Steve Lukather: Biggest mistake today's Kids make when learning guitar

V8

“It's to the point now where kids learn all the tricks off the internet but they can't play in time or play in groove because they never learn how to play rhythm guitar, like that's not important.”

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/totos_steve_lukather_the_biggest_mistake_todays_kids_make_when_learning_guitar.html

onacarom

V8 I totally agree! It is primordial!!!

V8

I honestly couldn't agree more. I am as guilty as anyone (or more so!), when I started learning I did exactly this and even though I did go for lessons, I never paid much attention to rhythm until the last few years.

Now that I'm doing (remedial) studies improving my rhythm, I'm finding guitar interesting again.

For me, the goal was playing bass guitar in a band. For you it could be regularly practicing with a metronome, jamming regularly, joining a band, playing drums - we're all a little different, find what works for you, set a goal and play (and have fun, because it's play)

Jazzman105

My main man Steve! I love watching videos of him. Especially interviews. More so for his cool demeanor than anything else. He is Mr Chilled. And if you believe everything that comes out of his mouth... then he is just another Joe like us trying to play like the big boys.

The two lines that stand out for me:
"...to stay out of the way"
"....that makes everybody sound better."

These were the two most valuable lessons I had to learn in my transition from bedroom guitarist to performing musician. It's like the difference between pee-wee soccer and club football. In pee-wee soccer everyone chases the ball and it almost never delivers good results.

NorioDS

I'm also incredibly guilty of this. Only started fixing it in the last few years. Rocksmith has helped but, like Meron, not as much as playing bass.

A ton of the groove in a song is there in the bass notes. Amazing when you start listening for it. Honestly bass has almost become my preferred instrument but there's still something magical about the voice of guitar that keeps it firmly in pole position.

V8

NorioDS Only started fixing it in the last few years.

My blues guitar teacher finally had enough of me butchering rhythms, he sent me across the hall to the bass teacher ? It was a none too subtle clue, and the best musical advice I ever got. Still took about 5 years for me to approach bass as a bassist and not a re-treaded guitarist - the difference? Feeling the pulse of the underlying rhythm and playing fewer notes, but always at the appropriate time. Still learning though!

I'm not sure which one I prefer playing, if I had to choose...nylon string, it kinda spans both. Kinda....