These are great lessons, but you can skip all of this and just buy a bunch of $500 pedals

more importantly than playing songs flawlessly is that even though you get a note or 2 wrong, you should have the ability to keep playing without letting it bother you. A lot of people that will listen to you play won't even be able to tell that you made a mistake in the first place if you can mask it well enough through continuity

You helped me realize that I am an intermediate guitar player. Thank you

I feel called out by the "Play a song flawlessly" one. It's not so much that I CAN'T play or learn it, but that learning and playing simpler songs is sooo tough and boring for me. Maybe it's an ADHD thing. I much rather practice scales and improvising and play around with that, but I should really get my act together and learn a song

Your guitar lesson videos are exactly what i was looking for. Especially the relationship between scales and chords is a thing that you can't really get into if you don't take lessons. There is so much to learn that you don't know where to start and with what to start. You really gave me some guidance now. Thanks!

All five of these reasons apply to me. Thank you for clarifying some of these. Taking lessons now and he is going over the basic theory now, going over fret board.

Great great tips! Been playing guitar for some years and those are surely one of the most relevant aspects for intermediate players

you picked some great indicators. I would add the ability to bend "in tune". I think if you are able to hear (or I guess at some point feel) how much you need to bend a string to get a nice sound sets apart more intermediate/advanced players from the beginners.

I am most definitely NOT an intermediate player yet. I picked up the guitar 6 months ago (as a recent retiree) and am taking learning with a wonderful teacher. We're working on many of the same things I've when I discovered your channel, e.g., learning scales and turning them into improv'ing, music theory, rhythm, etc. So the content you're putting out is dovetailing nicely with my IRL lessons and helping to eventually get to being an intermediate (and eventually beyond?) player.

Some great points and agree 100%. Up until about a year ago, I didn’t know the notes on the fretboard or even basic C, G chords by name. I always just used to play by ear. Everyone would tell me I was a great player but even then I’d tell them I’m still a beginner. Now, at age 46, I’m finally deciding to learn theory. Even in just 2 months I’ve grown considerably and am a better player. Theory is a must for growth.

love these videos even though im a beginner in guitar i still watch these types of videos when im not practicing

I have been playing since I was 15. I am now 55. I played in a lot of hard rock bands and studied theory on my own. Your points are right on and very rudimentary. People tend to forget the timing part of music and focus on just melody, harmony and rhythm. I have developed some bad habits over the years and need to correct them. Using a metronome is the absolute first step. Developing your ear is essential as well. KZfaq allows people to just bypass ear training and just learn the song. Back in my day, I had a cassette player that slowed the music down but also changed key. So, I had to transpose it after I learned it. Many musicians in the 80's would tune down a half step just to give more room for the vocals and create a thicker sound. I always stayed in A 440. Also, look at the big picture and do not be a copy cat. Focus on developing your own style. It will take years but that should be your long term goal. Most people do not attain their own style. This last point took me 15 years. You can have influences but take certain riffs from many players and make them your own. This will avoid sounding like a copy cat. If anyone comes up to you and says, "You sound like such and such" Well, no problem - unless you keep hearing that. If so, you're doing something wrong. Sure. When I started playing I wanted to play like EVH, George Lynch, etc... But then, I stopped learning their solos and made up my own. Very excellent points. Theory is just guidelines. Don't get trapped playing in specific scales. It will limit your creativity. Also - I would recommend taking breaks from playing. Do not play every day. You need to allow time to reinforce the things you have learned. Space, repetition, timing. Builds muscle memory. I know this sounds contradictive but you need to take breaks after you've accomplished a goal. It also makes you fresh and eager to play again when you come back to it. Playing scales all day is very boring and could be discouraging. IF you play hard rock and use distortion, you need to be careful. 1. Do not practice with distortion on all of the time. It will cover mistakes that you will miss. Believe me. You want to focus on good tone, which comes from your fingers and playing style. Also, do not over saturate your town with distortion. Learn how to control the distortion so you don't get some unwanted sounds. It takes some finesse but learn to muffle what you're not playing with your right hand when playing with distortion is an art in and of itself. This is very important. You can still achieve a really killer metal sound with a lot less distortion. I also practice on an acoustic. It builds up strength because it's harder to play. There is a time for practicing and a time for playing.

