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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ My Way Is Best, Your Way Is Best !
Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 23 2012, 11:33 AM
Inspired by a thread I was replying to yesterday, I wanted to discuss the concept that we are all different and will have our own, unique ways of doing something. I could have posted in the chill out room but this can relate specifically to guitar playing/practice etc
Have you ever had times where you've been constantly studying famous guitarist's techniques, hand positions.. frantically looking for the 'right' way of doing things ? I know I have.. and while it can be useful to establish some basic foundations of where to put your hands, what strumming is, how to sweep, tap, pick etc.. it can also serve to undermine our confidence in ourselves and stop us from finding our own natural way of doing things.
I'm beginning to embrace the attitude much more now than I ever have before. You might think it surprising that I haven't already mastered that attitude and set it in stone considering I've been playing guitar for about 17yrs but life is constantly changing and your beliefs grow and change just as much as anything else.
Just because somebody can make an approach work for them, it doesn't mean it's the same approach that you should use. By all means, try it and take the info on board but remember that it's just another piece of information to add to your growing level of knowledge about guitar playing. The more you dig into a subject, the more you discover that it's not really a case of finding more similarities between guitarists, it's actually a case of discovering more differences. The more we accept these differences, the more confident we can be with ourselves because we don't have to try and fit into somebody else's skin and make our hands or whatever work the same as theirs 
I'm interested to hear your opinions on this and your own experiences with any of the things I've talked about !
Posted by: Gitarrero Mar 23 2012, 02:46 PM
I'm absoultely with you, Ben.
I don't believe there is only one right way to do/master a certain thing/technique. It has to feel right for you and I'm pretty sure that you can achieve anything with your own approach, as long is it's not complete nonsense (like getting six pack abs from just sitting around on the couch 
)
I feel like I have a certain example in my head somewhere...it just won't come out right now :/
Do I get it right that, in your opinion, I no longer have to torture myself with the classical hand position to achieve great legato skills?? 
Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 23 2012, 02:59 PM
Well, it's true that you don't have to adopt the classical position to be able to play something in a legato technique. The classical position just helps you with reach
)Oh.
That's where I'm going wrong....
Posted by: dark dude Mar 23 2012, 05:12 PM
I reckon you know my stance on this already
It's great to take tips from people (and they may be excellent tips), but you have to work out what works for you. There is no perfect way to play guitar, it will vary from player to player.
Posted by: Dinaga Mar 23 2012, 05:35 PM
I like to try both ways first and then decide.
For example, I have my own style of playing guitar, and my most personal "thing" is that I start most licks with an upstroke, while most guitarists start with a downstroke. I chose that way and it fits me well, so I don't want to change it no matter what 
When I sweep pick, I play the highest note using legato (hammer-on). But, for instance, when I practiced your Defining Armageddon solo, I saw that you pick the highest note in the mini-sweep lick near the ending and I used your approach because it really made that note "ring" and sound better.
Also, I tried to use Muris' finger pisitioning while practicing his lessons, but at some parts I changed his finger choices with my own, because it was a lot easier to play for me (I avoid using the pinky in quick legato runs so I transfer everything to index, middle and ring finger)
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Mar 23 2012, 05:42 PM
Can't agree more with this. Guthrie Govan talks about this in his books Creative Guitar. He shares his way of playing a technique and then he explains other approachs that asometimes are like the inverse to his way. And then he says exactly what you say here, you just have to go on your way. There isn't one way for playing the things, if you don't believe it you just can see how Marty Friedman's hand looks when he is playing, how Michael Batio plays alternate picking or what finger uses Van Halen to hold the pick. I believe that experimente guitar players opinions is important when you are a beginner. You have to hear many opinions but also hear and trust in youself.
Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 23 2012, 06:42 PM
Yeah, seems like we all agree on the basic principle of trusting yourself and doing it your own way.
Do you ever have times where you have to remind yourself to do it your own way because you're fixated on other people's methods ?
