How did a number of great self-taught guitarists from the 60s and 70s learn solely from listening to records?...












8















A lot of things are written about influential guitar players such as technical prowess and it is mentioned how they are self-taught/never had a lesson. But reading through all this stuff I couldn't find the actual methods these guitarists used to become who they are, which is their learning curve. In his autobiography, Clapton doesn't mention a single word about pentatonic scales, let alone major or minor, or learning new chords but says that he 'played along with the radio'. Same goes fro Keith Richards. Is it really possible to literally figure out chord shapes/soloing by listening to the music you like or appreciate?










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closed as too broad by Carl Witthoft, David Bowling, Richard, Dom Jan 21 at 21:31


Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.



















  • Are you talking about scales or chord shapes? Are you saying that Clapton never met another guitarist or bass player, never heard the words "minor" and "major", and had to figure even the E-A-D-G-B-E tuning by himself? Only poor Eric by himself locked in a closet with a guitar and a radio? ;) What comes to learning to solo without a teacher's guidance, I'd ask, is it possible NOT to eventually learn to play melodies by ear, if you want to do it and have nothing else to do for years.

    – piiperi
    Jan 21 at 17:47











  • My father taught me chords but I listened to a record of Journey over and over to learn the solos. I also learned to play some songs and riffs on the banjo listening to an 8-track tape. You couldn't rewind those so it was a bit more tedious. I think anyone who takes the time to learn an instrument can learn by ear to play a song. If I don't know the chords, I find the fundamental and then figure out the particular flavor of the chord, major, minor, 7th, etc. I'm just a regular guy - for those who are good and great this sort of thing would be second nature.

    – Tracy Cramer
    Jan 21 at 18:58











  • @CarlWitthoft Well, about as many people are familiar with that rule as are familiar with non-colloquial English, so best of luck...

    – Ed Plunkett
    Jan 21 at 19:13











  • Why do you think these great guitarists were self taught by listening to songs? Example, Jimmy Page had formal lessons, was a great sight reader and studio musician and once took lessons from John McLaughlin. Check your facts.

    – ggcg
    Jan 21 at 23:39






  • 1





    @piiperi - I've played with many guitarists who haven't had lessons - made clear by the fact they couldn't name chords or notes, obviously no formal training, and in some cases I believe that's what made them such nice players to play alongside. And it doesn't always take years. Some people's ears (mine inc.) mean it's much easier to play by them than off the dots. In fact, I seem to to be correcting dots/chords too often, alerted by my ears!

    – Tim
    Jan 22 at 11:16
















8















A lot of things are written about influential guitar players such as technical prowess and it is mentioned how they are self-taught/never had a lesson. But reading through all this stuff I couldn't find the actual methods these guitarists used to become who they are, which is their learning curve. In his autobiography, Clapton doesn't mention a single word about pentatonic scales, let alone major or minor, or learning new chords but says that he 'played along with the radio'. Same goes fro Keith Richards. Is it really possible to literally figure out chord shapes/soloing by listening to the music you like or appreciate?










share|improve this question















closed as too broad by Carl Witthoft, David Bowling, Richard, Dom Jan 21 at 21:31


Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.



















  • Are you talking about scales or chord shapes? Are you saying that Clapton never met another guitarist or bass player, never heard the words "minor" and "major", and had to figure even the E-A-D-G-B-E tuning by himself? Only poor Eric by himself locked in a closet with a guitar and a radio? ;) What comes to learning to solo without a teacher's guidance, I'd ask, is it possible NOT to eventually learn to play melodies by ear, if you want to do it and have nothing else to do for years.

    – piiperi
    Jan 21 at 17:47











  • My father taught me chords but I listened to a record of Journey over and over to learn the solos. I also learned to play some songs and riffs on the banjo listening to an 8-track tape. You couldn't rewind those so it was a bit more tedious. I think anyone who takes the time to learn an instrument can learn by ear to play a song. If I don't know the chords, I find the fundamental and then figure out the particular flavor of the chord, major, minor, 7th, etc. I'm just a regular guy - for those who are good and great this sort of thing would be second nature.

    – Tracy Cramer
    Jan 21 at 18:58











  • @CarlWitthoft Well, about as many people are familiar with that rule as are familiar with non-colloquial English, so best of luck...

