Hello,
I'm new to this forum and actually new to Pebber Brown - I just ran across his lessons while trying to learn music theory. Wow... love the tabled approach to the circle of 5ths/4ths (I was so new, I never even heard a 'circle of ...' anything of this). But, the way he laid it out made so much sense, I was immediately hooked. And I continue to laugh about his quips, 'you suck. if you don't spend the time, you're gonna suck'! I love the honesty, and although I know he means its quite sincerely, its seems heartfelt (in as weird a way as that can be - hehe). I love humor, I love honesty - I don't like being coddled and told I'm playing well, when I'm not - just to make me feel better about myself. =)

Self-taught 50yo, having picked up the guitar in 2009. Self taught simply equates to having learned a lot of bad habits - now needing broken.

I learned by listening to old classic Neil Young - I like folk type music as well as slow acoustic blues; just can't seem to play the latter (the lead parts anyway). I can play well enough to sit around a campfire, singing with friends - and seem to be at least better than the small group I "jam" with.

For christmas (2014), after complaining that I have hit a wall in my playing, my wife purchased a month's worth of guitar lessons from a local instructor. After finding PB, however, I will sign on after this month of lessons is complete. I look forward to learning more theory (currently self taught) and working toward practice techniques for overall improvement. Although all I wanted was to get past this "wall" in my playing - I'm realizing quickly its going to take many steps backward and starting again to break some really bad habits I've probably acquired going this alone.

Anyway, I look forward to hanging out here in the coming months.

ps. after snooping around on the forums, I'm curious how we'd know whether feedback on our playing is coming from an instructor versus another learner? And if its a learner, how would I know whether its a beginner vs more advanced? I really want to keep from picking up more bad habits is all.

Thanks and "hello!"

Welcome to the forum mjbosko!

You start to know people and if you have seen vids from others you see soon if they are advanced. E.g. if you would see my vids with a fairly high suck level, you know right away that im not advanced. But that doesnt mean I cant say anything. I think thats the way how it goes here.

ps Im a great Neil Young fan as well, he wrote a lot of good music.

And if you look at my videos, and especially if you read my comments, you will see not only that I suck but that I know I suck. :)

Welcome to the boards, man. We're glad to have you. I just started lessons with PB myself and I'm working a structured practice routine into my schedule. But already in less than two weeks of focused picking and fretting hand exercises I've seen big improvements.

We're all in this together, and don't worry. I haven't seen anyone here give an opinion without being honest about his or her level of experience.

Thanks guys.

While finishing up with this guy in town (poor feller, doesn't even know he won't see me next month), I've been practicing the spider exercises and some of the scales from PB's free lessons. I can blast through chords, adding good sounding hammer-ons and pull-offs - but with these spiders, my fingers refused to talk to my brain!! .... heheh. Its humbling to say the least.

On the lessons, after I sign on, will my playing goals count anything toward how quickly I can progress through the lessons? Or do I have to completely 'not suck' before moving on. And who determines whether I can progress or not? Will I get feedback? That is to say, I'm signing on because I want to learn from someone with his teaching style. But I'm not looking to become the next Leo Kottke; just to improve and play well (well, well enough). In other words, I'm 50, I hope I'll be able to make some progress musically, past making my fingers do the walking up and down the fretboard really fast.

I'm feeling that I may be in for some critique in this question, which I accept but its an honest question. I'm just trying to find out if this plan is truly for me; or if its for someone who wishes to make music their career. I am not. Though with the promise of scantly clad women after every gig, I may consider the career change. :)

I'm extremely focused and painfully dedicated to practice and progress 'toward' perfection - but I also want to do something with it all before arthritis sets in and my fingers quit working for good.

Any thoughts on this? Please don't bash me for this question; I just want to make sure this is the right choice for both me and Pebber. I don't quit easily, so I want to find out early. With a career in biology, substitute teaching on the side and farming after all that - I can't spend a multitude of hours each day practicing - though I would love to!! and I do with any free time I have. I definitely can and will make time for 1 or even 2 hours a day.

I think if you can dedicate even 30 minutes per day to practicing guitar in a structured way you will achieve some great things. Using Pebber's method is a great way to go. I decided to subscribe to him because I know if I follow his guidance I will elevate my playing to great new heights.

Even if you become only marginally better, it will be worth the time and money. But I know from following his free lessons in a loosely structured way for only two weeks that if I really focus and follow his suggestions I will make huge strides.

Think of it this way: 1 hour per day is 365 hours per year of structured practice. Other than our jobs and time wasters like television or a million other things, we don't dedicate that many hours per year to anything we ever do and we can become really good at some things.

Well spoken Farelli.