3 Levels of Guitar Playing - Which are you? 

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.

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.

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

When I started teaching guitar everyone said they were a complete beginner then I realised on lesson 1 that they actually knew a lot already. I've heard of the term "false beginner" when people have some knowledge or skill but it's not well integrated yet.

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.

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.

i just love tomo's wisdom

First I would like to thank you for sharing your videos. They not only inspire me and motivate me to learn, but also to understand. It’s a big step for me as I picked up guitar way back in the ’60s with no books or music teachers. I hit a plateau when I finished high school, quit playing as life got in the way. Now I am struggling to pick up where I left off. I’m happy to start over from the beginning and your method of building a foundation is at a pace I can follow. I’m starting to believe I can do it. All I can say is thank you so much.

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.

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 RU-vid 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 RU-vid 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.

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. 😆

I first got my guitar (tanara strat) in ‘87. Only now have I started to learn after watching you and many others on RU-vid and am starting to understand how to really play music. I’d say I’m still a beginner. Thank you for teaching to the masses via RU-vid and instagram. Your videos have helped me grow my love and appreciation for the guitar and music in general.

Its even more precious that you happily and kindly share and sacrafice your time for us. You are one of the rare people that makes us feel better about ourselves. And build up our confidence. Thank You.

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

I work from home so I listen to your longer videos while I work. I've saved some of your videos because I use them in some of my practice sessions. You give me guidance on what I should work on. Which is really helpful as a self taught student.

Never thought of levels in guitar playing. After 50yrs, I'm still learning sensei. Everytime I turn around there's something new to learn. Here in HI, we must know almost all styles if one wants to work @ a resort.

After listening to you I’m a beginner although I’ve played many years with cowboy chords n self taught but miss lots of foundation. 🎸

I am an intermediate, but I suffer from trying to learn to many styles like you said. This video was very helpful to understand where I’m at in my playing and what I need to work on, which is mainly theory. Thanks so much for the great videos and beautiful playing!

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.

I'm intermediate in some aspects and beginner in others. I'm doing ear training now to get that to intermediate level (I'm only practicing the intervals of the major scale so far and I'm also practicing chords progressions with the I, IV, V and VI chords) and in the next months I will try to practice blues in order to become a better blues player too.

Thanks for always being positive support for the community and sharing your knowledge

Thank you for uploading, Tomo-sensei! I got more valuable things from your vid! What a nice time to have a chance to get guitar knowledge via internet from anywhere!

I care about you and your videos. Thanks Tomo.

I've been playing Guitar for 15 years , i almost practice everyday and make some YT videos of me playing Just for fun 🙂 Everytime i sit in my room and practice it's Christmas for me, even in Summer 😂 Thanks for sharing your precious knowledge with us! 🙏 Greetings from Italy! Emanuele

Tomo, if you don't mind me asking - how long do you spend on teaching at school vs. making online lessons? I respect that you put out well made videos despite also working as a Prof.

My takeaway is that we may be advanced in some styles and a beginner or intermediate in others. Personally, I find this a satisfying way of thinking about my progress as it both validates the choices I've made with my study/practice time and challenges me to think about re-designing my practice time to re-focus on some ideas that may not have been interesting to me at a younger age, but are increasingly relevant to me as I listen to music in new ways. For context, I've been working at this instrument for 35 years and started with piano in the Suzuki method before arriving at the guitar.

I can't Thank you enough, @TomoFujitaMusic 🙌

I am 69 years old, an acoustic electric bar player. I have been in bands and duet/solo shows. I feel like a beginner sometimes Because I don't Know what you call what I'm playing. Meaning, I don't know the musical terms, I don't know triads, I don't know the chords up the neck. I play easy stuff (Neil Young type, etc) but I am Not technically Proficient !! "THEORY" is what I lack. I have pretty close to 'Perfect Pitch' fortunately ! I don't use or Need an electronic tuner. GREAT Videos, Sir !!