Posted by: DarkWaveRiffer Mar 24 2012, 01:25 AM
Do you ever have times where you have to remind yourself to do it your own way because you're fixated on other people's methods ?
I still consider myself a struggling breakout beginner, So I took the attitude that its hard to form an opinion on what's good for me, until I reached a point of experience where I could make better formed opinions. I think its very important to be open to positive critique of your playing, but ultimately decide what is more comfortable for you.If it works for you, go with it. However, don't trip over your own feet. Don't perpetuate bad habits.its also important especially in the beginning to progress at a pace where you are excited about playing. Once your hooked, the momentum of success carries you on. Guitar for me is finding my voice, like learning another language. I see the real good guitar players seem like the guitar is a natural extension of them, and the message the can convey in a few short licks makes it profound.
Posted by: Todd Simpson Mar 24 2012, 02:30 AM
Do you ever have times where you have to remind yourself to do it your own way because you're fixated on other people's methods ?
Great thread! Couldn't agree more! Once you have the general basics of a given bit down, you really have to personalize. It will eventually come down to what works for you as a player. There is no single perfect path. This is a tough lesson to swallow when first learning as starting out its easy to believe "if I find the best/perfect way forward, I'll make the fastest progress!" It takes time to realize
The Perfect Way "IS" Forward.
But to the second point, yeah it's easy to get fixated on a given bit. But always important to be able to step back and gain perspective. Once gained, again, forward!
Posted by: The Uncreator Mar 24 2012, 03:29 AM
Hybridization.
Absorb as much information as possible, and mix what works to find your own way. For instance, when I play arpeggiated chords, I plant my fingers on my bridge pickup like MAB does when he plays alternate picking fast. Yet when I play alternate picking fast, I use a free-hand motion similar to what I feel when I play blues guitar.
Thats the way that has worked for me
Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 24 2012, 09:06 AM
Yes, very true !
In the early stages it's important to suss out the generally accepted 'good' way of playing the guitar. Everyone needs a reference point for the sounds they are trying to achieve. When it comes to increasing the ability of a technique, that's when you'll probably find that you have a particular gravitation towards your own unique way of doing it
All solid points !
That's gonna be stolen, if you don't mind... I know a good quote when I see one !
Absorb as much information as possible, and mix what works to find your own way. For instance, when I play arpeggiated chords, I plant my fingers on my bridge pickup like MAB does when he plays alternate picking fast. Yet when I play alternate picking fast, I use a free-hand motion similar to what I feel when I play blues guitar.
Thats the way that has worked for me
Ditto, you do what works !
Posted by: PosterBoy Mar 24 2012, 01:24 PM
I agree but as a learner I have often found what feels natural to me at my current level and is different to how other better players do things is exactly why I'm not progressing /getting faster etc.
I've found I've had to relearn certain things like holding my pick to parts of songs where a combination of downstrokes and alt picking felt more natural at a slower tempo but I just couldn't keep up at higher tempos and had to relearn all in alt picking.
Whilst there is no best way, there are usually good reasons why a lot of the awesome players we like do things in a very similar way (Marty Friedman and his freaky picking hand is the exception!)
So if it works for you great but if progression isn't happening don't be so stubborn as to experiment with other ways of doing things.
I would be so much better if I hadn't had the attitude of 'This is the way I pick' for so long
Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 24 2012, 04:25 PM
I've found I've had to relearn certain things like holding my pick to parts of songs where a combination of downstrokes and alt picking felt more natural at a slower tempo but I just couldn't keep up at higher tempos and had to relearn all in alt picking.
Whilst there is no best way, there are usually good reasons why a lot of the awesome players we like do things in a very similar way (Marty Friedman and his freaky picking hand is the exception!)
So if it works for you great but if progression isn't happening don't be so stubborn as to experiment with other ways of doing things.
I would be so much better if I hadn't had the attitude of 'This is the way I pick' for so long
This is also true.. this is almost like the other side of the coin.
If something really isn't working then take the time to really look at what you do and don't be afraid to experiment.
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