🎸 Sign-up for FREE access to my intermediate soloing course “Melodic Soloing With Triads” ►►► bit.ly/3AN5LMJ Are you an intermediate guitarist who has been stuck in a soloing rut for years? Or even decades? If the answer is yes, then I’m guessing you’ve grown tired of playing the same licks over and over again… This course teaches you how to ditch your stale, repetitive licks and instead, begin playing tasteful guitar solos that ooze melody and feel! The best part? You can learn how to do this WITHOUT learning ‘exotic’ guitar scales, wasting hours trawling through TH-cam lessons, or spending a penny! That’s right, I’m giving this course away for zero dollars (for the time being…), so act today to grab it with free, lifetime access. Here’s a tip-of-the-iceberg overview of the main benefits you can expect to experience when you study the curriculum of “Melodic Soloing With Triads”: ✅ You’ll move beyond the limitations of a purely scale-based approach to guitar soloing… so that you can stop feeling stuck inside scale patterns and boxes ✅ You’ll learn to target the notes that create a strong connection between your licks and the chords they are played over… so that you can stop playing repetitive un-musical licks and begin crafting melodies ✅ You’ll stop aimlessly wandering the fretboard, hoping to land on notes that sound good… and start improvising with the confidence of a pro-level guitarist, who always knows which notes to target for an epic solo Click here for free, lifetime access ►►► bit.ly/3AN5LMJ
As a teacher of 25 years and an international examiner, I have to support that the Learning Theory Put You In A Box/Limits Your Creativity is the worst thing I have ever heard as advice, maybe at the very start of learning theory, but that just means you haven't learnt enough theory. Ross is 100% right, don't believe these ads that tell you there's a quick trick, ignore theory etc. Now Go Practice!
Irony being that a fair few of the "restricts your creativity" voices are the exact ones playing the same old pentatonic licks in the same old position forever.
I had a good 1st guitar teacher. He told me theory was hard, but made it sound exciting. He told me"There's a code, a scale, in Stairway to Heaven. It's in lots of the songs you like. It's called Aeolian and you can take that vibe to any solo you like, if you just memorize it." I dunno why that concept doesn't excite a newb! GL.
This free lesson is just amazing. I already bought the bigger course one year ago and it has changed my playing immenseley. This free course has some elements of that bigger course but in much more detail. Hitting the right notes during a solo. Know where you 'are' on the fretboard and with a teacher who knows how to teach. It's just great! Thans you Ross!
I don't know but, every time I take a guitar break for 1 or 2 months, then as soon as I pick up the guitar again I get a lot more creative and figure out how to get out of those "puzzles" with ease...I get much better improvement compared to , like practicing 3 hours a day for hours on end Once a year I take long breaks and it does wonders to me
Ross. You are my teacher. Your Melodic Soloing course is my go to. It’s challenging, difficult back to basics stuff. I’ve been jamming for years out of the pentatonic box and it’s served me well. This course is next level.
Hi Ross! This is a fantastic video with great advice not only for the perpetual journey of guitar but also for any other goals in life. First and foremost, I applaud your work ethic. Having the time to develop high quality videos with meaningful substance takes considerable time. Add to that, finding, preparing for and performing in live gigs is intense but no doubt rewarding. I'm not sure how you do it all. Kudos to You! Having said that, I don't believe there's ever been a better time to be a guitarist. When I first started there was no Internet, no TH-cam, very few tabs that were expensive (and fewer you could trust). You learned riffs and licks from your favorite artists by ear and in in the course of it wore out the grooves in your LP (aka vinyl discs) or the tape in your cassette. Today we have professional guitarists like you who dedicate a considerable portion of their time to enriching the guitar community in manner that's easy to access and digest. Okay, you do promote Bulletproof Guitar Player but we all need to make a living, and the course is worth every penny and is a fraction of what personal lessons would cost. I would add to your message that being persistent, diligent and maintaining a good attitude will get you through those days of frustration. Thanks Ross, and keep on keeping-on brother.
Really great advice Ross. I am a beginner and recently found your site and downloaded the free material yesterday. It looks great! I have subscribed and look forward to you helping me on my journey. All the best mate.
Hey Ross, I recognize this backing track, it's from the ElevatedJamTracks channel! I started playing at 36 and have made some progress so far. Recording myself has really helped me identify areas for improvement. Right now, my biggest challenge is incorporating faster runs like the ones you played in the intro, and I'm not sure where to begin. I noticed you gear your content toward intermediate players, and while I’m not sure if I’m at that level yet, I still enjoy watching your videos and love your playing.
No short cuts, amen! I started playing guitar 18 years ago, I caught the Bluegrass bug 5 years after hearing Billy Strings, adding a subtle swing to a Doc Watson tune was so hard!
Hi Ross. Big fan of your videos and courses. You are correct. There is no shortcut to learning theory and putting in the hard work of practice. The musicians you mentioned, including yourself, have devoted their lives to guitar and in some cases attended prestigious music colleges. They started at a young age and while possessing some talent, they dedicated each and every waking hour to their craft. The rest of us have 8-5 (in same cases longer) jobs, families, and other commitments that constrain the amount of time and energy we can devote to guitar. Nonetheless persistence is a virtue BTW, my company has a large site in Edinburgh and would love to visit your hometown some day 😃
I learned a long time ago that there is no such thing as mastering a musical instrument. Sure there are players that are phenomenal and we think that they have mastered their craft, but if you asked them I’m sure that they would tell you that they are always looking to improve and learn new things along the way. Something that’s always helped me is to embrace the difficult things I work on are where the growth is. So once you can play a certain exercise, song or passage proficiently, then it’s time to move on to find something that you cannot do and work on that. I have had the privilege to study with some of the best in the world, and every one of them still works on their abilities to this day. The journey never end
I feel like guitarists could benefit from focusing more on melodies. We often get caught up in riffs and solos, but exploring melodies can really enhance our playing.