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

My 12yr old daughter knows the name of the notes when it comes to sound. She started to play piano. Recently, I bought a melodica for my wife and my daughter started playing it. She already playing the melody of the song without musicsheet. Unlike me, double the effort :)

Excellent

Hello, Thank You for the video!! Your videos are making learning theory understandable. Pages and pages of "stuff" that just frustrated me and made me scratch my head, is beginning to make sense. Definitely a beginner and as far as preferred playing style.......I don't have one. I think I mostly just want to be able to understand a piece of music well enough, that I can transpose it into any key (if there are lyrics). Also, and this may be "pie in the sky" thinking. But I would like to be able to look at any music and figure out how to adapt it to guitar. If it is a complicated piece, then to understand the music well enough to pull out the bits that can be played on guitar and know how to fill the gaps.....like I said. Probably too much for me. But right now, that's all I can think to say about style, which isn't saying anything about style at all, LOL. Aside from proficiency that comes from practice and knowing my fretboard. I don't know what more to say...... Except, I think I would love fingerpicking. Cheers, have a great day!! Thanks again for the hard work of making and sharing these videos. I know you are a busy person and I appreciate you taking the time to read this comment.

Tomo I like this broadcast but I think there are more levels: - beginner, late beginner, intermediate , late intermediate and advanced, professional and then masters level. I think a master is already at the level where he can play with anybody and adjust his personal style so that it can fit in with the other musicians. Advanced player is at such a level where with a bit of practise he can play anything but maybe has not developed a very determinate personal style. A professional just do recording and can read sheet music at a high level and add a spin at certain places. But there are not many masters...but I think you are a master! It is a bit like guitar playing is your live and livelihood.

Stressed is Desserts spelled backwards. IMO: Levels of achievement are a perception of accomplishment. The more humble a person is the longer they are an intermediate beginner of most anything. The level of player I am is generally based upon the people in the current room. Keeping in mind that only 6% of the Worlds population can play a guitar. Educated people will oft tell me that the smartest person in a room is the one that read the most books. That may be true in academia arenas. I never went to a college so I don't know their perspective, never really cared. I was too busy having fun living life. Keeping in trust with the philosophies of Tomosan, I am where I think I should be at this time for my histories and current knowledge. I am not yet done either. Basically I am happy with my progress in being a musical artist with a guitar. Am I ready to create an album? No. Am I told I play better than most busking in airports? Yes. I can create music with no sheets in front of me in the middle of a forest glen. What level am I? I don't know nor care. Now then. In the realm of teaching. There are plateaus. You can't really play a guitar without tuning it. You can play open chords without knowing string names or notes. But that is all you will be doing 30 years later. You can't really play barre chords without knowing the notes on 5th and 6th strings. There are certain things you need to know before you can play certain music. Well you can play it but what will it sound like? One can copy the Traveling Wilbury's and run D shape triads down the neck.. But how are you going to know how to embellish that? Foundations are key. After that it is what you do with it. I truly think that once you can tune a guitar by ear, then create a song just using the 6 open strings you are beyond beginner. You have Asus4, DSus4, G, EM chords without touching a fret. I have heard masterful artist complain that they are just a beginner compared to (fill in the blank). Yes there were some real masters and I have learned much form the likes of Tomosan, Ferdnado Sor, Estas Tonne, John Mayer, Mary Spender, Bach, Clapton, Simon, Fuller, Chapin and Beethoven. But I am still only me and just me. I learn techniques, not songs. Then I create. I play for me and to the Universe. If someone hears me and enjoys, so much the better. "JMO" In Love and Light,

It's the least important thing you talked about, but how do you take your coffee?

Amazing video, you have really transformed my musical journey!

The main Bass guitar has 4 strings, but I realized that too many things need to master, play skills\ mute technical \ slap \ music theory \ music style \ rhythm training \ and tapping skills.....Ect. even though we played for many years, I think we are still on the road to professional, which we called bassist. -ist means the professional guy. Let's turn to the guitar - the 6-strings toy, 4+2=6 stings!!! Oh boy!!! Need to master tons of skills under your belt, Definitely, a beginner💪 Just plays every day, Don't worry! Don't expect too fast! Don't compare! Be kind to yourself! what a pearl of wisdom, It's VERY VERY VERY useful! Thank you, Tomo! YES! Don't worry! Don't expect too fast! Don't compare! Be kind to yourself! Just do it.