Great video! On the final point how scales and chords related back to the ‘Key’ you’re playing in (inc the major/minor composition of key) was also super important and took me a while to grasp!!

great video cheers a few of these tips really helped me that I haven''t heard from my previous guitar teacher!!

I love watching these as someone who considers themselves somewhat Intermediate, even maybe higher than that (maybe thats my ego) but it is super grounding to learn things I wish I did when I first started, being self taught you never learn these things. Much appreciated Andrew! Keep up the awesome work

Everything you said was fairly accurate in my opinion. I don't exactly know the "relationship between chords and scales" but I've been playing for a little over 10 years now and I'm beginning to see the relationship. It takes practice and just being a little observant If you do it on your own.

Started learning guitar a year and a half ago, playing in a band now. I’m taking lesson too, which helps a lot. I’m at the intermediate level, now to see how far I can take it.

Thanks for another informative video. I found that being able to use the C Major scale on the piano as another way of visualising scales and chords was very helpful in being able to communicate with other musicians. They can always transpose what we say and vice versa. Playing with brass and wind players is also good for changing our rigid structures. Another really good way of developing extra skills is playing with violin/fiddle players as it's different playing with instruments tuned in fifths vs fourths.( Low to high)

Make more videos like this please and also on music theory and mandatory important exercises and scales 🎸🎶

Good video, Andrew. I'm not up to par on transitions from bar to open chords and vice versa but the other 4 items are not a problem for me. So, I'm almost there.

Nice tip about rolling your finger for the barre chords. Thanks!

Have the first 4 solid. I'm just starting to understand scales and chords. So i'm almost there!

He basically said all the things I don’t know and I’ve been wondering why I’m not an intermediate player lol, thank you

nice, i clicked on it, expecting to find out that I'm not as good as I thpught, but was pleasently surprised by the contrary. thx

Thank you, i am not an intermediate, never expected to be one after two weeks of practice

These are reasons only a seasoned observer could have come up with. Excellent. Now I know exactly what I need to work on.

What a great lesson. Subscribed.

Great material and teaching style

Awesome vid thanks bro

Good tip with the slight twist of the Index on bar chords. Never thought of that (though i might've done it unconsciously)

Love the video thank you for the knowledge, but Man looks like you need your pic guard on the top 🤣

i know that it could be boring to you but i would love a review of your DR.Z amp behind you and especially how to use an amp without an eff loop but in gigging category of using it. Most youtubers stay at home and they don`t have a problem but i use mine live and eff loop and placing volume pedal is important...thanks man....such an amazing video

I’m still learning to build strength on my fingers. I’m also busy with work so learning guitar is very limited

I definitely need to work on these things

Number 5 made me a beginner for years

Good video 👍🙏

Great input. Don’t agree that this is the intermediate standard, but I def think these are things an intermediate should be better at than a beginner and significantly working to improve as an intermediate.

what i often actually struggle with is getting my amp to give me the right sound, its when im playing a solo from a song and i just cant seem to match the tone or get close to it. i think getting the most out of your gear is very important to learn because when i play on my teachers amp and he sets it up right my playing is significantly better compaired to me at home not knowing how to properly pick my settings or pickup positions.

good stuff dude, thanks

Before this i didnt think i was an intermediate guitar player but now i think so

i play bass but DAMN this is kinda helpful

Call me Britney Spears over here because I'm not a Beginner, not yet an Intermediate. After nearly 4 years since I first started guitar, it's a hard truth that I still have a long way to go. Thanks for the reminder that I really need to go back to basics.

You're a great teacher, dude

Great video

Hendrix knew theory. He didn't know how to write or read the staff. It's a common misconception that holds back so many people. Music theory might be daunting, but it isn't hard. No harder than learning multiplication or division. Grasping the basics like Major and minor, scales, intervals, and the circle of fifths is a must for any musician. Especially so for beginners.

I can’t stress enough how important theory is. Learn octaves, triads, arpeggios, pen tonics and caged. I went back and started learning after 20 years. Everything makes sense now.