    – Ed Plunkett
    Jan 21 at 19:13











  • Why do you think these great guitarists were self taught by listening to songs? Example, Jimmy Page had formal lessons, was a great sight reader and studio musician and once took lessons from John McLaughlin. Check your facts.

    – ggcg
    Jan 21 at 23:39






  • 1





    @piiperi - I've played with many guitarists who haven't had lessons - made clear by the fact they couldn't name chords or notes, obviously no formal training, and in some cases I believe that's what made them such nice players to play alongside. And it doesn't always take years. Some people's ears (mine inc.) mean it's much easier to play by them than off the dots. In fact, I seem to to be correcting dots/chords too often, alerted by my ears!

    – Tim
    Jan 22 at 11:16














8












8








8








A lot of things are written about influential guitar players such as technical prowess and it is mentioned how they are self-taught/never had a lesson. But reading through all this stuff I couldn't find the actual methods these guitarists used to become who they are, which is their learning curve. In his autobiography, Clapton doesn't mention a single word about pentatonic scales, let alone major or minor, or learning new chords but says that he 'played along with the radio'. Same goes fro Keith Richards. Is it really possible to literally figure out chord shapes/soloing by listening to the music you like or appreciate?










share|improve this question
















A lot of things are written about influential guitar players such as technical prowess and it is mentioned how they are self-taught/never had a lesson. But reading through all this stuff I couldn't find the actual methods these guitarists used to become who they are, which is their learning curve. In his autobiography, Clapton doesn't mention a single word about pentatonic scales, let alone major or minor, or learning new chords but says that he 'played along with the radio'. Same goes fro Keith Richards. Is it really possible to literally figure out chord shapes/soloing by listening to the music you like or appreciate?







guitar scales






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share|improve this question













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share|improve this question








edited Jan 21 at 18:46









topo morto

25.1k244101




25.1k244101










asked Jan 21 at 12:38









GeetaristGeetarist

442




442




closed as too broad by Carl Witthoft, David Bowling, Richard, Dom Jan 21 at 21:31


Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.









closed as too broad by Carl Witthoft, David Bowling, Richard, Dom Jan 21 at 21:31


Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.















  • Are you talking about scales or chord shapes? Are you saying that Clapton never met another guitarist or bass player, never heard the words "minor" and "major", and had to figure even the E-A-D-G-B-E tuning by himself? Only poor Eric by himself locked in a closet with a guitar and a radio? ;) What comes to learning to solo without a teacher's guidance, I'd ask, is it possible NOT to eventually learn to play melodies by ear, if you want to do it and have nothing else to do for years.

    – piiperi
    Jan 21 at 17:47











  • My father taught me chords but I listened to a record of Journey over and over to learn the solos. I also learned to play some songs and riffs on the banjo listening to an 8-track tape. You couldn't rewind those so it was a bit more tedious. I think anyone who takes the time to learn an instrument can learn by ear to play a song. If I don't know the chords, I find the fundamental and then figure out the particular flavor of the chord, major, minor, 7th, etc. I'm just a regular guy - for those who are good and great this sort of thing would be second nature.

    – Tracy Cramer
    Jan 21 at 18:58











  • @CarlWitthoft Well, about as many people are familiar with that rule as are familiar with non-colloquial English, so best of luck...

    – Ed Plunkett
    Jan 21 at 19:13











  • Why do you think these great guitarists were self taught by listening to songs? Example, Jimmy Page had formal lessons, was a great sight reader and studio musician and once took lessons from John McLaughlin. Check your facts.

    – ggcg
    Jan 21 at 23:39






  • 1





    @piiperi - I've played with many guitarists who haven't had lessons - made clear by the fact they couldn't name chords or notes, obviously no formal training, and in some cases I believe that's what made them such nice players to play alongside. And it doesn't always take years. Some people's ears (mine inc.) mean it's much easier to play by them than off the dots. In fact, I seem to to be correcting dots/chords too often, alerted by my ears!

    – Tim
    Jan 22 at 11:16



















  • Are you talking about scales or chord shapes? Are you saying that Clapton never met another guitarist or bass player, never heard the words "minor" and "major", and had to figure even the E-A-D-G-B-E tuning by himself? Only poor Eric by himself locked in a closet with a guitar and a radio? ;) What comes to learning to solo without a teacher's guidance, I'd ask, is it possible NOT to eventually learn to play melodies by ear, if you want to do it and have nothing else to do for years.

