I just started off on my own by learning the regular chords then the barre chords. Then I'd lean the notes that would go with them.

You're in direct contact with the music by having the strings under your fingers. It's not mechanical like a piano.

The best money I made was panhandling.

Blues teaches you to develop coherent solos, because the form you're playing over is so basic. You have to develop leads that go someplace.

How do you stop somebody from growing?

When I got to LA and was with the James Gang, I got the opportunity to write a lot, to play in front of large audiences, make some money.

For me, practice isn't doing scales but doing things like writing, jamming with other people, or playing gigs.