If you saw my other thread, you read that I scored an entry-level instrument. And of course the next step is playing. I know there are tons of free and paid online lessons. And I already know music-- scales, modes, chord construction, read notation, etc. I have a stack of books with all the bluegrass standards. The one resource I could use is something that has a progression of techniques to learn and the order I should try to learn them. The last thing I want to do is sit down for a practice session is try 17 new things each for 90 seconds every day. I'd like to warm up for a few minutes, work on one or two techniques for 20-30 minutes, then play for fun for a bit.
Can anyone recommend a resource print or online, I'd even buy a method book but I don't need just a song book, that would have instructions for a sequence of techniques to learn in a progressive order?
-l2t
My recommendation is to contact the fantastic Roger Williams in Glastonbury, CT and schedule a few lessons to get started.
Roger is an incredible player & teacher. Young Andy Hall (Infamous Stringdusters) got his start with Roger.
h
Dobrojoe.com
Free basic info. More advanced stuff for a reasonable fee. Easy to follow videos
Glastonbury, CT is about two hours. Quite of a drive for a few lessons. I wouldn't mind a few lessons in person to cover the little things in technique like how to hold the bar, picks, etc. that you can't see easily in videos. But I'd hope to find someone closer.
The listings on bbu.org area woefully out of date. I saw a teacher listed a couple towns away. Googled his name and found that he passed away in 2014.
Hoping to find someone within 30 minutes or maybe 45 minutes of Medfield MA, WSW of Boston. (Nearest well-known landmark is the Patriot's stadium in Foxboro about five miles away from us).
-l2t
We're talking Roger Williams.
You would not regret the journey.
h
I think Janet Davis' You Can Teach Yourself Dobro is laid out very logically. With your background I think you'd have no trouble with it.
For myself, I would think nothing of Howard's suggestion of driving two hours to get at least one lesson from Roger Williams. Roger is one of the best players in the business, but he has always been for the most part a Northeast regional guy. He came out to Northern California for as I recall a family wedding a number of years ago and played maybe one or two public gigs while he was here, but I had to be somewhere else for work at the time so I couldn't attend.
Maybe it's a California and western states thing - we're just used to driving long distances for certain things. 
I recently turned a new member here on to a book that was out of print for a number of years and he has been pretty happy with it. MIke Witcher, along with being another one of the top dobro players on the planet, is also a gifted teacher. If he looks like a kid on the cover it's because he was - he was 20 at the time! I've known Mike for many years, and I periodically take his online Zoom classes he holds on weekends. He also has lessons on Peghead Nation.
The book is 25 bucks. I have an old copy which includes a teaching CD. The updated version has MP3 files instead.
https://www.mikewitcher.com/product-page/resonator-guitar-tunes-techniques-practice-skills
Link to Mike's lessons on Peghead Nation:
https://www.pegheadnation.com/string-school/instructors/mike-witcher
Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 06/21/2024 10:06:05
I did order one of the two books. I'll start with that and maybe get the other one down the road. Yeah, I'll consider some lessons but will want to play for a bit first so I'll get more out of it.
The Dobro Joe stuff is great. Been through the two videos below a couple times.With a few of the links in those videos, I can show up at a novice BG jam and be able to add something to the music.
youtube.com/watch?v=92inEmOhtlI
youtube.com/watch?v=SJK_-2pp5Es&t=279s
quote:
Originally posted by l2tGlastonbury, CT is about two hours. Quite a drive for a few lessons. I wouldn't mind a few lessons in person to cover the little things in technique like how to hold the bar, picks, etc. that you can't see easily in videos. But I'd hope to find someone closer. . . .
It's a bit of a hike, but it seems worth it to go just a few times.
And have you tried looking a teacher up here?: https://www.resohangout.com/teachers/
But meanwhile, nothing beats just sitting down with the guitar and fooling around with it.
quote:
Originally posted by MarkinSonomaFor myself, I would think nothing of Howard's suggestion of driving two hours to get at least one lesson from Roger Williams.
I regularly used to drive 90 minutes to Mike Witcher's house for a 60-minute lesson. Totally worth it IMO.
quote:
Originally posted by MarkinSonoma. . . Maybe it's a California and western states thing - we're just used to driving long distances for certain things. . . .
Could be. I used to live in Rhode Island. When Rhode Islanders drive from Woonsocket to Providence, they stop in Lincoln to rest.
Here's an easy tidbit while your'e waiting to schedule lessons- get to know your bar. Hold it in your hands while watching TV, etc. It's a foreign object at first, but soon it won't beand yo ucan be thinking about everything else.
And which bar- if you haven't found one yet, there are a lot out there. Try a few and folks here will also chime in.
(For me- classic Stevens bar; that' s all there was when I started and I've just stayed with it.)
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