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Shadow21
Okay... I've just been playing over some old backingtracks that I had for a long time, it has been a while since I've used them... Anyway, what I want to say is that my phrasing is quite bad, and this has really made me sad sad.gif
So, I would like to have some advice about phrasing, how can I improve it, how can I learn to combine some licks together?
I would really apriciate some help, this is like a wall in my way to become a better player and musician, and I would like to brake through it.
Thank you.

Joel.
Daniel Realpe
In my opinion phrasing can be very subjective to perception. Some phrasing can be very square but yet effective and many people enjoy that. Other type of phrasing can be very fluid and flexible and some people consider that good phrasing, but it only means that other people enjoy that more that the other type.

I think one thing you have to have though is precise timing. Really have clear in your head and hands where the beat is and be as locked to it as possible. That is for drummers what "punch" is. It's not only on the way they hit the drum but also how locked in they are with the pulse.
Ivan Zecic
You have to be able to hear something in advance. In other words, you have to imagine an interesting phrase or lick before you play it and then execute it without sounding sloppy or ending at the "wrong" note, these are the most common mistakes begginers make.
The best way to practice phrasing is: just sit down, create or hear a cool sounding lick in your head and then figure out how to play it on guitar. You have to imagine slides, bends, small decorative bends, pull offs and hammer ons; in other words EVERYTHING exactly as if you heard that lick being played by somebody else...
With some time and practice you'll be able to apply it while improvising!
Shadow21
Thank you both! I'll start improving my timing & start transcribing licks from my mind (:
Ivan Milenkovic
Good phrasing skills don't come at once, and you can always climb to a new level of connecting your fingers and the way your mind makes phrases. It works both ways. You mind remembers the phrases you use commonly (can also be referred as lick, but any kind of rhythmic or melodic sequence can be memorized), but also, your fingers go where mind tells them to go. It's a blurry process, it's not black and white. With time and practice, these skills will become better and better on their own, there isn't anything in particular that you have to do to become a good improviser. Everything will get you there - ear training, chord practice, arpeggio study, scale study, theory study, song transcribing, or any other form of musical training.
Don't be discouraged if your phrases are all look-alike because of the limited lick knowledge, we've been all through that, and the only way to become better is to practice more. In time you will create your own style of playing that will in essence reflect all the knowledge and skills you've put together while practicing. The more you practice and learn, the greater reflection of that on your playing.
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