Playing 30 years on and off. Still a beginner going by number 5. I'm fine with that though, just pick up the guitar to have fun. I'm on with Paul David's course so maybe that will change.

I like your teaching it is relate to mine

Usually when I watch a video like this there will be one or two things that I was like, "eh... kinda," but in this one I do actually pass all of them... Btw I already write quite a few songs before I figured out the last one...

Instead of using a metronome I like to use a drum app (like the Drum Beat+) 😃

I didn't have trouble memorizing the fretboard since it's just abcdefg and repeat it took me half a day

It's weird because I know a lot of advanced techniques and am pretty familiar with the guitar, can play quite a few songs but I don't really know my notes or my scales by heart, and only by feel.

4/5.. only problem is i cant play some songs on tempo.. which means in general, i dont have a good sense of rhythm.. im self taught so metronome playing is not in my routine..

What do you guys recommend for getting a better sense at rythm? I can't quite grasp it all the time. People say practice with a metronome or a drum beat, but how? No one ever explains it thoroughly. If anyone can help me out, I would greatly appreciate it :)

If you can play and SING at the same time, 1000 extra points. Yeah that makes it harder to do complicated stuff but that’s ok. People will notice vocal mistakes before guitar mistakes. In my experience it’s very hard to find a guitar instructor that sings and can put that together with the guitar. Most never sing.

6:49 I find it funny that you say that you were going to learn from youtube videos and that doesn't work, while teaching us from a youtube video.

I’m two years into playing guitar and started learning scales, the notes on the guitar, and the relation to chord and omg 😭 why didn’t I learn this sooner.

Great chanel, could yoy please make some Rytham tutorials?thanks

Be able to use hammer-on and pull-offs to improve melody lines and phrasing? I dunno..... I'm trying to get more fluid notes with less right hand action.....

I would say the caged system is fairly important and the minor pentatonic scale are things you should know as an intermediate guitar player.

you guys don't need to worry if your intermediate or not don't care if you are some of these things it's just dumb the only thing you guys should care about is if you're having fun playing or making music.

I’m not intermediate because I literally just got my first guitar like 2 days ago 😮. I’m still just messing around rn. It’s a Gibson SG. EDIT: you got any basic tips? All the information on KZfaq is very “all over the place” if you get my meaning. I’ll take anything 🙏

Greetings from Ethiopia!

Kudos for the All Saints shirt

Woo hop. I’m finally intermediate!

Yo that was a sick intro

I'm a self-taught guitarist and even though I've been playing the guitar for 2 years, I can confidentally say that I can do all 5 of them.

When I loosen my wrist while strumming, the pick turns in my hand and I am no longer able to hit the strings with the sharp end. Anyone has an idea how to deal with that problem?

Is it true that once you're an intermediate guitar player you're allowed to buy as many guitars as you want despite the concerns of friends/family?

Well as I suspected, I am not intermediate according to this list...maybe advanced beginner at best 🔰

Practice your ear! Sometimes the best tool to improvise is hearing what notes and keys are being played.

i dont agree with the second reason - depends on the genre of guitarist, im a metal guitarist and i mostly use power chords

Hey, is that a lord rama figurine there right of you in the back ?

Idk what i as A beginner Bassist do Here But cool Video

I disagree with the "there's no reason you should be trying to transition to a new chord if you haven't perfected the first chord" (paraphrasing) theory. Once the chord is decent transitioning to a new chord can loosen your hands up and make the 1st chord seem easier when coming back to it. Also, it can be very boring focusing on one little chord therefore ruining the experience.

I think it's probably because I've only learned 3 chords in my case.

Well good to know I actually am an intermediate player

Can you watch my videos and tell me if I can call myself intermediate? I am stuck in a niche where I can lead improv quite well, disproportionately well (esp jazz) compared to anything else I can do such as rhythm where I suck. I've not come across another guitar player whose like this, most are a bit better at one than another, but not drastically to the point where I'd say I can't play guitar if you put me on rhythm.

OK, how do I know I'd I'm an advanced guitar player?

