3 Levels of Guitar Playing - Which are you?

Maybe you can help me to understand 3 levels of guitar playing. It's important to assess ourselves, but sometimes this isn't easy! We don't always measure ourselves objectively, but we also shouldn't always! So, what is a healthy way to measure your guitar playing abilities so that you can continue to grow as a player?

You're very welcome and encouraged to leave your ideas & own opinions. Please discuss positively in the comments below.
Thank you for watching my video!

00:00 Introduction
01:40 3 LEVELS: Beginner / Intermediate / Advance
05:10 Techniques : Fingering / Picking / Chromatic / Muting
06:24 Theory : Triads / Arpeggios
07:45 Ear Training : Perfect Pitch vs Relative Perfect Pitch
10:08 Foundation : can help performance skills included Fretboard Harmony
12:40 Gazzi Amp / Incredible replica of Steel String Singer (Dumble amp)
14:45 3 Levels on I IV V Blues
18:22 3 Levels on Twinkle Twinkle
20:35 3 Levels on Jazz Blues
22:57 3 Levels on Happy Chords
27:55 Just Funky
28:31 Big Band Feel
30:20 Conclusion / Bottomline : Don't decide too fast! Learn & review more foundation (No matter what level you are) Please share your thoughts. Thank you so much for watching!

Ryo Guitars (Ryo Shida)
Steel String Singer by Gazzi Amplification
String Driver 2-12s Cabinet
One Control Prussian Blue Reverb
Providence Cables E205TF
D'Addario EJ21 (12-52)
Pickboy 1.00 Wisdom Picks

▼▼ Study with me at Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom!
Detailed lessons for all levels (Beginner - Intermediate - Advanced)
300+ lessons, always evolving!
Monthly livestream only for my Guitar Wisdom students!

▼▼ Wisdom Picks & Wisdom T-shirts
Don’t worry
Don’t compare
Don’t expect too fast
Be kind to yourself

▼▼ Tomo Fujita on what it was like to teach John Mayer – and how he indirectly helped him write Neon

(502-22)

[ericheine]

My goal is to play simply and tastefully in tune and on time. The song comes first and my effort is to support my fellow musicians and our creation as a whole. Play what you should play not what you could play. I've done it for 50 years. Everyday I'm a beginner. Everyday I have to work on the basics. There are many magnificent players in the world and we're not going to get to hear them. This year's nominations in the supporting actor category are the guys who didn't quit. Everybody have a great day.

[tinman]

I’ve been a beginner for almost 50 years 😢 I’ll die trying to get where you and so many others are on YouTube 😮

[brucetaylor]

I am a guitar player, that's about it. sometimes I sound amazing, sometimes, well, not so good. I enjoy it most times and that's what counts. As far as what I hear when you play, beginner sounds alright, you can recognize the tune, intermediate sounds about right, enjoyable and danceable, most people would like this. Advanced, only really appreciated by other advanced players, sometimes less is more.

[gregb.]

I started last year at 63, and am now an intermediate player, or on the cusp of becoming one. I follow your Guitar Wisdom system, and A Modern Method for Guitar Vol 1, and am progressing much faster than in my first year. These courses have helped me to focus on my weaknesses, like palm muting, and showed me how properly to practice and progress. Great way to enjoy my retirement.

[wayneanderson]

I think I'm intermediate. I have lots of experience with guitar but built on using my ear. My music teacher complained that I would never master reading music because I learned the piece by ear and pretended to follow the music score. I now feel the need to better understand the theory of music to be able to explore improvisation in more detail. I've played in several bands and have always felt frustrated with the other members' lack of discipline.

[lfeson]

I’ve been playing for about 40 years. At times I’ve thought I’m quite advanced but recently I feel a bit rusty, not really pushing myself. I’d say for me a beginner is someone who can play songs using chords but maybe doesn’t have the coordination between left and right hands to play solo tunes and doesn’t know any basic scales. Intermediate has good coordination and can play and know where to play 7th and 9th chords, and can follow a tune either along with a record or jamming with other people. They can play some solos using a range of scales. Advanced players know how, where and why to play and apply a wide range of styles to make original music and develop their own style. Professional players gat paid for what they do, and can be at any level. That’s because of YouTube and other social media. For example, a beginner may be famous and play really badly but their posts are monetised. Or a beginner with a YouTube following shares their learning journey. That’s an extreme example, but it makes a point. We all know that ‘Pro’ means top level. There are so many pro players that we never hear of, but every day keep playing beautiful brilliant music on guitar. I really love your channel and your positive attitude toward guitar and sharing your knowledge. Thank you so much for what you do.

[maekymaek.]

why is Tomo a teacher - cause you inspire Tomo. always inspiring me. havent held a guitar in months :( but im going back.

