Learning Songs on Guitar - Does Playing Along Help?

[@philrobinson3110]

I like the way you don’t make every video the same David. Different formats keep things fresh for me. Like the singing, love the play along, NEED the chords and lyrics shown at same time. Great teaching style. Keep going as you are.

[@josephgalasso8780]

You are thorough ! Everything written out ! strum patterns ,different levels beats, more extensive follow-ups I write everything you write in a Notebook ! All the verses measures etc, Your one of the best and have a good nature pleasant personality ! Its all good ! Been watching and learning from you over 9 yrs or so ! Thank you !

[@RobThesman]

Playing along definitely helps & getting the lyrics and chords on the screen is helpful. Seeing the tabs is helpful on solos and/or (at the beginning) for Travis-picking patterns. All in all, your videos are A+.

[@rdiamond9578]

I think all the teaching formats you use are awesome. Please continue using these. For me personally, I need more assistance with the strumming patterns that works for the song. Thank you for the effort you put into these lessons. The lessons are complete and through.

[@alecchamberlaincann626]

I like everything in a single video, and I like the intro short demo with no graphics... I like to have both the lyrics with chords above and the blocked out chords to actually know the beats per chord, etc. You are hands down one of the finest teachers on here!!

[@davidalder6558]

Dave, I like the lyrics and chords shown while you play and sing. I like to play along with you and read the lyrics. Sometimes I sing if it is in my range, but like Munson Covers, it helps me learn a song. Thank you for all your great lessons. Dave from Nova Scotia, Canada

[@jimantonino4394]

Words and chords work best for my head, but indicate when a chord continues for more than one bar. Love your videos David. Thx.

[@shawn_edwin]

Please keep doing this! It's exactly the reasoning behind me joining your community

[@helencarson4680]

You are the best guitar teacher David. I have watched and learned from you for years, songs I am interested in. Thank you❤

[@jeffwinzeler4814]

Hey David - thanks for asking the question(s) and getting input. For me, you most effective lessions start with a play though. "Context is everything", and to hear the majority of the song before diving into learning each part is very helpful for me. Please keep singing in the intro to the song - it adds to the lesson. For the actual sections of the song, I appreciate seeing the chords or tab in a box as you play them. As for backing tracks - I appreciate them but my primary use is for playing around with leads - they are less important for learning an actual song. Thank you for all that you do - I have learned much over the past year from your website, community, and PDFS for both songs and theory!

[@dori4567]

I totally agree !!!

[@akoni53]

I appreciate your lessons and the information that you provide when you demonstrate how to play a song. I like when you show the lyrics and chords on the screen as you demonstrate how to play the song. It allows me to learn to sing the song as well as seeing the chord changes. Keep on singing, (for me) it gives me a reference point when learning a song. Thanks for all you do to help us learn new songs on guitar!

[@samspade1841]

You’re a good teacher. Thx for all you do.

[@williamneilson]

your teachings,videos etc have everything i want and need as a late (60's) beginner. thats why i subscribed and joined up years 2 ago. i get a little impatient with myself because i should stick at learning and mastering a lesson for longer but with so much stuff you put out i move on to something else and never really get back to previous stuff ive learned but never mastered. hope ive made sense there with what ive said

[@KevBendo]

First of all, your lessons are awesome. Love ALL the tools you offer. For me I like the lyrics and cords on screen for the play throughs. We not available I have to pull out the print outs you provide to play along. Tabs are helpful when songs use finger picking. Keep up the great work.

[@tommccarty5377]

For me that can't read music I can read and understand tabletures, especially for the solo's, eg. Waylon Jennings Amanda and A Couple more years on you baby that's all. Love your lessons David. Tom.

[@stevemc5919]

I appreciate all your lessons. To answer your question, I'm partial to have a strumming pattern shown. For some reason, I struggle with that.

[@andyrehm]

Hi David, please don’t omit anything you’re doing, especially singing. I know there are a lot of guitar folk who don’t sing but a good majority of us do, it’s helped me a lot to see and hear vocals with the play along sheets, especially the tabs on the screen are great. Thanks.

[@joannm5682]

Hi David, First off I love your teaching style. When you teach a song I somehow get it, so TY. What do I like best, this is hard, sometimes it depends on the difficulty of the song. I seem to learn best when you play the song, simplified and slowed down. I find myself replaying the song, and sometimes I use the settings on you tube and slow it down even further. I really like backing tracks, again since I play most of the time by myself, I find them very helpful. The graphics help me a lot too, at least until I memorize the chords. There are some videos wher you have put the camera behind you, I also find that helpful being able to see your strumming and chord hand like I was sitting behind you. I don't know if this helps, I hope so, Please keep those lessons coming.

[@garyedwards9972]

The lyrics with the chords watching/listening to you playing is most helpful IMHO.

[@stephanycrestwood4943]

You do a great job! I learned Willin’ from you. I liked that format the best. I do find that it’s confusing and hard to find when it’s two separate videos where one is the lesson and one is the play through.

