I think I'd prefer an informal approach, the guy can see where you need help and work on that and if there's something specific you'd want to learn like a new technique or song he can focus on that for a couple lessons until you've got it and so on, the main thing would be more about a real time interaction where the teacher could see what you might be doing wrong and correct it on the spot or if you're unclear you can ask then and there and get feedback.

Hello Kaasdief!

I have been taking lessons for some time now, and when I started out, I did not even know how to hold the guitar. Some of the lessons helped me to come to grips with the basics, like how to strum and fingerpick, and how to fret chords. My teacher said that practising the exercises he was giving me were also essential in "getting the fingers cooking", meaning activating and developing what both the left hand and right hand do while playing (I'm a right-handed player). We checked out chord shapes, and soon after I started learning musical notation. I've still got loads to learn in this department, and sheet music to master. My teacher also started taking songs, like Bob Dylan's Knocking on Heaven's Door, and breaking them down. I'd typically spend a couple of weeks on one song, learning different techniques. I've been spending some time with Collective Soul's Listen. Long story short, my teacher guides how the lessons flow. My progress is slow, but if I think a year back, I can definitely see that I'm getting the hang of some of it.

Hang in there. Like Mixerboy says, it's about the real time interaction, and for me that is the valuable stuff.

I am very new at this. My concern was that we would do tiny bits and bobs of songs, but I could not see where this would fit into the greater scheme of things. Maybe he was just showing me stuff in order for me to vaguely sound like something and not get despondent. I am a big boy however and I am prepared for the hard yards, meaning that I can sit and practice chords or whatever else might seem boring until I get it right. I hope I am still making sense here.

Kaasdief wrote: My concern was that we would do tiny bits and bobs of songs, but I could not see where this would fit into the greater scheme of things. Maybe he was just showing me stuff in order for me to vaguely sound like something and not get despondent.

I'm all for using a piece of a tune as a practical example - keeps me motivated to hang in there and get the technique/theory into muscle memory. Makes practice time more enjoyable (for me).

Everyone is different and some teachers may be more suitable for you than others - I've been to a few over the years and have benefited from having different teachers...BUT I was lucky, I started out at the Jazz Workshop (Cpt), all the teachers are seriously skilled - ensured my basics were there. I go back every blue moon or so and get my my lazy ass kicked ?

+1 to Mixerboy's comment - A teacher is invaluable for the feedback - "you don't know what you don't know"....And sloppy habits (technique) are a absolute pain to change once they're learnt.

V8 wrote: sloppy habits (technique) are a absolute pain to change once they're learnt.

+1 to all the responses you've had so far, but imho v8's is probably the biggest argument in favour of a teacher. if your teacher isn't teaching you technique - and proper technique - you're not getting your dollar's worth. being self-taught, i know this to be true. it's really slowed my progress. i can play a little, i can even read music some, but honestly, my technique sucks.

of course, having no point of reference other than your teacher, you won't know whether he/she is teaching you correct technique. so get a second opinion if you can. there are plenty of really great players on here who should be able to come to some kind of consensus on technique at least - if nothing else ? - so feel free to ask questions on the forum.

speaking of second opinions, your teacher will thrive on feedback as much as a stadium full of screaming metallica fans. make sure you're asking questions, and not just soaking up info. if anything feels uncomfortable, sounds wrong or off, doesn't make sense, feels too easy, doesn't push you enough, pushes you too hard, ask about it. your teacher won't be able to judge your progress unless the communication is a two-way street; you can't expect him/her to be doing all the work in that arena. once you're talking to each other proper-like, you have a proper relationship, and things will start firing.

that said, finding the right teach is not always going to be a first-time affair. it's kinda like finding a shrink. it's not just about convenience and proximity, it needs to be about a meeting of the minds. your teacher will need to be on the same wavelength as you, or someone who can tune into it.

remember, not every great guitarist has the capacity to teach. and not every great teacher is necessarily a great guitarist. you know when they said those who can, do, and those who can't, teach, they were lying. only those who can teach, can teach.

it's a gift in and of itself
dh|

Yeah, maybe I am trying to bring to much logic into this. You have got to learn how to do A before you can do B and so on, and so on. Thank you to everybody for all the replies and inputs.

Oops...there is a section for lessons..sorry!

I think it all depends on the student-teacher dynamic. I took my son to a teacher who is a studio musician. He also seemed all over the place. Teaching cords here and riffs there etc. To me it was a bit frustrating because I am a structured person. My son however was diagnosed with attention disorder. Turns out so is his teacher and yesterday after two months of lessons these two were jamming in such a way that brought tears to my eyes.

Perhaps his teacher would not be suitable for me, but for my son it's a good match and his teacher knows exactly where to push and where to pull.