Sometimes The Truth Hurts!

[Bellycaster]

I want to show you a really great video (or 2). This guy has 100's of YouTube Lessons. I have watched some and he is a great Guitarist and judging from his following, he is a great teacher also. The only thing is, he is one Hard Ass MF. His name is Pebberbrown. I think he was Bucketheads teacher once.

Watch the first 20mins of the first link, if you have the time spare, he will make you keep watching from what he is saying to you, NOT what he is playing.

Then I have a few of my thoughts listed below after/if you have watched it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdoz16LRz9Q

and this, especially between 4 and 16 mins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKs9mRHWXvI

This guy's ability has my respect and he obviously believes in the "School of Tough Love" approach. Everything he says(about life and Guitar) is basically true, uncomfortable, but true. His main goal is obviously to propel the truly disciplined to pro virtuoso level. But he is also great for making anyone realise which parts of their playing need attention. He will make you laugh too.

My concerns.

I want to know if any of you find that he might have the opposite effect and actually Discourage you from playing and even make you feel guilty for even owning a Guitar,lol.

I think deep down, a lot of Guitar players, including myself, know that we "SUCK" at a real Technical level in comparison to the likes of Allan Holdsworth or Satch etc.

I have never "really" done "SERIOUS" practice in the 25 years that I have been playing and I know that is truly undisciplined. But I have covered a lot of ground in a "Going around the Houses" sense.

Like a lot of people in the real world with jobs and daily responsibilities, I maybe only have 1 1/4 hours a day to actually play Guitar, a little more at the weekend and most of the time that is learning for pleasure, as in some songs/solos you love. You tend to SQUEEZE in the theory stuff when you can. But like I say, the theory bits do add up after 25 years.

Is it not just as important to be told the things you "can" do well?

I think I'm 50/50 with his "Vocal" motivation. The fact that he thinks just about everything "Sucks" even possibly Guitarists we all think are great, bores him to death( Guthrie for one, in a reply of his I read) and possibly many more, this can sort of kick the sh*t out of whatever small dream you may have had and make you think your own style or sound is utterly worthless.

As for his actual Guitar excercises, I would highly recommend him.

Your thoughts please. And Please Don't shoot the messenger

[thereformant]

I don't practice solo at all. If I'm playing guitar I'm either writing or playing in a band. Sure I'm not mega technical but listening to the product is a hell of a lot more interesting than listen to someone play a single note repeatedly for 2 mins straight.

It depends what your goal is I guess really. I couldn't really care less about being a great guitarist, music for me is a creative endeavour not an athletic one. Besides most cool music is about interplay between different instruments not just one so having a basic level of competence in all the "rock" instruments is more valuable to me than being able to really let rip technically on any particular instrument.

[Bellycaster]

[QUOTE=thereformant;1420963]I don't practice solo at all. If I'm playing guitar I'm either writing or playing in a band. Sure I'm not mega technical but listening to the product is a hell of a lot more interesting than listen to someone play a single note repeatedly for 2 mins straight.

It depends what your goal is I guess really. I couldn't really care less about being a great guitarist, music for me is a creative endeavour not an athletic one. Besides most cool music is about interplay between different instruments not just one so having a basic level of competence in all the "rock" instruments is more valuable to me than being able to really let rip technically on any particular instrument.[/Q

Hi

I agree with you, but, don't forget I also agree with him too. It's all about what you take from HIS words. I already had my 2p'orth. I, like you, play for pleasure, and I do learn theory and small amounts of disciplined routine as and when, so to speak.

I guess it's the fact that his way or his attitude partially bothers me and somehow motivates me at the same time is why I need other peoples takes on it/him.

Thanks for yours.

[folkyblokey]

It depends what your goal is I guess really. I couldn't really care less about being a great guitarist, music for me is a creative endeavour not an athletic one.

