Even the greatest and finest guitar heroes of all time like the God of space age shredding Steve Vai and Metallica's ace axeman Kirk Hammett didnt become legends in their own way and in their own field overnight!Apart from their vision and goals the talent inside them they were indeed nurtured by one individual who happened to be their first guitar tutor i.e the evergreen legend Joe Satriani.
The essence and value of anyones first guitar tutor is worth glossing about because thats the foundation of an individuals guitar playing journey. The first guitar tutor in anyones life plays the most pivotal role as in the first few days of the individuals due course decides upon his later stage.The initial guitar lessons given by the first guitar tutor acts as the basics without which there can never be any progress whatsoever related to the playing style of the individual or any advance stage improvement as because the lessons of the first guitar tutor act as a catalyst to connect the gaps between an individuals beginners and advanced levels.
Like any other subject the most important ingredient to excel in that particular subject the most important part is to strengthen the basics then climb up the ladder.So in this way unless and until the individual whom a person selects as his first guitar tutor isn't efficient enough or not committed enough then in the later stages of ones life there could be chances of problems above the line or below the while attempting to excel in any kind of practical playing.The foundations in the basics should be crystal clear for any individual which only the person who has taken the lead to become his first guitar tutor can take the responsibility of.So if you wanna rise to the occasion and think how in this world could there be a rendition like that of Vai's "for the love of God" or the timeless masterpiece like Hammett's "nothing else matters" the success factor behind behind all these masterpieces could never be laid down until and unless these virtuosos had the privilege of getting the authentic and correct basic guidance under their first and very first guitar tutor who is Joe satirani!
So all you aspiring joe satriani's and vai's willing to try your luck on the 6 strings choose your first mentor rightfully before you make your own VAI'ography!
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I agree entirely. I was lucky when I first learned how to play guitar, I was taught how to read music from a Berkley book. I can admit I struggled with this aspect as a beginner, but as a lead guitar player and a songwriter, I have benefited greatly from this instruction. I admired my first instructor, in addition to really knowing his stuff, he was into the heavy metal that I was into in the 80's and he looked the part as well. Having this knowledge of music has allowed me not only to be a proficient guitar player but to branch easily into other instruments.

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Nebby The Dragon at http://nebbythedragon.blogspot.com/2008/09/dragon-line-what-rush-second-time.html

Lori at www.myspace.com/more2moremusic

My most favorite instructor was a jazz guitar player who taught at a school called EJMA (www.Ejma.ch). At the time, he seemed so far beyond what I was able to comprehend, but his patience with me and his instructing style left its mark. His name is Francois Allaz. I still consider him one of the best players I have seen over my lifetime. Many of my friends from that school have gone on to be instructors themselves. Francois, I'm not sure what he is doing today, I think he is just administration at the school...retired hahaha He was not my first instructor, my second, but overall, had the most impact on me and my music today. Dae

The last guy I studied with was Al Peden at Swissvale music....I wanted some jazz bass input on top of what I had taught myself. And he really helped me to understand the concept of melodic playing and the whole jazz concept. I'm now working on trying to teach myself the jazz genre apllied more to the guitar, not that I'm abandoning my headbanging tendencies or anything...but in 25 years+ of playing I've found the more variety the better!

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hey Jimmy,
I completely agree with you. I love nu-metal...no secret there but it is usually not what I play. I remember back in the days of my first hard hitting bands. Now I do solo/duo acoustic with all sorts of styles and chordings. I just love the feeling of expansion in the creative process. The more toys in the toybox, the more you wanna play with them.

I just don't feel like i'[m getting much out of my current teacher, she's nice, but it takes her forever to show me something that makes it all click..advise?

god would be the most awesome teacher, well isn't he?