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 😅

This is very helpful for me. I’ve been practicing for a couple of years, but I’m still a beginner. I don’t pressure myself, tho. I’m older. So, I practice as much as my fingers & body will let me. Hah! 😁 I just want to play a few classic rock songs well & be able to do blues solos. Once I do that, I plan to focus more into theory. Thank you for this enlightening information.❤️😊

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.

what is the song at 18:55? reminds me of a Hungarian Christmas song:) I can also play in in a funky advanced way, even tho I am totally in intermediate.. great video!!! Thanks Tomo

I know open chords, minor and major bare chords E and A shape. I can play major and minor scale. I know theory and harmony and I can apply it on piano and bass. I can maybe use this knowledge on the guitar, but I do not know the neck well enough, so I can call myself a lower intermediate

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.

Thank you so much 🤩🤩😆😁😄😋😋😋

Well I'd have to say I'm an intermediate although I've been learning for 4 decades. Right now I'm learning a few things I can't believe I hadn't learned in 2/3s of my life such as circle of fifths and chord scale relationships just in the past 3 months. All because I decided to make a guitar from a kit and looking at guitar making videos guitar playing instruction popped up. Rick Beato and Guthrie Trapp to name a couple. I actually saw Tomo Fujita on a Dan Erlrwine repair video. I think I'm hooked I'll let you know how I fare in a couple of months.

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

A great video. It makes you think! I’ve been playing guitar for 60 years. According to some of your blues examples I’m advanced….but I still think of myself as a beginner as I learn something new every day. Also I enjoy so many different styles of playing….rock,blues, Celtic,classical, and now especially jazz ….and now I only play finger style having discarded the plectrum years ago. So nobody can be advanced in all styles. It doesn’t matter. I haven’t got the natural talents of Joe Pass, Tommy Emmanuel, or Segovia etc. but that doesn’t matter. It’s the journey and the enjoyment that counts. 👍🍷

Thank you so much for making this video, Mr. Fujita. 12 years I've been playing guitar and I'm a self-taught and really slow at learning. Sometimes I feel insecure with other fellow musicians that really understand more about theory and they play really fast while I'm more into slow and feel. Since I found your videos like this, now I really know where to improve myself and keep humble and patience. I always consider myself as a beginner. I pray your health and happiness as always, Mr. Fujita.

Such awesome lessons and advice we’re can I get a shirt like this one and a tenth as good as most of you guys?

Its like he’s speaking another language Jk I understood it perfectly

Interesting approach to this age-old question! The different ways to demonstrate 3 distinct levels helps a lot!

Tomo, thank you for this and all of your videos. I stumbled across your channel about a month ago and, like your friend in Italy, I like to listen to your videos while doing other things. However, I can't clean my house and listen because it only takes a few minutes and I HAVE to pick up my guitar to play Haha! I first watched a few of your theory videos, especially on triads, and this really helped me. I like that you advise against learning from tabulature because learning the theory makes one think about, say, where's the 6th or minor 3rd or dominant 7th in a chord. Regarding this video, I find that I'm advanced in the blues and can certainly play Twinkle Twinkle "Hendrix style," but my jazz and jazz blues playing is maybe intermediate. I love to learn and will probably join your Guitar Wisdom to continue my musical journey. Thank you so much for your videos. Your love and passion for music and teaching is infectious!