Thanks for sharing this Ross! I vividly remember when I tested and earned my black belt after 5 years in the martial arts I practice, I was amazed when my Sensei came to congratulate me and wispered in my ear..."Now you are a beginner who is ready to learn" Yes, 5 years before I was trully ready to learn the next steps of the art. I've been playing for more than 40 years and got stuck as entry level intermmediate. Though the genre I picked to learn now is jazz, arguably one of the hardest genres to learn, I did my homework and started studying music throery and I am addicted to it now! Though I take jazz lessons on an online course, I also purchased the course Ross offers, Bulletproof Guitar, since it contains the very basics of major and minor triads which can be applied in ALL genres! I do have a job that on some days has me working 12-14 hour days and so when I get home, I started limiting my YT time to just an hour and I then turn off the YT and practice daily anywher from 30 mins theory and 30 minutes guitar (quit TV as well). I infact just finished practicing a few minutes ago. I can tell you that I am seeing definite progress!
Aye Sir! Thank you Ross for making that Video :D Those points are so important but get mentioned not enough in my opinion :/ 01:50 - The ONLY "right answer" for *ANY "...how long?" related question in my opinion* + adding my own experiences & moments of absolutely clear 'realization' on top, is ALWAYS only *a single Sentence PLUS mentioning the (from My experience as I said) KEY Element/ deciding component to this. Also it´s from my understanding a 100% the same for the majority people who want to learn playing the guitar. *Answer:* As LONG as IT TAKES for YOU to learn/ MASTER whatever it is that you set as a Target/ Goal/ Finish Line for you there.* *And most importantly the (individual) "KEY Element" I mentioned:* Example = You're in a Situation/ Position in Your Life where your RESPONSIBILITIES, Work-Times, Private Life (in particular the Social environment your in right now) in this *THEORETICAL Example,* to simplify My POINT... The GOAL is not just a repertoire of a hand full Songs or here and there some specific techniques... YOU want to be ABLE to MAKE A LIVING from making or Playing Music in the Future one way or another, and *you are also a 100% ABLE* to *invest 1-2 Hours of Time EVERY Day ...where you CAN practice, without anything distractive surrounding you to be able to FOCUS on what you do in your Practice Routine, right?* Okay...tbh 1,5h up to 2 Hours and More daily is also for most people not possible to get free from eyerything xD *Alright....at LAEST around 60 Minutes - 5-6 Times a Week* (THAT´s the bare minimum FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR on the Guitar in My Opinion when you start from the scratch = NO knowledge or practical experiences in Music or on an Instrument whatsoever yet xD + I started in March 2023 at ZERO too. As of Today I accumulated *1.030 +Hours* of Practicing, Noodling and Experimenting, learning Theory etc. so far) Exception of course are people which do have a standard level of hearing/ musically feeling capability SO LOW or they never had what I´d call it, the natural curiosity or affinity when it comes to anything related to Music or RHYTHM especially... THOSE are Exceptions where this sole "One Sentence Answer" would not be correct/ adapting / count for them etc. - just to clarify what I mean by that ^^ In Conclusion I learned from doing it myself and being at it everyday as much as possible, and seeing similarities in terms of how fast OTHERS improve: In General ANYTHING you want to learn (it can be ANYTHING that you can´t do but you want to learn/ master XY), you will REACH your Goal DEPENDING on How much time you invest in improving yourself. And I´d say what´s the mainly deciding component here is simply *HOW MUCH YOU ACTUALLY WANT IT at the End!!* If you always 'find/ stumble over' new Excuses WHY YOU WON´T or CAN´T Practice.... then you aren´t at a stage in your Life yet, where it has become something so important and valuable for you that you start thinking subconsciously so MUCH about all kind of stuff related to Music and Guitar, that *it´s started becoming A PART OF YOU... your daily routines, topics you get interested in or talk about with other people etc.* In short you can say don´t think in a way where your answer to other people is "Yeah I PLAY the GUITAR" ...your answer should be "I AM A GUITARIST" That´s it😁 Hope some of you are maybe able to take something from my explanation here which is helpful ^^ It took me a little over 1 year to get to that realization and let it sink in into my brain once and for all xD It´s not as simple as just "saying/ doing" ^^ But the " CLICK Moment" when you REALLY GET BEHIND it WILL COME if you stick with it long enough. *DET*
Ross, hats off to you fot this great video! The 'there are no shortcuts' is my favorite Chet Atkins quote (he added: "And dont think I haven't looked for one!") Manolo Sanlucar (famous flamenco guitarist) once told us: "If you don't have anything to tell, you can practice all you want, your music will never speak to people. I want you to go out there, live well, eat well, drink well, love well, suffer well, live deeply so you will have stories to tell with your guitar." Personally I found the 'fun' bit missing from your work story. I have put in many years of an 8hr/day practice schedule. Making sure I enjoyed every minute of it! Wasn't this what I always dreamed of? Play the guitar? I will share this video with all my guitar playing friends around the world. Again, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! Also, you're a fantastic player!