    – piiperi
    Jan 21 at 17:47











  • My father taught me chords but I listened to a record of Journey over and over to learn the solos. I also learned to play some songs and riffs on the banjo listening to an 8-track tape. You couldn't rewind those so it was a bit more tedious. I think anyone who takes the time to learn an instrument can learn by ear to play a song. If I don't know the chords, I find the fundamental and then figure out the particular flavor of the chord, major, minor, 7th, etc. I'm just a regular guy - for those who are good and great this sort of thing would be second nature.

    – Tracy Cramer
    Jan 21 at 18:58











  • @CarlWitthoft Well, about as many people are familiar with that rule as are familiar with non-colloquial English, so best of luck...

    – Ed Plunkett
    Jan 21 at 19:13











  • Why do you think these great guitarists were self taught by listening to songs? Example, Jimmy Page had formal lessons, was a great sight reader and studio musician and once took lessons from John McLaughlin. Check your facts.

    – ggcg
    Jan 21 at 23:39






  • 1





    @piiperi - I've played with many guitarists who haven't had lessons - made clear by the fact they couldn't name chords or notes, obviously no formal training, and in some cases I believe that's what made them such nice players to play alongside. And it doesn't always take years. Some people's ears (mine inc.) mean it's much easier to play by them than off the dots. In fact, I seem to to be correcting dots/chords too often, alerted by my ears!

    – Tim
    Jan 22 at 11:16

















Are you talking about scales or chord shapes? Are you saying that Clapton never met another guitarist or bass player, never heard the words "minor" and "major", and had to figure even the E-A-D-G-B-E tuning by himself? Only poor Eric by himself locked in a closet with a guitar and a radio? ;) What comes to learning to solo without a teacher's guidance, I'd ask, is it possible NOT to eventually learn to play melodies by ear, if you want to do it and have nothing else to do for years.

– piiperi
Jan 21 at 17:47





Are you talking about scales or chord shapes? Are you saying that Clapton never met another guitarist or bass player, never heard the words "minor" and "major", and had to figure even the E-A-D-G-B-E tuning by himself? Only poor Eric by himself locked in a closet with a guitar and a radio? ;) What comes to learning to solo without a teacher's guidance, I'd ask, is it possible NOT to eventually learn to play melodies by ear, if you want to do it and have nothing else to do for years.

– piiperi
Jan 21 at 17:47













My father taught me chords but I listened to a record of Journey over and over to learn the solos. I also learned to play some songs and riffs on the banjo listening to an 8-track tape. You couldn't rewind those so it was a bit more tedious. I think anyone who takes the time to learn an instrument can learn by ear to play a song. If I don't know the chords, I find the fundamental and then figure out the particular flavor of the chord, major, minor, 7th, etc. I'm just a regular guy - for those who are good and great this sort of thing would be second nature.

– Tracy Cramer
Jan 21 at 18:58





My father taught me chords but I listened to a record of Journey over and over to learn the solos. I also learned to play some songs and riffs on the banjo listening to an 8-track tape. You couldn't rewind those so it was a bit more tedious. I think anyone who takes the time to learn an instrument can learn by ear to play a song. If I don't know the chords, I find the fundamental and then figure out the particular flavor of the chord, major, minor, 7th, etc. I'm just a regular guy - for those who are good and great this sort of thing would be second nature.

– Tracy Cramer
Jan 21 at 18:58













@CarlWitthoft Well, about as many people are familiar with that rule as are familiar with non-colloquial English, so best of luck...

– Ed Plunkett
Jan 21 at 19:13





@CarlWitthoft Well, about as many people are familiar with that rule as are familiar with non-colloquial English, so best of luck...

– Ed Plunkett
Jan 21 at 19:13













Why do you think these great guitarists were self taught by listening to songs? Example, Jimmy Page had formal lessons, was a great sight reader and studio musician and once took lessons from John McLaughlin. Check your facts.

– ggcg
Jan 21 at 23:39





Why do you think these great guitarists were self taught by listening to songs? Example, Jimmy Page had formal lessons, was a great sight reader and studio musician and once took lessons from John McLaughlin. Check your facts.

