Alright, I guess my last post was too big.

-Can anyone explain to me exactly how the lessons function, like how the back and forth goes and what the feedback/assignments are like? (like what type of stuff is sent back to you, are you given feedback and instructions at the beginning of the month and expected to reply in a certain time frame so that the next set of stuff can be prepared, etc).

-are things fairly structured and narrowed down in terms of "start with these few things...ok... now start practicing these techniques"? Or is there a lot given to you at once? Just curious if you're given a narrow view to really work on things, or if you're kind of given a lot to work on at once.

-Is there a specific level someone needs to be at before trying to take these lessons, or is he open to all sorts?

Thanks for any help. Hopefully this doesn't break any rules and sticks around a little longer. Just looking for some help/insite.

I took some time to look into the syllabus and what not. So if I'm getting this correctly it's less back and forth "here's what you're doing right and wrong" and more of a "follow this syllabus and these videos/routines"? Like everyone starts at the beginning of the path and works their way down; the more experienced you are, the faster you'll move on?

It sounds like the videos are all pre-recorded and you kind of get to them each month (from your post), but on your website it makes it sound more like it's required I send a video of me playing in, and you'll base the lessons I get around that.

It says on the subscribe page you'll do a video exchange/swap - does this include personalized videos from you, or pre-recorded lessons that you feel are appropriate based based on what I've sent in?

Sorry if I'm asking a lot or not picking up on what might seem obvious - I just really like to get my head around something before I jump in. I kind of like to know what's going to be required of me, and how things are handled.

I am planning on the one a month format - but I'm also curious if I can up it for a certain month here and there if I feel I need more feedback on what I'm doing? Like if I can decide say in March that I want to pay $40 to get two lessons for whatever reason; or are you required to pick a one of them and make that your plan?

Thanks for taking the time to get back to me on this.

One last question, if I may.

Is writing down the scales and that other stuff listed in the "how to take online lessons" necessary, or can I just subscribe and start at the beginning and do the monthly videos? That page says its to tailor out suitable lesson plans, but if it's following a very specific structure, then it wouldn't seem pertinent to beginning the plan.

I guess this is two questions, now... Sorry. Does one also still need this SkyDrive thing you've listed? What exactly gets sent up to that?

Just wondering if I can subscribe and get started, or if I need to go through setting all this stuff up first.

Do this every day.

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

And this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2656SWkvRQ

Do all this as many hours a day as you can. After a few weeks, post a video of your progress. I only know, like, 3 or 4 guys who ever got personalized videos from Pebber. Read the Clarification thread. It's a sticky at the top of the forum.

If you can't do this, sell guitar. Start studying science and math. The future is in engineering. You'll make more money and lead a happier more fulfilled life.

So what you're saying is don't worry about the subscription lessons; just follow the practice routines and post videos when I need help?

We don't know where your technique is at. You need to start working on the videos above every day. Then post progress.

Or, post a video right now of yourself randomly jamming, playing a solo, maybe soloing over a backing track.

If I could see that I could tell you exactly what to do within 1/1000 of a %

My level is low. Very low. I mean - I can belt out early Metallica rhythm guitar in a lot of cases; but that's just learning how to play a song; not how to play guitar. When it comes to knowing how to play the guitar and with good technique, I'm at a 0/10.

I'll start with the practice videos and see what I can figure out.

There's so much information, and it's hard to know where to start and when to move to the next level; you know.

My goal is to start with the basics and learn properly from the ground up. I've been playing a long time; but never properly. I want to start at the beginning and learn the guitar properly and turn myself into a real guitar player.

Should I just carry on with Module 1 Part 1 exercises for quite a while? Then do I subscribe when I feel ready to move on to Part 2 (since those are subscriber only)?

Quote: Shogun Rua wrote in post #9

---

My level is low. Very low. I mean - I can belt out early Metallica rhythm guitar in a lot of cases; but that's just learning how to play a song; not how to play guitar. When it comes to knowing how to play the guitar and with good technique, I'm at a 0/10.

I'll start with the practice videos and see what I can figure out.

There's so much information, and it's hard to know where to start and when to move to the next level; you know.

My goal is to start with the basics and learn properly from the ground up. I've been playing a long time; but never properly. I want to start at the beginning and learn the guitar properly and turn myself into a real guitar player.

