Staying Motivated - Let's Share Tips |
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Staying Motivated - Let's Share Tips |
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Sep 11 2014, 12:02 PM |
I think staying motivated and focused for me can put me in a rut. There has been so many times I go I don't understand why I keep playing. I'm just a bedroom player. When I was young I quit and I even had a teacher back then. Many moons later I got into heavier music and was cleaning my room, BAM! Guitar oh cool lets see what I can do now since I'm a lot older life has changed. Since then I've been playing again.
BUT! I can sit here and feel let down and discouraged like I did when I was younger. Go try a new lesson of similar taste, does nothing for me as I don't see improvement. So I will set the guitar down and take a few steps back. At this point I'm at an all time low of why even continue playing. I will do a few things, as Cosmin has always said to me, over the last 3 years (Hard to believe I know right?) T-man! Maybe you just need to take a day off and clear your mind and surround yourself with other things that aren't music related but help creativity. So I may go toss on some epic music movies, Star Wars, Braveheart, Lord Of The Rings, Frozen, The Lion King. Or I may toss in some video games with great music like Skyrim, Final Fantasy, and Zelda. After playing for a bit I calm down and start to relax and I then get this urge to go and play the songs I just heard, look up tabs or as of late try my hand at using my own ears. If not I may just jump on in my car crank up the bass rattle the windows on every car for miles! Just get out and see the beautiful world and nature around us that we take for granted and clear my head back out. Then maybe when I pull back in, I jump over to the youtube and watch videos where you hear the greats speak at clinics, like Gilbert, Loomis, Satch, Vai, and so on. Then that one person asks well how did you do it? Then response like you know I wasn't great when I started so I put a lot of hard work and dedication into what I do. I had my ups, downs, and stand stills, but here I am all these years later on this stage doing something that I love. That always does it for me and I realize that everyone has gone through the same path in some way or another to achieve the goal of being better than you were just 2 days ago. Then I pick the guitar back up and I can play for days on end again. -------------------- Guitars:
Ibanez S770PB (Natural Flat) , Ibanez XPT700 (Chameleon) , Sterling J Richardson Signature , Squire IV Jazz Bass (Sunburst) Gear: Neural DSP Plugins My YouTube Page. |
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Sep 11 2014, 04:21 PM |
My tip would be to always have something 'new' to work on. Essentially, a destination.
If I don't have a project that requires me to learn new music I generally don't practice. I have play almost everyday but that's not really practicing. When I haven't had to challenge myself for a week or two I have to force myself to get back into it. I do this by finding something I've always wanted to learn: a song, a solo, a lick, a sound ... and sit down and do it. Usually that ends up taking a few solid days full-time. *For awhile after my kid was born and my wife went back to work I turned down a lot of inconsequential work, unnecessary rehearsals and going out to jam 3 times a week, etc. In order to keep my chops up and stay interested I decided I would do a bunch of arrangements for solo guitar of songs I loved. I ended up doing 19 of them. They're archived here ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Other things I find 'motivating' is to listen to a lot of music and listen to other people's suggestions. Pandora's cool if you already have a broad palette but if your listening is limited to one or two genres they ain't gonna suggest too much different stuff. - Go out and see bands play live. - Find a buddy to jam with. - Join a new band. - Take actual/physical private lessons. - Take a community college music history or music theory class, etc. - Learn to play another instrument. This post has been edited by klasaine: Sep 11 2014, 04:31 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Sep 11 2014, 06:23 PM |
A few guys on here were sharing updates on getting up earlier in the morning and getting their guitar practise in before work. I'm not sure if that's an option with you but I know that the guys, once they started doing it, really loved it. I can't remember where the thread is.. Bleez, were you one of the dudes who were part of that ?? Yes indeed I am one of the breakfast club its been one of the best things Ive done as well! I play for a good hour in the morning before going to work and its probably my most focused session. I wouldnt say Im particularly a morning type of guy either but once I haul my ass out of bed I just grab a coffee and a caffeine tab( this may be key! ) I then have 20 mins on youtube listening to some music and then its all business Its great when I pick up the guitar again at night knowing Ive already got a an hour of focused practice under my belt. in fact its been so good I still do the early morning sessions at the weekend even though I dont have to be up work work. * it was Jim S and Spock that mentioned it a while ago which convinced me to try it, so Kudos to those guys They're archived here ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke jeez, Ken.... you really have some seriously impressive chops, I know you dont need me to tell ya but still.... seriously impressive and some array of guitars, they all look proper vintage, I dont know if they are but they certainly look business. This post has been edited by bleez: Sep 11 2014, 06:30 PM -------------------- You say 'minor pentatonic ' like it's a bad thing |
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Sep 11 2014, 07:32 PM |
Klasaine hit 2 points that help me personally alot.
1. listen to music 2. Join a band. I get the most inspiration when I put on headphones to some really awesome music - the next thing I know, I'm looking for my guitar if it's handy so I can play. Being in a band adds "responsibility" to your routine. everyone in a band needs to pull his/her own weight, and that sense of not wanting to be the dead weight is quite motivational in the discipline department. Discipline is doing it twice as rigorously when you don't feel like doing it. The most difficult words to live by ~ but perhaps challenge yourself to get up and do it as soon as you start thinking to yourself "it can wait". Great topic Ben, Chris -------------------- The more I practice, the more I wish I had time to practice!
My Band Forum: http://passionfly.site/chat |
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Sep 12 2014, 01:52 AM |
@ Bleez ... Thanks man! Some of those axes are indeed 60s and 70s vintage. A few are newer and custom/parts guitars. The old ones I got when they were new (and I was newer) or they were in bad condition. Sirjamsalot, as his name implies, makes a great point about being in a band. Its truly the ultimate motivator. This post has been edited by klasaine: Sep 12 2014, 02:04 AM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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