I love Tommy’s playing in multiple styles, he takes it way back to the roots, “jazz” chords, note structures within cords, early players and right up through more modern times. He’s great with in person lessons or Skype, and if you reach out to him he will guide you through his courses or customize something for you.
Thanks for posting the video. Also thanks for the additional information on Tommy's courses.
Totally get your angle to the instrument. I took up guitar to specifically not play “clinically” and only/mostly play by ear. Already could read and played other instruments for years but couldn’t improv on them.
After 40+ years, learning new parts is still about listening to the artist or influencers, hear the parts in my head, then do my own thing. It sounds like that’s what you are doing. My only recommendation is to immerse yourself in the music of your genre’s influencers and do your own thing with it. And sometimes the younger players in a particular genre are doing something so innovative, I like it as much - if not more - than the originals.
Thanks for the response. Yes, I expect to learn mostly by playing by ear, and by listening to some sax and trumpet players as well as the OG blues guitarists. I guess what I am looking for though is kind of a "cheat sheet" to quickly learn common "boxes" just so it is a little bit easier to navigate up and down the fingerboard. Then I would use my mediocre ear and my mediocre understanding of music theory to sort of take me further from there.
As a fairly new PRS Maven, for a "First PRS" (They are like potato chips, you simply cannot eat just one) I would suggest a SE Pauls Guitar.
Unless you have concerns regarding hand size (as I do) something like a SE 245 (24.5 " scale length ) The Paul's is like a "jazzed up" Custom 24, but with better pickups and more switching options).
It was not available when I first got hooked ...and the 2 Custom 24's I have are just fine (after a pickup upgrade on one of them )
These are Asian imports , the SE line, and are a family of fine, value laden instruments.. An SE Paul's is not a beginner guitar (and not inexpensive) but it does represent a very good value.
Blues Lessons ? I been doing Marty Schwartz (Marty Music) it seems OK ...
Yeah, the SE Pauls Guitar sounds great.
The thing is for me, I already have two very capable Ibanez humbucker guitars; an AS93 (it's like a gibson 335) and an AR325 (humbucker with the tri-sound switches for serial, parallel, or single coil tap).
If I actually do get another guitar, it would be to replace the Ibanez AR325.
But the more I think about it, the more I would probably just want a straight-ahead Strat-sounding guitar, since my humbucker guitars sound good already (for humbuckers).
And at this point, I really just need to focus on practicing more.
I spend most of my time playing against backing tracks in different keys. I want to develop my own style without too much influence from others. I do occasionally check out lessons but mostly the tracks. I guess my style (although not skill level) is closer to SRV/Gary Moore.
I certainly appreciate that. And yes, playing against backing tracks is definitely the next step. Gary Moore seems to be one of the great "underrated" guitarists... at least among the general public, not necessarily amongst musicians.
Uh oh ... As a B.B. King Fan ... Your "First PRS" ... may have to be an SE Hollowbody ! (Comes in 3 different flavors)
Its more like the Gibson 335 BB would play, and is an awesome guitar.
I am getting acquainted with mine, Just 2 weeks together ... (A HBII with the figured maple laminate top) and I'm wildly in luv !
Glad to hear it's a great guitar.
I actually have an Ibanez AS93 which is similar to a Gibson 335 guitar, and which I (and my 15-year-old son) like to play on. So I am kind of good there.
Also have another Ibanez with humbuckers (AR325) and am now thinking that what I really might like is a "pure strat" sound to compliment them.
The other guitar I have lying around is a Suier Bullet (cost all of $125 after taxes and new strings), so I might just mod that guitar a bit in the meantime.