Guitar Ebook

Ronald · Tadpole Joined: 25 Dec 2003 Posts: 16 Location: SG

Hi all,

I'm Ronald and I'm Singapore. I worship in City Harvest Church and I play the guitar and I enjoy leading praise and worship in my cell group! I'm so happy to find a christian forum!!

Anyway, as an interest in teaching guitar, I have justy written a ebook for beginner electric guitarist called The "Self Taught Guitarist". I used the system inside to teach my members to play the guitar. It's my first attempt in web design and also writing an ebook Embarassed

Do check out my website at http://www.guitarbeez.com if you like to find out more. I'll be putting up more stuff (esp praise and worship songs instruction - how to play them) in the times to come. But gimme some time while I try to learn more about web design... Smile

God Bless!

PunkStar · Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2003 7:31 pm Post subject:

I don't know mate, I don't think the website is that bad. But it always pays to learn as much about webdesigning as possible when working with a website. But you seem to be doing a pretty decent job with the work I saw.

By the way, just as a note to everyone else. When I re-get my website up, I'll post up my lessons that I've written up here. I'll hopefully be able to add other features that I weren't able to add here.

Ronald · Tadpole Joined: 25 Dec 2003 Posts: 16 Location: SG

thanks for the compliments!!! you're the first Very Happy

well....my frens keep telling me it could be better if u change this, change that, the icons r too big, the colors are not matching, go buy some templates, etc..

but i guess the main thing is i got no nice pic of guitars or music on my site...was wondering where i could get some from others that i won't get sued using it....

PunkStar · Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2003 7:53 pm Post subject:

Well, about the guitar pics. I'm not sure. You may need to check out the copyright laws to see what you can and can't do. But you can you most pictures for your own personal use. But maybe not for websites. I'm not sure. But it would be worth checking out the copyright laws I suppose.

If you wanted to do music totally legally. You could record your own guitar playing and put it on the site. It would be professional in the regard that your students will eventually be able to play like that, it gives them a taste of what they want to accomplish. But you have to be careful with that media stuff. It takes a bit of time to download on slower connections, and it costs people to download that music on your site. And if it's a big music file you've got playing, then people have to download that and it's always possible that they may go over the download limit their ISP gave them. Therefore, they have to play a lot more for their internet if that is happening a lot. Just something to consider.

But you're layout that I saw looks pretty good and balanced. Good work.

Ronald · Tadpole Joined: 25 Dec 2003 Posts: 16 Location: SG

thanks for the comments...actually this is not my profession...I have been teaching guitar part time (I run my own biz) for fun, but then I realise I like it so much I decided to write a book on it....n I got into web design and this crazy idea came out....hehehe....anyway....i guess its just fun!

hey I had some free lessons created in the last few days. Do check it out and gimme some comments ok....most of them are not professional quality, but it's just for fun....I hope its understandable Smile

Fender Guy · Newbie Alert Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 3

Dear Brother-In-Christ, in terms of webpage layout, it's not that bad. Look a bit like a power point presentation slide. As the sound quailty on the website, it's quite poor. And the connection rate to stream the song is extremely poor. And maybe I'm a bit skeptical, I think all paid guitar learning website are bulls**t, they always have the phrases "highly successful training system", "low cost, can learn from your home and office at your own time and comfort", and the worst is that "no theory is required, totally hands on". Your site, sadly, seem to follow this "marketing strategy".

Let me tell you, if you never learn music theory, you will never be an accomplished guitarist. That's for sure. Almost all the guitar Greats are living examples. And me, being a self taught guitarists, in search of many paid guitar sites which promise me "to bring my level of playing to a higher ground" are bulls**t. Guitar Alliance is one of those, which look promising, but end up to be just another licks and scales website. I'm not saying they are lousy websites, but I think it's their marketing strategy that fool us. And I got a feeling that your website is following their footsteps... Rolling Eyes

Ronald · Tadpole Joined: 25 Dec 2003 Posts: 16 Location: SG

Hi Fenderguy,

thanks for the comments!! Appreciate it!! I understand your concern, and honestly, I know what you mean by marketing gimmicks and strategy.

I know because I myself, in my self teaching journey of 5 years, bought countless such books over the internet, including Screaming Fingers, Guitar Secrets Revealed, Guitar in 10 day, and YES Guitar Alliance TOO!!!well...some are good, some r really crap. And I believe it's those crappy ones that spoil the market (ppl trying t make a quickie)...

I do agree very much tha theory is important (I have given up self taught and been learning from a Berklee teacher for a few years) and it puts into context the things that you play, why u choose a scale and land on this
note, etc....my playing improved greatly, especially in Jazz improvisation.

but I do not agree you cannot be good if you do not know theory. Jimmi Hendrix is one of them - and in his interview, one of his regret is that he dunno theory. Similarly, the old time Bluesman do not know theory either, they learn by following what other Blues players play, and the Blues tradition has been handed down like this....even for myself, in my self taught days I can already play gigs in Cafes earning some bucks, and people appreciate your playing - now that's a sign of approval Smile

.

