Shouuld I get a different guitar teacher?

Question

I went to music college for 2 straight years and I took lessons from a respected guitar player in the Los Angeles area.

I'd say I learned a lot of theory but to be honest very little actual hands on technique ect.
My goal still is to become a heavy metal guitarist on a very professional level.

Like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt11ieEEdtU


Whenever I asked my teacher if I could try to improvise over a backing track he would say that naaah man you have to have that sound in your ears ect.

He would than give me Jazz standards to play which I actually do really enjoy but I want to expand my guitar playing abilities to not only one genre.

Also in those two years I did not at all practice rhythm with him. Even if I asked for it he would do something else. Also a consecutive lesson plan was non existent.


What I have to say tough is that I have learned a lot about Chord theory. inversions drop 2s drop 3s no 5s ect.

But again very little actual hands on and application to songs.

Should I get a different teacher?

Answer 1

Maybe your teacher does the correct job by teaching you rhythm firts, than jazz basics and then the soloing. Everyone can solo, even if you play 1000 notes per minute. Learn clean and groovy rhythm first. The simpler the rhythm, the more people will enjoy it.

Answer 2

Wow when I see stuff as this, I feel I should get into teaching guitar.



My niece that never picked up a guitar wanted to learn, I taught her the simple blues riff for rhythm. In no time we were jamming together playing something similar to I'm a Man by Muddy Waters.



That was her first lesson. My teaching is more of rhythm and feeling and trust.



There are scales but then improvising in the scales letting the feeling and trust of the music guide you.



Your teacher does seem very technical though, so you are learning a lot, it is a left brain vs right brain way. Music is very right brain but understanding it is very left brain.



My recommendation to you is listen to John Lee Hooker playing Boom Boom then duplicate what you hear in his rhythm. Once you can really feel and enjoy that add some metal tone and change it around from a lighter springy feeling to a darker heavy feeling. Now you should have a good heavy metal rhythm riff going.



Above all, don't make music work, enjoy it!

Answer 3

Don't pay this guy a penny if he's not getting you anywhere, that's a waste of your money and your time. He may be a nice guy, but it doesn't mean he can't try to put in some effort to get you somewhere, using a guitar for bass lessons was the biggest mistake, I would have said goodbye after seeing that. I know you don't want to hurt his feeling, but you have to look out for you, you're the one getting the lessons and you want to learn it, so again, before wasting anymore of your time and money, ditch this guy and find a suitable teacher.