"I'm not very good, but I'm real slow" 🤣

Hello Tomo-san thanks for sharing with us some great guitar knowledge , i started learning guitar when i was 15 yo , then stopped playing at age 21 , today i'm 34 yo and found a guitar in my garage and found with it all my passion and love for music , but sadly i have forgot lot of songs i used to play , and i almost have nothing as guitar knowledge , i'd love to learn and be very good at it i LOVE music , hence i feel like i've wasted lot of years which makes me very sad and frustrated when i see kids know and play a lot better than me , i'm too old now to start over and be a great guitarist ?! i'm not sure but i'd love to ! anyways i'm sorry to write a lot , i just felt like i need to take this out of my chest since there's no musiciens around me to get the feeling ! thanks again and wish you the best ! M.

If you need to always play in the same key, you're still a beginner or low intermediate.

Tomo, do you think that being able to compose or improvise is important in becoming a good guitarist? A lot of times when I pick up my guitar I don’t know what to play other than the handful of songs that I have memorized, which is something I’m trying to change

I started playing in 1984, but only seriously started theory a year ago. I played in a band for 15 years. Now It's about filling in the holes in my knowledge. Arthritis has started, so I do alot of chord/ arpeggio stuff and writing during practice instead. I jam weekly with people so hopefully i'm improving ! Love the videos Tomo.

Myself, I'm an advanced intermediate beginner.

Ive been intermediate for years i think i should be a better guitarist for the amount of time ive been playing i feel i pretty much have been playing the same stuff for years.

Thank you sensei, every time after watching your video ,I need to grab my guitar and start practicing immediately , with joy 🌹

I would say that I'm an intermediate but I'm continuing to learn. Working on understanding the triads all over the neck and how they provide the maj 7, flat 7, 6 from the root position. Thsi will be a video I watch over and over because I want to learn the walking bass with the chords. But I also understand that theory opens up the fretboard and make one more of a musician. Thanks for teaching me to become more of a musician. Because I can apply these concepts with my mandolin and banjo too. Thank you Tomo.

*I've playing for 10 years now with months without touching my guitar, I can't thing of months that I've been practicing straight, religiously and I know little about musical theory, I'm too lazy to learn it but it's highly necesary, it's what I lack of but in exchange of all I have a great musical sense, rhythm and creativity, I got to known the guitar at some extent throughout these years: many chords and scales so I can jam, I can improvise and even compose my own songs cause I'm also good at writting lyrics and combine them with the chords and the notes. I hope someday I'm able to find the maturity and the temperance to start learning more theory, as tedious as it is.*

Hey Tomo --- actually I believe there are 6 levels of musicians, not 3. 1 --- Beginner. 2- Intermediate. 3 -- Advanced (Music School Graduate Level). 4 --- Professional Studio Recording Musician/Performer/Vocalist/ Classical Orchestra Musician/Teacher. 5--- Classical Conductor, Arranger, Composer, Virtuoso Classical Soloist. 6 --- Extreme Genius Composer (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, etc.)

Just amazing I'm playing since one year I'm in transition from beginner to intermediate

In my mind's eye... I am a total Wizard.......But in the real world.... I am forever a Student.....and love the forever gift it gives me....😎 All said and done...my mind's eye.... limits me,,,, and I know this.....But 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 things...😎,,,,, 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....😎

It's not that simple (as always). Advanced in Rock, Metal, Funk and proficient in various techniques (shredding, hybrid picking). Learned and performed hundreds of songs over many years. Intermediate in Jazz with complex harmonies, key changes. Recently started over with Leavitt Vol 1. My sight reading sucks and I absolutely enjoy going through the lectures, it's quite meditative. I always consider myself a student, while practicing the stuff I cannot do well - I see huge improvements in every aspect of my playing. Domo arigato Tomo san. 👍

I think labeling in terms of levels can get complicated. For example, I am a classical guitarist. I have a degree in guitar performance and another in music education. I have played some fairly complicated classical music, which requires solid, advanced technical proficiency and literacy skills. My ear is pretty good, and I also understand theory fairly well. I am NOT a proficient improviser or rhythm guitarist, however. I understand the concepts when they are explained, but I haven't practiced those skills to the degree that I have practiced "classical" skills. So I have a lot of what would be considered "advanced" knowledge, but in many areas outside of the style that I play most, I would say that I am at best intermediate, and in some ways, probably a beginner... It's complicated... and then there's applying any of these skills in the context of performance so.... there's that layer, too...

