Practice Question Options

[am3s22i]

Hi Guys,

Im just wondering when would you know if your are to move up a difficulty level in practicing? coz right now im organizing my practice by difficulty level. i practice about for 2hrs a day, with 2 lessons.right now im on level 2, my thought is if im done and passed most of the lesson on level 2, that's the time i can move up to level 3.

Regards,

[Cosmin Lupu]

Hey man! You will know you can move up, when everything that you play feels very comfortable, relaxed and easy - that's the time when you will know that you can implement a few more BPM to the ticking friend - the metronome

[Ben Higgins]

Please know that the number of level given to each lesson is based on the invidivual instructor's judgement and may not be an exact science

I think it's ok to try things from higher levels because 1. you may surprise yourself of what you are capable of 2. You can take things from them even if you don't learn the whole thing and 3. It's necessary to keep pushing your boundaries to progress.

So I say just go for it and try a level 3 or even level 4 lesson if you really want to. As long as you're honest with yourself about whether you're managing well with it or if you're taking on too much then I don't see a problem at all

[am3s22i]

i did try to play some higher level lesson, 16th note alternate picking which is level 6 i guess goal tempo is 160 but im stuck at 120
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...note-exercises/
also with the picking exercise im stuck at 100bpm
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-gu...cking-exercise/
been practicing for a couple of months now with these two exercises, and still stuck at certain bpm haha that why i thought maybe i could play more on the loer level first and get back at this high level exercises..

[Nihilist1]

i did try to play some higher level lesson, 16th note alternate picking which is level 6 i guess goal tempo is 160 but im stuck at 120
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...note-exercises/
also with the picking exercise im stuck at 100bpm
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-gu...cking-exercise/
been practicing for a couple of months now with these two exercises, and still stuck at certain bpm haha that why i thought maybe i could play more on the loer level first and get back at this high level exercises..

For me, the trick is this:

I never practice at an easy speed. I will warm up with it, however. Practicing at a super slow speed when you are developing a "speed curve" is worthless. You won't progress at all. Find the upper eschelons of your comfort zone and work from there.

Here is my definition of comfort zone:

A BPM level where you can play consistently and with few, or zero mistakes.

Practice at a speed that is tiring. Then move up to speeds where your playing is broken(when you can only play a few notes here and there), then move back down to your comfort level. You will find that the comfort zone is at a higher BPM then it was before. If you want me to explain the speed curve more in-depth, go ahead and PM me and I can give you some great details.

Don't forget the metronome!

[SirJamsalot]

If you're going for speed, remember that accuracy should be first and foremost. There is a speed point that lies somewhere between slow and fast when it comes to AP where the way in which you pick changes. At slower speeds, you'll find you might use your thumb and finger to lift over strings, but at faster speeds, that method can't keep up and you're forced to use your wrist to lift over the string. You should try to practice using the latter approach (your wrist) if speed is the end-goal.

IMO, the levels on this site are mostly attributed to how fast one or two runs in the lesson as a whole are played. You don't have to play the difficult parts of a lesson if there are easier parts in that lesson you can focus on. For the faster parts, just lower the tempo until you are able to play the part accurately, then bump it up as you progress.

Cheers!

[Cosmin Lupu]

Please know that the number of level given to each lesson is based on the invidivual instructor's judgement and may not be an exact science

I think it's ok to try things from higher levels because 1. you may surprise yourself of what you are capable of 2. You can take things from them even if you don't learn the whole thing and 3. It's necessary to keep pushing your boundaries to progress.

So I say just go for it and try a level 3 or even level 4 lesson if you really want to. As long as you're honest with yourself about whether you're managing well with it or if you're taking on too much then I don't see a problem at all

Very well said Ben, the process of learning has many faces to it you may not be able to play a phrase at the desired speed, but you can take it and incorporate it in your playing in a whole different context and manner.

Like Mr. Darwin said - the species that will survive are the ones most responsive to change - adapt and we shall prevail

[am3s22i]

thank you all guys for the reply... maybe im just rushing things, maybe i would spend another couple months on this exercises before i could nail it.

for the mean time i would try to do some low level lessons for entertain myself

[dark dude]

thank you all guys for the reply... maybe im just rushing things, maybe i would spend another couple months on this exercises before i could nail it.

for the mean time i would try to do some low level lessons for entertain myself

Never stop challenging yourself, but at the same time, have some easier material to fall back on. It can be tiring constantly trying to make progress, so it's nice to go back and play something easier that you enjoy.

[Dinaga]

Play what you like mate, and never limit yourself! I've been practicing some level 9 lessons for months and I still can't play them at full speed, but in between I've been playing level 4 or 5 lessons as well.

Maybe this thread can help you stay motivated and devote a couple of months of a harder lesson if you are sure it's worth it:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...showtopic=42807

The key is keeping the motivation up. Of course, it's harder to do with the harder lessons, because you don't have that feeling of "completeness", that's why you need to try everything a bit There's no real formula, you have to find out what works best for you.

One more thing: Numbers don't always show the truth! I've witnessed some lower level lessons a lot harder than the higher level lessons! That's because it's all subjective, and also you could be better in a particular technique than the others, so you'll finish even hard lessons of that technique faster.

This post has been edited by Dinaga: Apr 27 2012, 12:28 PM

[Ben Higgins]

Never stop challenging yourself, but at the same time, have some easier material to fall back on. It can be tiring constantly trying to make progress, so it's nice to go back and play something easier that you enjoy.

