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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Cant Learn Songs Anymore?
Posted by: Rob_g Sep 6 2007, 10:13 AM
Its been a recent problem to me that whenever I try to learn a new song I learn a bit of it then I kinda just say to myslef this is quite boring and this wont teach me anything i dont already know. I kinda think learning songs are getting useless. Is this just a phase? I'm always thinking of new music to create all the time though, thats basicly all the motivation im getting to play guitar right now. Should I just focus on making
something new? or creating my own style?
Anywho kinda making me think a little. Has anybody had an experience like this?
Rob
Posted by: Ryan Sep 6 2007, 10:17 AM
something new? or creating my own style?
Anywho kinda making me think a little. Has anybody had an experience like this?
Rob
Learning songs from my personal experience is a beginner thing really so they can get the feel for the guitar. I dont learn anymore more songs, i jsut try and incorporate what i learn here, into my own playing!!
Posted by: MickeM Sep 6 2007, 06:11 PM
I try to learn new songs all the time, well that comes with playing covers, but there's two ways here.
First, learn in quick and simple and play the song using the techniques you already know. Meaning it gets close but not perfect and doesn't add to your knowledge of technique.
Second and more interesting, analyse a song and learn to play it properly. Meaning you have to adopt the technique used in the original. This takes quite a few hours, days even to get it proper and this adds to your playing quite a bit in my opinion.
I can understand if you learn it quick and dirty it's not really learning, it's a sloppy look alike version and may seem less meaningful. Pretty much what I do in the rock coverband. If you on the other hand try to learn it note for note that's something else, if you don't learn from that you're already a complete player 
Posted by: Asphyxia Feeling Sep 6 2007, 06:13 PM
+1 on what MickeM said.
Posted by: JOhn Sep 6 2007, 06:43 PM
Also learning a hard song is no different from learning a lesson from here. For example take a had song which has lots of fast picking. That would be a alternate picking lesson giving the same benefits as a alternate picking lesson on this site. There is nothing special about alternate picking lessons here they just have lots of alternate picking which make them usefull so if you take a song with lots of the things you want to improve on it will the the same as a lesson.
Posted by: mattacuk Sep 6 2007, 06:57 PM
When i first picked up guitar i wanted to learn songs, but now i just practice GMC techniques, and techniques of my fave guitar players and its a FAR better way to go IMHO 
That said, playing your fave songs can be a good way get you started so whatever it takes to get someone playing is good
Posted by: Robin Sep 6 2007, 07:53 PM
Dont forget that you might get some new ideas of how to make music while learning songs.
Posted by: muris Sep 6 2007, 08:00 PM
Learning music and tunes from other artist will spread your views,
upgrade your technique and theory knowledge.
This all shall help you to make better music of your own
Posted by: tonymiro Sep 6 2007, 11:21 PM
+1. To use Vai as an example (As lots of people like Vai) - he pretty much started his career transcribing, analysing and playing Zappa.
Once you've learnt a song try transposing it to other keys try changing the time signature and so on; take riffs and ideas and analyse them to see what scales/modes, arps and so on are being used and possibly why; look at when and how legato etc are used: then decide how you can incorporate them into your playing and so make them useful to you.
Cheers,
Tony
Posted by: Eat-Sleep-andJam Sep 7 2007, 04:45 AM
I kind of think of it in some stages.
1. Beginner- You just pick up the guitar. You want to learn anything thats anything song wise to play in front of peers and what not.
2. Intermediate- You still like playing some songs but are working on technique and some theory to start to develop your own musical ideas. This is also a stage I feel most of your improvision starts.
3. Advanced- Youve mastered quite a few techniques and your doing really good on theory. You can improv on must of the fretboard in a good amount of different keys with different scales and box shapes.
4. Pro- Youve mastered every technique you get your hands on. You wrote the book on theory and you can seemlessly go all over the fretboard and know where you are .
- Ok so thats like a rough outline of what you can be at skill level. I believe songs only help inspire musical ideas, learn different techniques and help develop ones tone as a guitarist. So playing songs wouldnt be a bad thing but dont let that be your main focus
- John
Posted by: Rob_g Sep 7 2007, 08:39 AM
thnks guys for all your input.
Exactly what I needed to here.
Posted by: kebsis Sep 8 2007, 02:02 AM
Well the most important part about learning the guitar is to have fun so...if it is boring, don't do it and find something you enjoy practicing with.
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