– ggcg
Jan 21 at 23:39




1




1





@piiperi - I've played with many guitarists who haven't had lessons - made clear by the fact they couldn't name chords or notes, obviously no formal training, and in some cases I believe that's what made them such nice players to play alongside. And it doesn't always take years. Some people's ears (mine inc.) mean it's much easier to play by them than off the dots. In fact, I seem to to be correcting dots/chords too often, alerted by my ears!

– Tim
Jan 22 at 11:16





@piiperi - I've played with many guitarists who haven't had lessons - made clear by the fact they couldn't name chords or notes, obviously no formal training, and in some cases I believe that's what made them such nice players to play alongside. And it doesn't always take years. Some people's ears (mine inc.) mean it's much easier to play by them than off the dots. In fact, I seem to to be correcting dots/chords too often, alerted by my ears!

– Tim
Jan 22 at 11:16










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















14














In the 60s, that's all there was! No internet, not many teachers, loads of enthusiasm. It's exactly what I, and thousands of other budding guitarists did. Listened to the radio, occasionally t.v., played records to death - sometimes slowing the 33rpms down to 16... Very few guitarists at that time could read, and even if they could, the music wasn't really there to help much. So, ears won the day. And sheer bloody determination.



Because guitars work effectively on shape patterns. eventually we'd hear a riff, a line of tune, and identify which pattern was best fit. It was a very long process to start with - hit and miss as each note was searched for. Listening very, very carefully to what particular guitarists did - t.v. was sometimes helpful, when the cameraman was a guitar enthusiast! Luckily, the basic pent. scale notes made a nice pattern across the strings, due to standard tuning.



So, yes, entirely possible, if painstakingly slow. Everyone nicked bits of technique from each other, and spent very long times practising. No 'ready-made' tabs, although sheet music was available - often in a different key from the track, and missing the solo. I'd sit for hours with the radio on, trying to play along with every track. Trouble was then, not every band would tune to A=440Hz, or tracks were slowed down/sped up a little, so we got pretty quick at re-tuning that crucial half a fret to get in tune with the next track.



It's a skill not lost, for me, as nowadays, when a student brings in a track to learn, it gets transcribed fairly rapidly (not always!), rather than waiting till next lesson. It's a skill that's probably lost nowadays, with the 'net and so many guitar driven sites, and of course, tab; although I believe every player (guitarist or whatever) ought to be able to 'learn' - if that's the correct word - using that same method. Good old days!!






share|improve this answer



















  • 2





    so why we both don't have the same carrier as eric clapton, tim?

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 13:20






  • 1





    @AlbrechtHügli - I guess you mean career! Right place, right time. Just because one learns something in the same way as another doesn't mean the end product will sound better or worse. Knowing the right people. The list goes on.

    – Tim
    Jan 21 at 13:34











  • this would be a meta question of metaphysics: Can someone tell me why I have been born to early?

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 13:38






  • 3





    @AlbrechtHügli - having considered the question, I believe the blame is to be laid entirely at the feet of your parents!

    – Tim
    Jan 21 at 13:40






  • 1





    Ear training should still be the most important thing. I stopped using tabs like ten years ago and focus on learning everything by myself. I believe it was a great choice and urge whoever reads this to make this aspect at least part of the process.

    – Agustín Lado
    Jan 21 at 20:31



















5















  1. we had a 45 touring single record and listened it on 33 tours

  2. we used recording from the radio and listened it with half speed

  3. but as I got my first tape recorder finally in 1964 I had to listen the
    33 LP in real time again and again and had to stop it .. and start in the middle of the piece with the result that all of my 3 LPs that were my own were fully scratched

  4. so we had to wait for next monday until the title will be
    played again in the swiss charts - hopefully.


(the absolute biggest problem however (much bigger than the lack of notes and chords - as they could have been found out and written down and identified) was that we didn't have lyrics f the songs we liked to play (and our knowledge of English language from school has been really rudimentary. There has been a lot of misunderstood lyrics, if I think back of blues and gospels, songs by the joy strings or Janis Joplin)
From the moment when the Beatles started to ad their lyrics - 1st album was Sgt. Pepper - also lyrics of Elvis and Mahalia Jackson were available.)






share|improve this answer



















  • 1





    Still remember that the Beatles told me in Lucy in Sky with Diamonds that "a girl with colitis goes by".