Practice the right things, and practice it right. Not fast. Perfect practice makes perfect. Learn basic music theory. Learn from books. Use a metronome. Even you cannot read music, there are a lot of good books that have both music notation and tabs. Blues books, jazz books. Even beginner books have a lot of good material and new things in them if you never learned from a teacher or learned from proper lessons. Beyond learning open and barred chords, the guitar will test your inner strength and everything inside of you. I learned drums on my own when I was 17. I took lessons when I was 21. Stick Control for the Snare Drummer changed my whole vocabulary. And lessons also helped to isolate and have complete independence of each limb. I was flying through my lessons and the books. My teacher was like "You actually go home and practice this?" I was taken aback and I'm like "Yeah, that's what I'm suppose to do right? Practice at home?". He was like "You don't understand how many students I have, pretty much all of them, they come for lessons and they never play at home. And then their parents wonder why they see no results and get frustrated at me and wonder why their child isn't advancing in the book." Your work ethic in life is a direct relationship to your work ethic in everything else you do.
Learning the guitar is setting off on a lifetime journey of discovery. There's a couple of things you'll need along the way; determination, and a bit of OCD helps too!
Truth is hard, man. You have to commit to your practice, listen to yourself with an unbiased ear, be patient and above all HAVE FUN. If you are spending your time and money on “Be a Rock Star in Two Weeks” lessons, then you’ll always be disappointed. We all know when we’re trying to take a shortcut and that they generally don’t work. Me? I haven’t put in the time to really play the way I want, but I accept the fact that until I do, I’ll be stuck here at this level of playing.
Been playing for a long time, and I hold my own, but I learned a lot from your Bulletproof method, I was hoping you could do a video on the topic of the excess of information out there now, there are tons and tons of instructional videos, and payed methods, it's become overwhelming, not counting all the amazing players on TH-cam (but not in bands, mind you), it's become difficult to focus in one method. In economy there's this theory that too many options lead to confusion and conflict for buyers, like in a huge Ice cream parlor or with a large menu in a restaurant. Cheers!!
I’ve played guitar on and off for over 30 years and never progressed past beginner strum stage. Because I’d get bored / frustrated and suspend playing for months or even years at a time. A couple months ago I decided to buckle down and study theory, starting at 101 level like I’ve never picked up the instrument before. And practice what I’ve learned regularly. Obviously have a long way to go but my playing in comparison is already night and day. Every light bulb moment is like a small victory, feels great that it’s finally beginning to click.
Ross speaks truth. Greatness is found in the mundane. But there is actually one shortcut: learn basic music theory, it will save you tons of time in the long run. Okay, it’s not really a shortcut, but if you wanna slow down your growth, ignore theory.
Love your content Ross. Subbed and liked! One small friendly criticism: with the greatest respect, I'm wondering if the barely audible elevator music in the background is entirely necessary. That's just my tuppence worth. Hope it works out for you in Nashville!
Learning theory helps you? How? Specifically? I learned more theory from playing piano and that was only in how to understand Jazz chords (like, what 9th, 11th and 13th notes were ie the 2nd, 4th and 6th notes in the major scale an octave above the root). I do know what EMin9 and A13 sound like but only 'cause someone on TH-cam played these two chords in a George Benson lesson and I recognised them from LoveShadow by Fashiön. Understanding the theory behind diatonic harmony for soloing over chord progressions was quite helpful to me although I can't improvise for more than a few seconds over a backing track! So, does learning theory help the talentless? You tell me! Anyway, Ross is helping me piece it all together now with his BPG courses so thank you, Ross 👍
Whoever thought that the best guitar teacher who is all inclusive would be a wee guy from Scotland. If you haven't figured this out yet then pick up your guitar every time you watch this man on his videos.
So many people can strum a few popular 3-4 chord songs in a compelling way so us beginners and intermediates feel like everyone is more accomplished than us but realistically they probably aren’t. If you want to go beyond that to become a ‘guitarist’ or songwriter you have to have massive ambition and be prepared to work a lot. Easier said than done it seems. Getting there slowly…
There's many videos on how to target chord tones on 1564. Pls make an intermediate+ session on how to target tasty notes on 12-bar. Thanks for your content, cheers!
@@RossCampbellGuitarist You have a stylistic playing form to wish (die) for, hence I'd like to pick your brain on the 'money' notes in the 12 bar blues, but unfortunately, book format is a challenge :) Moreover, a short snippets for the right direction are... well, it's easier and applicable for my own interpretation on the day to day basis.
@@-itkindaworks- It includes videos, and jam tracks and tab, and it's broken down into achievable steps. It's also inexpensive and very good value for money.
I hear you. I did make an hour long video masterclass to promote it so this may be of more use to you - Break Out Of Your Blues Guitar RUT! Beyond Pentatonic Blues Guitar Masterclass th-cam.com/video/zyzT5rW8mcE/w-d-xo.html
Charlie Parker only played what he heard in his head. He never practiced scales. He didn’t know there were “keys”. It was all one big key for him and the results are astounding. I have quit practicing anything other than what I hear in my imagination. If I don’t like what I’m playing, I stretch my imagination. This is creativity in action.
