Learning Not To Play . . |
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Learning Not To Play . . |
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Apr 29 2012, 09:52 PM |
"The notes I play on the piano are as good as anyone can play them. The silence between them, now that is where the art lies" Sounds like Bill Evans perhaps? But back to the point.... There are a ton of things that could help, but the biggest help for me was to simply ALWAYS practice with a metronome! My guitar-hero, Scott Pemberton, was the one to tell me to use one "...not because you have bad timing, you actually have excellent timing....it's about LISTENING to what is going on around you....for example" and he went on to tell me the things I was doing wrong that I wasn't hearing because I wasn't trained to always listen to what's going on around me. So true. Best tip ever! Other than that, things I like to see/hear when I'm playing with another guitarist.... -Stay away from the same part of the neck!! Don't play the same chord, or if you need to, do a much different voicing to get different tone. Maybe omit the root? -Mix it up... is the song "busy" with rhythm textures, or funky-clav riffs? Mix it up, and do the opposite...I used to have a bad habit of playing too many notes/rhythms in my funk bands, when the rest of the band it. It felt natural, sounded "ok" (at best) because I was in time and playing a decent rhythm riff, but until I stepped up with better players I didn't know that I was "overcrowding" the sound!! Help keep the band and the sound in "balance"!! -Hands off preparation. What I mean is (doesn't work on stage/live, but can help in pre-rehearsal and arranging your parts) to actually sit your guitar down and listen to the music. What do you hear? What is missing? What is needed? Play that. With a guitar in hand, it is TOO EASY to fall into old habits and routines. Don't play what you can/already do....play what you "hear" inside your head and your heart. Hope that helps! -------------------- Check out my awesome Nintendo Cover-band, EMULATOR!! http://www.reverbnation.com/emulator Now.....go practice!! |
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