Top TEN Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE Becoming A Musician

1. the best practice is on stage.. play live constantly 2.surround you with musicians better than you 3. don't learn generic music or you'll play like most others. 4. Study the best and you'll be great. 5. Do residential workshops they are great 6. Focus on the small techniques they are the most important. 7. be a musician not just a guitar player 8. tell a story when you play.

I took 12 years of lessons in classical guitar back in the early sixties...and then four guys hit the world and changed my life...

I played drums in bands, professionally, for ten years in the early '90s. If only stuff like this had been in my life, like it is now, I would be in a very different place. Kids, listen to this man. Then give him credit. Be grateful that there is this, and him, and all that is out there to help.

Pretty sure these are my favorite episodes. Rick & Rhett make a good team 👍

Rhythm and TIMING. Once you can internalise rhythm well - knowing always where the 1 is then you can start to manipulate it and make your playing more fluid. Once you can do this you can find the timings that you connect with, when to pause, when to hold, when to enter and when to exit. The more you do this then phrasing will eventually occur that feel really really good, and something which you're more emotionally connected to. The more you then focus on how to emotionally connect to how you produce phrasing - the more you might find the holy grail for any musician: your true voice on an instrument. When I was younger I raced off absorbing as many techniques as I could which I would always try to weld onto my playing to make it seem more complete. It was only when I really really focused in on rhythm and timing that I felt I was connecting to the music in a wider way - from that I find the right technique to apply to an idea AFTER having connected to how the song was starting to feel. For me, technique always follows the idea - the idea is king. I put Timing in caps because I personally believe this is the true bridge between rhythm and melody. Playing with timings can truly teach you both - it is such a big deal if you can spot the tiniest windows in bars to drop notes in - it gives you so many new angles with which to express yourself. If you toss away the success/failure/will i get recognised anxiety for a moment - at its basic core it makes making music so much more pleasurable.

I started music school when I was thirty; I learned so much more than I thought I would. I'm still growing from those years 40 years ago. I became a much better guitar player because I finally learned what to practice, i.e. chord tones, scales, etc. You were required to have a decent understanding of the piano. They made you take enough lessons and pass a certain skill level. You can keep learning until you die.

12:30 Tim Newton was my professor my freshman year of college. He is an amazing professor and the best I have ever had! Still remember him playing Moonlight Sonata in class. He played it beautifully!!!

At 17 I joined a 9-piece cover band that was hooked up with a booking agency. We worked regularly. A few years later when that band dissolved three of us recruited a drummer and formed a 4-piece original band. We had a "5th member" who handled booking, management, and ran sound. When that band dissolved I kept working but made some business decisions that resulted in a lot of lateral moves which kept working but never led to much career advancement. Sometimes I wish I had hooked up with a personal manager when that second band broke up. Also, I could have moved from Atlanta to Nashville when many of my friends did back in the 70s. In other words, I wish I had known how to mind the business side.

I started playing guitar 1966. Caused by the Beatles. I took lessons for 3 years and had a great teacher who was a lifelong gigging musician. He really brought me up to speed on the guitar. The most memorable thing he taught me, which still affects me today, was to SLAP my foot down in time. This really taught me to keep the rhythm. His name was Jimmie Knapp. What a great teacher he was.

Two people I am thankful for and I believe are so influential in today's modern day of music. Rick Beato and Warren Huart. Thank you Rick! Would to see you have Warren on the channel.

I think this really highlights the benefit of not being afraid to tell someone when you don't know something and ask for their help. Loads of people would be too proud to get a freshman to teach them to read music for example.

Hell, I started fifty years ago. I am 60 now. And still active. I don’t think I’ll ever retire. Music has been very good to me and my family.

I feel like I’m always hearing people talk about how important it is to start learning instruments when you’re young and it drives me crazy. Nothing can be further from the truth and this discourages older players from learning new instruments. I played only guitar and bass until my mid 30s, when I started piano and drums. Now, twelve years later, I’m easily good enough to add parts to my own songs, and drums are my absolute favorite instrument to play. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to the “you’ve gotta be young” warnings.

