Dumbing Down

[Tim]

As Peter says, we have discussed this before, and quite recently. As I said when this was raised before, I would have loved to have had tabs available in the 1960s when I played with a 'group' and had to learn a top ten hit in a few days to play it in public the next week. I did buy sheet music sometimes but it was for piano/vocal and the guitar chords were often wrong. A lot of sheet music is available these days specifcally for guitar, with music for the purists, tabs for those who like them (and indicating the time of the piece etc), along with the chords - often with instant download for less than a £1. We are really lucky to have that facility.
Surely there is a place for everything - playing by ear, reading music, tabs, learning from others etc etc. I love the guitar and I love the Shadows music, and this site is often very helpful and informative (eg Rob Bradford's contributions), but the tone of some of the postings is downright petty and nasty (eg the nonsense about the Fabulous Shadows - what a storm about nothing, and really vindictive). Please can we get back to discussing what we are all supposed to love - the music.
Tim

[Rosemary]

As someone now learning guitar for one year but in isolation from other musicians in the physical world I'm very grateful to the online resources and help available e.g. this board and Charlie Hall's board, YouTube, tabs etc.

My first method of learning entirely by ear resulted in playing most tunes in the 'wrong' positions (e.g 'Wonderful Land' in first position) or I played a fretted note when that same tone was in fact achieved by a bend. This meant I had to re-learn most tunes so now I consult tabs first if available and adapt them if needed (although I'm continually relearning phrases here and there when it becomes obvious that different finger positions will result in smoother playing).

Although my playing has improved in the first year and I put in a lot of practice every night and weekends I am nowhere near the standard of being able to perform live and can't play anything all the way through without some mistakes (as my videos prove). Maybe others have reached this standard after a year but I have to practise very hard for the slightest improvement even with all the online help available. I think some people are naturally talented at certain instruments and will quickly progress whatever happens and others will need more time and help whether it be from teachers, other musicians, books, tabs etc. In the end as long as we enjoy learning and playing, that's all that matters. Performers would hope the audience enjoys listening too but for me I'll be happy if I reach a stage one day where I actually enjoy listening to something I've played.

Best wishes
Rosemary

[Tim]

Spot on, Rosemary. That's what guitar playing should be. I learned mostly by ear in the 1960s, and now I have time to return to playing in retirement I am rapidly unlearning a lot of the things I played then and playing them properly because of access to the resources we now have available. I bet you are miles better after a year's playing than I was at that stage. But at the end of the day it's all about enjoyment.
Tim

[Rosemary]

Hi Tim
It's great you've taken up the guitar again.
I seem to remember Paul McCartney telling a story in The Beatles Anthology about having to hop on a bus to travel to another side of town where someone knew how to play a certain chord and when they returned they were able to impress their friends that they'd learnt it. Now we'd just google it and have it in seconds (well in my case I probably couldn't play it in seconds if it were a tricky one but at least I'd know how to form it).
Best wishes
Rosemary

[Pedro]

Surely the tabs can only be of use if you have heard the tune.

[ecca]

I remember buying 'Shindig' on the day it came out out on my way home from school at dinnertime.
I learnt it and then showed the rhythmn guitarist who was at school with me the chords and we played it on the night at a 'booking'. ( They weren't called gigs yet )
Happy days.

[kipper]

what were they called in the old days ecca . sereously amongst other things (i have been told) you have a great ear for music ecca. peter

[ecca]

I've not had a kipper for ages.

[MartcasterJunior]

...and I'm sure there was never a generation of guitar players bemoaning the invention of the cheap guitar, the pickup, the amplifier and the Play In A Day book back in the early 60s.

Honestly, we should just have a thread at the top of the board called "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" and people can post in there everytime it occurs to them that everything new is rubbish and how it was all simpler in the old days with our steam-powered trousers and dripping for every meal.

I look forward to being able to contribute myself in 30 years, when I can talk wistfully about how music was more honest when you had to sit down in front of a sampler and play it *with feeling*, instead of these new-fangled hover-guitars (or whatever the kids are playing in 2041)...

[dave robinson]

In the words of Dizzy Gillespie, you've got to 'Bop To Be'. Says it all really.