How do you like that suhr? I want a black one like that but thinking of the ssh instead of sss

At what point would you call someone an advanced guitar player I feel that that is the interesting question. There are so many path you can go down and specialize.

Wow this video came up in my recommended and it made me realise just how intermediate I am 😂

What do you think about being able to improvise to any degree? You mentioned it briefly in your last point, but a guitar player that can only play other people’s music or what someone tells them to play can’t really be considered more than a beginner in my opinion

back pain !!!!!!!!!! ANY SOLUTIONS TO BETTER POSTURE

I thought i was intermediate but when you mentioned the scales i was done lol, it just to boring for me, but i know its necessary

The biggest pet pea I have with other musicians is as the song progresses their timing get faster.

Reason 1: I just started 4 days ago and my fingers still hurt if I practice too much

Take what you see on KZfaq with a grain of salt. Get a book on music theory because it is a more trusted resource. Just because someone holds a pick a certain way doesn't mean you have to. Things like this are less important. It's whatever you feel comfortable with regardless if others may thing it's unorthodox. Understand the pentatonic scales and the diatonic scales and their relative modes. Then, understand parallel modes. Then just play. Fundamentals mentioned in this video are important. But don't get hung up on any one player's thoughts on the difference between a beginner and intermediate player. The best thing you can do is listen to every music style. Transpose songs written on the piano to guitar. Play out as much as possible. DO not ever be discouraged when you come across players that are better than you. Get excited and use that in a positive way. This is so very important. It will keep you grounded and humble. You might be the best player on your block but as you start playing out further from home; you will realize just how much you do not know. You will come across players that will blow your mind but they too go through the same experiences. Playing is not a competition. Have fun with it. But as I said, use this to learn because there is no such thing as the best guitarist in the world. It's also an unrealistic goal, so forget about it.

sO onE oF thE firST thinGS I notICED aboUT mY ameTEUR puBLIC spEAKING was how it wouLD bE a lot bETTER iF diD someTHING aboUT hOW I turned the piTCH upwARD evERY thrEE syllaBLES oR sO.

I’ve been playing for 14 years. I just clicked to make sure I know everything I’m supposed to 😅

Can someone be a beginner/advanced player? I know a guy who is. He is terrible at music but got one hundred tips on how to get better at it.

So I actually can say I'm intermediate right now 😁😁

Andrew: Tell us, what makes you an authority on the topics you teach in your videos? It's just a question. I am not being rhetorical. How long have you been playing? Have you played in clubs, with a band, in a real studio? Why should we trust you over anyone else? The sad thing about modern guitar players is, where are they? That's why there are so many EVH clones on here because there aren't any real players out there today in the hard rock world. I am not really into Jazz but I have studied some of it.

I mean I don't know anything about the guitar. I just play it. I can shred, I can play fingerstyle, I find learning songs to be way boring after 8 years and who honestly wants to learn an entire song? Just pick a cool riff you like and practice that, and then make your own riffs based on what you learned there.

Personally I find it senseless to grade one's level of playing. Because according to these 5 points I'm pretty sure there are plenty of world famous musicians who would be classified as " beginners ". I play lead and rhythm in a Santana tribute band and often am complimented by die hard Santana fans. on how close I sound to Carlos. Yet, according to this video I definitely am a beginner.....and most likely even Carlos is. Who cares ?? Truth is, I don't grade myself nor give a sh... how anyone else wants to brand me. I'm doing exact;y what I set out to do when I started learning to play at the age of 50...10 years ago. My goal was to one day be able to play Santana music and hopefully sound pretty good at it. And, most importantly, HAVE FUN doing so. Mission accomplished. For years I've also been playing in a Rock/Pop cover band, and a Prog Rock band that only plays original songs of which I wrote several. Both bands consist of experienced above average level musicians. Havent been kicked out for being a " beginner " .....YET :)

4:17 😳 better call saul

Cool

Great video! That strumming technique tho… you have *so* much wasted energy built in by keeping your wrist that loose. Wasted energy = musical doors that remain forever closed

Welp, I don't even play chords. Time to go back to square 1.

Now I dont know if Im even a beginer