Practice, An appreciation for what it really is. |
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Practice, An appreciation for what it really is. |
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Oct 7 2012, 06:24 PM |
I always thought that many rock guitarists were super human with regards to their speed etc.
I know I always read how in their teen years they spent hours practicing scales etc and it seemed so glamorous in a way. Yet it never really sunk in that that's what it takes. Being part of the GMC community has awoken the part of my brain that understands this. That running scales and etudes etc for substantial amounts of time is what it takes to be proficient and gain the skills we all try and attain. I no longer hear a piece and try it and just think no it's not possible for me to play, I start off incredibly slowly, make sure I can hear the notes I'm meant to be playing (for me this means can I sing them?) make sure I get the fingering correct and consistent, and then fire up the metronome and the journey begins, slowly and methodically. I wonder where I imagined the glamorous side to all this, when reading about Paul Gilbert and the rest of my heroes. There really isn't one. There are no shortcuts, no one can do it for you, it's a very anti-social and isolating part of being a guitarist (no one wants to hear you practice this stuff) I wish I'd had this epiphany when I was younger, when my fingers might have learnt quicker, and I had less bad habits to get rid of before getting the good habits to replace them. -------------------- My SoundCloud
Gear Tyler Burning Water 2K Burny RLG90 with BK Emeralds Fender US Tele with BK Piledrivers Epiphone 335 with Suhr Thornbuckers PRS SE Custom 24-08 Ax8 Fessenden SD10 PSG Quilter TT15 |
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Oct 7 2012, 07:02 PM |
That's exactly how I saw it in my head. Rather than my own diary of
Monday Went to work, came home, practiced my A Major scale in 4ths, managed to up my bpm another 5. Tuesday Went to work, came home, practiced my A Major scale in 2nd position, keep messing up on the G and B string. Wednesday Went to work, came home, practiced my A Major scale in 2nd position for 3 hours and I think I might be getting worse etc -------------------- My SoundCloud
Gear Tyler Burning Water 2K Burny RLG90 with BK Emeralds Fender US Tele with BK Piledrivers Epiphone 335 with Suhr Thornbuckers PRS SE Custom 24-08 Ax8 Fessenden SD10 PSG Quilter TT15 |
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Oct 8 2012, 10:16 AM |
I agree, but I do want to be really proficient with the foundations and attain a certain amount of speed that will allow me to play what I hear in my head
I'm hitting 40 next year, I don't see myself becoming a guitar god, but taking myself to a place where I can play at say 140bpm in 16th notes with alt picking, should be enough to play what I want, and also the journey will help me to find the best way for me to learn, practice. Playing music will always be the end goal, these are just the building blocks to allow me to get the music under my fingers, in terms of technique and what I'm hearing in my head. I was drilling the first 3 positions of the A major scale last night and then jammed to a C Lydian jam track, using the 3 positions (but obviously in the C Lydian Mode), and moving between them. I have so much instructional material that I can use for this from Paul Gilberts Intense Rock to Andy James Shred in 6 weeks, that I have looked at briefly in the passed but never sat down and really worked on, because I was hoping they had a magic trick that enabled me to get there instantly. The metronome and Guitar speed Trainer are now my best friends! -------------------- My SoundCloud
Gear Tyler Burning Water 2K Burny RLG90 with BK Emeralds Fender US Tele with BK Piledrivers Epiphone 335 with Suhr Thornbuckers PRS SE Custom 24-08 Ax8 Fessenden SD10 PSG Quilter TT15 |
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Oct 8 2012, 04:03 PM |
That's a great thought mate! I always loved playing the guitar, so maybe I didn't know this things that you have written here, but I was playing guitar all day because that's what I mostly enjoyed... the good thing was that once I learnt one tune, then I wanted to learn something a bit more difficult.... so my technique improved progressively, first with Ramones, Nirvana & The Rolling Stones, then Gun's and Roses, then Iron Maiden, then Malmsteen, then Steve Vai, an then Dream Theater, and when I could play DT songs I started composing my own stuff...
It's so true that this is a very isolating journey, even I had some phobia problems because of this... it's important to never loose the balance in life. -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Oct 9 2012, 01:22 AM
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The good news is. Nobody, I repeat Nobody can honestly fake it. Your good or your not and it's easy to hear the difference even if you just started playing so once you earn it and get "good" everyone that hears you play knows it. That's something special that nobody can take away from you. Something for yourself that you get to keep your entire life. People will come up to you and say they wished they'd learned to play an instrument. Comfort them. They probably never will. They will see the joy on your face as you play and how effortless it seems and regret not having earned it for themselves. It's a burden you will not have to bear. Carry your achievements with you in your heart (nailing a riff/scale/song) and cherish them. They are yours. You'll have earned every one. Todd This should be framed and put on every wall in every practice room. I know it is going on mine tomorrow! -------------------- My Sound Cloud Profile: http://soundcloud.com/casinostrat
Gear I Use: Guitars: Gibson: Les Paul Custom, ES-339, and Faded Flying V Fender: American Stratocaster Deluxe (I think?) Epiphone: Les Paul 56' Gold Top and Les Paul Standard, Casino Yamaha: FG720S Accoustic Amps: Fender Champ, Peavey Bandit 112, and an ancient Epiphone Amp:) Effects: Digitech RP 500 Effects Pedal Picks: Dunlop Jazz IIIs Practice, Practice, Practice, and remember Every Artist Does Get Better Eventually! |
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