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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ im new
Posted by: tkkg Sep 29 2006, 07:52 AM
hi Im christoph
Ive heard about GMC from ultimateguitar.
and as I just had a look around I was wondering where to start from?
I had a look at some of the videos, kris is teaching various technics but he is also refering to previous lessons I cant find on the website.
Im feeling a bit lost.
and I have a very important question:
how am I supposed to practice?
I read I should practice with a metronom. what else do I have to take care of when practicing?
Thank you for your help!
Posted by: dendavid Sep 30 2006, 12:05 PM
hi there christoph,welcome to gmc
i'm not an expert but here is something to get you started 
using the metronome when learning is off course very important to get proper rythmic feeling and controlled speed etc..
it is something a lot off beginners and even more expirienced players don't pay enough attention on or they are not told to use it,i know couse i wasn't told that either and only started using a metronome when i came to gmc,it really helped me a lot getting my licks to fit in the timing of the songs
also build up the speed,don't try to play something very fast from the beginning,nice and even build up is the key,when comfortable at one speed then take it a bit further etc..it will result in more clean and controlled playing in time
also,and even though it might seem like a detail to some,it is very important when playing or practicing you should find a playing position that feels relaxed too you,try a few positions and you will find one that suits you,it will allow you to better digest the excercises,get better control,get better relaxed speed-build up,more stretching in the hand in due time etc...
it is obvious when you sit all cramped up you will not get the same progress (it will be very hard and demotivating)as aposed to being relaxed
so i hope you get something out off this,have fun practicing
Posted by: Molgan Oct 1 2006, 05:28 PM
Weclome to GMC christoph yes i agree with dendavid a metronome is very important!
Posted by: InstruMental Case Oct 1 2006, 10:12 PM
How you should practice is really up to you. You have to figure out how much time you have a day to devote to practicing.
Then you need to figure out what techniques you like and you want to get good at. Techniques like: alternate picking, tapping, legato (hammer-on’s and pull-off’s), vibrato, harmonics, wide stretches, scales, rhythm, sweeping, fretboard memorization, etc… Try to get an idea of what it is you want to work towards, and what techniques you’ll really want to use. Researching your favorite players - to find out how they pick (or how they don’t pick!) and what their various other favorite techniques are - is a good idea, especially if you want to learn their songs or play in a similar style.
Once you’ve prioritized what it is you want to get good at, then you should start looking through the GMC lessons for new ideas, advice, and exercises. Collect all the exercises you’re interested in together and then practice all of them daily. Remember that practicing forty-five minutes every day of the week is a lot more beneficial than trying to cram three hours in just two or three days a week. Do your best to consistently practice each exercise / technique every day, or else you may begin to lose progress you made (because of not practicing the technique regularly).
I recommend using a kitchen timer to practice with. Set it for maybe five minutes an exercise, and just play that one exercise for five minutes straight without stopping. Try to stay totally focused on what you’re doing, even if it’s repetitious and maybe a bit boring. Having a TV on can be okay, but keep in mind that it’s really only there to distract you, so it might not be such a great idea if you’re really trying to get better at something. As you practice that exercise for five minutes straight, keep pushing yourself to play it a little better. By that I mean, increase the speed, try to play it cleaner (with better string muting so there’s as little excess string noise as possible), and generally focus on moving your technique forward.
Analyze how you’re playing and do your best not to fall into bad habits and sloppy technique. Keeping good posture while playing might seem difficult and tiring at first, but keeping your spine straight will make you more alert and will probably help a lot to diminish back pain that you might begin feeling if you sit in a chair practicing every day.
If you plan on practicing several hours a day, then remember to get up and go outside every once in awhile. Take breaks to maintain a relaxed state of mind. You’ll learn much more easily if you just let things flow. Don’t obsess over getting to some imagined future, because it only ever is this moment. The future (where you’re a great player perhaps) is only ever going to come as this moment. If you realize deeply that this moment is all there ever is, then you wont fall into that unhappy striving for the future mindset that so many guitarists are in. They think that if they just master this new technique they’ll finally get “there”, but they never really do. I’ve met some of the greatest technical guitarists in the world, and none of them seemed very pleased with themselves.
Most of all, remember to have fun! You could just play (not even practice) for fifteen minutes a day against some cool GMC backing tracks and end up enjoying yourself five times more than some technique obsessed wanabe shredder ever will.
Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Oct 2 2006, 09:00 AM
Welcome to GMC Christoph,
Some useful info here!
Couldn't have said it better - this is very true. Imoprtant to understand not just to get better at guitar - but also to be happy with life (you decide which is the most important!) :shock
/Kris
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