James Taylor has started to offer free guitar lessons online. He is, after all, your Handy Man.
Now let’s get this out of the way: The jury is still out on whether these video lessons will offer serious guidance or not. The first video offers a somewhat detailed primer on … caring for your fingernails. And it comes coupled with a short lesson, “Little Wheel” in e minor, that is decidedly short on pedagogy. More lessons will be coming soon though. Sign up for JT’s email list, and they’ll ping you when new videos are posted online.
What to do in the meantime? Well, you can always turn to YouTube, which features a surprising number of free video tutorials. If you sift around, you can learn how to buy an acoustic guitar, tune it by ear, play stum patterns, finger pick, play various chord progressions and so on. For more lessons, you can start rummaging around three helpful YouTube channels: RockonGoodPeople; Watch & Learn Music Lessons; and MartyZsongs. They provide lots of free tutorials (while also trying to promote paid products on the side).
via metafilter
James…I am the dental student who ‘stole’ your and your buddies bicycle in 1962 or 1963..in Chapel Hill..I just wanted you to know that I am proud of your success in music. Iam a fan..Someone asked me to name two events in my life that are unforgettable.One was that I armed and disarmed a nuclear weapon from the bombay of a B47 aircraft…The other event was that I “stole” James Taylor’s bicycle before he became famous..These things you dont forget..I would like very much to meet You again sometime….Dr. James E. Kendall..Charlotte NC
My wife and i are two of your most ardent admirers.i have played now for 49 years. When my wife and i met i played “Don’t Let Me be Lonley Tonight”… your cds are sung along with constantly… we sound so much alike that all my children have said “listen on the radio…it’s daddy. Love your knowledge of chord structure and the sometimes “odd” harmonies of Carol King”… please never quit…. you are to important of an inspiration…Ray and Lisa
Thank you Mr. James for giving back the gifted knowledge and craftmanship that has inspired so many through the years.
James, having grown up with you and your music, I cannot say with more conviction that you have been instrumental in saving the life of my son
Gene Jr. He was hopelessly addicted to
Heroin and whatever he could lay his hands on. I spent my lives savings of over 250K$$ and it made no difference at all. He remained addicted and headed for the afterlife and I could do nothing but watch him fall from his once great musical talent into the abyss of nothingness. I had to give up on him because first off I was broke and could do no more, my dear wife was dying of Cancer and I just waited for the storm of life to end. I gave my son my only copy of Sweet Baby James on CD and he left for places unknown. He traveled around for a few years and when I saw him upon his return, he was clean, he had nothing but and old Walkmen and the CD I had given him. He tells me often that he knew you had licked your demons and because he came to understand your music and your struggle, he was able to muster the strength he needed to break free of his addiction. James, Mr. Taylor I just want to say thank you for being alive when my son needed your inspiration.
Forever Grateful
Your biggest fan
Gene Kelley Sr.
Cape Cod
My first true love sweet 16 turned me on onto your music it has been with me ever since.53 yrs old now. We headed in other ways as people often do but I got to see her about a year before she died of brain cancer and J.T. was still one one of our unforgetable memories. I’ll always treasure those times we had as young kids during the peace movement thinking if on only the world would listen to your music how much things might have changed. R.I.P. Debra we all miss you and thanks James for your wonderful music.