[KRColson]

I'm still between beginner and intermediate. I'm 67 Years old and haven't touched a guitar for decades and now that I'm retired I thought I would give it another try. I have difficulty forming certain chords and find myself trying to use the "easier style" as my fingers just won't work the way my brain wants them to. I also grapple with theory but I am working at that as well. I find it overwhelming at times and I get frustrated. Anyway, Tomo, I really admire you and your teaching methods and you are an amazing player. I hope to get a little better as I go, before I die! Thank you so much.

[chuckguthrie]

Got my first guitar in 1965. A Fender Mustang… still consider myself an intermediate player at best. I have a great ear and if I hear a song I want to learn I can generally learn it on my own quickly but tend to forget it just as fast. It’s a case of the more I learn the more I realize I don’t know.

[thestarwarsfan]

I’m on my second year of musical basic course. I feel like I’ve hit a wall for a long time. And after discovering your channel I’ve come to determine, that im missing the foundation. Triads..

I am deeply thankful, that you’ve made me, and probably countless other guitarists realize, what we need to learn

Cheers from Denmark

[robertscoggin]

Advanced has many more levels than the other categories. As we know it's a lifetime endeavor. I've been playing professionally for over 50 years and I know hundreds of songs in many styles so I'm advanced...but so is John Mcglaughlin for example. 😆

[theredstash]

When i was a beginner 20yrs ago I would learn thru transcribing tunes. I would try to learn advanced songs I really had no buisness playing. It helped me get comfortable playing different techniques... but eventually it became obvous I would need to learn the thoery & fundamentals to level up. I wanted to undrstand from the ground up. So I wish I had gotten into theory much earlier than I did, would have accelerated my ablilty to improve.

[GrFriknApe]

I continue to practice on the keyboard and guitar daily (2.5 years on keyboard and 6 weeks on guitar). I practice a new song on each instrument each month. I am self taught. I just don't have enough wisdom, yet, to claim a level (chuckles). Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

[translateslowly]

I am 64 years young and didn't pick up a guitar till I was 42 when a friend I'd known for years had picked up a guitar and had it at his house when we were hanging out drinking beer. I had no idea he could even play. He showed me 3 chords that night and the next day I was back at his house with a $50 pawn shop guitar asking him to show me how to tune it.
That started a long run of drinking beer and playing every weekend up to 3 years ago when my friend lost his battle with cancer. I do miss him and haven't had a beer since he left us.
He sparked a fire in me that is still going strong some 25 years and about 100 guitars, thousands of songs and beers later. Right now the count is about 35 guitars. I'm trying to thin the herd.
I stumbled onto this video looking for something else and I'm glad I did. I'm about to go diving into more because it's about time I learned to this this the right way.
If I had to nail down a level I'd say I might be just a little above intermediate and nowhere even close to expert. But I'm getting there
Looking forward to more of your lessons. So far you've taught me how to play twinkle twinkle. Something I admit I've never even thought to try.

[martinfrog]

Compare is such a competitive word ... in nature number one rule is cooperation not competitive, omnipotent, ambitious & overbearing treatment of self or others ...
Fear cannot burn, bite or stick a claw in you when self aware becomes your natural center ...
Sharing kindness becomes a waterfall as more people learn kindness and share ... so yes start with yourself and let it flow ...
Playing music brings joy to listener and player ... what a great connection ! Thanks for sharing

[jameswilliams]

I am 74 been playing approximately a little over a year I play daily because I have the time . I think I'm between late beginner and intermediate I can play songs with chords trying to learn finger picking .I know I'm old but I love my daily practice time.never played any musical instruments.it has opened up a new world for me I saw you on stewmac.i love learning thanks

[tomm]

I always struggled to determine my level. I play fingerstyle for roughly 3 years. Now I finally start to feel the thumb being really independent. Studying the Entertainer now and I can handle it, while many consider it an advanced level song. Though I feel far away from advanced. Maybe in 10 years 😅

[garyrobertson]

ear training is what I still need help on. I’ve been playing for fifty years (garage band) and if I want to play a Christmas song I still have to look at the music. I suck but I love playing. I love your channel

[VinsGroove]

Since I was primary schoo about 13 years old i always practice and play guitar always in dark room like no light at all, it just comfort to me haha, till now 19 years old, any classical techniques my teacher taught.
I have to say im still around between beginer and intermediate, I still lack of foundation and just playing fingering technique i learned, now i found you Mr.Tomo! Hope i keep learning from you.

[jeanlawson]

In my mind's eye... I am a total in the real world.... I am forever a love the forever gift it gives me....😎 All said and done...my mind's eye.... limits me, , , , and I know it so rewards my Soul... thanks for All your gift you share.... I never try to copy I always play fresh and a new....My own feeling's....Good .bad.or ugly..but so rewarding.... I know my place in the scheme of I love this emoji....It represents my emotional level
... rambling on.... Again Thanks Scotty in Alabama...At one point it's all just a beginner or beginning...If we are learning something new....So I am forever a beginner....😎