Dave Wirth
If one reason why you want to learn to play guitar better but hesitate is because you don't want the love of it to disappear, then know you are not alone. Recently, a very creative pair of students posed a question that knocked me speechless:
"How do you learn a song and still love it just as much when you get done learning it?"
I still don't know quite how to do this! Perhaps this question is more of a philosophic one:
"Does the end justify the means?"
In other words, in order to learn a song, do I have to give up my love of it? Do I have to give up the mystery I feel when I listen to it? In order to attain mastery of the song, must I drain it of it's vitality? From what I can see as a teacher, this might lead to a nice simple re-arranging of priorities, and that is not an easy accomplishment.
Which is more important to you: The Mystery or the Mastery?
Most people don't understand that there are musicians out there who never knew a single lick of music theory. It seems odd, but most people consider knowing music theory as the barometer of a musician's mastery. Yet the most famous example of a master musician who had no music theory knowledge was Jimi Hendrix. He knew not a shred of music theory! I think Jimi must have found the guitar mysterious, something to explore, bat around, set fire to, play with his teeth. From the looks of it, it seems he was out to push the guitar and it's capabilities, and that to me speaks of mastery more than anything.
Attaining mastery over the guitar is something quite a few people are after, but does mystery have to be sacrificed in order to get it? From my standpoint, from a guy who has spent years playing guitar, mystery is far more important. To me, a good song is worth letting go and not learning so I can feel good when I listen to it later. Perhaps losing the love of songs is part of attaining more mastery on the guitar. I don't know. If that's the case, then keep me in the dark please. Music is all I have, and if it's gone then I have nothing left to give.
Expect more blogging on this topic.
