn't normally listen to. Something that's not your style.
Best advice I ever got was "practice what you want to play" If you want to be a jazz guy, you probably don't need to dedicate tons of time learning tapping licks and sweep arpeggios.
I know this post will likely get lost in all the other comments, but I would like to share the best advice I was ever given.
When I was around 8 years old my father took me to my first concert. Me being an 8yr old kid at the time... well... I didn't really appreciate it. I didn't even make an effort to remember the name of the band. As far as I was concerned it was just a bunch of old dudes on stage playing music.
Anyway, my father at the time was a photographer and would shoot concerts. Thats how he got us into the show in the first place, and thats also how he got us backstage.
So there I am, backstage, when one of the old dudes crouched down to talk to me. He asked me if I wanted to play guitar when I grow up. Of course I gave him a hearty "yeah!!!".
Then he told me "well make sure that when you practice: slow down and play accurately. Speed will come later. Otherwise you'll just be practicing your mistakes".
For whatever reason I never forgot that. It just stuck in my head.
So last year it occurred to me that I never asked my dad who that was. So I called him up and asked.
He told me it was Stevie Ray Vaughn.
So there ya go. Thats the best advice I've ever been given.
Awesome story! It shows what a good guy SRV was, and is a great reminder of what to focus on.
Rad Story man! greatest beginner advice from one of the greatest ever!
He was a wonderful cat! Sincere, beautiful, and looked you right in the face when he spoke! I had the pleasure a couple of times...
It was right when he was doing the tour with Joe Cocker, and I'm hanging out with him backstage at shoreline amphitheatre right outside of San Francisco, and he tells me that he actually knew who my band was! ( Albert King had just come to town and play a gig the night before he was headlining the Monterey Blues festival, and we were supposed to be his backing band I'm the one off show in San Francisco. But we got bumped because somebody knew somebody, who knew somebody... Yeah well you get the point! The worst part is that the cats who we're backing him up didn't even take the time to listen to the records and get the songs right! And Albert was a little pissed off about that!!! )
And Stevie was saying that there wasn't many decent blues bands in town. Then here off-handedly told me; "I've got to finish up this tour - but I'll be back and maybe bring the guitar, that Strat that I've been WAITING to sign all week! ( My best friend at the time was the general manager of shoreline. And I used to work for BGP on and off when I didn't have a gig myself. My friend mentioned to him what a fan I was, and believe it or not I'm so stupid that because of the Ungodly traffic, I waited the entire week and then never showed up to hang out, and I have him sign my axe, and they were also rehearsing there! Instead, I waited till the gig, but DIDN'T BRING MY GUITAR? Yeah, like I said I'm stupid! ) I told him the traffic sucked, and in my mind I figured he'd be around for a long time. He said; "Well - hey Man - bring your axe down and you can jam with us! I was kind of freaked out and didn't even tell my old lady! When I asked him why he would do that? He said "Hey Brother, I used to sleep on pool tables! I know how hard it is to make a living doing this - but I'm always happy to lend a helping hand to another cat who wants to play the blues!"
A Few weeks later - I heard the news on the radio and I was inconsolable! When I first moved to California I was living with his protege "Doyle Bramhall II" for about a month - and when I mentioned that I knew Doyle, he opened up even more. So here I am talking to SRV and I yoked out the playbill, and said hey man since I'm here and I have this, & I feel like a jerk for even asking - but maybe you might be kind enough to write something inspiring for me here? Until I catch up with you on the back end of the tour? He did and I will always cherish it! And then he never did come back...
I LOVE AND MISS YOU MY BROTHER ✌️🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
RIP PAL...
( Once he got rid of all the other hangers-on, we spoke just like we had known each other all our lives! There was no strange adoration, it was just two cats talking about pedals and amps and Guitars, Lightning Hopkins, Albert King and all the other Blues cats that we adored! The funny thing was - that I said; and remember so clearly was that; "I find it interesting that we both listen to the same people, I use basically the exact rig that you use - but I don't sound anything thing like you! Not worse, not better, Just different!" At that point he slapped me on the back and said; "THAT'S the best thing that you have accomplished! And THAT IS to have your OWN sound! We all learn from everybody else but it's SO IMPORTANT - PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING is to have our OWN VOICE/ YOUR OWN TONE...!!! )
I don't go to jam sessions anymore but, sometimes I end up out in the club and there's always somebody there who is trying to emulate or be a clone of SRV! They never get it right, and he would just shake his head, and be the first guy to tell them to LISTEN LEARN and get your OWN thing going man!
A story I thought that someone might be interested in?
