Never Stop Taking Lessons

One of my favorite, all time guitarists is Randy Rhoads. His rise to fame from a nowhere band to Ozzy Osborne's sideman is legend itself. But, what amazed me about Randy was the seriousness he took to his craft, to his instrument.

Very quickly after being "discovered" by Ozzy, Randy Rhoads was labeled a guitar hero (this is long before the video game). His lightning fast arpeggios and finger tapping combined with a musicality of a classic composer made him an instant guitar god. Rhodes was not one to sit on his laurels.

Legend has it that Randy Rhoads never stopped taking lessons. When he was on tour with Ozzy he still took lessons. At every tour stop he would hunt down a local guitar teacher and take a lesson. He would find a jazz teacher in new orleans, a blues teacher in chicago, a flamenco teacher in guadalahara. He explored the different styles that a guitar has to offer. He listened, he learned he expanded his knowledge of an instrument at which he was a true master.

Most people would think "what else could Randy Rhoads learn about the guitar?" But that was not his attitude. He realized that there was more to learn and that you will never learn it all.

Unfortunately, he did not have much time to learn it all. He died in plane crash at the age of 25. But what a great legacy he left for us. He left us with a great lesson. Even when you are a guitar god, you still have a lot to learn. Never stop taking lessons.