so......what now ?

[real_low_mind]

So I started getting back into guitar again, after I went through a long terrible dry period.
Anyway it's a good thing because I became a bit enlightened on kinds of things to learn.
Before, all I knew were the basic chords, some scale patterns, and some keys.
In December it will be a year I've been playing. I have the general idea about modes, progressions (not much though), some theory, and all the basic stuff. I know where corresponding intervals are on the fretboard, most all the notes, etc. And some songs (mostly punk, mostly power chords, I tried the 1st Walk This Way solo & could never really get it right.. ), trying to find the key of a song & tab out some chords or something that way,
I actually tabbed a few songs by myself. Not the solos though, of course.(Submission by the Sex Pistols, Butt Town by Iggy Pop, Chinese Rocks by Johnny Thunders)
Now I want to know what to start learning next. I don't have a teacher, don't plan on getting one for various reasons, and because of this I'm learning my way, which is theory & the like.

I made a list at school of things to learn & this is what I have:

1. Modes: Ionian, Aeolian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, "Blues Scale"
2. Major scale patterns: 1,2,3,4,5 (already know 1 & 3)
Pentatonic scale patterns: 1,2,3,4,5
Relative minor patterns: 1,2,3,4,5
3, Chord progressions: I IV V, I vi IV V, others? (I can't seem to find anything on this; cyberfret was the closest I got but it keeps freezing up on my computer)
4. Keys/Relative minors: A,B,C,D,E,F,G,Ab,Bb,Eb,Db (Note that I already know a lot of these)
One interesting thing I learned about relative minors is that the relative minor of any major key is the 6th step, and the relative major is the 3rd. Very helpful.
5. Chord theory/music theory
6.Music composition (just added that now heh)
7.Intervals/Octave shapes (Already know, but forgot in that long dry period I mentioned)

I really want to get better at playing by ear. Learning keys & chord construction really helped.
One big problem I have, is when I'm trying to figure out the key of a song, it sounds right till the song's done then I play it over & it's so horrifyingly wrong & off-key I can't believe it. Then, I try to transpose it, and it still sounds wrong.

Any suggestions on important things to learn? Is my list of goals decent for 1 year of playing? :thumb:

thanks
laura

[real_low_mind]

Also, this is a whole separate question, I know C Ionian scale = D Dorian....At least that's what I heard somewhere.
What is that list where C Ionian = Am Aeolian = D Dorian = E ______ = F _______ etc. ?
And can you change from say C Ionian to D Dorian in the same song/same solo, or do you have to stay in the same mode & same key?

[AmericanWeiner]

My advice would be to learn to sightread sheet music. It will help you train your ear with melody AND rhythm.

Too many guitarists do not know anything about rhythm.

For instance, can anyone explain the mathematical method behind counting triplet quarter notes? You know who you are.

[real_low_mind]

I used to play the piano, so I can read sheet music.
Not to sound stupid, but what exactly do you need to know about rhythm?
I know triplet quarter notes = a half note. If that was the question. If that's even the right answer.

[Alive]

I really want to get better at playing by ear. Learning keys & chord construction really helped.
One big problem I have, is when I'm trying to figure out the key of a song, it sounds right till the song's done then I play it over & it's so horrifyingly wrong & off-key I can't believe it. Then, I try to transpose it, and it still sounds wrong.


What exactly goes wrong? It sounds unlike the song or it sounds dissonant?

Can you give me more info on when this is happening? What are you transcribing - melodies, chords, what? What songs, style etc?

[flyhalf]

Also, this is a whole separate question, I know C Ionian scale = D Dorian....At least that's what I heard somewhere.
What is that list where C Ionian = Am Aeolian = D Dorian = E ______ = F _______ etc. ?
And can you change from say C Ionian to D Dorian in the same song/same solo, or do you have to stay in the same mode & same key?

E Phrygian, F Lydian, G Mixolydian, B Locrian

And it really depends on the chords you're playing over that would warrant the usage of a certain mode. The modes are just there to add a really interesting touch to your playing. For instance, if you are soloing with a minor pentatonic and the chords change, you could turn it into a mixolydian mode (perhaps as a transitional step into a major pentatonic or blues scale).

[real_low_mind]

What exactly goes wrong? It sounds unlike the song or it sounds dissonant?

Can you give me more info on when this is happening? What are you transcribing - melodies, chords, what? What songs, style etc?

Most of the times it's just dissonant, but for harder songs I can't seem to get the chords or anything even if I know the key. The key could even be wrong cause after a while they sound the same, cause I'm playing to my own key & I can't even hear if it's the same key the song's in.
Most any song that's not a basic 3 chord thing, I can't play.
My old guitar teacher, the one who quit on me, did give me some good advice. He said something like try to get the vocal line & figure out the key from that, then it would be easier to get the chords from that. A lot of times I can't even get the vocal line, though.

I usually end up playing something completely different that might sound good like background guitar or bass even, but it's nothing like what the song really sounds like.

[real_low_mind]

E Phrygian, F Lydian, G Mixolydian, B Locrian

And it really depends on the chords you're playing over that would warrant the usage of a certain mode. The modes are just there to add a really interesting touch to your playing. For instance, if you are soloing with a minor pentatonic and the chords change, you could turn it into a mixolydian mode (perhaps as a transitional step into a major pentatonic or blues scale).

does it go in that order for every key too?

and so you're saying certain modes are used as transition, like some wouldn't sound good without a transition between them (ex major to minor)?

[AmericanWeiner]

I used to play the piano, so I can read sheet music.
Not to sound stupid, but what exactly do you need to know about rhythm?
I know triplet quarter notes = a half note. If that was the question. If that's even the right answer.

It sounds like you are a little beyond what posting in the Beginner Questions section would apply.

If you can sight read songs well, then I would still put pressure on you to perfect your rhythms. If you can perfect your rhythms, you're more advanced than 98% of guitarists, regardless of how much theory you know.

At worst, if there's nothing left, find other musics that you don't know. Learn to play classical or jazz music, or take it one step farther and study other stringed instruments and apply their techniques to guitar. (Those being shamisen or gu-qin or something like that.)

Hell, go pick up a Real Book and work through the whole thing in every position and in every key. That should keep you occupied for a while. You're also almost 100% guaranteed to make money off of that venture, as well.

[real_low_mind]

It sounds like you are a little beyond what posting in the Beginner Questions section would apply.

well thank you :thumb:
The problem is, I know all this theory & everything but I still can't play a lot of things. I tried learning some tabs but they were too complex for me.
I tried playing the introduction to Sweet Child O Mine but I couldn't get that right either. I know the notes but it doesn't flow right.
I should work on that too (getting solos etc to flow right ) but I wouldn't know how to go about it.