    – DrSAR
    Jan 21 at 21:22











  • but exactly with this album they sorted the text. yes, we could surely open a chatroom with misunderstood lyrics.

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 21:35


















2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









14














In the 60s, that's all there was! No internet, not many teachers, loads of enthusiasm. It's exactly what I, and thousands of other budding guitarists did. Listened to the radio, occasionally t.v., played records to death - sometimes slowing the 33rpms down to 16... Very few guitarists at that time could read, and even if they could, the music wasn't really there to help much. So, ears won the day. And sheer bloody determination.



Because guitars work effectively on shape patterns. eventually we'd hear a riff, a line of tune, and identify which pattern was best fit. It was a very long process to start with - hit and miss as each note was searched for. Listening very, very carefully to what particular guitarists did - t.v. was sometimes helpful, when the cameraman was a guitar enthusiast! Luckily, the basic pent. scale notes made a nice pattern across the strings, due to standard tuning.



So, yes, entirely possible, if painstakingly slow. Everyone nicked bits of technique from each other, and spent very long times practising. No 'ready-made' tabs, although sheet music was available - often in a different key from the track, and missing the solo. I'd sit for hours with the radio on, trying to play along with every track. Trouble was then, not every band would tune to A=440Hz, or tracks were slowed down/sped up a little, so we got pretty quick at re-tuning that crucial half a fret to get in tune with the next track.



It's a skill not lost, for me, as nowadays, when a student brings in a track to learn, it gets transcribed fairly rapidly (not always!), rather than waiting till next lesson. It's a skill that's probably lost nowadays, with the 'net and so many guitar driven sites, and of course, tab; although I believe every player (guitarist or whatever) ought to be able to 'learn' - if that's the correct word - using that same method. Good old days!!






share|improve this answer



















  • 2





    so why we both don't have the same carrier as eric clapton, tim?

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 13:20






  • 1





    @AlbrechtHügli - I guess you mean career! Right place, right time. Just because one learns something in the same way as another doesn't mean the end product will sound better or worse. Knowing the right people. The list goes on.

    – Tim
    Jan 21 at 13:34











  • this would be a meta question of metaphysics: Can someone tell me why I have been born to early?

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 13:38






  • 3





    @AlbrechtHügli - having considered the question, I believe the blame is to be laid entirely at the feet of your parents!

    – Tim
    Jan 21 at 13:40






  • 1





    Ear training should still be the most important thing. I stopped using tabs like ten years ago and focus on learning everything by myself. I believe it was a great choice and urge whoever reads this to make this aspect at least part of the process.

    – Agustín Lado
    Jan 21 at 20:31
















14














In the 60s, that's all there was! No internet, not many teachers, loads of enthusiasm. It's exactly what I, and thousands of other budding guitarists did. Listened to the radio, occasionally t.v., played records to death - sometimes slowing the 33rpms down to 16... Very few guitarists at that time could read, and even if they could, the music wasn't really there to help much. So, ears won the day. And sheer bloody determination.



Because guitars work effectively on shape patterns. eventually we'd hear a riff, a line of tune, and identify which pattern was best fit. It was a very long process to start with - hit and miss as each note was searched for. Listening very, very carefully to what particular guitarists did - t.v. was sometimes helpful, when the cameraman was a guitar enthusiast! Luckily, the basic pent. scale notes made a nice pattern across the strings, due to standard tuning.



So, yes, entirely possible, if painstakingly slow. Everyone nicked bits of technique from each other, and spent very long times practising. No 'ready-made' tabs, although sheet music was available - often in a different key from the track, and missing the solo. I'd sit for hours with the radio on, trying to play along with every track. Trouble was then, not every band would tune to A=440Hz, or tracks were slowed down/sped up a little, so we got pretty quick at re-tuning that crucial half a fret to get in tune with the next track.



It's a skill not lost, for me, as nowadays, when a student brings in a track to learn, it gets transcribed fairly rapidly (not always!), rather than waiting till next lesson. It's a skill that's probably lost nowadays, with the 'net and so many guitar driven sites, and of course, tab; although I believe every player (guitarist or whatever) ought to be able to 'learn' - if that's the correct word - using that same method. Good old days!!






share|improve this answer



















  • 2





    so why we both don't have the same carrier as eric clapton, tim?