PEACE Y'ALL AND ALWAYS REMEMBER; "PLAY FROM THE HEART!!!
SLEEP WELL MY BROTHER - SLEEP WELL... 🙏🏼✌️💖💖💖💖🌷🌷🌷
@@greggnumme8644 Not gonna lie man, that was a good fucking read.
That's an amazing story, he's my favorite guitarist.
Best advice I was ever given about music was by my father. He said, “ Son, don’t touch my guitar.
Lmao that gave me a laugh
Hehe my dad always said "" wait a min what's a dad
Mom said that you me when I was 7 and I was playing tf outta her guitar, only it wasn’t a guitar it was an Appalachian Dulcimer
I said the same to my kids. Then I bought a Pacifica for them to play. It's actually a really nice guitar after a setup!
I heard this in Johnny Cash's voice.
Dedication. I failed as a young guy to do just that. So I went through a life of admiration of others and only wishing I could play and be good at it. Finally after retirement I decided this was my goal. It's too late to become that great guitarist you once dreamed of. There aren't enough years left,fingers and reflexes aren't great,and yes after 7 years of pretty constant playing I can play. Enough that I've been out entertaining mostly seniors with a very accomplished partner. But because I lacked dedication in my youth I may never unlock my potential musical ability. Don't be me and live a life of regret. Specially for something so enjoyable as music.
Strong message. Thank you for this.
The best time to start was when you were just tall enough to reach around the guitar.
Second best time to start is now.
never ever too late! Just saw george strait live couple weeks ago he is 69 years old.
It’s true you won’t be as good as if ur parents made u play every day since u were 7 but if you practiced for 10 min a day in a very concerted disciplined way, you would surprise yourself. But only if you’re willing to really put in the effort
Thanks old / failed man
My guitar teacher told me this: “it’s not hard, it’s just new.”
🔥
That's what she said
@@aloiseaux767 oooooooooooooooooo😂😂
Honestly that’s a pretty good approach to life in general
My teacher told me: “don’t say you can’t do it, just say you can’t do it yet.”
1) Learn songs 1:11
2) Learn scales and chords 2:00
3) See that everything is connected 3:18
3.5) Learn the octave shapes 6:35
You'll learn 3.5 somewhere in level 2
i love people like you
420
You forgot 00:00 - 13:24
Realize that Paul is a fun and smart guy and you need to buy his course. :D
Thanks for shortening it!
Hendrix could not read music. However, he did practice all day and night. There is infinite discovery in learning the guitar, and that is a motivation.
He practiced 40 hours a day
@@暧昧-u8e Sounds a bit low
@@暧昧-u8e rookie numbers I would say
@@暧昧-u8e baller
He still knew keys and notes, it's important to connecting all those shapes/barre chords/scales.
I think we've all been in love with that Tele since the first time you showed it. I swear it's made it into almost every video now!
In The Mix love your content bro😏
Yes, it's hard to put down! Really!
Paul Davids and you too paul 😏
I love my Tele..I bought it new when I was 16, that was 20years ago..I play it nearly everyday...there's something about a Tele bridge pick up, using the tone& volume to create some of the best tones you're ever gonna hear
@@wesleyAlan9179 the n+1 rule is calling out to me right now.....guess who doesn't own a Tele yet!
My guitar teacher always said “learn as much theory as you can, then forget it when you play” and the further I get on my musical journey, they more true that rings. Good content man!
I tell my students, “it is hard to play guitar, or any instrument. If it wasn’t, everyone would play guitar. But if you do the little things and stick it out until you start playing some tunes you like, you’ll be so happy you put the effort.”
But everyone plays guitar. The people who don't are just those who are not interested, thinking that a guitar is mehhhhhhhh. That's why so much successful guitar tutorials on YT, because SOOO MANY people play guitars and also so many sell guitars on ebay.
Do what you feel if its real. John Fayhey plays his own stuff, not according to Bach at all. There are no rules, after all its always called "theory" of harmony by the frustrated pedantic. Much of this theory was only engineered after they got to the top of the mountain and often can be too complicated and nuanced to be of great benefit, beyond comprehending the key. It all becomes self evident at a point anyway, the nuances, which are only a case of everything that you do can be heard by the listener, even if they are not aware of it. The best players are great liars.
Totally get what your saying,
To put a simpler way, the person or people that thought up the theory had to learn from the beginning like we all do, you figure it out as you play, obviously it helps having people to teach you through these videos, but you learn so much yourself, everyone is capable its just putting that time in.
