If you are a beginner blues guitar player you might want to start with a book or DVD course for beginners because only then will you be able to find that perfect teacher for your personality.
Such books or courses should have clear illustrations and pictures that give you a solid foundation to understand the basics of blues guitar playing.
The reason for this is simple - how can you relate to a teacher if you are a total novice? You would not be able to relate to a calculus teacher if all you know is basic math, right? This does not mean that you have to be an accomplished player before you seek out a blues teacher.
It simply means you should know something about chords, scales, fingering, and so forth.
Just the basics are good enough to ensure that you speak the same music language.
I have to stress that learning this music language is as critical as learning any language.
Try speaking English to a native Italian and you get what I mean.
There is a disconnect.
Think of the guitar not as an instrument but as a communication device like a language.
You will use it to communicate feelings to an audience through well chosen musical language (think notes) and phrasing.
You will literally sing a story to your audience via the music.
Of course, if there are lyrics, they add to the emotion of the piece but when you play that solo riff you will be taking communication to an even more intimate level.
Blues guitar has a very special way of communicating emotion.
Blues music is said to be the basis for most of today's rock.
Even rappers understand how a blues-based melody can generate strong emotion in an audience.
Learning basic blues guitar is not an easy process just as learning a new language is not easy but, with practice and persistence, you will get to a level where you will be able to find the teacher you need.
How You Can Find Your Perfect Blues Guitar Teacher An easy way to find the perfect blues guitar teacher is to go where blues players perform.
You will be surprised that many blues guitar players also teach when they are not performing.
Listen to a set.
If you are impressed by the lead player, ask the lead player when they go on break if they are willing to teach you to play.
At the very least they may refer you to someone they know who teaches the style of blues they played.
You may have to hear several blues bands before you find that perfect teacher so don't give up looking.
There is likely a teacher in your town that you can relate to.
Now, I must say, I did find a teacher that way but, as it turned out, the hours he was available were not the same hours I was available.
What did I do? I turned to the Internet and found the perfect teacher for the sound I wanted and who could teach the way I wanted to learn.
Learning guitar, not just blues guitar, is a very personal experience.
Many people, frustrated by a bad teacher or just life situations, give up trying.
It seems that they just cannot master the first steps or they think that the people who play guitar well have some mystical talent they are born with and we are not.
Nothing is further from the truth.
Now, don't get me wrong.
I am not claiming that you can be the next Eric Clapton or Robert Plant.
I am saying that you can learn to be an awesome blues guitar player in your own right if you stick with it, get over the beginning hurdles, an find the right teacher.
You can even become good enough to play in a local blues band and get paid for it.
No Such Thing As A Gifted Blues Player? We have all seen movies and TV shows that portray someone gifted in musical talent.
That is true to some extent.
Classical pianists, opera singers, great violinists, may all be called gifted but, the truth is, all of them spent most of their waking hours learning and practicing so they "appear" gifted.
An NBA star appears gifted but we do not see the years spent on the court practicing free throws and jump shots.
Gifted performers must learn the basics before they add their own twist so they appear to be gifted.
This is the same with blues guitar players.
There is a big difference between being able to play blues guitar and appearing to have a gift for playing blues guitar.
The difference is the amount of time put into practice and improvisation.
You will be pleased to learn that even the great players are doing nothing more than playing scales! That's right! They know the scales and are able to improvise with the notes of the scales to make their own style of music.
One style makes a gifted player while another style makes a mediocre player.
And, worst case of all is the player who tries to copy the style of a great player.
Remember, music is a personal experience! You must find your own voice and express it.
You must be unique to be considered gifted.
You get to that point by learning the basics and finding teacher who can help you find your own style of blues guitar playing.
It's pretty easy to copy just about any blues lick especially if you have a video and diagrams to follow but your goal should be to expand on licks to make them your own.
A good teacher can show you how to use the Clapton and Plant licks as a foundation and teach you how to add your own twist to them.
Creativity will be triggered when you have the basics mastered.