Charlie Parker basically invented Bebop from practicing upper chord structures over the changes for Cherokee- the man literally used theory to create a whole genre of jazz. It's well documented that he had extensive knowledge of music theory- musicians of his time claimed that he could speak in music terms just as good as all the conservatory musicians at the time. He was a learned individual. Everything you just said is 100% not true.
@@RossCampbellGuitarist He went to the mountains and listened to records in his teen years. Lester young was a huge influence. What formal training did Yard Bird have? Who were his teachers?
It’s the old, simple story; what you put into it you get out of it. A guitarist’s performance is just the tip of the iceberg; all the preparation and hard work lie under the surface.
Amen to this video. And if you’re like me, nearing 50’s and just playing for a few years…Well, let’s put it this way: I might die before I see the light bulb. My main focus is learning songs, 2nd practice theory. If I do theory first I lost all appetite to play songs.
So refreshing to hear someone on YT saying the letter 'Z' correctly..... but hey, what you're saying is something which you have to apply to every facet in your life.... daily.
For me it was around $10K. Explained in detail in this video - Why I Haven't Made a TH-cam Video In Six Months (life changed...) th-cam.com/video/ZtISSxuxg0s/w-d-xo.html
It’s a fair point if that one new piece of gear makes you put in more time on it 😅 I have been practicing like crazy since buying a Yamaha Revstar . I’m absolutely in love with the thing so I can’t put it down
@@matiaschaparro823 Pacifica here, too. The only new guitar I’ve ever purchased, and it’s been Frankensteined over and over again, which is probably why I don’t play as well as I could 🤡
Here's is the most likely thing that will happen: Ross is going to end up charging a lot of money for the course he is GIVING AWAY right now. It's a wonderful course. Get it now. It's free. I HIGHLY doubt it will stay free. Thumbs up this comment so others can find the course!
No surprises on the lessons here. What I would have like to have seen is another stab at how to create the feeling of progress. As an intermediate player, the lessons that I like the most are ones where you do feel like you are making progress (even if its small) as time goes by. Yes of course people are going to learn and develop at different paces, but I think its OK to have an estimate. For example, if you have taught 100 students on a module in one of your courses, you would have an average time they got to mastery. Then if someone ask, you can say "everyone has their own pace, but the average is about ______. That way if the person asking is WAY WAY behind, like more than a standard deviation, the right advice might be "I think you are doing something wrong or misunderstanding something".
1. There are no shortcuts! 2. You'd be a much better player if you had learned the fundamentals of music theory! 3. You can buy the course...Go to the masterclass...Attend the music school...But you will only get out what you put in!
Theory helps you be creative rather than not be. Punk messaging that it’s not necessary along with “we can’t play we just make noise” is extremely damaging to the young punk who accepts this cool advice as wisdom - which is common.
Most teachers online and offline fail when they don't make the examples eg circle of 5ths, triads etc sound like music. When they do, the students are more likely to be engaged, persevere more, and hear their own progress. I don't mean the student does 2 weeks of scales then the teacher uses a few of them in context - actually make the scales, parts of scales musical, show where they were used in actual songs.
Some good news is that neuroscientists have proven that if you learn a new skill, you brain will go 50/50 with you in constructing neural pathways every single time.
"Do you know why so many people try to play the guitar but never succeed??" Rrrreally annoying advert I get all day on TH-cam... Press SKIP quickly and say, "because they have no discipline" :)
🎸 Sign-up for FREE access to my intermediate soloing course “Melodic Soloing With Triads” ►►► bit.ly/3AN5LMJ
Are you an intermediate guitarist who has been stuck in a soloing rut for years? Or even decades?
If the answer is yes, then I’m guessing you’ve grown tired of playing the same licks over and over again…
This course teaches you how to ditch your stale, repetitive licks and instead, begin playing tasteful guitar solos that ooze melody and feel!
The best part? You can learn how to do this WITHOUT learning ‘exotic’ guitar scales, wasting hours trawling through TH-cam lessons, or spending a penny!
That’s right, I’m giving this course away for zero dollars (for the time being…), so act today to grab it with free, lifetime access.
Here’s a tip-of-the-iceberg overview of the main benefits you can expect to experience when you study the curriculum of “Melodic Soloing With Triads”:
✅ You’ll move beyond the limitations of a purely scale-based approach to guitar soloing… so that you can stop feeling stuck inside scale patterns and boxes
✅ You’ll learn to target the notes that create a strong connection between your licks and the chords they are played over… so that you can stop playing repetitive un-musical licks and begin crafting melodies
✅ You’ll stop aimlessly wandering the fretboard, hoping to land on notes that sound good… and start improvising with the confidence of a pro-level guitarist, who always knows which notes to target for an epic solo
Click here for free, lifetime access ►►► bit.ly/3AN5LMJ
You're so honest Ross! ...you DO know this is the interwebs, right?!? Sarcasm aside, tyvm.
As a teacher of 25 years and an international examiner, I have to support that the Learning Theory Put You In A Box/Limits Your Creativity is the worst thing I have ever heard as advice, maybe at the very start of learning theory, but that just means you haven't learnt enough theory. Ross is 100% right, don't believe these ads that tell you there's a quick trick, ignore theory etc. Now Go Practice!
Irony being that a fair few of the "restricts your creativity" voices are the exact ones playing the same old pentatonic licks in the same old position forever.
Wtf is an examiner? Are there ranks or something, does a guitar private have to salute a guitat corporal?
