Members Faust1587 Posted March 30, 2011 Members Posted March 30, 2011 I know this is a funny question, but I find that when I am just playing for myself- it's really difficult to get better. I mean I learn a song, play it, but then what? I can play it a couple of times and it might be enjoyable for alittle while, but then I feel like moving on. I guess overall it's challenging myself, that is the problem. I find it hard to feel that need to learn something difficult when there's no purpose to it. Playing live serves a purpose, playing for the walls in my bedroom has gotten to the point where it's boring. I've learned songs, stuff like Metallica, Zeppelin, Bowie, the standard rock/metal stuff and even branched out to classical music/jazz music. But once I learn it, I feel done with it. Well I guess my question is how do you guys stay motivated/learn new things when you're not in a band? Or is it necessary to be in a band to get better?
Members Li Shenron Posted March 30, 2011 Members Posted March 30, 2011 I know exactly what you're going through. It happened to me every time in my life I did not have a band (except in my first couple of years as a beginner, where getting better was so much easier). One thing to keep in mind is that a band is not the only possible purpose. Songwriting and recording is another hugely motivating application, but of course not everyone is interested enough. But at least consider the option. Then of course not having a band might mean that you want to look for one to either join or form. It's the same thing as with being unemployed: when you're looking for a job, you find open positions, and between sending your application and being interviewed you spend your time studying the subject, strengthening the skills needed for the job, review similar stuff you've done in the past. So if you are indeed looking for a band to join, or looking to form a band, you can find motivation in a plan to prepare yourself for it. You need however to know at least what kind of music you want your next band to play. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you instead do not have a clear idea about your next band... Then you more or less fall in two categories: either you have quite a lot of time to spend on the guitar, or you have limited and perhaps highly variable time. If you are in the former and lucky case, you can afford making yourself a medium-term "development plan", setting yourself a few goals at a time: this is what I used to do in my beginners years, where I had everything to learn and I didn't know much of what I wanted to do with the guitar. If you are in the latter case (like I am now), you need to be more humble and avoid large and ambitious plans: instead, I keep a list of small and short-term things to study or "fix", and I work on them whenever I have time, one at a time on each day I can play. Since they're things as small as a rhythm groove or one type of chord etc. I get visible results at the end of the session (tho I may need multiple days for some). I call this way of doing my "physiotherapeutic regimen". The key for motivation is actually the written list: when you start seeing more and more marks besides the tasks completed, it makes you want to do more tomorrow. Nevertheless this can only be a temporary phase, you have to switch back to applications early or late...
Members Jeff1979 Posted March 30, 2011 Members Posted March 30, 2011 Play along to cd's!! I spent my entire youth with my cd player cranked and my amp going, playing along for hours on end, even better when my folks where out!! Standing there in my room, thinking i was Slash/Cobain/Hammett etc happy days... I still play along now, even with a band intow...
Members GreenAsJade Posted March 30, 2011 Members Posted March 30, 2011 I guess you're mostly talking about lead? Recording has got to be key. Either songwriting, and recording so you can share your songs with others. Or recording for some other reason. One excellent reason might be to take part in backing track jams. Occasionally Mo organises one here, and there's nothing stopping you doing that as well. I know that they also occur more regularly in Mark Wein's forum. If you're recording and sharing, your arse is on the line, you will want to improve GaJ
Members 1001gear Posted March 30, 2011 Members Posted March 30, 2011 @OP, you'll improve at what you're doing. I don't play in bands. I'd like to - plural, but the level here is just too disinspiring - stifling even. Nobody's fault, it's a population thing. Still, I keep my chops up so if I'm up to the material, getting up to speed isn't too much of a hassle. I just stay with the vision of being a good musician. I try to be critical and keep my head uh, mine. This is crucial to artistry of any kind. [Apologies to those pros who haven't the luxury of real opinions. lol.] Performance-wise I do daily maintenance. Backing tracks, ironing out basics, and very important, therapeutic drills for known technical issues. Basically taking steps to improve independently of the working crowd. This is drumming incidentally but I think the principal carries over to any set of skills.
Members JonR Posted March 30, 2011 Members Posted March 30, 2011 I agree with GaJ: be your own band! Get into multitrack recording. It's a lot of fun, plus it helps you improve your timing and listening skills.If you have a computer (you DO have a computer, right?), it costs you nothing:http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
Members jonfinn Posted March 30, 2011 Members Posted March 30, 2011 Try this: Write a song that's way too hard, then learn to play it.
Members BydoEmpire Posted March 30, 2011 Members Posted March 30, 2011 There's always open mics, especially if you're into blues or jazz. Lot of opportunity to play with other people there, and you'll learn a lot. But once I learn it, I feel done with it. Sounds like you need to find something - whatever it is - that is totally inspiring and blows you away. That's how you overcome boredom because really, you can never be done learning any genre. It's a matter of getting inspired to keep your hands on the fretboard. I'd also start picking goals and work towards them. Maybe it's learning to read music, maybe it's playing some tune note-for-note, maybe it's adding repertoire or just getting better at some technique.