I'd love to see you have a conversation with a professional actor & a screenwriter (3 way conversation) to discuss the parallels between those three professions. A lot of what you guys are saying here applies to everything I know about acting & screenwriting (screenwriting is my passion but acting is how I pay my bills). I'm also a musician but not professionally - I just play for fun but did go to school for music for a couple of years and I'm glad I did because the whole TV/Film/Theater industry is like one HUGE complex puzzle with many pieces and music is one of those pieces, a very important one too. In screenwriting we talk about "emotional beats" that you need to hit within a story - with conflicts leading to resolution and a very clear "emotional arc" of the character. A well written story is always about the heroes journey of emotional change - and that's why it''s important to VERY clearly define who the character is within the first five pages/minutes because if you don't demonstrate who the character is emotionally (early on) then you can't demonstrate any emotional change. I'll BET that if you were to facilitate a conversation like this you'd get a lot out of it - more than you would ever expect.

The recording aspect of this discussion resonated with me strongly, as it's my biggest weakness holding me back in a career. I'd like to think I write good songs, have a good ear, am a confident performer and can play several instruments adequetely; I've had plenty of support from friends and family that genuinely like my music, but when recording my ability and confidence almost completely disappears. It's made me scared to record my songs or work with recording somebody, because I know I'm not good enough and it takes me an extra week of serious practice just to scrape through a recording session, and still not even be satisfied. Plus I never have any idea what the person producing is doing, and just let them make all the decisions which leads creative problems later. Maybe an internship would make sense to try out!

These guys are so articulate which makes it very informative. I was very fortunate. in that I was taught (after playing for about 6 years with sporadic but more formal-type lessons, Mel-Bay, etc.) how to learn songs exactly by ear off records (!!!?) by the best rock guitarist in my hometown. It really developed my ear/brain combo to be analytical when listening and get it right or pretty damn close. My reading still sucks though.

This beautifully already sounds like part of a podcast series (if not already)...would love to hear more like this with the two of you discussing other topics and sharing more stories...

I'm not a pro musician but I've played guitar for about 25 years now. The main thing I've found is that if you're happy playing what you play that's fine. I was happy for a long time playing basic chords and singing my favourite tunes as I buzzed off it and so did my friends. I always shied away from lessons because I hated studying so never took music lessons. I wish maybe I'd learned to solo because I'm doing that now and really enjoying the journey.

I really like to watch these videos, I have an impression that I know them from a long time. The conversation flows like we are on the same room, and they are so natural not acting, they are so good that just need to be themselves.

Man hearing Rick learning sound engineering at 36 really gives me some inspiration. I have been a musician for 22 years without any real success. I even tried to quit at one point. But with this kinda talk it gives me some hope!!

The podcast move is genius there are more musical instrument tutorials on BRvid than people could watch in a lifetime. Learning musicianship in a audio / video format is very valuable and enjoyable.

this is solid gold Rick! Excellent advice. I've been gigging for 30 yrs and playing for $$ that long and being from a non-musical family, this is advice I would give to ALL kids! Super!

This was a very insightful video, shows the depth of the learning curve in music. My brother was the sound man for several bands and the difference he could make in the sound of the band was amazing. I often thought he should have transitioned to to the studio. Great video!

Thank you much for these videos Rick!!!! I have plugged so many holes in my musical knowledge, watching your channel... my songs sound WAY better than they did 3 months ago.

I've been able to change my technique based on the styles of music I'm playing. It's happened after I stopped playing gigs. When you're in a band you are so focused on the material for that band that all other styles are ignored. So I've begun practicing at sweep-picking and fingerpicking Travis style after age 50 and it's been funa dn satisfying

Crazy that Rhett only started guitar in like 2003, I started in 2005 ! Although admittedly I was super young and I didn't really start learning to play rock music until like 2008 or 2009. I don't think you necessarily have to start super young on drums though. I've started teaching myself fairly recently and I feel like my progress is similar to when I first started guitar. I think if you put in the time to practice you can learn anything at age. The main advantage to starting young is that you've been playing for a lot longer by the time you're older.

We all need great teachers. Keep up the good work.

I wish I had had BRvid when I first got interested in playing guitar. The lessons are great for learning (and re-learning) my favorite music, and Rick's videos are full of accumulated wisdom regarding gear and theory.

Excellent, as always. I'm glad I learned from the 70s....pre tab. I'm sure that forced me to use my ear more than players do now. Hey Rick, Davd Brubeck had a similar story of being almost through college without bring able go sightread!

I consider myself starting at 58, lots to catch up on, but headway has been made. Invaluable this podcast !

