Joe Satriani Private Lesson

It's interesting where he talks about not putting ANY articulation on notes at all (putting "English" on it as he calls it :grin:) when I've been working on the exact opposite for a while.
 
How nervous would you be playing Satch Boogie in front of Joe himself?
 
Joe really is a fantastic teacher. He clearly gets what needs to be done and really did that guy a service by pointing out his little issues. It's no surprise guys like Steve Vai spread the gospel of Joe so much before he was known. Seems like a cool dude too. Would love to meet him… would HATE to play in front of him!! Nothing makes me more nervous than playing in front of players of that level. You just KNOW they hear EVERYTHING!
 
Joe is a great teacher but I have always wondered what didn't Kirk Hammett not get. He's good for Metallica but he could have been sooo much better.
 
I can't imagine both getting a lesson from Satch, and having it taped for a YouTube video. I think I'd wear a bag over my head.
 
sammyreynolds said:
Joe is a great teacher but I have always wondered what didn't Kirk Hammett not get. He's good for Metallica but he could have been sooo much better.
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Being good "for Metallica" is still better than being great in one of Jbird's favourite power metal bands. :embarrassed:


Sent from none of your fuckin' business!
 
Maybe it's just me or just the guy being nervous but did he say he was a teacher? What does he teach, shredding technique? I thought Joe did him and his students a great service pointing out his need to train his ear and learn some theory. He can definitely play the guitar, but I'd feel a bit ripped off if my teacher didn't have any grasp of the other stuff. JMO.
 
LittleSnakes said:
Maybe it's just me or just the guy being nervous but did he say he was a teacher? What does he teach, shredding technique? I thought Joe did him and his students a great service pointing out his need to train his ear and learn some theory. He can definitely play the guitar, but I'd feel a bit ripped off if my teacher didn't have any grasp of the other stuff. JMO.
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Agreed.
 
LittleSnakes said:
Maybe it's just me or just the guy being nervous but did he say he was a teacher? What does he teach, shredding technique? I thought Joe did him and his students a great service pointing out his need to train his ear and learn some theory. He can definitely play the guitar, but I'd feel a bit ripped off if my teacher didn't have any grasp of the other stuff. JMO.
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Well let's hang on a bit here, that is a little harsh. I would say that any player who can execute anything by a player like Joe is certainly qualified to teach a good many players. Perhaps not a high level student, but you really think this guy is incapable of teaching beginners, kids and most intermediate players?

I think Joe's comments were more to him as to get him to the next level - which is quite far from a beginner level! When most people say "he has a good ear" they have NO IDEA of what the ears of these very very top levels guy's is. Joe isn't saying the guy has bad ears just that you need friggin elephant ears to get to the upper echelon! It's scary what these cats can hear.
 
Jeremy_Green said:
Well let's hang on a bit here, that is a little harsh. I would say that any player who can execute anything by a player like Joe is certainly qualified to teach a good many players. Perhaps not a high level student, but you really think this guy is incapable of teaching beginners, kids and most intermediate players?

I think Joe's comments were more to him as to get him to the next level - which is quite far from a beginner level! When most people say "he has a good ear" they have NO IDEA of what the ears of these very very top levels guy's is. Joe isn't saying the guy has bad ears just that you need friggin elephant ears to get to the upper echelon! It's scary what these cats can hear.
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OK, maybe he's qualified to teach beginners. It's hard to tell from that vid what he knows and doesn't know. Still, if my kid were learning from someone even as a beginner I'm going to want them to be able to connect the dots and fill in the theory behind things. Not because that's necessary to teach a beginner pentatonic box shapes, cowboy chords, and how to make a power chord, but because I want a teacher that can explain in addition to just showing how. I guess it depends what you're looking for in a teacher.
 
Personally what I look for in a teacher is someone who inspires their students to love the instrument more. Especially with kids and beginners. I'd take a guy with an infectious spirit but little musical knowledge over a dry old fart who knows everything every day of the week. Also teaching is about more than JUST knowledge (Yes that sounds odd I know) but organization, the ability to build a plan, the ability to trouble shoot a person's issues, the ability to be creative when faced with obstacles, dealing with peoples psychology, finding what makes them tick and then utilizing that. All these things are equally important (if not much more-so) to knowing the theory. The guy can play - so he does know theory… just not the recognized terms for it.

Dude, cut the guy some slack - he's sitting in front of a guitar legend and then performs one of his songs!! Holy crap can you think of a more stressful performance?? This can can play a LOT better than he showed I guarantee you that - and he still did pretty well.
 
Yeah, I thought he played great, like I noted above. The dude can clearly play. My concern wasn't his playing, but his knowledge of/ability to convey said knowledge of music theory (other than his lack of variation when improvising, but I'm willing to chalk that up to being nervous). But I guess that goes to what I would be looking for in a teacher. If he meets his students' needs, more power to him. Not everybody is interested in the same thing from a teacher.
 
Exactly, I took issue with the blanket nature of your comment. I think every musician has something to share and we have all chosen different paths. Hell, I learned a ton from students! Some students REALLY need the technical stuff. Others much more need the playing stuff (of which he is clearly qualified). I know what you are saying and I agree that he is doing himself a dis-service by not having this stuff down. I just don't think we should be part of the army of critics the web has given large voice to. They have always been there, but this format gives it legs. Not judging you bro, It's human nature - and I do it too!
 
I wasn't really a fan of Joe in this video. I think he's had way too little time with the guy to be so blunt, regardless of whether the guy was cool with it or not. I don't think Joe teaches anymore and at least two of his students (Vai and Petrucci) were of near ungodly natural ability. Ear training and knowing the sound of the modes is endlessly beneficial, but not the be-all end-all of playing. There are a lot of modes to train your ears to recognize, although the seven of the major scale form a super solid basis.

On a somewhat related note I saw the Jeff Golub who used to play with Billy Squire and Rod Stewart apparently had his optic nerve collapse in 2011...so all he's got now is his ears. People can read down charts for him, but he's all about applied theory now and listening and reacting. Some players, however, excel at playing arranged music and mainly just need to listen for cues as opposed to improvising and responding in the moment.

All that said Joe's clearly got a ton of knowledge and skill himself. I don't care for his stuff or playing, but I would never deny his ability and the validity f his extremely well informed opinion. I would not, however, appreciate him being so pragmatic with me. I'm well aware of my shortcomings and don't need him slapping me in the face with them. But for some folks, that exactly the kind of teaching they would respond to. It's a somewhat fascinating watch, but I couldn't get through the whole thing, even after multiple attempts.
 
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