This guy is like the Bob Ross of the guitar world
i was waiting for a comment like that,but figured most viewers would not get it. i did,and you nailed it.he is calm and pleasant to listen to,it doesnt matter if you paint or play the guitar,i seem to hang on te every word. thks
Exactly. He didn’t make mistakes. He has “happy accidents”
Genius.
Yeah, :) he is just as cringy
Y'all need to see Chords of Orion for Bob Ross meets Sir Davos. :)
This dude makes me pick up my guitar whenever I am done watching and practice 4hrs 😂 love you Mr David
Hahahahaa me too, has some really good vibes and smooth motivation
This dude makes me not touch my guitar for months.
same
“Start with some basic stuff like neon” love the dry sarcasm
Your humor alone makes you a good teacher.
His european-ness gives him that "don't know if he's doing deadpan or actually serious" quality. Really got me with the "neon is easy" joke, didn't see the punchline at all.
That "everything is connected" bit reminded me of my LSD trip last weekend. Thanks, Paul.
I once thought that exact same thing while standing in a river on acid
i’m watching this high and i’m not gonna lie, that “everything is connected” bit got me fucked up
Me too ....
Psychonauts be like
@@rickf6375 What an experience that must've been!
"Start with something basic like Neon"
HAHA yeah that's very basic. For him.
LOL. neon is not basic
Lol, he was making a joke
LOL. Neon took me all summer to learn and now it's one of my favorite songs to play, but it definitely is not basic.
he just completly wasted my time, i actually thought he was fr. guess what sounds to good to be true, is too good to be true
My first week of playing guitar I was looking at a bunch of tutorials and the best advice i recieved from the videos is to never put your guitar away or out of sight. Its been a little over a year and i cant remember a day that i haven’t picked it up. It’s such a simple act but the impact it can and will have an somebody’s playing is insane. Another piece of advice… watch Paul Davids
Do you still play?
@@camlynn5314 everyday! my guitar is constantly within reach of my desk so its super easy to pick it up and start playing!
A "good" guitar is temperamental and requires a good meter for humidity and temperature and should always be wiped down and put in the case. I can tell when my guitar is getting under 40% humidity, it has very low action. Respect in all things is a secret to life. The guitar teaches that there is nothing too subtle that doesn't have an effect and sometimes the most subtle has the most effect.
Thats exactly the same advise I gave a friend of mine who wanted to play the guitar. 3 months later he is playing some nice tunes
Very good advice! My guitar has the best seat on the sofa.
"Start with some basic stuff, like neon"
I thought you were serious for a second.
Me, too. I was about to get a little heated XD
Neon is so easy, I've taught people who never touched a guitar in their lives and they could play it within 10 minutes. The Smoke on the Water riff on the other hand, you can play it for 20 years and never really get the feeling right. I'm still working on that one.
@@geovaniraffaelli4508 "it takes a lifetime to truly master the smoke and the water" _Thomas Jefferson.
@@grimly105 I've seen people lose their minds to Smoke On The Water.
i almost quit guitar
The epiphany that occurs when you under stand that keys, chords, scales and modes are all connected is one of the most amazing experiences I've every had in life. Sadly, I need to get better at learning how to connect them.
That is about where I am at as well. I feel like I'm just starting, after 40 years or so. Now that I'm retired I can play for 3-4 hours a day. I have all the mechanics and very little of the practiced techniques.
Know the feeling!
I'd say ¡happily!
This is interesting to read because all of this was a given for me as a piano player. The weird part is just how everything is laid out.
I agree 100% about the "boring" work. It pays off so quickly if you just put in the work to learn your scales, arpeggios and chord shapes. Learn all the modes in just one key (learn C major) and then learn all the pentatonic shapes up the neck. And then learn it in E, and figure out why they are the same but different, and then you're halfway to being able to apply it to any key anywhere one the neck.
I learned to transcribe to other keys so that every song I learn is an avenue of new learning about how the guitar works. I had 4 different keys to the Rain Song (G,A,E and open tuning) , I guess Jimi Page had 3.
7:35 really thought he was about to dive into some Sweet Child O’ Mine right there.
He would have if he wanted the video taken down for a copyright violation.
Slash all he played was melodic arpegios. He shows how everything is connect to an Iconic song. Without copy right infringement. Slick.
Josh Gargus he played 035
Well.. he did say Sweet! ..
Is there any better guitar teacher on the entire INTERNET than Paul David's? I doubt it
"Nothing beats practice and putting in the hard work." Best quote from Paul in this particular video.
1. Learn to play songs 1:16
2. Learn Scales & Chords 2:03
3. See that everything is connnected 3:22
4. Let it all go 11:49
Thank you Paul. I've been on a long journey with my guitar, and it seems that every time I'm starting to lose motivation you show up and give me a new way to look at things and restore my confidence.
