Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format
GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ The "i'm Not Getting Better" Blues
Posted by: timrobwall Feb 6 2010, 05:44 PM
What kind of emotional support can you offer intermediate players who are practicing hard and smart but seem to be at a frustrating point in their development as guitarists, where they feel like progress is excruciatingly slow and where that next level seems so hard to reach. When you look back on your growth as a guitar player, does this sound familiar? How do you keep motivated?
Posted by: kaznie_NL Feb 6 2010, 06:24 PM
-Jam
-start learning new stuf, like playing slide guitar, learn some metal riffs, get into fingerpicking, write your own stuff, join Collaborations etc. etc.
-read theory
Most important, find the fun factor again
Maybe roll down the level of seriousnes in your practice and start making some more fun, just jamming for an hour is not half as useful for your skills as metronome practice, but it's way more fun, and that's what you need when you're not motivated, fun!
Posted by: Damir Puh Feb 6 2010, 07:07 PM
-start learning new stuf, like playing slide guitar, learn some metal riffs, get into fingerpicking, write your own stuff, join Collaborations etc. etc.
-read theory
Most important, find the fun factor again
Maybe roll down the level of seriousnes in your practice and start making some more fun, just jamming for an hour is not half as useful for your skills as metronome practice, but it's way more fun, and that's what you need when you're not motivated, fun!That's a great response.
Everyone hits that wall occasionally, just bare in mind the new stuff you're working on needs some "processing time". Take it easy and keep your brain fresh and you'll be on the right track in no time.
Posted by: Staffy Feb 6 2010, 07:22 PM
I will say something so unusal like: Read a book! Reading is great fun and You learn a lot. I've been reading a lot of musicians biographies lately (and earlier in my life as well) and its most inspiring to get another musicians perspective on music & life in general.
//Staffay
Posted by: kaznie_NL Feb 6 2010, 07:35 PM
Maybe read Guthrie Govan's Creative Guitar, I'm busy with it now, and it has some cool new ideas!
Posted by: timrobwall Feb 6 2010, 08:10 PM
-start learning new stuf, like playing slide guitar, learn some metal riffs, get into fingerpicking, write your own stuff, join Collaborations etc. etc.
-read theory
Most important, find the fun factor again
Maybe roll down the level of seriousnes in your practice and start making some more fun, just jamming for an hour is not half as useful for your skills as metronome practice, but it's way more fun, and that's what you need when you're not motivated, fun!thanks. very helpful. i'm gonna get really serious about having fun
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Feb 7 2010, 05:07 PM
//Staffay
I would say this is a great advice (among other ones). It always gave me great pleasure to read some musical biography book and that usually gave me a lot of push to continue and do things in a different way, break out of the usual routines that get created along the way.
Posted by: Emir Hot Feb 7 2010, 05:33 PM
+1
I have both parts of this book and it's an awesome source for everything you should know about playing guitar.
Posted by: timrobwall Feb 7 2010, 08:42 PM
//Staffay
Good thought. I would recommend Heavier than Heaven (Kurt Cobain); Room Full of Mirrors (Jimi Hendrix); Careless Love and Last Train to Memphis (two volumes -- Elvis Presley); Skydog (Duane Allman); Deep Blues (the blues from Charlie Patton to Muddy Waters and beyond) and Clapton (the autobiography). I've also heard that Pops (Louis Armstrong) is good. Any recommendations?
Posted by: Ruzz Feb 7 2010, 08:53 PM
I have also heard that the book "Scar Tissue" by Anthony from RHCP is really good..
As the other said.. Try to get out of your routines.. I think this problem is caused by some thought patterns.. In other words, the problem is only real if you think it is..
Start getting motivated again.. Do something new.. Perhaps start transcribing music from other instruments than guitar.. I personally find this to be very exciting and different from your usual guitar session..
Go for what keeps you going mate..
Posted by: shredmaster1393 Feb 8 2010, 06:55 AM
i would say make your practicing fun. Pretend you are on stage in front of millions of fans or something( what i do ) and i also jam alot and try to create licks for songs, transcribe, learn more music theory!!! i just did anything to make it more interesting and do stuff that will motivate u to get better!!!
Posted by: Staffy Feb 8 2010, 07:09 AM
Well, in addition to what You mentioned, Mingus Biography and Ian Carr's biography over Miles Davis are most interesting. Lately I've been reading Mötley Crues and Slash biography and are now reading Lemmy's..... The latter one's may not be so inspiring though, since they consists mostly of stories from those artists drug-abuse, but however Lemmy's are kinda funny since he tells some rude stories from the 60-70'ths .....
//Staffay
Posted by: JVM Feb 8 2010, 07:16 AM
You guys should definitely give 'When Giants Walked the Earth' by mick wall a read. It's the Zeppelin biography, there's a lot of great details in there 
Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)