There are grades from 1-8. No saluting necessary as it's a much less formal structure than the military
I had a good 1st guitar teacher. He told me theory was hard, but made it sound exciting. He told me"There's a code, a scale, in Stairway to Heaven. It's in lots of the songs you like. It's called Aeolian and you can take that vibe to any solo you like, if you just memorize it." I dunno why that concept doesn't excite a newb! GL.
This free lesson is just amazing. I already bought the bigger course one year ago and it has changed my playing immenseley. This free course has some elements of that bigger course but in much more detail. Hitting the right notes during a solo. Know where you 'are' on the fretboard and with a teacher who knows how to teach. It's just great! Thans you Ross!
I don't know but, every time I take a guitar break for 1 or 2 months, then as soon as I pick up the guitar again I get a lot more creative and figure out how to get out of those "puzzles" with ease...I get much better improvement compared to , like practicing 3 hours a day for hours on end
Once a year I take long breaks and it does wonders to me
Ross. You are my teacher. Your Melodic Soloing course is my go to. It’s challenging, difficult back to basics stuff. I’ve been jamming for years out of the pentatonic box and it’s served me well. This course is next level.
Spot on! Love that: you are never smarter for not learning something.
Despite it feeling like a mountain, this vid has given me the boost I needed to just knuckle down & practice, practice! Great work.
Hi Ross! This is a fantastic video with great advice not only for the perpetual journey of guitar but also for any other goals in life. First and foremost, I applaud your work ethic. Having the time to develop high quality videos with meaningful substance takes considerable time. Add to that, finding, preparing for and performing in live gigs is intense but no doubt rewarding. I'm not sure how you do it all. Kudos to You! Having said that, I don't believe there's ever been a better time to be a guitarist. When I first started there was no Internet, no TH-cam, very few tabs that were expensive (and fewer you could trust). You learned riffs and licks from your favorite artists by ear and in in the course of it wore out the grooves in your LP (aka vinyl discs) or the tape in your cassette. Today we have professional guitarists like you who dedicate a considerable portion of their time to enriching the guitar community in manner that's easy to access and digest. Okay, you do promote Bulletproof Guitar Player but we all need to make a living, and the course is worth every penny and is a fraction of what personal lessons would cost. I would add to your message that being persistent, diligent and maintaining a good attitude will get you through those days of frustration. Thanks Ross, and keep on keeping-on brother.
Thanks so much! I appreciate the kind words
Haha this gold! Love some cold, hard facts and well delivered. Another Great video!
Absolutely right. There are no shortcuts and no secrets. It's hard work and many people don't want to hear that.
Really great advice Ross. I am a beginner and recently found your site and downloaded the free material yesterday. It looks great! I have subscribed and look forward to you helping me on my journey. All the best mate.
Preach brother! This was a great video and reminder to put the time in to practice and learn. Thanks!
Great upload and killer intro. One of your most melodic yet.
Keep it up!
Thank you 🙏
Hey Ross, I recognize this backing track, it's from the ElevatedJamTracks channel! I started playing at 36 and have made some progress so far. Recording myself has really helped me identify areas for improvement. Right now, my biggest challenge is incorporating faster runs like the ones you played in the intro, and I'm not sure where to begin. I noticed you gear your content toward intermediate players, and while I’m not sure if I’m at that level yet, I still enjoy watching your videos and love your playing.
No short cuts, amen! I started playing guitar 18 years ago, I caught the Bluegrass bug 5 years after hearing Billy Strings, adding a subtle swing to a Doc Watson tune was so hard!
Another great video Ross… I’m happy to see your success… lovely journey so far
Thank you 🙏
Hi Ross. Big fan of your videos and courses. You are correct. There is no shortcut to learning theory and putting in the hard work of practice. The musicians you mentioned, including yourself, have devoted their lives to guitar and in some cases attended prestigious music colleges. They started at a young age and while possessing some talent, they dedicated each and every waking hour to their craft. The rest of us have 8-5 (in same cases longer) jobs, families, and other commitments that constrain the amount of time and energy we can devote to guitar. Nonetheless persistence is a virtue BTW, my company has a large site in Edinburgh and would love to visit your hometown some day 😃
I learned a long time ago that there is no such thing as mastering a musical instrument. Sure there are players that are phenomenal and we think that they have mastered their craft, but if you asked them I’m sure that they would tell you that they are always looking to improve and learn new things along the way. Something that’s always helped me is to embrace the difficult things I work on are where the growth is. So once you can play a certain exercise, song or passage proficiently, then it’s time to move on to find something that you cannot do and work on that. I have had the privilege to study with some of the best in the world, and every one of them still works on their abilities to this day. The journey never end
You don’t become a Christian by simply sitting in church pews.
I love Ross’s videos there always straight to the point
I feel like guitarists could benefit from focusing more on melodies. We often get caught up in riffs and solos, but exploring melodies can really enhance our playing.
Thanks for sharing this Ross! I vividly remember when I tested and earned my black belt after 5 years in the martial arts I practice, I was amazed when my Sensei came to congratulate me and wispered in my ear..."Now you are a beginner who is ready to learn" Yes, 5 years before I was trully ready to learn the next steps of the art. I've been playing for more than 40 years and got stuck as entry level intermmediate. Though the genre I picked to learn now is jazz, arguably one of the hardest genres to learn, I did my homework and started studying music throery and I am addicted to it now! Though I take jazz lessons on an online course, I also purchased the course Ross offers, Bulletproof Guitar, since it contains the very basics of major and minor triads which can be applied in ALL genres! I do have a job that on some days has me working 12-14 hour days and so when I get home, I started limiting my YT time to just an hour and I then turn off the YT and practice daily anywher from 30 mins theory and 30 minutes guitar (quit TV as well). I infact just finished practicing a few minutes ago. I can tell you that I am seeing definite progress!