That's the best part about the internet
Although I have been playing for many years I decided to take Paul Davids beginner guitar course just to refresh my memory of scales and basic theory. I found it refreshing and actually picked up a few things that I had forgotten along my musical journey. I am going to do his intermediate course and hopefully he has an advanced course as well. Thank you Paul for your instructional abilities and communication skills. I will continue practicing and look forward to your intermediate course.
I learned some basic guitar chords as a teenager. I am now in my 60's and am starting again. Paul, I really stay engaged with your teaching style. I have watched three of your videos and have already learned so much! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
When you drive your car, run thru your mind counting a key in 3rds, such as C-E-G-B-D-F-A-C-E, or to say 1-3-5-7-9-11-13 ..., is just about all the chords. Also all the key sharps are spoken for at the 1st fret "F (1st string)-C(2nd..)-G-D-A-E, covers a lot that is necessary and of course know that the key of F has 'b' as its flat. Jus'say'n
That telecaster sounds so amazing!!
Learning intervals (both theoretically and on the neck) has been one of the most enlightening things I’ve ever learned. Scales and chords now make sense, instead of just being abstract shapes that I have to learn they actually mean something.
Same! Can’t believe it took me so long 😅
This went from "yeah that makes sense" to "WTF?" Pretty Damn Quickly.
same
Lol
Haha, totally. I was with him for a couple minutes, but realized I should brush up on...everything.
Same here, but I just think it's because I'm not yet at that level, and am taking it as a motivation to get there. :)
@@GN-Aaron with this mindset, im sure you will get there man. I envy you. Not all people have the patience and passion to learn.
the best advice i ever got was lowering the action on my guitar
I have been watching this video for years, but I never really got it. After several years of practice, learning the modes, getting to know arpeggios, etc. it finally clicked for me after coming back to this video one more time. Mind BLOWN! THANK YOU PAUL DAVIDS!
One of my favorite things about watching you play is we can genuinely tell how much fun you're having. That's probably the most important thing for younger players to see. Rock on, man
THIS IS AMAZING!!!! I'm 32 now and I first started playing when I was 14. I was pretty good at first, learning quickly but got discouraged as I realized how little I actually knew. I play from time to time but I've never taken the time to learn theory and progression, it all seemed so intimidating. The way you break it down makes me want to go back and learn everything again. I can't wait to see your series teaching the levels of play. Subbed for this great video. Keep it UP!
If you play often and for long enough... All this theory will automatically become part of your repertoire without you even knowing it.
It’s cool to see someone as good as Paul is still remembers his early struggles that’s why he is such a good teacher
Took me 2hours to learn Neon but damn i cant get the hang of Smoke on the water, it's so challenging!
Yeah same here it is just soo challenging
Yea I agree it took me an hour to learn Afterlife but ive been trying to play Smoke on the water for 2 weeks now ! Still can't get it down cleanly!
Bayag mu oi
dude it took me like a month to master that riff
What is smoke on the water?
Everything is connected! If you change the Ionian mode's major 7th to minor 7th, you'll get the Mixolydian mode. If you change the Mixolydian mode's major 3rd to minor 3rd, you'll get the Dorian mode. If you change the Dorian mode's major 6th to minor 6th, you'll get the Aeolian mode. If you change the Aeolian mode's perfect 4th to augmented 4th, you'll get the Shanmukhapriya raga. If you change the Shanmukhapriya raga's major 2nd to minor 2nd and its minor 7th to major 7th, you'll get the Shubapantuvarali raga. If you go to North India and play the Subhapantuvarali raga on your guitar, they will call it "Miyan ki Todi." Now you know the connection between the Ionian mode and the Miyan ki Todi raga.
bro what
@@jakobkleiven7995 he’s on some shit
Truth
came here to peacfully learn guitar, your scarying me of
LOLL That shit went off the rails son.
Well this video makes it all sound so simple. This is actually YEARS of study and practice distilled down to 10 minutes. It is good to look for and understand connections as you learn, but it ain’t getting you out of the years of hard work.
Yeah and a 20 page book you can buy at a local music store run by real musicians, then reiterated so even at 8 year old could read it. He just told me to go buy it and don't bother with lessons.
For real.
@@adaptercrash hey what book?
@@alfredo2lepe being and time lol
For what it's worth, my favourite piece of advice was practice makes permanent, not perfect, so practice well.
No real way to know if you’re practicing well if you’re self taught.
Absolutely… That’s why the advice to learn slowly is so important. Because it’s so difficult to unlearn a bad move or habit or practice.