I started playing guitar at 10yrs of age. I will forever be a ‘beginner’ because there is just too much cool stuff out there left to learn. Working on a ‘Gentle Giant’ tune with one of the writers rn. Tomo, your the best!😉

Im intermediate, but I should work more on my ear training. I am really inspired by your twinkle, twinkle little star! If I could play that I would be so happy. What is that style called? Also I really like fingerpicking on my acoustic, because it FEELS really good! Thank you for your time and devotion!

Love you channel, and already learned so much from you. I’ve played guitar for 30 years, and have struggled with the question: what level am I? I think it’s because guitar players (or any instrumentalist) can be multiple levels at once. In some skills I’m advanced, but in others I’m just beginning-I’ve found that’s a helpful way to think of it. I’m all of the levels.

Guys like slosh were thought to be advanced guitarist, now intermediate. Slosh all time 1987. His skills don’t improve..I wonder if slosh entertains an audience very long playing acoustic by himself. Without band, singer. Long time spends months in studio, slosh finally releases an album. First track fall asleep

Thank you Tomo, still watching, still listening, still learning. I have been influenced by you to concentrate on the voice of the instrument and amplifier.Yes clean. I very much admire your crisp articulation. I do love to create a dirty, stinking noise but also something more pretty. Hot sauce. It's a gradual process but I like to pick up the guitar everyday and see what happens. I like to watch your videos also to see what happens. Excellent stuff.

Well from what you're saying I'm advanced (I play the advanced versions of all your examples), but I'm not a good improviser; working on it though! PS: I'm a quite good sight reader (from a guitar player point of view, not compared to piano players!!)

Hi Tomo. Does "nearly tranquillised elephant" classify as "Beginner"? There are some players that are like "cheetah on stimulants", but that's fine, I wish them well. I think the "top guys (and gals)" are like "house cats" they can do many things, and are dearly loved.

Tomo, I've been playing for 3 years and I'm almost at advanced level. I have great fretboard knowledge, technique, rhythm and I can play Jazz standards and I'm working into making chorals for them. The only thing that I'm lacking is ear training, which affects my soloing as I tend to get lost in the chord progression. I've recently been working it, but I'm worried as I feel that this is really bringing my playing down. What would you recommend for ear training? I can sing the scale up and down without reference and I can sing the triads, which is what you've recommended in your videos; but I would like to know what else can I do, as I've seen that you haven't gone into detail in this topic. Thank you.

Tomo you are super advanced 😊 at 5th level. Me after years of playing level 2 😊 cannot play without looking at the neck and would need a tab to attempt playing at level 3 but happy to know what I have to improve and keep on rocking

Domo arigato gozaimashita, sensei. I am very grateful for you taking your time to share your expertise with us. Funny sidenote; me teaching karate-do often has me telling students to not compare themselves to others, to not worry about anything beyond sincerely trying their best and enjoying the process, not expecting fast results and being nice to themselves so as to not get too frustrated. With your permission I will print out your four short advices to hang in my dojo? :)

I thought I'm advanced... now I'm a beginner after watching this video 😊.. don't worry

Why when playing rhythm guitar pick slips from finger for a beginner...?? How to fix that problem..??

After around two years of learning guitar I thought I was confident about calling myself a Beginner... but then I saw him showing how a beginner will play bar chords in the happy chords section and now I don't think I can call myself beginner either :(....

This video is very helpful. I believe i fit the intermediate with room to grow to advanced. The foundation in intermediate theory, circle of 5ths, key signatures, some triad understanding,Major, minor, pentatonic understanding, some modal scales. Can hold the blues back line and jump a solo. It is all starting to sound the same and needs attention to improve to more chromatic chord melody.