13:50 The discussion about TABs in (80's 90's 00's) mags and on-line not being correct applies to a lot of "official and authorised" books too ! Music of any genre is so good for mind body and soul, no matter how good you are. Rick's channel is a no.1 hit !

I tell my students that learning to read standard notation makes you more employable. I played the musical "Rock Of Ages" last year on (3) guitars. The book was all chord symbols and standard notation. 2 songs had no chords, just notes on the staff. All the musicals I have played use standard notation.

You guys are living proof that endurance and ability to withstand failure and error - is probably the most valuable growth skill any of us could have. It's difficult to teach that - unless it comes from a loving parent or guardian. And of course - skill is required. If you actually don't have the skill - then at some point, you have to try something different. And that's a key - to know when your failures can be overcome by years of practice and trial and error - and to know when life is telling you to go in a different direction. Having a trustworthy mentor is important. Finally - the value of dumb luck can't be over stressed.

Invaluable. Wish I'd had such clear, honest and knowledgable advice when I started trying to learn.

I began to produce and write songs as a living at the age of 32! Good to know that Rick has learned something as important as signal flow at the age of 37 😂

Best thing I did was “ after learning some chords and wanting to start learning some lead licks” is purchase a loop pedal, you can lay some 12 bar chord progressions down and play over it, experimenting around with different major & pentatonic scale modes, triads and such. Of corse if you have a friend who plays too, play together every chance you can and teach and learn together.

I took lessons in 87 for 4 months and the teacher dropped me for another student that was more advanced. I was 14. I gave up finnished school got a job. Picked it back up a couple of years ago and instantly remember what i was taught years ago but really struggle now. I practice better now than then. Wish i had stuck with it. Your channel and others keep me inspired. Thank you Rick.

Thanks for this one Rick. The casual flow of the conversation is heart warming.

Thank you Rick for all the informative videos you put out. 🙏🙏

My story is very much like Rhetts, except I started in 1978 at 15 years of age. No one was very musical in my family. I bought a guitar and self-taught. Hearing the song Red House off Smash Hits was a game-changer. I practised every waking moment I was able. I never learned much in the way of music theory because it was all playing by ear. Looking back I could have probably done both. I'm not sure if knowing the theory would have changed my outlook or my tastes. I always learned and played the music that appealed to me.

It's not too late to take lessons ( real lessons ) just find the right teacher and you'll be amazed at how much you can learn!

Must be a guitar thing, I thought I was was reading in a music class in Junior College (long time ago), I was just decoding it over time. Then it was exam time, true colors came out. I did learn a lot about Jazz though. Luckily, the visual arts is what saved my life and was bale to pay bills. I am so grateful for this channel, I have a second chance at learning music. Thank you Rick and Rhett!

Great insights. I enjoyed seeing the friendship among you guys. Thank you.

My father was a 4th generation piano tuner. All aural tuners. I can here it, just can't seem to play it. I'm a mechanic, I bet I can still tune. I was learning when my father passed years ago. Love all music, mainly metal.... love your vids!

Rick saying he was 37 and getting to grips with production makes me feel better. 36yo, recording for years and still learning things (playing and recording) that I want to do.

I had the complete opposite experience with music school, reading and ears. My first year of Berklee my ear training teacher pulled me aside and tested to see if I could match pitches with my voice/ears....... I had no idea that you could match a note with a voice or on an instrument by just listening. I had never learned a bass part by ear. I bought songbooks and had my band mates learn the bass parts and teach me. WOW.... I was in shock, and I started making my own ear training tapes....33 years later I still am. I wish someone had told me about ear playing

"Figure it out for yourself!" The single greatest thing a father can tell his kids. Only someone that's developed confidence through actually doing things themselves have that attitude. I once told my step father after working in a small company from their startup that I was going to go out on my own. I felt like I'd outgrown them and that they weren't taking advantage of all the markets they could get into. He said to me,"You're not ready." It never even dawned on me to consider NOT doing it. I realized that he had nothing constructive to tell me because he didn't even have a clue about what I did on that job or what I'd learned through all the years and also didn't know that starting a company is NOT a big deal. Needless to say, he worked in the same company most of his adult life. Nothing wrong with that, but why would you discourage anyone from doing something that they wanted to do? Anyway, he changed his tune when my company surpassed the success of the company I started out in. Living a good life is the best revenge! Now he tells his friends I'm a genius which is also not true. He went from one extreme to the other. Ridiculous! You don't have to be a genius to be successful. Far from it. So many people don't appreciate (much less utilize) having a basic level of intelligence. That's all it takes.