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 13:20






  • 1





    @AlbrechtHügli - I guess you mean career! Right place, right time. Just because one learns something in the same way as another doesn't mean the end product will sound better or worse. Knowing the right people. The list goes on.

    – Tim
    Jan 21 at 13:34











  • this would be a meta question of metaphysics: Can someone tell me why I have been born to early?

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 13:38






  • 3





    @AlbrechtHügli - having considered the question, I believe the blame is to be laid entirely at the feet of your parents!

    – Tim
    Jan 21 at 13:40






  • 1





    Ear training should still be the most important thing. I stopped using tabs like ten years ago and focus on learning everything by myself. I believe it was a great choice and urge whoever reads this to make this aspect at least part of the process.

    – Agustín Lado
    Jan 21 at 20:31














14












14








14







In the 60s, that's all there was! No internet, not many teachers, loads of enthusiasm. It's exactly what I, and thousands of other budding guitarists did. Listened to the radio, occasionally t.v., played records to death - sometimes slowing the 33rpms down to 16... Very few guitarists at that time could read, and even if they could, the music wasn't really there to help much. So, ears won the day. And sheer bloody determination.



Because guitars work effectively on shape patterns. eventually we'd hear a riff, a line of tune, and identify which pattern was best fit. It was a very long process to start with - hit and miss as each note was searched for. Listening very, very carefully to what particular guitarists did - t.v. was sometimes helpful, when the cameraman was a guitar enthusiast! Luckily, the basic pent. scale notes made a nice pattern across the strings, due to standard tuning.



So, yes, entirely possible, if painstakingly slow. Everyone nicked bits of technique from each other, and spent very long times practising. No 'ready-made' tabs, although sheet music was available - often in a different key from the track, and missing the solo. I'd sit for hours with the radio on, trying to play along with every track. Trouble was then, not every band would tune to A=440Hz, or tracks were slowed down/sped up a little, so we got pretty quick at re-tuning that crucial half a fret to get in tune with the next track.



It's a skill not lost, for me, as nowadays, when a student brings in a track to learn, it gets transcribed fairly rapidly (not always!), rather than waiting till next lesson. It's a skill that's probably lost nowadays, with the 'net and so many guitar driven sites, and of course, tab; although I believe every player (guitarist or whatever) ought to be able to 'learn' - if that's the correct word - using that same method. Good old days!!






share|improve this answer













In the 60s, that's all there was! No internet, not many teachers, loads of enthusiasm. It's exactly what I, and thousands of other budding guitarists did. Listened to the radio, occasionally t.v., played records to death - sometimes slowing the 33rpms down to 16... Very few guitarists at that time could read, and even if they could, the music wasn't really there to help much. So, ears won the day. And sheer bloody determination.



Because guitars work effectively on shape patterns. eventually we'd hear a riff, a line of tune, and identify which pattern was best fit. It was a very long process to start with - hit and miss as each note was searched for. Listening very, very carefully to what particular guitarists did - t.v. was sometimes helpful, when the cameraman was a guitar enthusiast! Luckily, the basic pent. scale notes made a nice pattern across the strings, due to standard tuning.



So, yes, entirely possible, if painstakingly slow. Everyone nicked bits of technique from each other, and spent very long times practising. No 'ready-made' tabs, although sheet music was available - often in a different key from the track, and missing the solo. I'd sit for hours with the radio on, trying to play along with every track. Trouble was then, not every band would tune to A=440Hz, or tracks were slowed down/sped up a little, so we got pretty quick at re-tuning that crucial half a fret to get in tune with the next track.



It's a skill not lost, for me, as nowadays, when a student brings in a track to learn, it gets transcribed fairly rapidly (not always!), rather than waiting till next lesson. It's a skill that's probably lost nowadays, with the 'net and so many guitar driven sites, and of course, tab; although I believe every player (guitarist or whatever) ought to be able to 'learn' - if that's the correct word - using that same method. Good old days!!







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Jan 21 at 13:08









TimTim

101k10104256




101k10104256








  • 2





    so why we both don't have the same carrier as eric clapton, tim?

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 13:20






  • 1





    @AlbrechtHügli - I guess you mean career! Right place, right time. Just because one learns something in the same way as another doesn't mean the end product will sound better or worse. Knowing the right people. The list goes on.