I always like “perfect practice makes perfect”. Bc People often forget or dont even know that you have to practice correctly to get better faster and to get to the higher levels. Obv you arent gonna be perfect and can practice perfect point is do good practice where your mind is being active and not passive.
My jaw dropped when he said learn easy stuff like "NEON" 😖😖😂😂
Yeah he was being sarcastic 😂
Me: "Lmao that's so easy!"
Also me: *proceeds to fail at playing Smoke On The Water*
lol depends on where your at in guitar playing i learned neon in about 3 hours on the first try
I guess everyone started learning from the hardest one ( Smoke on the Water) 😁
@@bradlively2844 very impressive 👍
I hit a progress barrier about 7 or 8 months ago and got extremely frustrated to the point where I could only play my guitar around once a week without hating it. This video finally helped me break through that barrier and now I understand scales and some more chords. And all it took was him mentioning that the fourth note of a scale made the chord a sus4. I feel like an idiot, but I'm so grateful holy hell.
When playing gets bad, that is the best time to concentrate on the boring shit, like learning to read notes from some classical or constructing chords or going after that impossible song or watching a lot of Paul David, or worse yet Rick Beato. The function of the 7th and the 4th was a big revelation to me.(the voices, I call them 7-4-2, '11th and 9th') I still can't figure out how the flat 5 functions other than it does.
I wish I had started playing guitar and watching videos like yours ten years ago. I cant believe how much learning the guitar and other instruments have benefited my mental and emotional health. Now I understand why it’s such a travesty that music programs in American public schools are getting cut. Thank you for making these videos, I feel like I’ve learned so much from you and always look forward to trying to put your teachings to practice.
The best advice for literally anything is to not give up, take small steps towards a greater goal and enjoy the process.
yessir
I started at 14 but was not dedicated until I was 26 then I really started w acoustic then electric watched other guitarists techniques and played 6hours a day, started learning song by song each band is a stepping stone to another song. I got good enough to teach. I wanted to show the how's and unlock playing guitar for others. There is no end to learning music!! Get a guitar you can watch video tutorials get a live teacher go watch others play and enjoy the life of a musical journey
Awesome story, I’m in the same boat now and will be picking up my guitar again after 1 whole decade. I’m excited to reignite my old passion, and hopefully gain lots of discipline along the way :)
You guys got it all wrong, you need long hair to be a good guitarist
Rarely anyone has long hair now
@@route6666 Well, cosplay shops are just around the corner. No need to grow your own!
Yes, that's true. Many guitarist in my and my neighboring country wear their hair long.
Mine’s otw
*disagrees in Joe Satriani*
Man, I've been playing over 40 years, and you just gave me a "wow" moment. Adding the course to my Christmas list, thanks Paul.
I’m playing my best guitar licks @ 63 after having written over 200 songs and recorded at least 50 since 16 - so its never too late to learn new tricks - i now have the time and I’m paying attention and the creations just get better ! And the UA-cam lessons are so vivid!
Well done you! Amazing accomplishment such a good feeling. 🙂
I love this guy. Bought a Guitar, like a month ago, without ever playing one and found you on UA-cam. I could listen to you for days and still learn new stuff ^^ I became a lot better thanks to you!
Still playing?
"Learn Neon, it's all down-hill from there" - My High School music teacher.
He wasn't wrong.
33
i wish that were true lol
@@leetledrummerboy See! I've just discovered Gypsy Jazz and I realize
If you can master Asturias, everything that comes after is like a steep drop off a cliff.
This is an awesome lesson. It can never be underrated. Everything IS connected! The fretboard is becoming alive for me, and it’s so exciting!
“Don’t expect to get girls” *quits guitar*
But you do get lots of boys if you play guitars
@@arpitdas4263 gay
@@arpitdas4263 Pass
LMAOOOOOO
PFT weak. Expect to get loads of girls. If you get to god tier guitarist xD
After the second level, I had no idea what you were talking about but I still kept watching. That's a sign of a great video.
I guess it is easy to get stuck on trivial things like: "What level of guitarist am I?". I think Paul has it right when he says that an intermediate course is appropriate for those who have played a lot of songs, know all of the open, barre , power chords and the basic variations, major minor scales , pentatonic and have a passing knowledge of music theory with respect to chords and modes. But it is also appropriate for those who consider themselves beginner guitarists and yet, use barre chords, most of the open chords in songs with a working music theory knowledge but are motivated to learn more. I have been playing guitar for a year and consider myself a beginner, having learned very few songs and having barely touched on chord timbre variations and inversions along the neck of the guitar. I am starting to believe that very few people are 'intermediate' but are either beginners learning guitar or are: advanced guitarists, engaged in mastering new styles, song writing and/or teaching.