I like the fact that both you guys are just average everyday guys like the rest of us. The music side of this is just what you gentleman do. Great stuff!

OMG!! Thank you Rick for saying out loud what I've struggled with for years. We're about the same age and economy and sweep picking are beyond me. I had been playing for too long before I was exposed to it. So frustrating!!

Good conversation. Sound like you two were fortunate to find each other; great symbiosis has ensued.

Hard to imagine Rick not being able to hook up a PA :) Key was asking. I've played with hundreds of musicians over the years, great musicians and smart people, but they never learned this stuff because they were afraid to admit they had no idea where to start... 37, Wow! Hearing this as 36 making a transition from just playing to hopefully engineering. These videos are such a great help. If you are one of those musicians who turns up to gigs and always waits for someone else to set the PA up, and never do sound, you are seriously missing out.

I see a lot of high level musicians/guitarists say they wished they had taken guitar lessons from a pro when they were younger. But what I also see is, those who are privileged enough to do that don't end up being musicians. What makes people like Rick great musicians is that they did not have such an oportunity but they sticked with music regardless.

My feeling is that starting in elementary public and/or private schools, the “guitar chair” wasn’t offered in their bands/orchestra... maybe it’s more common now but it wasn’t when I was a kid in school. The only place available to learn to read music was by finding a guitar teacher that taught guitar AND reading music. I was very lucky to find a teacher in my neighborhood when I was a kid that taught me music theory and reading music. He would actually write out an arrangement - right in front of me - from memory that he transcribed from a record! You name it, Johnny Smith, etc... That said, while my sight reading is no where near what the average horn player or pianist is, it’s not half bad. I think if guitar were more mainstream in school bands/orchestra - if it isn’t already - it would go a long way toward getting guitar players up to speed with sight reading.

Such great stories Such a great listen Smart men that grabbed it by the keys (fret board, kahunas) and really loved the craft and became who we all wish we could be our own better versions of.

Sanchez as a musician 😁😁 Thank you for going down this road, your insights are extremely valuable

Love these videos! You are the best Rick. I have been binge watching these videos like a crazy man.

My first guitar was a terrible nylon Spanish acoustic that my mum won in a raffle. I was 11 and it took me another 4 years to save up for my first electric. This was 1976. So the electric was pretty awful too. My point: my development was hideously slow compared to today, but I learnt by ear and developed a strong vibrato to make those things sound decent. My style was created by my environment and restrictions.

Teachers are important. But a mentor is key. Someone who is capable of teaching but isn't financially dependent on giving an endless series of lessons. Someone who can show you the essentials and then the shortcuts based on your growing capabilities. And someone who encourages you to ignore that part of your brain that says "I'll never be good enough to play in public."

I get Rhett as a good teacher can structure things for you more and guide you. But honestly, trial and error by yourself builds your stamina as a musician. People that always had guidance by teachers might get attached to that crutch. Rick is a great teacher here because he figured things out by himself and thus developed a sense of his own.

I've been blessed to have played many pro gigs and recordings with some great artists. I did go to The Dick Grove School of Music and learned a lot about theory and reading. Having that knowledge really just helps sort out the music but definitely does not make you a great player. If you feel the music and you are not trying to impress people, that's when you get the epic gigs.

LOL-I was pretty much the opposite of Rick's, and I think we're about the same age. My parents had very strict rules for bedtime, where I could go, when I had to be home, etc. Luckily, for whatever reason, when I finally got out from under their rules I managed to maintain a fair amount of that discipline personally. In college, I was biochemistry major and music minor, emphasizing vocal music. I played guitar/bass and a little piano on my own, mostly by ear. I was and am still very slow at reading music.

12:25 I learned all guitar by ear, starting at the age of 4. Had Piano lessons starting at 7, quit piano at 9 (just as I started the 2 hand stuff), took saxophone in 5th grade (11 yo) until I graduated high school. I couldn't read music due to my poor eyesight and as soon as the page filled up, I couldn't see it. The entire time I played guitar, learning by ear. Multitudes of different bands playing the bar circuit for 20 years. All these years later, as a live sound engineer, seeing union musicians come in to the gig, forgetting their music stand, and not being able to play the gig--and it is old standards...2 things to bring and they forget one and can't play the gig, go figure....

