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View Poll Results: How advanced is your playing?
I'm really just starting 10 4.65%
I mostly play open chords and basic (maj/minor E/A shape) bar with 8th/16th strum patterns 46 21.40%
As above + a good dose of music theroy, including understanding how chord progressions work 68 31.63%
I know my scales, where they are and play triad chords/lead/fingerpick all over the neck 68 31.63%
Ralph didn't add an option high enough because he doesn't even know about the things I can do 23 10.70%
Voters: 215. You may not vote on this poll

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  #16  
Old 01-29-2020, 12:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RalphH View Post

Also, there's probably a level between 2 & 3 but I couldn't think want it was - probably learning to play other people's riffs and licks but without any real music theory understanding of them.
I would think that playing finger style and strumming would be a good level 2.5, but it's tough to set up a poll because they're not subject to change...
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  #17  
Old 01-29-2020, 12:17 PM
Rockysdad Rockysdad is offline
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Hmmmm, don’t see a poll on the phone app
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  #18  
Old 01-29-2020, 12:24 PM
RustyAxe RustyAxe is offline
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Advanced enough to keep me in gigs. And inept enough to keep me humble.

Last edited by Lkristians; 01-29-2020 at 01:29 PM.
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  #19  
Old 01-29-2020, 12:30 PM
sloar sloar is offline
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I’m coming up on 2 years in May. Once I got the basic open chords down, I skipped the basic strumming songs and jumped right into more advanced fingerstyle songs. I feel like I’ve came along pretty good with zero music background. The first song I learned was Dust in the Wind then Landslide. I just finished learning Canon in D.
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  #20  
Old 01-29-2020, 01:09 PM
guitar george guitar george is offline
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I am mostly a strummer and like to think that my strumming would fall somewhere in the mid-intermediate level. I can play most chords and bar chords without much difficulty and vary my strumming technique in line with the song. I like to sing and strum my guitar and play a bit every day. I also like to finger pick my classical guitar and would say I am not quite up to mid-beginner level with that.
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  #21  
Old 01-29-2020, 01:10 PM
mawmow mawmow is offline
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I voted the highest stake... for kidding.

I would actually sit between third and forth row.

I have been working on my technical skill with a pro for the last year.

Believe it or not, I do not strum, though.
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  #22  
Old 01-29-2020, 01:20 PM
Tahitijack Tahitijack is offline
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I'm good enough but far from great enough.

Playing doesn't come easy for me but I've been in several bands because I show up early, ready to play, have a good attitude, get along without drama, play what's asked and offer suggestions in a nonthreatening way and I am usually the last to leave with a smile on my face most of the time.
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  #23  
Old 01-29-2020, 01:45 PM
backdoc backdoc is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RalphH View Post
I'm quite happy to admit that I'm a meat and potatoes kind of rhythm guitar player. Sure I can knock out some Metallica riffs when the mood takes me, but mostly I can be found strumming open chords and basic bar chords and singing. Might even arpeggiate some chords if I'm feeling fancy . I'm finally starting to build up a decent grasp of music theory and understand how and why chord progressions work etc. I suck at reading proper music. I mean I can do it, but it's not a fast process.

I am terrible, no wait, TERRIBLE at fingerpicking. I can play 'fast car' (and sing at the same time if that counts for anything!) but that's about my limit. I tend not to play any lead. I have never bothered to memorize or practice any scales on the guitar so improvising lead is out of the question - I could work out the scale as I went I guess, but it'd be a pretty slow solo

Sorry if the options don't line up well with your skill level.

Also, there's probably a level between 2 & 3 but I couldn't think want it was - probably learning to play other people's riffs and licks but without any real music theory understanding of them.
I'm pretty much the same. I was wanting an option between 2 and 3 as well.
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  #24  
Old 01-29-2020, 02:29 PM
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Around 1980 I figured out the notes in a lead break on Let It Be at about
2 minutes into the song. I didn't figure out the lead, it was much more
rudimentary than that, I figured out what the notes were and plucked
them out on my guitar.

Then I realized I could play the notes in numerous directions, in a
chain that stretched up and down the fretboard.

Turns out that was the pentatonic scale and then I realized I could
move it around to account for key and that, though I was playing
gibberish, it fit with most songs as long as I figured out where to move
it to to be in the right key.

The chain, of course, is made up of five shapes that repeat, and some
time later I realized each shape was associated with one of the cowboy
chord shapes A C D E and G... now that we have the Internet there's
a million places to learn about the pentatonic scale and they call the
cord association "the caged system".

I still mostly play gibberish, so I guess I haven't figured out skill yet

-Mike
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  #25  
Old 01-29-2020, 03:08 PM
menhir menhir is offline
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I voted #3, but I'm actually between #3 & #4.

I haven't earned a full #4 on guitar yet. I'm still far more adept at keyboards. I'm OK on theory, but I still think better in ivory rather than steel or nylon. It hasn't all transferred yet.

Because I've been a solo guitarist, I don't need to play leads much. That means I don't practice playing leads much. [I]That[I] means I shouldn't be anyone's lead guitarist.

Guitar is my chosen "fun" instrument. I'm always trying to improve and I have improved, but I'm more likely to be inspired to get better at something because a piece I want to play demands it, rather than improving for it's own sake.
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  #26  
Old 01-29-2020, 04:13 PM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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1. I'm really just starting ? yup, in about 1966. (late to the party - typical!)

2. I mostly play open chords and basic (maj/minor E/A shape) bar with 8th/16th strum patterns ?

mmm, If that means knowing the CAGED shapes, then yes - as necessary.
Strum patterns ? What does that mean? I'm primarily a flat picker - years of bluegrass does that to ya!

3.As above + a good dose of music theroy, including understanding how chord progressions work?

Dunno about theroy, but know a bit about theory - harmonising the scale and stuff. Don't do any of that tadpoles on telephone wires tho'

4.I know my scales, where they are and play triad chords/lead/fingerpick all over the neck?

Well, not so good on myxolidian and all that, but the rest is probably OK.

5.Ralph didn't add an option high enough because he doesn't even know about the things I can do?

Hey man, like, whose Ralph? Ralph's not here man.

see : https://youtu.be/rtDAK7Umk7A
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  #27  
Old 01-29-2020, 04:38 PM
_Tachyon_ _Tachyon_ is offline
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None of the options really applied to me because almost all of them referred to having music theory.

I've been playing (mostly fingerstyle) for 30+ years and consider myself a fairly good player, but I know very little music theory (although I know it would probably help me a lot). I can play quite complicated fingerstyle (kottke, Bruce cockburn, etc) but other than knowing the names of the basic chords, and a little bit more, I really don't know much about music theory. I just enjoy learning new pieces and farting around on my own.
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  #28  
Old 01-29-2020, 04:45 PM
dhockenbury dhockenbury is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by _Tachyon_ View Post
I just enjoy learning new pieces and farting around on my own.
Yep, that’s me.
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  #29  
Old 01-29-2020, 06:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockysdad View Post
Better than when I started in ‘72.
Same here, same year.
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  #30  
Old 01-29-2020, 06:14 PM
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4 is like the pinnacle of playing so I'd suggest it be more like 10. The first three sound about right.
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