    – Tim
    Jan 21 at 13:34











  • this would be a meta question of metaphysics: Can someone tell me why I have been born to early?

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 13:38






  • 3





    @AlbrechtHügli - having considered the question, I believe the blame is to be laid entirely at the feet of your parents!

    – Tim
    Jan 21 at 13:40






  • 1





    Ear training should still be the most important thing. I stopped using tabs like ten years ago and focus on learning everything by myself. I believe it was a great choice and urge whoever reads this to make this aspect at least part of the process.

    – Agustín Lado
    Jan 21 at 20:31














  • 2





    so why we both don't have the same carrier as eric clapton, tim?

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 13:20






  • 1





    @AlbrechtHügli - I guess you mean career! Right place, right time. Just because one learns something in the same way as another doesn't mean the end product will sound better or worse. Knowing the right people. The list goes on.

    – Tim
    Jan 21 at 13:34











  • this would be a meta question of metaphysics: Can someone tell me why I have been born to early?

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 13:38






  • 3





    @AlbrechtHügli - having considered the question, I believe the blame is to be laid entirely at the feet of your parents!

    – Tim
    Jan 21 at 13:40






  • 1





    Ear training should still be the most important thing. I stopped using tabs like ten years ago and focus on learning everything by myself. I believe it was a great choice and urge whoever reads this to make this aspect at least part of the process.

    – Agustín Lado
    Jan 21 at 20:31








2




2





so why we both don't have the same carrier as eric clapton, tim?

– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 21 at 13:20





so why we both don't have the same carrier as eric clapton, tim?

– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 21 at 13:20




1




1





@AlbrechtHügli - I guess you mean career! Right place, right time. Just because one learns something in the same way as another doesn't mean the end product will sound better or worse. Knowing the right people. The list goes on.

– Tim
Jan 21 at 13:34





@AlbrechtHügli - I guess you mean career! Right place, right time. Just because one learns something in the same way as another doesn't mean the end product will sound better or worse. Knowing the right people. The list goes on.

– Tim
Jan 21 at 13:34













this would be a meta question of metaphysics: Can someone tell me why I have been born to early?

– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 21 at 13:38





this would be a meta question of metaphysics: Can someone tell me why I have been born to early?

– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 21 at 13:38




3




3





@AlbrechtHügli - having considered the question, I believe the blame is to be laid entirely at the feet of your parents!

– Tim
Jan 21 at 13:40





@AlbrechtHügli - having considered the question, I believe the blame is to be laid entirely at the feet of your parents!

– Tim
Jan 21 at 13:40




1




1





Ear training should still be the most important thing. I stopped using tabs like ten years ago and focus on learning everything by myself. I believe it was a great choice and urge whoever reads this to make this aspect at least part of the process.

– Agustín Lado
Jan 21 at 20:31





Ear training should still be the most important thing. I stopped using tabs like ten years ago and focus on learning everything by myself. I believe it was a great choice and urge whoever reads this to make this aspect at least part of the process.

– Agustín Lado
Jan 21 at 20:31











5















  1. we had a 45 touring single record and listened it on 33 tours

  2. we used recording from the radio and listened it with half speed

  3. but as I got my first tape recorder finally in 1964 I had to listen the
    33 LP in real time again and again and had to stop it .. and start in the middle of the piece with the result that all of my 3 LPs that were my own were fully scratched

  4. so we had to wait for next monday until the title will be
    played again in the swiss charts - hopefully.


(the absolute biggest problem however (much bigger than the lack of notes and chords - as they could have been found out and written down and identified) was that we didn't have lyrics f the songs we liked to play (and our knowledge of English language from school has been really rudimentary. There has been a lot of misunderstood lyrics, if I think back of blues and gospels, songs by the joy strings or Janis Joplin)
From the moment when the Beatles started to ad their lyrics - 1st album was Sgt. Pepper - also lyrics of Elvis and Mahalia Jackson were available.)






share|improve this answer



















  • 1





    Still remember that the Beatles told me in Lucy in Sky with Diamonds that "a girl with colitis goes by".

    – DrSAR
    Jan 21 at 21:22











  • but exactly with this album they sorted the text. yes, we could surely open a chatroom with misunderstood lyrics.