1) Chose a teacher who's aligned with your musical interests. 2) Don't let the wrong teacher talk you out of your musical interests. 3) Go to a music school whose concentration is focused on your musical interests (i.e. don't go to a 18th century focused conservatory if you want to play jazz). 4) Stay away from drugs. 5) Stay away from drugs. 6) Sight read like a SOB. 7) Focus on your craft. 8) Associate yourself with people who are focused--not slackers. 9) Know your theory and history. 10) Know the business. There's ten!

This is so great a mentor and student discussing the magic of music.I love it.

Of course you can change you technique. I'm in my fifties and I'm really REALLY concentrating on my picking technique and properly organizing my practise time instead of noodling on the same tired old tunes. I know my accuracy has improved already over the last 3-4 months. It just takes a bit of honesty with yourself.

It comes back.. After being away for quite awhile, I'm getting back into it. I'm mainly a bass player and really the hardest thing is getting my hard fingers back.

Sounds great guys. I didn't choose to be a musician. I was born that way and realized that I was a musician when I was 15. Didn't take guitar lessons until I was about 16 years old. Was basically self taught for 4 years or so. Had Organ lessons with I was 6, for 6 years but didn't play guitar until I was 12.

My father would say the same thing to me all the time, Bill I’m not going to be here forever, you have to figure things out on your own. Rest easy day.

I took 2 weeks of lessons when I was 12 with my cousin who is a teacher, then said he couldn't teach me what I wanted to learn ( metallica, hendrix) I had been deeply into GFTPM and Guitar Player magazine. I devoured everything in there!!! My teachers were Satriani, Steve Morse, Holdsworth...in 1986 there was no BRvid...rewinding tapes omg! The best teacher I had was a cover band I had from 14-18 yrs old . We played Country, Rock, Pop, Metal...we didn't know we just played what people liked in a.small town . We were pretty hot for 15 year olds. I also discovered jazz at 20. Jack Johnson Tribute!! Tips: Practice what you don't know (thanks Rick) Get a band together fast!

when learning a song it is more important to leearn the idea behind it than getting caught up on the small detail

I'm forever grateful to the guy that taught me how to ring out a PA system. I've been living off that for decades.

Good chat. I would say that all the 'marketable' skills I've amassed (which now allow me to make a living in music) came from one impulse: to fully realize my own music. Playing instruments, singing (lead and harmony), programming, mixing, arranging, performing onstage, getting tones, using effects, making videos -- I learned all of those things in the creative process. But if you'd given 17-yr-old me that laundry list of "things you should learn to be more well-rounded", I'd have been completely uninterested. So yeah, the hindsight thing is interesting to contemplate, but I think if you're following your heart and working from a passionate place, good things will follow.

Really great video - thank you. I'm 39 and I've been on here trying to learn more about the "right" way to play, since I was self-taught the first time around and never really got all that good (at guitar/piano/bass) before life intervened and I had to take a break from the band I was in and just playing music at all. My sentiment is the same with regard to piano lessons. My parents even offered to pay for me to have them, but I turned it down at the time b/c even though I was a significant music fan and listener, I didn't picture playing myself. Fast forward nearly 30 years and now I kick myself for not taking those piano lessons. If I could give any advice, I would whole-heartedly second (or I guess third :-) ) the recommendation that people take music lessons of some sort when they are younger or just starting out, regardless of age. If you're starting up later in life it is going to be more difficult simply b/c of the way our brains are wired, but its not impossible to pick stuff up when you're older - it just means you often end up having to work a bit harder. But that may make it that much more rewarding to you when you've gotten a handle on something new - b/c the journey was tougher, the accomplishment can feel greater.

I told my brother back in the late 70s not to quit his day job. He took my advice and was glad he did. He was professionally trained, did his weekend gigs, cut a few CDs and made decent money. Still wasn't enough to support a family, pay a mortgage and have health insurance. That's what the day job was for. @rick Beato it may be obvious, but many great musicians were never formally trained and can not sight read at all. Lindsey Buckingham being a great example. Many Country players, steel guitar and finger pickers too.

Rick, you have the box for everything! All your Apple stuff for instance. You're a great music teacher and an even better box collector!

