I took lessons for about three and a half years for guitar, and I think that I wouldnt be anywhere near where I am now, and probably wouldn't even know where to start with songwriting. The way my lessons would always go would be, I'd pick up a song show it to my teacher and we'd learn it together. Usually between songs he'd teach me techniques and scales and I'd slowly progress on those. Eventually I got to the point where he'd show me a scale, play some chords and I would improv over it for the full half an hour switching off with my teacher. At the end I was learning jazz, and that really got me ready for playing for jazz band and being able to think a lot quicker on my feet, so even if I didn't fully form the chord I could manage, and my improvising had come a long way. Right now I'm taking a really extended break, but I hope to get back into it soon.
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