[@Trichardification]

Your coverage is very good! In the play alongs, fairly large font for any chords or strumming info can help those with the eyesight challenges of getting old. Keep up the great work.

[@christianhirblo7642]

Hey David, You do a great job! From an educational point of view the same from the content itself. You're teaching is easy to follow, the variations are keeping every lesson interesting. All together - awesome,,🔥😁 If ever I must decide on then I find most helpful * the slow start and detailed explanation * second the playing of the whole song together. Thank you so much

[@J.CSchimmelJr.]

For beat, timing (cord / words) and its fun to put the song in one of my earpods, while I "play with band"...simpe answer is YES!

[@marleyorange]

LIke your song choices. Nice pace and teaching style. Thanks for posting

[@rickymather218]

I think it is all good , what your doing is very helpful especially the song playthrough with chords

[@JWTrexler2011]

David, I am like several others who commented before me . . . what you do is great. As for my specific feedback, I prefer to hear you sing the lyrics while I follow along with the lyrics and chord changes displayed simultaneously on the screen as I play along. Examples for me include "Long Black Veil" and "Brown Eyed Girl." When you do a play-along section on your lessions on KZbin, I can create a loop by clipping a verse and/or chorus, then play through it until I have that section down; I have not figured out a way to do this "clipping-and-looping" if I'm using your website to view the video lesson and additional supplemental videos. Bottomline, your approach to singing the lyrics while also displaying lyrics with chords simultaneously is most helpful to me, regardless of whether your play-alongs are sections of a song or a complete play-along. Lastly and most importantly, thank you for all your effort and the help you are providing.

[@carllingelbach2441]

David, I have been following you for a while, and haven't chimed in before. Your instructions and teaching processes have worked great for me. What you offer would cost a fortune with a private teacher. You have a lot to offer. I found out about you while using the Music Notes sheet music website. Two songs on your video were Trailer for sale or rent, rooms to let 50 cent,.one of my favorites, and Sitting on the dock of the bay, which I was literally sitting on a pier on the Chesapeake Bay when that song came out, oh yea those were the days my friend.

[@Andrewjmarino]

I agree with most of the comments that you have some of the more detailed, understandable and well-structured song lessons. I am a strongly visual learner so anything that has chords, lyrics, tabs etc. displayed appeals to me. I also think that it's good if you play a "demo" without the visuals for other types of learners (auditory, kinesthetic). We all use the three learning skills to various levels. I know that I certainly need more ear training. As I said, you have some excellent song and instructional lessons as well as a good teaching methodology.

[@murraymarion9670]

To be bluntly, honest, I would never call myself a guitar player I play with the guitar. What do I like most about your videos? It’s hard to narrow down every time I rewatch one of your KZbin videos I learned something new whether the chord chart or tabs or watching you sing learn a little bit more each time you put out and keep up the good work

[@That.Guy.]

I try not to think, but when i do i prefer it the way it is. What I hate about (not necessarily yours) many videos is how long the teacher spends showing how to make the chords. If they are basic open chords and you need to be shown how to make an open C or D there is no possibility you are ready for the rest of the video. Only show non basic chords or chord transitions that are easier to do a certain way like which G grip if you are going to a D vs C grip. If you are ready to play a song it should be assumed it is not your first time holding a guitar.

[@richgray5762]

When it's a tricky passage, I'd like to see the fingers. I really find guitar pro helpful, and will sometimes transfer a lesson to it.

[@freesk8]

Some songs need chords, some songs need TAB. I like when the chords and lyrics or the TAB are on screen at the same time you are playing. That must be a lot of work, but it really helps! Thanks! :)

[@darrenbaldwin6909]

David I signed up to Song Notes after I worked through and enjoyed the Graceland tutorial so I just watched through the Witchita one to provide some feedback and really the only thing that would be useful is in the intiall play through, which I really like to start them off, is to have the chord names in the corner as you do that initial run through not a big thing but I do often find myself trying to figure out what you are playing and if I'm going to pick up the song quickly or it's going to need more time learning new shapes.

[@bobk9074]

I find the chords with the lyrics and your singing the best for me. That's my goal for most songs so I have a bench mark to work towards. A little late in response but I think this is important. Would love to see a video for making simple background strumming or limited picking (my preference). What equipment is best, etc.? As always, thanks! Bob K

[@arthurmabeejr8752]

I'm not exactly a beginner: I find for most beginners lessons the most helpful is usually the pick pattern, another words: which string gets played or which string gets muted. I've been playing since I was 14 now I'm 62, I have 2 steel strings, 2 classical guitars and Les Paul electric. I don't recommend beginners to get a classical because the neck is wider but, I love the sound of classical, on the other hand it's easier on the finger tips when playing the treble notes because these strings are plastic. What helps me the most is the rhythm of a song or good timing.

[@soulfulone8667]

Hi Dave I'm still trying to learn chords but I enjoy learning a songs by tabs so I can play them because I'm not much of a singer to strum with the chords..

[@thisismyyoutubeaccount3322]

Whatever you do, keep putting the graphics at the top of the screen so we can pause without obscuring the tab.

[@marcusambrose4523]

TABS