Y'all are great. A lot of great insight here. Thank you so much for all you do and keep on keepin on \m/ Cheers from Taylorsville, GA

I learned theory before I started playing piano and it made my progression much easier. I do improvise a lot but theory gives me a framework and helps me understand what's going on and what the possibilities are. . I strongly advise learning it unless you're a genius. But if you're a genius you'll pick it up easy .....so either way learn theory . And if you're going to learn theory get a piano or some kind of keyboard if you can . It's easy to understand intervals and chord structures and other things if you have a keyboard instrument available.

Guitar for the Practicing Musician is what taught me how to play. Had a subscription from the late 80's through the late 90's. Still have all of them in my basement and I'm just about ready to bust them out after taking a 17 year break from playing.

Tabs are good for getting you in the right zip code you have to use them in conjunction with LISTENING or playing along with the song. I run my tablet into my PA system and play with the recording I use the tabs as a way to get you in the zipcode and once you have that part right then the rest will often just fall into place

Well, to summarize, we could say that if you have the opportunity of knowing anything, go for it because it may help you (then or in the future).

those "esoteric parts" that make a record interesting (often bands cannot provide) made me immediately think of what I learned from Eno

I learned from ear too, in the beginning. It still is the best thing I ever taught myself

Great video, it's true now you have to know as much as possible about anything and everything to do with music production from playing, writing, recording, engineering, mastering and now even promotion and social media. It kinda makes me wonder why it's so hard to make decent money with music nowadays with all the skills involved musicians should be running the music streaming websites themselves after all they are just another tool in the modern day music insdustry. Maybe we were all too busy learning all those plug-ins when we should of been making website platforms.

Used to be able to read (drum) music when I took lessons at age 6 but after the lessons stopped, I had no reason to read anymore. With drums, I think it's easier to just hear what they are playing as I have spent the rest of my life figuring out drum patterns by listening. I have been in many bands and most guitar players need to know the notes and the key although some can do as you do Rick: They can play by ear -

When I started, I wish someone would have stressed the importance of knowing the notes on the fretboard and thinking in chords instead of frets. My biggest hurdle is a left brain/right brain kind of thing. I've had trouble applying knowledge to my playing while improvising. When in music school, it felt like only one door could be open at a time: ear/instinct, or theory. I was too advanced technicaly for my level of understanding which made it hard to advance.

Absolutely excellent, this is such an important lesson.

You are a true master Rick! I would love to meet you some day. I love watching and learning. I had pretty much given up the idea of playing music though. I was born into it and my father was a jazz piano player and we rebuilt pianos for many years. We did everything. It's something that takes a lifetime to understand. Have you ever heard of Luigi Cherubini??? I think Lyle Mays knew of him. Garry Husband remembers "The Four Freshman". My father was in that group. He's such a nice guy who texts me back all the time. Isn't that something special! Love you brother. We are the same age too! "'

Now you're good. Fantastic. Let's talk about making it though in the arts. Some of you out there (including this writer and vlogger) have the artist aspiration. You have been told by the very few who made it to believe in yourself and never give up. Well the simply fact is the arts are very different than any other profession. Because usually--someone else has to let you in. Now what I would tell you if you are 18 or 40 and feel that your destiny is in the arts? I would not tell you to just stay the "safe route" and give up on your dreams. I would tell you to pursue the artist aspiration smartly. Get another trade that you at least like. So the agents of industry never have you by the throat. You have to go to work anyway so you might as well have the job that pays well. I never went through the starving artist phase. I went through a starving student phase. So when I finally did pursue the artist endeavor I did it with a job I also like that contracts for 100K a year and four month vacations in Europe. That's how you go through being a starving artist. You don't starve at all. Hope this helps someone---Charles

I was super lucky growing up. Music is in my family and in my genes. My aunts, mom, dad and older brother were all musicians to one degree or another. My brother had perfect pitch, and I've always had relative pitch. We got a piano in the house when I was 7, and my dad used to sing and play old Johnny Cash songs on guitar from my earliest memories. I can still 'hear' all those old Elvis and Beatles songs that were always on the radio when I was a toddler. My mom remarried in my youth, and my stepdad was also a singer/guitarist who had actually written and recorded a few songs (that never went anywhere). This was in the 70's and he had a lot of 45's with his songs on them. Learning any instrument has always come easily and naturally to me. What I've concluded after many years now as a multi-instrumentalist is that you need really only 2 things: a sense of rhythm, and a strong desire to play music. After that, it's all a wonderful, exciting journey with bumps and twists in the road.

