What Essential Song Should I Learn?

learn whatever song you like and/or sparks your curiosity to explore. check them all out. as much as you can and choose what you prefer more. that way it wont become a chore and you will internalize the benefits of studying each song without even realizing it. and then you can come revisit songs you haven't learned and see them with a different eye and with more arrows in your quiver this time. everything benefits nothing is a waste of time. start with what you won't consider work but play. we PLAY music. we don't WORK music. have fun
 
wesleyamltd said:
I would consider myself an intermediate player. But want to expand my repertoire and become a better player. I practice all the time but it is primarily scales, modes and theory.

In general, Iā€™ve learned a lot of Metallica, Megadeth, Lamb of God, Nirvana, AIC, Black Sabbath, as well as a few from the following bands.

Opeth
Dream Theater
Faith No More
More Iā€™m sure butā€¦.

What do you think would be an essential song for me to learn that would add to or expand my guitar playing in a meaningful way. Meaning a chromatic scale exercise would not benefit me beyond a straightforward warmup.

There are no wrong answers here, but in order to avoid analysis paralysis, please keep it one or two songs.

Please suggested a preset that will complement the song as point of reference.

Thank you for your help!

ā­ļøCaveatā­ļø
  • Please donā€™t disparage genres.
  • This subject is not intended to be a debate of musical merit.
  • All genres have something to offer in terms of skill and technique.
  • This isnā€™t Lord of the Rings, ā€œone genre to rule them allā€.
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Learn something challenging from another style of music, looks like you come from a heavier rock background.

Go learn some Nile Rogers (Chic, etc) stuff, his chord voicings and grooves will give you something new
Go and check out the favourite guitarists of your favourite guitarists - John Petrucci is a huge Steve Morse fan, so go and find something of his to learn.

Or, if you've just learned electric go and try some acoustic fingerstyle, even if you just play it on an electric.

Do something different to open up some new ideas
 
wesleyamltd said:
Space music! Cool this will take some time to absorb for sure, thx
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Steve Rothery is one of my all time favourites, you can discover his playing then go listen to his influences. Obviously Gilmour, but go listen a guy called Andrew Latimer from a band called Camel
To me, he ruined Rothery to me cause he does everything I liked about Rothery but plays it with more fire and I prefer his tones
 
Just learn/transcribe Alan Holdsworth stuff. Doing that for any solid amount of time is guaranteed to make you better.

Also helps that he has a lifetime worth of material, so you can just pick out the stuff that interests you the most.
 
ak301 said:
Go and check out the favourite guitarists of your favourite guitarists - John Petrucci is a huge Steve Morse fan, so go and find something of his to learn.
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This is great advice! So much great music and so many great players to be found by looking at who your favorites were listening to and learning from, and in turn, who they were learning from, and even who else they inspired.

For instance, I really enjoyed AC/DC when I was a kid (still do on occasion). That led me to BB King, who led me to Robert Johnson, who then led me to Buddy Guy and a whole host of other players who I may not have found otherwise. Helped me better understand commonalities between many different styles and how to borrow something from a completely different style to, hopefully, make something different still. Not saying I'm any good at any of those things, but it does help to know where something came from when I'm looking for somewhere new to go.
 
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