I know all my chords and starting to understand 'voice movement' and would consider myself approaching intermediate, in my own eyes.( I don't believe in 'modes' because they only exist in the context of chords and keys, unless you're a democrat, or Joe Satriani, in which case 'context' is not an issue.)
My guitar teacher's advice - don't be shy when you are slow in your progress. The most important is that you are progressing, and keep playing, be it everyday or just once a week or two times a week, just keep playing on your guitar. After like two years, I could play the rhythm guitar parts of few songs with him doing the lead guitar and gradually improved my skills.
I think the “everything is connected” is a really good way to look at the guitar. You are very musical, I think I’ll look into your course
I've reached level 4!! Playing 22 years and pretty solid on my journey. My Brother has reached level 4 many times 😆
He's truly a great guitarist/Musician.
This made me want to start into advancing my theory with deliberate and structured practice! Man..Thank you!!
his voice is amazing its like really smooth and calm . So when I listen I feel like absorbing as much information I can from him. I'm not musically talented or even did music at school but these kind of people make it fun and more interesting for me to try. I thank these people a lot.
I remembered my first song I wanted to learn was "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica. I was so in love with the song I tried to play it without any guitar knowledge at all.
Now, I'm at the level of being able shred (feels proud man) aftee 5 years.
I did the same, except 10 years later I still can't shred haha
Yup. and it's still in my daily routine. Even have a fingerpicking version for when I play on my steelstring xD
Saaaame and I still play it almost everyday, there is no such thing as too much practice
Did you learn by yourself or did you have lessons? Anyway, congrats!
@@gcardoso71 self taught, all thanks ro UA-cam tutorial vids
Basic stuff at 1:34 totally got me, hahaha nearly threw my guitar out the window! Found this video at a perfect time, been playing for 10 years but really plateaued majorly for the last 5 or so. Thanks!
I learned neon when i was 4 years old
Have you learned the 035?
@@ronzonirafael not yet thats too hard
I wrote Neon when I was a fetus and John Mayer ripped me off
I learned neon before i was a fertilized egg
But could you play wonder wall
Something that changed my whole way of learning was not to worry about getting everything or even not getting anything at all. Just let the knowledge soak in naturally. If you have good motivation this could be a good way to think about learning. When you do learn something its more rewarding than if you stress about trying to learn a concept/ song or anything in a day/ session. Just have fun with what you do and you’ll surprise yourself how much you learn in a way less stressful way.
Exactly that! Probably why i didnt bother for months an years it seemed to hard never thinking id be good enough then thought fck it i just want to make beautiful sounds on this guitar, messed around. An that messing around that didn’t seem like i was learning anything i actually did. Because when i wanted to learn a song properly i did it in one day.
I'm speechless. You are a real story teller. Your philosophy is what i want to say but can never put all words together. Thank you very much.I recently leaped into level 3 from level 2 where I stucked 5 years , and I will keep learning
It recently occurred to me that mastering any instrument involved 4 steps. Learn to play with your:
1. Body
2. Mind
3. Ears
4. Heart
That's the way I see it.
Hahahaha........
Good comment.
Ahh ive been playing 14 years and am only just now going from 2 to 3
Shaun Moore you forgot Soul!
Because 3. ears and 4. heart are obviously not part of 1. Body?
And that's not all.
What if we only have 2. Ears and 1. Heart??
🤣🤣🤘
5:11 simply majestic!
I loved that you addressed ear training as something happening actively or passively. I agree 100%. One may focus on ear training exercises, recognizing intervals or chords, and so on, but those skills also get some passive XP count whenever you learn songs, transcribe stuff, play with a band, and so on. I feel that I haven't really put many hours into ear training (but I definitely should) and, however, my ears have developed over the years by practicing repertoire, chords, scales arpeggios, and licks to the extent of having the skill to figure out songs and solos by ear, or figuring out the key of a jam, and stuff like that. Figuring out stuff by ear is something I thought impossible when I was coming up with the guitar.
"Play an E chord" / Me: "Oh! Gotcha...."