Love to hear that!
Loved this video! Lifelong musician, college-degreed keyboardist, wondering how long this guitar thing will take - as long as it takes
Aye Sir! Thank you Ross for making that Video :D Those points are so important but get mentioned not enough in my opinion :/
01:50 - The ONLY "right answer" for *ANY "...how long?" related question in my opinion* + adding my own experiences & moments of absolutely clear 'realization' on top, is ALWAYS only *a single Sentence PLUS mentioning the (from My experience as I said) KEY Element/ deciding component to this. Also it´s from my understanding a 100% the same for the majority people who want to learn playing the guitar.
*Answer:* As LONG as IT TAKES for YOU to learn/ MASTER whatever it is that you set as a Target/ Goal/ Finish Line for you there.*
*And most importantly the (individual) "KEY Element" I mentioned:*
Example = You're in a Situation/ Position in Your Life where your RESPONSIBILITIES, Work-Times, Private Life (in particular the Social environment your in right now) in this *THEORETICAL Example,* to simplify My POINT...
The GOAL is not just a repertoire of a hand full Songs or here and there some specific techniques... YOU want to be ABLE to MAKE A LIVING from making or Playing Music in the Future one way or another, and *you are also a 100% ABLE* to *invest 1-2 Hours of Time EVERY Day ...where you CAN practice, without anything distractive surrounding you to be able to FOCUS on what you do in your Practice Routine, right?*
Okay...tbh 1,5h up to 2 Hours and More daily is also for most people not possible to get free from eyerything xD
*Alright....at LAEST around 60 Minutes - 5-6 Times a Week*
(THAT´s the bare minimum FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR on the Guitar in My Opinion when you start from the scratch = NO knowledge or practical experiences in Music or on an Instrument whatsoever yet xD + I started in March 2023 at ZERO too. As of Today I accumulated *1.030 +Hours* of Practicing, Noodling and Experimenting, learning Theory etc. so far)
Exception of course are people which do have a standard level of hearing/ musically feeling capability SO LOW or they never had what I´d call it, the natural curiosity or affinity when it comes to anything related to Music or RHYTHM especially... THOSE are Exceptions where this sole "One Sentence Answer" would not be correct/ adapting / count for them etc. - just to clarify what I mean by that ^^
In Conclusion I learned from doing it myself and being at it everyday as much as possible, and seeing similarities in terms of how fast OTHERS improve:
In General ANYTHING you want to learn (it can be ANYTHING that you can´t do but you want to learn/ master XY), you will REACH your Goal DEPENDING on How much time you invest in improving yourself. And I´d say what´s the mainly deciding component here is simply *HOW MUCH YOU ACTUALLY WANT IT at the End!!* If you always 'find/ stumble over' new Excuses WHY YOU WON´T or CAN´T Practice.... then you aren´t at a stage in your Life yet, where it has become something so important and valuable for you that you start thinking subconsciously so MUCH about all kind of stuff related to Music and Guitar, that *it´s started becoming A PART OF YOU... your daily routines, topics you get interested in or talk about with other people etc.*
In short you can say don´t think in a way where your answer to other people is "Yeah I PLAY the GUITAR"
...your answer should be "I AM A GUITARIST"
That´s it😁
Hope some of you are maybe able to take something from my explanation here which is helpful ^^ It took me a little over 1 year to get to that realization and let it sink in into my brain once and for all xD It´s not as simple as just "saying/ doing" ^^ But the " CLICK Moment" when you REALLY GET BEHIND it WILL COME if you stick with it long enough.
*DET*
So true. Thanks for the video !
Very well said and 100% right 👍
Amazing intro. Great truth all throughout the video too. Do you have a link to the backing track in the intro to the video?
Ross, hats off to you fot this great video! The 'there are no shortcuts' is my favorite Chet Atkins quote (he added: "And dont think I haven't looked for one!")
Manolo Sanlucar (famous flamenco guitarist) once told us: "If you don't have anything to tell, you can practice all you want, your music will never speak to people. I want you to go out there, live well, eat well, drink well, love well, suffer well, live deeply so you will have stories to tell with your guitar."
Personally I found the 'fun' bit missing from your work story. I have put in many years of an 8hr/day practice schedule. Making sure I enjoyed every minute of it! Wasn't this what I always dreamed of? Play the guitar?
I will share this video with all my guitar playing friends around the world. Again, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! Also, you're a fantastic player!
Thank you 🙏
Spot on 💯
Great insights 👌🏻
Practice the right things, and practice it right. Not fast. Perfect practice makes perfect. Learn basic music theory. Learn from books. Use a metronome. Even you cannot read music, there are a lot of good books that have both music notation and tabs. Blues books, jazz books. Even beginner books have a lot of good material and new things in them if you never learned from a teacher or learned from proper lessons. Beyond learning open and barred chords, the guitar will test your inner strength and everything inside of you.