Yeah I can relate to this.. I've been feeling a complete burnout lately, physically and mentally. Probably because I've been focusing so much on improving in many areas. That annoying balance thing again

[Dinaga]

Yeah I can relate to this.. I've been feeling a complete burnout lately, physically and mentally. Probably because I've been focusing so much on improving in many areas. That annoying balance thing again

I can totally relate too. I'm totally burned out. I've just realized that I improved my technique a lot in the last 6 months but I didn't actually learn a whole 'easy' song. It's boring when you can sweep and do alternate picking runs and you can't play a simplest fun song. It stopped being fun and became more like a workout... That's why I have to balance it out with some theory and composing... and learn some easier stuff...

[Ben Higgins]

I can totally relate too. I'm totally burned out. I've just realized that I improved my technique a lot in the last 6 months but I didn't actually learn a whole 'easy' song. It's boring when you can sweep and do alternate picking runs and you can't play a simplest fun song. It stopped being fun and became more like a workout... That's why I have to balance it out with some theory and composing... and learn some easier stuff...

Yeah, your head hurts too... or at least mine does. Brain is tired !

[Cosmin Lupu]

Check this out it happened to me last weekend I was talking to my girl and we were invited at a barbeque on Saturday night. Everyone going there knows about me playing the guitar and so on and they all said bring the guitar, bring the guitar' I was thinking 'man....I won't be able to play JACK out of all the tunes these folks will most likely want to hear' I told my girl...'you know, I can't really play all the stuff these people expect, just because I simply haven't been learning such things in the last period' She was bummed of course and the conclusion is...normal people don't give a rat's bottom on sweep picking and modal playing

Now, easy acoustic songs are very fun, engaging and they can be very useful for your ear training. How about putting this little thing into your practice:

Pick up ANY song out there and try to figure out the harmonies using your ears and then sing the vocal lines while playing the guitar. Analyze what's going on and you'll probably encounter some modal playing too

...and your girl and friends will be happy too

[derper]

Just load up an mp3 player with backing tracks, bring a Roland Micro Cube (or small amp equivalent) and rock your Vivaldi set!! I'm sure that'll impress them, whoever they are!

Check this out it happened to me last weekend I was talking to my girl and we were invited at a barbeque on Saturday night. Everyone going there knows about me playing the guitar and so on and they all said bring the guitar, bring the guitar' I was thinking 'man....I won't be able to play JACK out of all the tunes these folks will most likely want to hear' I told my girl...'you know, I can't really play all the stuff these people expect, just because I simply haven't been learning such things in the last period' She was bummed of course and the conclusion is...normal people don't give a rat's bottom on sweep picking and modal playing

Now, easy acoustic songs are very fun, engaging and they can be very useful for your ear training. How about putting this little thing into your practice:

Pick up ANY song out there and try to figure out the harmonies using your ears and then sing the vocal lines while playing the guitar. Analyze what's going on and you'll probably encounter some modal playing too

...and your girl and friends will be happy too

[Cosmin Lupu]

Just load up an mp3 player with backing tracks, bring a Roland Micro Cube (or small amp equivalent) and rock your Vivaldi set!! I'm sure that'll impress them, whoever they are!

Hmmm...I could give that a shot

[Alex Feather]

Hi! It's a very good question! I think every time you are learning something it should be a challenge so if you feel like lesson you are learning is not pushing you anymore it's time to move to the next level!

[am3s22i]

Play what you like mate, and never limit yourself! I've been practicing some level 9 lessons for months and I still can't play them at full speed, but in between I've been playing level 4 or 5 lessons as well.

Maybe this thread can help you stay motivated and devote a couple of months of a harder lesson if you are sure it's worth it:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...showtopic=42807

The key is keeping the motivation up. Of course, it's harder to do with the harder lessons, because you don't have that feeling of "completeness", that's why you need to try everything a bit There's no real formula, you have to find out what works best for you.

One more thing: Numbers don't always show the truth! I've witnessed some lower level lessons a lot harder than the higher level lessons! That's because it's all subjective, and also you could be better in a particular technique than the others, so you'll finish even hard lessons of that technique faster.

thanks man, im definitely gonna check your thread. im also working on this level 2 lesson http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...inger-work-out/ but man it was so tiring that my hands can't keep up to it. i say to myself that it should been into an higher level.

hi guys, could i also ask what is the "g" on the tab. i have seen the tab legend it says grace note. but when im looking the video im seeing that its kinda a slide?

Q. E E S S S S E Q. E S S S S S S E
-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
--/16~---------14b--12---14g16---12~--|---L-------------------12g14---12~--|
-----------------------------------------------|-------------12---14----------------|
-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|

[am3s22i]

up!

[Nihilist1]

thanks man, im definitely gonna check your thread. im also working on this level 2 lesson http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...inger-work-out/ but man it was so tiring that my hands can't keep up to it. i say to myself that it should been into an higher level.

hi guys, could i also ask what is the "g" on the tab. i have seen the tab legend it says grace note. but when im looking the video im seeing that its kinda a slide?

Q. E E S S S S E Q. E S S S S S S E
-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
--/16~---------14b--12---14g16---12~--|---L-------------------12g14---12~--|
-----------------------------------------------|-------------12---14----------------|
-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|

That is most likely a Glissando. If it hurts your hand, you might be tensing too much. Remember to relax. The most important thing for me is to remember that I actually have to breathe when I play. If I can manage that, I can play anything -- and so can you.