"Not a problem... we can also play our own little noodle" / Me: "WHAT IS THIS MAGIC!?!?!?!"
hmmn noodles
EXACTLY
*Eminem's Spaghetti intensifies*
Hey guys, just another old dude here. Listen I thought that playing guitar would be easy, When I heard my first Hendrix song it sounded raw and primal, like an entity a living thing. It was moving and powerful yet it made me feel that I could duplicate it, no problem. Boy was I wrong. I appreciate guitar music played by almost anyone. However I must confess, mastery of guitar comes in many forms. I know many of you have your guitar heros as do I. In order to reach the unreachable star one must first believe that it's worth reaching for. What I am trying to say is practice, if you are or are not a prodigy, I really wanted to play like Hendrix. I have come to realize that the perfect storm that was the man, the myth, indeed the legon need not repeat in my life time. The forces that elevated his passion have shifted. If you love to play guitar do so with your heart, mind and soul.
Gotta love the thing. I often play until I'm in bed, with a guitar on a stand right next to me
Beatiful Ash Thinline. Also knowing the notes and chords and their relationship to eachother is so important. You show this well.
12:29 "Nothing beats practice - putting into hard work" . Best line for the video.
If i had to pick 4:
1) Look after your timing
2) Look after your sound/tone/gear
3) Master your rhythm playing
4) Practice every day, don't just play everyday:
1) Look after your time, as in learn to play in time, practice with a metronome if you don't have a solid drummer to play with, always think and consider your timing, it separates great players from good players that rely on others to underpin everything, when you improvise, think about timing as much as you think about melody, harmony or any kind of technical demonstrations or fall-back licks etc 2) Look after your sound, tone and having the right sound is crucial 3) The Guitar is fundamentally a rhythm instrument, never forget that 4) Practice, or at least pick your guitar up on a daily basis.
What did timing do to you
Bouncy Spring Ha ha, I think when I started accompanying singers in Duos I realised how important it was to have a serious command of tempo, playing jazz and fusion brought in all the different time signatures and meters but the biggest step forward I had whilst soloing was when I really thought about time and rhythm as opposed to obsessing about the harmony, where I was on the neck, bursting out notes etc. Thinking about time/timing in all those different contexts improved me more than anything else I can think of
Thanks
Thank you my brother for these great pieces of advice 👍👍
The originality and the nature of his lessons are just 1 in a million, LOVE IT!!
I think I learned guitar backwards, first I taught myself music theory, saw everything is connected, but then learned songs, and now I’m going back through different scales.
i love watching you play. even when you are producing some of the fastest riffs ever you are still so relaxed.
Stopped playing for almost 10 years. Sold my guitar as I lost interest. My brother gifted me a new guitar this past Christmas and I’ve learned a ton from this guy and others on UA-cam. Happy to be back playing. Seem to have more patience. Just a little rusty at it. That you sir for your awesome way of teaching and such a great personality 😊
this is such a mind opener to what I'm learning now on guitar, i really appreciate all these amazing videos your putting out. i have had struggles putting this kind of stuff together and currently im diving deeper into learning theory on notes and chords more than just the guitar itself, and i said out loud "wow" right when you were saying it in the video it made me laugh, to see that yes this is a "wow" moment for me and many other people. thank you again for everything you do it is a great help when it comes to connecting the pieces
As a new guitar player, I LOVE your channel, it's a wealth of knowledge!
I know nobody will ever see this but Paul David's has single handedly made me want to play guitar. Just something about his smooth and relaxing playing really speaks to me and while I'll never get to where he is skill wise I will forever be greatful to him for these videos
I'm currently in the middle of my "music is win" course, and I'm definitely going to pick up your new one when I'm finished.
Thank you for all your insightful work
Madlad risked getting copyright claimed just to drop those 0 3 5 memes.
11/10
Edit: I reached the sweet child o mine part. Someone arrest this man pls.
Siddique Mohammed this is the best thing i’ve ever read
That part RIGHT BEFORE the sweet child of mine sounded like... Velvet Revolver's FALL TO PIECES. So I guess "everything is connected" to Slash!
Something I've recently discovered to be pivotal in learning scales and chord shapes in various location, is the concept of "Anchor Points" and "Chord Grips". By that I mean, how to play every chord in given key from either one or two fixed points on the neck, where specific fingers within the shape don't move. For example, barring the bottom 4 strings with your index finger, then using your other three (or 4 if you fancy using your thumb) to hit every chord in a given progression. It's astounding how many chords you can play without ever sliding up or down the neck when you use a combination of base chords, inversions, sus chords, 7th chords, 5th chords, etc. The second part of this concept is chord grips. The position in which your hand actually holds your neck to ensure your fingers can comfortably hit the notes you want. This is massively useful when you're actually intending to mute strings. If you're including a muted string within a chord shape, like with octave chords, you're not going to use the standard classical guitar grip. It's just impractical and unconformable. I truly wish these concepts were taught to me early on in my guitar learning process, because they opened so many doors. I don't know why these concepts aren't in every beginner/intermediate guitar tips video on the planet.