Should I just carry on with Module 1 Part 1 exercises for quite a while? Then do I subscribe when I feel ready to move on to Part 2 (since those are subscriber only)?

---

Well thank you both for your input. I'll definitely do the above, and I'll be around.

I really want to finally learn this instrument I've been playing for 20 years, and this seems like a great place to get it done.

Thanks again for putting up with all my questions.

To TS guy///best nugget of wisdom I can reiterate from my time her in des forums,,,pick some very basic (and I mean BASIC shit) and practice that SAME shit every day///to spread out??!!? CANT stick to one thing at a time w/o getting bored?!?!? Then Pebber doesnt wanna hear any complaints about "why do I suck>!" Its all actually so simple...its not about being the quickest fingered, about bein the hottest, or about being albert eistein,,,The secret guitar juice that you wanna get ur hands on is (Pit bull fucking determined super patience) thats all there is to it!

"The future is in engineering" Well Ursin...I think we both know this is bullshit...the future is clearly in sarod picking. I think it is quite self\ evident that the only way to be happy is by figuring out how to be the bees knees at picking shit. Everything else is of lesser importance.

Buckethead is a perfect example of what I am talking about...When you are that boss at picking shit...i dont think it matters what sort of crap life tries to send at you because it all is tiny compared to how good it must feel to pick that well...Maybe the only exception I can think of is something akin to what happened to Becker.

Nicholas - I have absolutely no idea what you're trying to say; but thank you anyway!

As of right now, it's being processed. I did it standing, when I do all my practice sitting, so it felt weird. Backwards I'm extremely sloppy and my fingers both ways are flying all off the fretboard; but having been practicing some of the spider exercises, it's far better than it was a few months ago.

I just went up each string and down each string at a speed I felt comfortable with (although, I could slow it down backwards). I haven't practice enough doing things backwards, so it really messes me up when I do them.

Well Mr Shogan, If from nothing else, I hope you can feel @ least a moderate ammount of satisfaction in the knowledge that even though you have much work to look forward to putting in, your chromatic scales @ least to my eyes look like they are much more physically comfortable of a thingy to do when you do them, than they were for me as ny memory recalls from when I had just decided to commit to this stuff ....in order to take it as far as my anatomical playing constraints can allow for....Ultimately I think that all these imperfections that each of us is gonna have to iron out in the woodshed should not be cause for getting depressed or discouraged...Better Methinks to get all excited and whatnot about what you are gonna spit shine in your playing and how good it will feel when you get all you wanted for your efforts.

Quote: pebberbrown wrote in post #19

---

You need a lot of work. You lift your fingers up too far off the fingerboard, dont keep them planted down, you repeat the scale in only ONE direction on each string, picking technique looks really weak as well, you make the sliding noise when shifting positions, and the timing is uneven. Go back and watch ALL the chromatic scale videos and all the VBLOGS and then try again. This time add the Wholetone scale to it all.

---

Picking work it everyday.

spiders, trills, ladders, slowly.
work so slow you can really concentrate on keeping the fingers close. (curved & on the tips)
then practice chromatic and Wholetone . and post a vid of you doing those. As Pebber Said

after just a couple of Months I would say you would see massive improvements. IF you do it everyday.

Keep listening to the master he will not steer you wrong.

Hey thanks for posting your vid. I know you wanted to hear how great you were but don't expect it here. As a beginner though I was impressed by your playing, you are good, definitely beyond beginner status. I sure can't do the scale as fast as that. That being said my opinion means shit. So listen to Pebber. Slow the fuck down. Work on your technique. You're good so keep at it. Good luck.

"Hey thanks for posting your vid. I know you wanted to hear how great you were but don't expect it here. As a beginner though I was impressed by your playing, you are good, definitely beyond beginner status. I sure can't do the scale as fast as that. That being said my opinion means shit. So listen to Pebber. Slow the fuck down. Work on your technique. You're good so keep at it. Good luck."

I didn't want to hear how good I was at all, actually. I wanted to hear what I need to work on; where to start and focus. I need help finding the spots to focus on. I have a habit of taking on far too much at once and not narrowing down the small bits to work on. There's so many exercises and lessons; I don't want to be working on the wrong stuff. I want to narrow it down and figure out which bits I need to start with.

I know I suck. I've been playing for 20 years and can hardly play a chromatic scale. If that's not the definition of an underachiever, I don't know what is.

Thanks.