what now?

Ok I have been at it on the guitar for about the past year, I have learned many riffs and a few songs that I can play all the way. Now I feel like Im at a dead end, I have only learned to play by tab, i dont know scales or chords. I really want to turn it up and take it to the next level so where do I go from here. Any suggestions?

Theory, theory, theory.

Search around and look for some online lessons if you want. If you're not the type that reads it online and gets it, there are quite a few books out there (some better than others obviously) that teach you basic to advance theory. In the guitar area, some books just teach you the fundementals of guitar, while others focus in on a particular genre you're interested in and don't tell you things outside the basics that you won't even use.

I'm not a fan of the books that tell you about one style of playing, as I play multiple genres of music, but that's just me.

me too, I play a little bit of everything, honestly its pretty much whatever catches my ear and sounds bad ass to me

I agree with Buckethead - theory is a really handy way of improving your skill as it allows you to go for more classical music (if you're into that kinda thing) and may lead to teaching you more things you may never have learned otherwise. Also, trying to play things that are a little harder than you can usually manage is also very useful as it allows you push forward. I'd always go for songs that I like already, personally, as it gives you an extra drive to be able to play your favourite songs! ^^

Starom wrote:

I agree with Buckethead - theory is a really handy way of improving your skill as it allows you to go for more classical music (if you're into that kinda thing) and may lead to teaching you more things you may never have learned otherwise. Also, trying to play things that are a little harder than you can usually manage is also very useful as it allows you push forward. I'd always go for songs that I like already, personally, as it gives you an extra drive to be able to play your favourite songs! ^^

It could be used for that, but it's not like you'll only get good off theory through classical music. You can apply it to nearly any genre of music, especially guitar related.

Certainly ^^ But little classical music is tabbed and many of the techniques through theory tend to be lost when it comes to rock/metal playing. It goes without saying, though, that it's useful for any type of playing.

a good place to start music theory is www.musictheory.net i am starting to go there, and i am learning key signatures. it rocks

Start off with some basic pentatonic scales. Then learn some key signatures and play stuff like D major or G major and work up to F# major. Then learn the circle of 5ths (which I still have to do) because I've heard it's important. Theory is kind of important but I've been playing for as long as one of my friends and he took lessons and learnt all that stuff while I didn't and I'm a better player than he is. Theory might be important but practicing is even more important. Hope that helped.

Blackdog7 wrote:

Start off with some basic pentatonic scales. Then learn some key signatures and play stuff like D major or G major and work up to F# major. Then learn the circle of 5ths (which I still have to do) because I've heard it's important. Theory is kind of important but I've been playing for as long as one of my friends and he took lessons and learnt all that stuff while I didn't and I'm a better player than he is. Theory might be important but practicing is even more important. Hope that helped.

That's subjective, really.

Although you may be able to play more advanced compositions, you may not know what exactly it is that you're playing, how it was constructed, and why it's how it is. Whereas your friend may not be able to play it, but can figure out all those things and take inspiration from that to write some of his own material.

I know violin theory though. I think it's all the same just different instruments but I've never applyed it to guitar. You are correct though