Loving that editing, especially the colour grade
Basic: neon
Challenging: Smoke on the water.
HAHAHAHA
Brian Noah he’s got jokes
Lmao
I just googled Neon,before the smoke on the water part, because the bit played didnt seem to bad 😂
Yeah it may be beyond my level right now
I came to the comments for this... I was thinking... after nearly a year am I below basic 😂😨
Exactly what i was thinkin lmfao
My favourite guitar lesson on UA-cam by far! Liked and saved to my guitar playlist. I’ll be watching this for years to come. Thanks paul David’s. One word.....LEGEND!
I got that aha moment, and I started playing Take On Me
Good song. Lots of people have started playing that because of ‘the last of us 2’ 😂
@@luketaylor7021 lol did you not get the joke or what?
Didn’t get the joke. Got it now however. Embarrassing.
@@luketaylor7021 hey, it happens to the best of us lol
😂
Your awesome connectivity theory extends way beyond music; it’s cool to hear what you say and extend it to the meaning of life itself. At a different scale music itself is connected to….everything. I think at all levels when playing music one “feels” that connection, as if music somehow allows a person to “plug into” the great vastness of it all….
I really improved my playing when I realised what you said that everything is connected and I developed my aeolian/ ionian formula to be able to improvise and make riffs and play different shapes like you showed on the video. This is what EVERY guitar player needs to realise and understand - that everything is connected. Cheers man, keep it up!
Slowly and steadily he's memefying himself.
Linus Guitar Tips
I would like to say, as a learning guitarist, I have watched this video several times. Each time, I laugh, I come to several realizations, and I relate. Out of all the philosophies and videos on learning guitar, this one is most definitely my favorite. Excellent video and channel, please keep up the fantastic work sir.
I have been playing the guitar off and on for 30 or more years. I have just decided I need to learn music theory before I die. This channel has proved to be an awesome source of learning advanced concepts. The relaxing atmosphere has me watching these videos until the end every time. Glad I found this channel.
This man is an example. Not just as a guitarist / musician, but as a human being.
And that guitar is an example. Not just as a piece of wood, but as an instrument...
He is certainly cheerful and presents an always-optimistic perspective. I would like to be this upbeat and sunny in all my interactions with others. Well, almost all of them.
Don't idolize men.
Not just as a human being, but as a Being
I love how you teach and keep things fun. Just about everything I watch is still over my head, but I'm learning. I'm still level 2 trying to learn notes and scales.
So I way late but I saw on Google images over a hendrix photo. But the quote read "Music is a mistress that demands you're attention"
I don't know if that was a hendrix quote but it has stuck with me and every time I think I've practiced enough I just remember that then I go back and practice some more!
Thank you! I am re-learning to play following a stroke. This is great!
Wow... I’m the first!!! Ohhh... almost the first...!!! Another amazing video Paul...! I’ve been trying to get good at guitar too in the recent years, and would love to know what you think how I am doing as a musician. Would really appreciate any suggestions you have, Paul, for my growth. I’ve been following you for a long time and you never cease to amaze! Thank you Paul, for your inspiration on my music playing! 😊💕👍
Inspiring people is extremely difficult and a rare skill. Paul does it all through every video. He's a blessing to learners like me.
"Start with basic stuff like 'Neon'" - had to check to see if the video was uploaded on April 1st
Absolute respect for the effort put on this video. You're amazing, Paul
Every time I come back to this after practicing for a couple months it starts to click more and more
I have "aha" moments all the time and I still feel like I suck.
@@awkwardslothshaun yeah I mean I didn't pick up guitar because i thought it would be easy, i did it because it would be a challenge and I always wanted to learn the instrument since I was a kid.
That means your'e improving. Keep up the good work!
@@martinstensby7377 yeah, I mean I know that consciously, I even have taught specific songs and pieces to people I know who've been playing much longer, and I know I'm not terrible, but it just always FEELS that way, you know? I mean, I don't think anyone says the guitar was just the easiest instrument and that's why they do it.
@@RingsOfSolace I understand how you feel. There is a really frustrating phase in learning how to play guitar. A suggestion, if I may, learn something that you wouldn't normally listen to. Something that's not your style.
Taaaaaaake oooon meeeeeeee
Best advice I ever got was "practice what you want to play"
If you want to be a jazz guy, you probably don't need to dedicate tons of time learning tapping licks and sweep arpeggios.
Thanks!
i cant b the only guy to think about sweet child o' mine when he started playing the lick
yea that was the point
He just can't play the real thing because he will get demonetized.