For me, any improvements in technical ability arise out of necessity. For example, the "repeated notes/listen to the different tones by playing at different parts of the string" for me came about from me playing King Crimson's Starless and Bible Black in a band I was in. To play the piece convincingly you need to practice. From practice comes accuracy. From accuracy comes fluidity, speed, feel and anything else you need to focus on.
I suppose it's the difference between practicing for practice sake and practicing out of necessity. Each to their own.
As for the guy, I prefer honest tutors to ones who sugar coat it.

[Bellycaster]

For me, any improvements in technical ability arise out of necessity. For example, the "repeated notes/listen to the different tones by playing at different parts of the string" for me came about from me playing King Crimson's Starless and Bible Black in a band I was in. To play the piece convincingly you need to practice. From practice comes accuracy. From accuracy comes fluidity, speed, feel and anything else you need to focus on.
I suppose it's the difference between practicing for practice sake and practicing out of necessity. Each to their own.
As for the guy, I prefer honest tutors to ones who sugar coat it.

Point well made. I do things out of necessity, you couldn't have put it better. There is however an inbetween ground which is not sugar coated and it's one where you feel you can talk to a teacher about anything and they can praise the things you do well.

As brilliant as he is Pebber just seems to think everything SUCKS. He probably thinks Hendrix SUCKS, Page SUCKS, Gilmour SUCKS, May SUCKS, Akkerman SUCKS because they're not the complete article, you get my drift?

I'm bothered by the vibes that I get that if your not a Virtuoso, then, YOU SUCK.

Thanks for your input

[bochetagrave]

Yeah, seems like that's his attitude - and fair enough. It's one approach. Most of us don't have the time or the inclination, or the dedication. If you want guitar to be work - fine!

The comments are worth reading, too..!

[folkyblokey]

There is however an inbetween ground which is not sugar coated and it's one where you feel you can talk to a teacher about anything and they can praise the things you do well.

Generally speaking, I don't want praise from a tutor, whether its a guitar tutor or other. Praise to me always suggests he is happier than I am that I can perform the skill.
I want constructive criticism on my skills. I want to know when I've done it right ("that's correct") and I want to know what I can do next ("now try it faster"). Praise only satisfies the ego.

[monquixote]

I expect he is a very good technical teacher, but there is no real need for the phoney Full Metal Jacket Sargent Major routine. I'm sure some people respond to that, but I think many others would learn to see the guitar as a chore or be discouraged.

Also someone who gets completely off topic and starts going on about the gulf of Mexico oil spill in the middle of a technique lesson has no right to be talking about discipline.

He also says that you should ignore all other elements of musicianship until you have mastered pure technique which is a sure fire way to manufacture horrific tasteless shred monkeys.

Guthrie is a thousand times better at this type of stuff and he isn't a total dick.

[Lixarto]

I've not watched the video, but:

I expect he is a very good technical teacher, but there is no real need for the phoney Full Metal Jacket Sargent Major routine. I'm sure some people respond to that, but I think many others would learn to see the guitar as a chore or be discouraged.

Also someone who gets completely off topic and starts going on about the gulf of Mexico oil spill in the middle of a technique lesson has no right to be talking about discipline.

He sounds like an objectionable person.

Having said that, I don't feel I have the need to practice. I play every day, but I never practice.

[Bellycaster]

Generally speaking, I don't want praise from a tutor, whether its a guitar tutor or other. Praise to me always suggests he is happier than I am that I can perform the skill.
I want constructive criticism on my skills. I want to know when I've done it right ("that's correct") and I want to know what I can do next ("now try it faster"). Praise only satisfies the ego.

Nah, I wouldn't want the "kid gloves" thing either. I guess I just mean that there are extremes from the really Woolly types through to the hard asses, but there must be teachers who are somewhere in the middle of that scale. It just seems a bit Dictatorial to have someone rubbish everything else except for those who have 8 hours a day to do pure disciplined practice. If you check out his "Daily Excercises" you would have to absolutely nothing else in your life except the guitar.