I learned drums on my own when I was 17. I took lessons when I was 21. Stick Control for the Snare Drummer changed my whole vocabulary. And lessons also helped to isolate and have complete independence of each limb. I was flying through my lessons and the books. My teacher was like "You actually go home and practice this?" I was taken aback and I'm like "Yeah, that's what I'm suppose to do right? Practice at home?". He was like "You don't understand how many students I have, pretty much all of them, they come for lessons and they never play at home. And then their parents wonder why they see no results and get frustrated at me and wonder why their child isn't advancing in the book."
Your work ethic in life is a direct relationship to your work ethic in everything else you do.
Learning the guitar is setting off on a lifetime journey of discovery. There's a couple of things you'll need along the way; determination, and a bit of OCD helps too!
Nowadays everthing has to be diagnosed. OCD ha ha. I get the joke... Yep, you just need discipline & determination.
Truth is hard, man. You have to commit to your practice, listen to yourself with an unbiased ear, be patient and above all HAVE FUN. If you are spending your time and money on “Be a Rock Star in Two Weeks” lessons, then you’ll always be disappointed. We all know when we’re trying to take a shortcut and that they generally don’t work.
Me? I haven’t put in the time to really play the way I want, but I accept the fact that until I do, I’ll be stuck here at this level of playing.
Get out what ya put in👍
Can I also add, from personal experience, buying gear will not make you a better player or even guarantee a better tone. Thank for the video Ross!
You plsy great man. Good luck
Been playing for a long time, and I hold my own, but I learned a lot from your Bulletproof method, I was hoping you could do a video on the topic of the excess of information out there now, there are tons and tons of instructional videos, and payed methods, it's become overwhelming, not counting all the amazing players on TH-cam (but not in bands, mind you), it's become difficult to focus in one method. In economy there's this theory that too many options lead to confusion and conflict for buyers, like in a huge Ice cream parlor or with a large menu in a restaurant. Cheers!!
That's a good idea for a video topic. I'll see what I can do
He has such good advice
I’ve played guitar on and off for over 30 years and never progressed past beginner strum stage. Because I’d get bored / frustrated and suspend playing for months or even years at a time. A couple months ago I decided to buckle down and study theory, starting at 101 level like I’ve never picked up the instrument before. And practice what I’ve learned regularly. Obviously have a long way to go but my playing in comparison is already night and day. Every light bulb moment is like a small victory, feels great that it’s finally beginning to click.
Ross speaks truth. Greatness is found in the mundane. But there is actually one shortcut: learn basic music theory, it will save you tons of time in the long run. Okay, it’s not really a shortcut, but if you wanna slow down your growth, ignore theory.
well said.
Love your content Ross. Subbed and liked! One small friendly criticism: with the greatest respect, I'm wondering if the barely audible elevator music in the background is entirely necessary. That's just my tuppence worth. Hope it works out for you in Nashville!
Thank you!
Learning theory helps you? How? Specifically? I learned more theory from playing piano and that was only in how to understand Jazz chords (like, what 9th, 11th and 13th notes were ie the 2nd, 4th and 6th notes in the major scale an octave above the root). I do know what EMin9 and A13 sound like but only 'cause someone on TH-cam played these two chords in a George Benson lesson and I recognised them from LoveShadow by Fashiön. Understanding the theory behind diatonic harmony for soloing over chord progressions was quite helpful to me although I can't improvise for more than a few seconds over a backing track! So, does learning theory help the talentless? You tell me! Anyway, Ross is helping me piece it all together now with his BPG courses so thank you, Ross 👍
your playing is so soulful...perfect...clean..excellent.. pls pls could you share a tab of this solo on "Bulletproof GP", the part from 0:25...pls!
Thank you! This solo is from Volume 2 of Bulletproof Guitar Player, which is yet to be released.
Whoever thought that the best guitar teacher who is all inclusive would be a wee guy from Scotland. If you haven't figured this out yet then pick up your guitar every time you watch this man on his videos.
right on
So many people can strum a few popular 3-4 chord songs in a compelling way so us beginners and intermediates feel like everyone is more accomplished than us but realistically they probably aren’t. If you want to go beyond that to become a ‘guitarist’ or songwriter you have to have massive ambition and be prepared to work a lot. Easier said than done it seems. Getting there slowly…
What should I master first? I'm intermediate.
Focus on fretboard visualisation and music theory fundamentals. You can get a head start on both with my free course - bit.ly/3AN5LMJ
There's many videos on how to target chord tones on 1564. Pls make an intermediate+ session on how to target tasty notes on 12-bar. Thanks for your content, cheers!
I wrote a whole book on exactly that. It's called Beyond Pentatonic Blues Guitar
@@RossCampbellGuitarist You have a stylistic playing form to wish (die) for, hence I'd like to pick your brain on the 'money' notes in the 12 bar blues, but unfortunately, book format is a challenge :) Moreover, a short snippets for the right direction are... well, it's easier and applicable for my own interpretation on the day to day basis.
@@-itkindaworks- It includes videos, and jam tracks and tab, and it's broken down into achievable steps. It's also inexpensive and very good value for money.
I hear you. I did make an hour long video masterclass to promote it so this may be of more use to you - Break Out Of Your Blues Guitar RUT! Beyond Pentatonic Blues Guitar Masterclass
th-cam.com/video/zyzT5rW8mcE/w-d-xo.html
Charlie Parker only played what he heard in his head. He never practiced scales. He didn’t know there were “keys”. It was all one big key for him and the results are astounding. I have quit practicing anything other than what I hear in my imagination. If I don’t like what I’m playing, I stretch my imagination. This is creativity in action.