I dunno. I changed my guitar technique several times over the course of 30-something years I've been playing. Changed the way I hold the pick after like 15 years of holding it one way. Hell, even changed the way I hold the guitar when I play sitting down - only about 6-7 years ago moved it to my left knee and found it much more comfortable for the picking hand (not right away of course). Sure, it's not easy to relearn a skill but it's doable. Decided to learn sweep picking recently. I'm reasonably fast with my alternate picking even through 8-note arpeggios but that requires a lot of physical effort - figured I'd give sweeping a shot. :)

When I started out I encountered a lot of tone-snobs. My advice is to go and check out gear for yourself (expensive and cheap) and A-B it as best you can. A lot of people used to say "don't buy a Big Muff/Metal Zone/Stock pickups/etc" but forgot how many top selling records used those. My second bit of advice is to experiment. Riffs/composition, effects ..whatever.. You can learn lots from trying to recreate the sound of your fave artists, but you can also stumble across interesting sounds and textures by playing around. Give yourself the time and space to do this. My third bit of advice is to start building a small studio as soon as you can. I started mine at 18 with a tape recorder, single dynamic mic, a small combo amp and a cheap guitar. Its a lot easier/cheaper now so just dive in and record some songs is my advice

7:15 Alan Holdsworth (RIP), Al Dimiola, Steve Morse! Really great players. 7:44 "That door closes after a little while." I disagree Rhett. Yes, we develop habits, but if we slow down, and go back to the beginning, we can develop new techniques. It takes a lot of patience, and time, but it is possible.

I can relate on the picking technique stuff--if only I had a teacher who knew all the advanced technique.

Rick, I forgot that you actually were a B A S S major with Neubert! Do you remember me accompanying your jury on the Eccles sonata? I think I still have your music! I can't believe my student just emailed me this video where you disclose that I taught you to read music. You taught me to about Lyle Mays and Phase Dances and Bright Size Life and Offramp--which was far more important than teaching you to read! Here's to some hilarious times. I hope to catch up again soon. Tim

I have found that regardless of whatever employment, hobby, or pursuit of happiness that I have engaged with... - Schooling of any relational type is worthwhile, but I probably only really would use about 10 to 20% of whatever the ciriculum provided. I've gone through 11 years of formal, conservatory music training, 14 years of elementary/secondary schooling, 6 years of trade apprenticeships, 2 years of community college, and 3 years of university... The overwhelming majority of the educational cirriculum was not relevant in my life, and work. - Necessity is the mother of invention, or the reason to learn and implement knowledge. The moment that gaining specific skills and knowledge becomes a necessity, is the moment that learning these items will be desirable, and attainable. - Surrendering, and immersing myself in whatever I would desire is absolutely the only way that I have ever been successful in learning and application of what I NEEDED to do. Even if it was a hobby, I would spend hours a day immersed in the pursuit. It's the only way I know that works.

Talking about teaching and BRvid you’ll be surprised at the amount that kids don’t use it as a tool to learn. I tutor “Rock Academy” at my old school and we’re finding that a lack of music scene is really hurting younger players. It’s really sad. I picked up bass in 02 and had a hunger to learn all the cool new songs I don’t see that hunger in the kids I teach, you get maybe 1 or 2 out of 30.

I grow up with having piano in families home. I even had a 88 key toy piano. I learned the circle of 5ths from playing the accordion. And I grow listening to Black Gospel Music like: The Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Soulstirs (lead vocals Sam Cooke), Mahalia Jackson, The Dixie Hummingbirds.

Same. I played guitar, and some other instruments. Chip asked about THEORY. Modes. He was actually a fine musician who didn't need to know any more than he already knew. He talked about stuff I didn't care about. Your technique is yours. Your taste is yours. "How do you do that?" "I never thought about that..." He was convinced I thought about stuff. "How can you play a C chord seven different ways?" "Well, I never thought about it." I had to do what I had to do. I'm the worst guy to ask questions about how I do stuff. I don't know - I don't care. I'm not even aware.

I wish I knew all about recording, tone, production when I was younger because I really based everything on scales and stuff and I have never been satisfied by the results despite technical ability

Ahh definitely a prominent video to get into my man! I'm only 17 in trying to pursue a musical career, so this is much helpful and truthful in words and content!