As for the marketing strategy, I'm not so bothered by what people say...I know it's kindof cliched and every crappy product is using it. But to me my product works and i'm not ashamed to tell it (btw those ppl who give their testimonials are members in my church who bought my book, not someone i though out of the clouds Razz

)

But sincerely from the bottom of my heart I created this product because I understand the frustration of many self taught guitarists who look high n low for good materials, spend money to hire teachers (get riped off learning licks n tricks), and still cannot play a single song.

I thoght I can do something - beginner self taught guitarist all have one thing in comon - they wanna learn SONGS - how to play them. Not scales, not tricks. And thats what my book is about. Learn songs and basic scales and improvisation technique to play rhythm and lead. I teach songs - in this course it's all the secular songs.

In my other book, I taught Hillsngs, Planet shakers, CCC, etc....becaouse people wanna see they can achieve somthing with the guitar FIRST, and then that will motivate them to learn deeper....my volume 2,3 and 4 takes care of that....talking about triads, chord substitution, CAGED systems, tri-tone, etc....

I had initialy no intention of selling it - this book was actually put up for free for the last 6 months...but since ppl tell me it's good, I though I might as well sell it...n here I am Smile

well as for the audio - you need to install Winamp player to be able to listen to it properly. I dunno why it won't work with Real and MS players.

I'm not saying "i'm right, you're wrong" or vice versa. Just trying to exress my POV Smile

but good constructive comments there! Keep it coming Smile

Fender Guy · Newbie Alert Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 3

Haha, I think we are in the same boat. Anyway, I'm also from
Singapore. Very Happy

By the way, you said that some websites are good, may I know which one? Anyway, how come I never see you in Guitar Alliance? What is your nick there?

And I'm not aware that Jimi Hendrix didn't know theory. Maybe he never officially attend music school, but he did know what he was playing. So obvious he know his theory... Okay, maybe not that well. Laughing

Anyway, Jimi Hendrix is gifted in music, and not all people got this gift.

A quote from a website "Hendrix beats out Clapton on the inventive use and facility of hybrid 6/9, major 7th or 11th chords, hybrid major 9ths, minor 7ths and 9ths, chord triads or fragments consisting of major and minor passing chords and passing tones within chords."

Anyway, is there a Berklee teacher in Singapore? Is he good and how much is it?

And yar, maybe you said it all, your book is for beginner self taught guitarist. I'm a intermediate self taught one. Laughing

Anyway, how old are you? I may be interested in getting private lesson from you or your that Berklee teacher. But first thing first, I quite demanding. Twisted Evil

For Example, I want my teacher able to play a song in all kind of styles. In other words, he must be creative. Take an example, Come on and Celebrate, he must know how to play it in Blues, Jazz, Funk, Disco, Classic Rock, Heavy Metal, Country. By the way, I know how to play it in Jazz and Rock.

Ronald · Tadpole Joined: 25 Dec 2003 Posts: 16 Location: SG

Oh hahah I guess you're the 2nd Singaporean in this forum!!

my name, in GA, if you r a SG'ean, is very recognisable!! not a very "decent" name hahaha....i'll tell u if u still cant find me ehhe

I still go there once a while to read posts....I gave my access pass to my student....think he'll need it more than I do Smile

I personally feel that GSN and PGS are by far the coolest in terms of guitar matrials, but the cost is a whopping monthly US19.90....but I quit after a while because when you are self taught, everything just seem useless to you...because I think we like to "flirt" with lessons hhahaha

GA is not that bad for a beginner actually....but form that level up its quite useless...but I think it's outting more meat stuff recently...many of the articles are posted by Gary Allen who's a session player so i guess the tips are quite practical....

Hendrix played mainly by ear (read his biography written by a dunno who) and he's the inventor of playing chord-scales in his solos, somewhat known as "flowery" by critics...

I think hendrix himself duno these terms cos he played largely by ear...the names were probably coined by people who studied and transcribed his songs....

for Berklee grad in singgapore u can go to a guy called justin koh....he teaches in a guitar shop in peace center....graduated a few yeas ago i tink....as for my teacher, he graduate from berklee 20 yrs ago and is currently teaching at SAS...i tink if u learn sumthing it's worth it no matter the cost...i'm currently taking a jazz improvisation module from berklee too....if u r looking for systematic structured lessons, try berklee online Smile

My teacher may not be able to teach u dat...he's a muslim....but he teach alot of harmony, melody, classical stuff and that relates to pop n all style well (think malmsteen, steve vai, etc who all learnt classical)....technically speaking its up to you to develop your style...he just guides me...but is good! makes me record my playing on mp3s every week n then take them home n criticise them!! haha talk about demanding!

hahahha the song to be played in rock is easy n in jazz...i just tried out...chord melody works....but abit off....i for sure cant meet your demands hahaha.... mayb i not used to the song....i more the hillsong, planet shaker kind but then again....if u r willing to pay i'm sure u will some a teacher or two somewhere who'll go the extra mile to learn them and teach u hehehe

Fender Guy · Newbie Alert Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 3

Sorry, couldn't find your nick in GA. Mind telling me?