I don't believe a word of what you just said about Charlie Parker. A jazz musician never practicing a scale or knowing what a key is? That is absurd.
Charlie Parker basically invented Bebop from practicing upper chord structures over the changes for Cherokee- the man literally used theory to create a whole genre of jazz. It's well documented that he had extensive knowledge of music theory- musicians of his time claimed that he could speak in music terms just as good as all the conservatory musicians at the time. He was a learned individual. Everything you just said is 100% not true.
@@RossCampbellGuitarist He went to the mountains and listened to records in his teen years. Lester young was a huge influence. What formal training did Yard Bird have? Who were his teachers?
It’s the old, simple story; what you put into it you get out of it. A guitarist’s performance is just the tip of the iceberg; all the preparation and hard work lie under the surface.
Amen to this video. And if you’re like me, nearing 50’s and just playing for a few years…Well, let’s put it this way: I might die before I see the light bulb. My main focus is learning songs, 2nd practice theory. If I do theory first I lost all appetite to play songs.
So refreshing to hear someone on YT saying the letter 'Z' correctly..... but hey, what you're saying is something which you have to apply to every facet in your life.... daily.
Which music university did Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, BB King, Otis Rush and Buddy Guy go to?
please share your tabs you play in intro tthank you
How difficult to get and how much did it cost for a visa for the States?
Go check it out, this is about guitar.
For me it was around $10K. Explained in detail in this video - Why I Haven't Made a TH-cam Video In Six Months (life changed...)
th-cam.com/video/ZtISSxuxg0s/w-d-xo.html
I can't imagine practicing something for only a few months and then wanting to quit because I haven't mastered it yet!
Imagine there's someone watching this and being like "Yeah, that's true, but I really just need 1 more guitar"
Don't we all 🤷♂️
Guilty 😎
It’s a fair point if that one new piece of gear makes you put in more time on it 😅 I have been practicing like crazy since buying a Yamaha Revstar . I’m absolutely in love with the thing so I can’t put it down
@@fbvilela That's an awesome guitar, I've got a Yamaha Pacifica myself
@@matiaschaparro823 Pacifica here, too. The only new guitar I’ve ever purchased, and it’s been Frankensteined over and over again, which is probably why I don’t play as well as I could 🤡
"you don't have to learn theory, but remember: you are never smarter for not knowing something" (c) 👍
"You're never smarter for not knowing something". QFT. Can't help feeling this should be a tattoo, a car sticker or a t-shirt.
There are no shortcuts, Learn a bit of music theory, and It's all about how much you put in
Excellent hard truths. And love the opening solo
Here's is the most likely thing that will happen: Ross is going to end up charging a lot of money for the course he is GIVING AWAY right now. It's a wonderful course. Get it now. It's free. I HIGHLY doubt it will stay free. Thumbs up this comment so others can find the course!
"Remember : you are never smarter for not knowing something"
No surprises on the lessons here. What I would have like to have seen is another stab at how to create the feeling of progress. As an intermediate player, the lessons that I like the most are ones where you do feel like you are making progress (even if its small) as time goes by. Yes of course people are going to learn and develop at different paces, but I think its OK to have an estimate. For example, if you have taught 100 students on a module in one of your courses, you would have an average time they got to mastery. Then if someone ask, you can say "everyone has their own pace, but the average is about ______. That way if the person asking is WAY WAY behind, like more than a standard deviation, the right advice might be "I think you are doing something wrong or misunderstanding something".
can anyone summarize the video in 3 sentences?
yea, play more !
1. There are no shortcuts!
2. You'd be a much better player if you had learned the fundamentals of music theory!
3. You can buy the course...Go to the masterclass...Attend the music school...But you will only get out what you put in!
Sounds like somebody wants a shortcut! (lol! just kidding)
@@andywason3414 meet me round the back in 5, I'll bring the contraband version. (ha ha)
Theory helps you be creative rather than not be. Punk messaging that it’s not necessary along with “we can’t play we just make noise” is extremely damaging to the young punk who accepts this cool advice as wisdom - which is common.
Most teachers online and offline fail when they don't make the examples eg circle of 5ths, triads etc sound like music. When they do, the students are more likely to be engaged, persevere more, and hear their own progress. I don't mean the student does 2 weeks of scales then the teacher uses a few of them in context - actually make the scales, parts of scales musical, show where they were used in actual songs.
Some good news is that neuroscientists have proven that if you learn a new skill, you brain will go 50/50 with you in constructing neural pathways every single time.
"Do you know why so many people try to play the guitar but never succeed??" Rrrreally annoying advert I get all day on TH-cam... Press SKIP quickly and say, "because they have no discipline" :)
...row row row your boat 😂❤... absolutelly. Plus have fun doing so...
But you will definitely improve immediately if you just buy one more guitar.........
6:57 "Gender Studies"
The class makes you opposite of smart.
Wtf dude
Ross Campbell
Reality check 😂. Thanks
"..and then go wipe the clown make up off yer face" OH, I'M SUBBING TO THIS CHANNEL! lol, tyvm man.
Life gets in the way. So organise what you're committed to.
Time can't be put in a tin can.
You have to invest.
Practice does not make perfect. Practice makes *permanent*. So, practice smart dear guitarists.