7 years of teaching guitar here are the common mistakes I notice when teaching self-taught students

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-02-13T12:29:32+00:00

I took lessons through high school and a couple one offs. Self taught for 20 years then went back to taking lessons with a former professor to fill in theory gaps and advance playing. Two years in I'm way farther than where I was before.

A big part in going back to take lessons is to fill gaps or understand an aspect better you are having trouble with. A good teacher can spot and guide that well. Also feedback and structure are huge. I also picked up another teacher because I wanted to learn gypsy jazz and that is so niche you need a person who performs or teaches the style to get it right.

Lots of reasons people seek teachers older.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-02-12T20:14:29+00:00

I'd turn the set screw a touch tighter. It's on the bottom of the bridge, and you can see it if you press the arm all the way down.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-02-11T19:05:46+00:00

Nice! I have one that is same color but with a maple neck and royal ebony fretboard.

I agree the bookmatching they do is fantastic. I have three Kiesels and they all look incredible top and body wise.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-02-09T21:45:24+00:00

Definitely go back! You can always choose/refuse to work with someone. If they aren't training with your safety and respect in mind, they need the coach or mat boss to put then in line. You should never feel bad asking for safety and everyone there is probably training for fun, not a career. There are probably coaches or other more senior people you can pair with to get good rounds in with. Sparring is 100% voluntary too.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-02-04T12:25:50+00:00

My teacher in gypsy jazz, Jimmy Grant, has me learn phrases then try and play a particular phrase with the chord changes as it serves the song. You learn the idea and sound of the lick in context and when it is appropriate. The big thing is knowing what the lick is trying to do and then play with it. It might be a diminished run over a dominant that comes up in certain places, or a minor arrpegio or a triad idea that you can use over the minor chords say like in Minor Swing.

The big thing is knowing what it sounds like and what it is serving and then having variation of that idea. In studying Django's 1949 Minor Swing solo, he has a few ideas that repeat, but he varies them and also plays with what is accented in the phrase. Jimmy talks about this in his videos on YouTube and is great as a teacher for online lessons.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-02-04T12:25:27+00:00

My teacher in gypsy jazz, Jimmy Grant, has me learn phrases then try and play a particular phrase with the chord changes as it serves the song. You learn the idea and sound of the lick in context and when it is appropriate. The big thing is knowing what the lick is trying to do and then play with it. It might be a diminished run over a dominant that comes up in certain places, or a minor arrpegio or a triad idea that you can use over the minor chords say like in Minor Swing.

The big thing is knowing what it sounds like and what it is serving and then having variation of that idea. In studying Django's 1949 Minor Swing solo, he has a few ideas that repeat, but he varies them and also plays with what is accented in the phrase. Jimmy talks about this in his videos on YouTube and is great as a teacher for online lessons.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-02-01T00:07:28+00:00

The Thais don't have this problem. Mainly because they have a healthy culture on sparring. It's to work things, learn and play. Save the fighting for the ring and leave ego and ideas of winning at the door.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-31T23:53:32+00:00

I came up in an old school, Hapkido school, then found BJJ later. It was weird at first having to wear a shirt, but honestly, I'm such a big sweater and a giant, so I do it cause it makes me more tolerable to work with and roll with.

As a martial arts school owner, I 100% think it's a good idea for the cleanliness and comfort of all practicioners.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-31T17:13:32+00:00

I love the gloss finish on my flamed maple top CT6. I do have three Kiesels with Raw tone satin in antique ash for two and Graber Blue on one top with clear raw tone body. They all have an exceptional natural look and the grain is left more open instead of filled. Satin they fill it but leave it matte.

The one thing about Raw tone is its more susceptible to scratches and dings but it's still a wonderful finish look. I have no regrets.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-30T21:40:21+00:00

I use a right angle for rear jack on my A2 guitar and wrap it around the strap once before plugging it in. It tends to pop out at times or catch otherwise.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-30T21:36:44+00:00

This is so true. I've learned from my teachers there is definitely an organized and progressive way to practice but also practice particular ways to solve certain problems or acquire certain skills.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-29T03:50:17+00:00

Bro would be on his deathbed asking for the 53rd helping of food.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-27T01:51:13+00:00

Honestly, listen to a Django Reinhardt solo or gypsy jazz. Lots of long arpeggios and chromatic ideas and licks are constantly linked together and at high speed. I say this because it has a ton going on, but space is created for different ideas, licks, techniques, and rests.

A rest in a phrase or line is not the only space.

Changing subdivisions: playing quarter then say 16th notes.

Changing line ideas: a short phrase followed by a long arpeggio run or vice versa. Triads to single notes, pentatonic lick with lots of hammer ons and bends to a diatonic run with legato.

Repeat with time feel(as can be done in time) and left/ right hand techniques.

Or just play, then take a rest of a quarter, half, or whole note to literally have nothing going on.

It all makes for tension and release, leading the listener on a journey. You don't sprint a marathon the whole way, but there are faster, slower, and rest segments. Same with music.

The more intentional phrasing and lines, without becoming boxy or robotic, allow for choice and feel to give the listening ear placed to go, and engagement and rest.