Tomo, I am a beginner thanks for the great show today! I get some laughs too! Love you man, keep up the great content. I am trying to learn as I started late and my brain is not so elastic..! You make this so fun. I learn so much from each of your episodes. Thank you

subjective since you see people that played for 1 year that are better than people who have played for 40. Malmsteen was better after 1 year than people who played for 50 years. There are people who have never caught up to people like Holdsworth or Dimeola when those guys were 19 years old.

Semi intermediate I suppose. A good thing was that I started out playing chords down the neck before playing open chords so I like to throw in "odd chords" as those guitar goods often do. Playing a hit by the schoolbook it works fine but it will not be the same. The bad was that I skipped most of the theory. I just walk if som one will ask I will not know more to say than 13 steps down the road stay for a while and jump up and down and then go three steps back, run upp that hill and down igen but I do recognize the paths of others aha... he is going around the lake, ok.

you have an accurate depicti0on of how each level sounds plying chords and rythym, but how do they sound WHEN playing lead?? can you show us that? Great video!

100% agree Mr Tomo to be able to move up from level to another you definitely need to know some theory and get the fundamentals under your belt so you have a solid foundation to build upon learn basic theory how to build chords form scales root positions 1st an 2nd inversions develop some decent relative pitch for intervals and flavours of major minor an dominant chords the diatonic system them can move on to the sub 5 tritone stuff I guess if you get to have this understanding then you would be considered intermediate as long as you can also use these concepts when playing this stuff an not only know it in your head also the root 3rd and 7th stuff some people will also out the 5th in but it can be omitted an it’s not necessarily giving flavour/colour to the chord like the 3rd an flat7th determining whether it’s major or minor or dom based unless your playing augmented I guess some people also don’t know that a suss chord is called a suss chord because the theirs has been suspended for either the 2nd or 4th degree of the major/Ionian scale that’s why it’s very important to know and understand the basics very well

I think it’s wrong to put “years played” with each level, people are different in so many ways and they learn at different speeds, not every player whose played three years is at the “intermediate” level.

Professional to me isn't a skill level, it's more like a title. we all know plenty of players who really aren't great but they are professionals!

advanced, intermediate, and beginer... all of them in diferent areas. hahahahhaha.. thank you from Ecuador...

Tomo is the man so funny but more importantly so correct but I have a question would somebody like John Lennon be called beginner to advance as a guitar player but a pro musician an what is more important ?

Mr. Fujita, for me you make guitar even more enjoyable with your insightful and fun videos! Thank you for what you do!

I like your chord substitution but I like to start from the basic, being a classical guitarist i feel alienated to chords subs that you're doing are they all at your guitar wisdom?

That guitar DOES sound beautiful! I try to follow what you say about Don't Worry, Compare, Expect too Fast, Be Kind to Self, so I have been refusing to consider if I'm beginner, intermediate, or advanced. But after this video, I think I am advanced some areas, intermediate others. Your Guitar Wisdom courses help so much! Playing guitar brings sanity to my crazy world. Thank you!

I believe I am between beginner and itermidiate because I have beginner foundations, like how to play, rythm, barchords, basic music theory, and have some intermidiate stuff like being able to switch chords quickly without losing rythm or buzzing (like playing cat walk) but still have a long way to go because I don't know any scale to a solid level and I have close to none triads known. At least I know where to go

Thank you Mr.Fujita(Tomo san). ❇︎I try to achieve level 2 to (3 ?)in my life time.(slowly) 😅😆😅😝😎👍

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.

I’m intermediate, wanting to get into advanced level

The Ninja of Music right here guys ! Wow so much learning and retained it too.Amazing. Im still in the sand box after 57 years Im finding out.Thank God Music is fun at every stage of growth. Thank you for doing these.I am amazed.

5 years, learning interrupted multiple times and still a beginner. 😔😔😔

Hi Tomo, I really appreciate and respect your opinion and experience. Would A Fender Telecaster be A better choice sound wise than a Fender Stratocaster for music styles like " The Doors " " Jimi Hendrix " 60's classic rock/Hippie music in general? I see some of These Guitarist players playing Gibson es 330 -350 but there way out of my price range. Thank you