It's amazing how consistent the replies are here - I posted this on another forum and the replies were almost identical. Seems to me that sitting down with books and videos, taking diplomas etc. are probably the wrong route for anyone with an intuitive musicality, which seems to be most of the greats in blues and rock. I think formal learning materials have their merit though, we are blessed with some great stuff these days.
I think they key is to be true to who you are and not care what other guitar players think of your playing.
I agree that getting in some external guidance / learning materials is
still very helpful ( for mere mortals ) - to facilitate the absorbtion of basic chords and pentatonic/ Blues scales , and thus something to 'hang your coat on'.
To give the hands, eyes and ears a tremendous
clue as to where to start and what to do - and how all that relates to the music of our heroes. A certain amount of technical / theoretical knowledge , also enables us to communicate better with other instruments and styles , as opposed to just other guitarists.
Unless we are gifted with 'perfect pitch' the ears ( at least initially ) are best following the hands - then later, the hands following the ears e.t.c. :)