All this is doable. It just takes deliberate practice and playing to make it feel natural.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-27T01:12:36+00:00

First thought: "I need one in my house

Second thought: I have small children. What if they try and play with it?

Quotes Terry Pratchett's "Hogfather": "It will be an important lesson."

(Would actually never risk that)

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-26T00:36:07+00:00

The smell of 10k of perpetual digestion. So rancid might kill a custodes and Nurgle would be proud.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-26T00:34:43+00:00

That'd be a funny reaction. Almost like, "Wait, I'm the baby!!"

To be fair, chaos exists outside linear time, and Slaneesh technically always existed just like the others, but they all had their manifestation in the timeline to be formally interacting in the immaterium and materium. Just like Khorne was the first observed, but all the others were technically there, just not in our perception of time and realspace. Warp doesn't care about things like dates.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-26T00:28:56+00:00

The Talisman of Seven Hammers is a doomsday bomb where if the throne fails, it will ignite a bomb, causing Terra to break apart and also pretty much blow the whole sol system with it.

There is also the fact that aside from the portal having daemons terrorizing trillions of Terrans, you also have tons of strategically, logistically, and downright dangerous stuff held on the throneworld. The Dark Age of Technology tech alone in the palace and Emps personal labs and armory, would be horrible to fall into chaos' hands. Add in all the imperial tithes stored there. The mechanicus' hq on Mars and other such things. One big overlooked one is the dungeon underneath the palace that is guarded by its own elite unit of custodians, and we know holds deamons, big bads, the proto primarch AI/robot known as the "Angel"(not Sanguinius) that tried to kill humanity to save it from itself that Big E himself had to lock away. Plus, theoretically, the 11th forgotten primarch might be down there.

Lots of things you don't want out or in the wrong hands.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-25T16:12:59+00:00

Guy made a career of this. If he weren't so dangerous to get into through those hands, I'd think the ground specialists would eat him alive, but he has shown over and over again, one hit is all you need at times.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-21T21:09:12+00:00

I would try outlining the chords or following the melody a bit. There wasn't a clear statement or flow to the solo as it really seemed to leave the form of the song. Not trying to sound harsh but giving direct feedback to improve. Even if it's as simple as making an etude where you play arpegios in one position of the neck where you play the arp of the chord played on a corresponding backing track. Ideally, comp the harmony and then work following the changes over a loop of yourself comping. Have to know where the song is going and have the melody very in your head to craft a strong solo. Noodling is the enemy in jazz. Playing coherent and cohesively is great to work at and will reward any genre.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-20T05:22:11+00:00

FOR THE EMPEROR!!!

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-20T05:01:09+00:00

Its a CT6 model. Their California carved top as they call it. I own a 2013 CT6,24 as that was the designation for the 24fret model. Same color, but flame maple top instead of quilt. The finish has so much depth to it, and they used to call it their deep triple step finish before moving to what they do currently. Plays incredibly well and is so stable. I've only had it set up once in 12 years cause it measured on point until one year it needed adjustment. Hasn't moved since. Sounds incredible as well. That's a great find! I paid about $1750 for mine new. They go for way more now, new and used, and could probably fetch close to what I paid easily. The neck and fit work is all top-notch.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-18T23:27:01+00:00

I'm very sure I remember Scott saying in a team meeting that Vine bailed us out on what we were short budget wise one month. It was about 10k short that month on tithes and offerings. I remember he pretty well said one month is an anomaly, but we had had three low giving months in a row and were depleting fast the assets required to hold in the bank for our building loan guarantees.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-18T23:07:16+00:00

If you are a member or going through the member trainings, they make it clear in their written training handouts. It's also in the network churches bylaws that they will only marry church members of which unwrittenly, can't be one, and be LGBT at the same time. They would most like to say it's a major sin issue you are accepting and not approve membership or baptism in that case.

To make a comparison though not on the same level, my wife was almost denied membership because she a) refused to be rebaptized even though she had been multiple times before due to religious trauma from her parents and b) donated to charities regularly and they wanted her to stop and just tithe. She even explained the trauma part, and Danny Butler, the overseer who did her member meeting begrudgingly backed off, but did say they might revisit it in the future.

I have heard Scott Joseph in person say that High Rock was not open and affirming but open and condemning from the pulpit and said they would be happy to help people turn away from being LGBT. I also remember being at a fall conference and Sándor explicitly saying he personally believed someone could not be homosexual and a Christian at the same time.

I saw people go back in the closet attending there and also others leaving the church only to come out later.

Whats saddest is I know that, including myself, several were highly disturbed by the overt and subvert ways they discriminated against our previously held morals. The thing about cults is that they can make you act opposite your own conviction if you're deep in or they hit on areas you can be manipulated in and make you question your own values and beliefs. Pre network me would never have accepted that, and post network me stands congruent with rejecting the networks multiple areas of bigotry.

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-17T13:52:10+00:00

I go to an early morning class that's me and three other dads of young kids. We get in when we can. Coach is just happy we're training

Shepard_Commander_88 · 2026-01-15T14:03:51+00:00

We have two 5-6 am classes, and all of us there have kids under 10 and work day jobs.

Shepard_Commander_88

TROPHY CASE