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 21:35
















5















  1. we had a 45 touring single record and listened it on 33 tours

  2. we used recording from the radio and listened it with half speed

  3. but as I got my first tape recorder finally in 1964 I had to listen the
    33 LP in real time again and again and had to stop it .. and start in the middle of the piece with the result that all of my 3 LPs that were my own were fully scratched

  4. so we had to wait for next monday until the title will be
    played again in the swiss charts - hopefully.


(the absolute biggest problem however (much bigger than the lack of notes and chords - as they could have been found out and written down and identified) was that we didn't have lyrics f the songs we liked to play (and our knowledge of English language from school has been really rudimentary. There has been a lot of misunderstood lyrics, if I think back of blues and gospels, songs by the joy strings or Janis Joplin)
From the moment when the Beatles started to ad their lyrics - 1st album was Sgt. Pepper - also lyrics of Elvis and Mahalia Jackson were available.)






share|improve this answer



















  • 1





    Still remember that the Beatles told me in Lucy in Sky with Diamonds that "a girl with colitis goes by".

    – DrSAR
    Jan 21 at 21:22











  • but exactly with this album they sorted the text. yes, we could surely open a chatroom with misunderstood lyrics.

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 21:35














5












5








5








  1. we had a 45 touring single record and listened it on 33 tours

  2. we used recording from the radio and listened it with half speed

  3. but as I got my first tape recorder finally in 1964 I had to listen the
    33 LP in real time again and again and had to stop it .. and start in the middle of the piece with the result that all of my 3 LPs that were my own were fully scratched

  4. so we had to wait for next monday until the title will be
    played again in the swiss charts - hopefully.


(the absolute biggest problem however (much bigger than the lack of notes and chords - as they could have been found out and written down and identified) was that we didn't have lyrics f the songs we liked to play (and our knowledge of English language from school has been really rudimentary. There has been a lot of misunderstood lyrics, if I think back of blues and gospels, songs by the joy strings or Janis Joplin)
From the moment when the Beatles started to ad their lyrics - 1st album was Sgt. Pepper - also lyrics of Elvis and Mahalia Jackson were available.)






share|improve this answer














  1. we had a 45 touring single record and listened it on 33 tours

  2. we used recording from the radio and listened it with half speed

  3. but as I got my first tape recorder finally in 1964 I had to listen the
    33 LP in real time again and again and had to stop it .. and start in the middle of the piece with the result that all of my 3 LPs that were my own were fully scratched

  4. so we had to wait for next monday until the title will be
    played again in the swiss charts - hopefully.


(the absolute biggest problem however (much bigger than the lack of notes and chords - as they could have been found out and written down and identified) was that we didn't have lyrics f the songs we liked to play (and our knowledge of English language from school has been really rudimentary. There has been a lot of misunderstood lyrics, if I think back of blues and gospels, songs by the joy strings or Janis Joplin)
From the moment when the Beatles started to ad their lyrics - 1st album was Sgt. Pepper - also lyrics of Elvis and Mahalia Jackson were available.)







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Jan 21 at 13:14









Albrecht HügliAlbrecht Hügli

2,418220




2,418220








  • 1





    Still remember that the Beatles told me in Lucy in Sky with Diamonds that "a girl with colitis goes by".

    – DrSAR
    Jan 21 at 21:22











  • but exactly with this album they sorted the text. yes, we could surely open a chatroom with misunderstood lyrics.

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 21:35














  • 1





    Still remember that the Beatles told me in Lucy in Sky with Diamonds that "a girl with colitis goes by".

    – DrSAR
    Jan 21 at 21:22











  • but exactly with this album they sorted the text. yes, we could surely open a chatroom with misunderstood lyrics.

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 21 at 21:35








1




1





Still remember that the Beatles told me in Lucy in Sky with Diamonds that "a girl with colitis goes by".

– DrSAR
Jan 21 at 21:22





Still remember that the Beatles told me in Lucy in Sky with Diamonds that "a girl with colitis goes by".

– DrSAR
Jan 21 at 21:22













but exactly with this album they sorted the text. yes, we could surely open a chatroom with misunderstood lyrics.

– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 21 at 21:35





but exactly with this album they sorted the text. yes, we could surely open a chatroom with misunderstood lyrics.

– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 21 at 21:35



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