Members girevik Posted March 30, 2011 Members Posted March 30, 2011 I've played with my housemate's band several times as a guest, but I appreciate the freedom of not being a full-time band member. I'm in the process of composing enough pieces for an approximately 30 min. solo set. Some are for solo guitar, some for solo viola, and some will incorporate a looper so I can get both instruments going.
Members Faust1587 Posted March 30, 2011 Author Members Posted March 30, 2011 Yes, I totally agree with recording to stay interested in getting better with music. I do that alot, but sometimes find myself pushing too many buttons on my computer rather than playing, but generally it gives you a good goal. About, the "finding stuff that blows me away" part- I will have to think about that. I am blown away alot actually, maybe I should settle on thing. Li Shenron, that's some good advice. I followed a similar routine, and actually felt it quite enjoyable to to do a list of things to work on. I guess it's probably a combination of things that keeps you interested in your instrument during this down times of not being in a band. Open mics, backing tracks, lessons, recording, etc... And now I know, and knowing is half the battle.
Members AXEL276 Posted March 30, 2011 Members Posted March 30, 2011 Motovation, inspiration! These are important even if you're in a band. This is what has driven me for the past 35 plus years to practice every night. Find a musican or band, or a style of music, something, anything that is going to motovate you to practice harder. Also, it's been mentioned already, recording! I have been motovated to the point that it's the first thing I think of when I wake up and the last thing I do before I go to bed, when I'm working on a song. Get yourself some recording gear and start writing, jammming, etc.!
Members polishpaul Posted March 30, 2011 Members Posted March 30, 2011 I think, therefore I am. I play, because I can. You've expressed some of my sentiments in your post.....like, why do I bother with all this? I think you just have to keep plodding on, hoping for brighter days. Maybe get yourself wrapped up in some kind of charity gig for kids.........get them boppin' about and you might never look back .
Members w1ll1a9m Posted April 1, 2011 Members Posted April 1, 2011 I feel the same, I dont have a band and all the friends/players that I know are way better than me. Its really difficult for me to find people that are in my "level" to play with Im not good enough to play with the people I know........ so I end up playing alone in my bedroom, sometimes I record my self and some ideas I come up with but since I have no idea on composing drums or keyboard lines I get frustrated easily.
Members GreenAsJade Posted April 1, 2011 Members Posted April 1, 2011 So JP started a backing track jam just for you Faust But I do feel a little like w1 in this respect: the backing track jams are so far out of my league that it's not like "playing with people at my level! Maybe we need a beginners backing track jam!? GaJ
Members jason76 Posted April 1, 2011 Members Posted April 1, 2011 I regularly post material on a blog (for my drums) and will later (when I get more free time) for guitar also. Otherwise, I would neglect playing like a lot of people do.
Members bigboy78 Posted April 1, 2011 Members Posted April 1, 2011 So JP started a backing track jam just for you Faust But I do feel a little like w1 in this respect: the backing track jams are so far out of my league that it's not like "playing with people at my level! Maybe we need a beginners backing track jam!? GaJ Yeah I know what you mean. I haven't listened to any of the takes yet, but I can tell by the names attached to them that I'll sound extra amatuer by comparison. I'll have a crack at it tonight and lower the average a bit for you GaJ. I squibbed on the last one JonFinn put up. I actually put my guitar back in its case, under my bed and haven't taken it out since. The feeling of crapdom was too much.Might have a few beers while I watch the footy tonight, then have a go while I'm a bit more "relax & confident".
Members 1001gear Posted April 1, 2011 Members Posted April 1, 2011 So this Faust guy and his conundrum... being in a band can also be a detrimental experience. Most may consider bands and playing live what it's all about but frankly it often is a very narrow and confining experience. And for very little money at that. You get in return, atrophied sensitivity AND sensibility, zoned, inflexible chops, and moar deff. hmm...
Members GreenAsJade Posted April 1, 2011 Members Posted April 1, 2011 As with most things in life, being in a band is what you make of it. GaJ
Members 1001gear Posted April 1, 2011 Members Posted April 1, 2011 By my arithmetic it comes down to or failing that, lots of money.
Members Alex_DeLarge Posted April 1, 2011 Members Posted April 1, 2011 I've been playing for less than 3 years and have never been in a band. And I've been bored of playing sometimes. But: 1.- I try to learn something different every time. Not just some 4 chord songs. 2.- Try to write some of your own songs. 3.- Record your own backing tracks and solo over it! 4.- Transcribe songs by ear!! I know its challenging, but it will make you a much better player and its really fun to learn songs by ear because it is really challenging!! 5.- I play guitar with a friend and he sings over it and we are making a couple of songs. The point is that you don't really need a WHOLE band to make your own songs
Members GreenAsJade Posted April 2, 2011 Members Posted April 2, 2011 On the topic of "Backing Track Jam" and the like, here's another thing to get involved with 2 - RECORDINGFEST!!!!!!! - Share your recordings with the forum. Submit your recordings by April 26th for an April 27th Reveal. You can submit any music you like but it you want a "theme" we have "Record a song from the year you were born". More info here: http://markweinguitarlessons.com/forums/showthread.php?25029-Now-that-you-guys-all-have-new-recording-gear....&highlight=recording
Members 1001gear Posted April 3, 2011 Members Posted April 3, 2011 I've been playing for less than 3 years and have never been in a band. And I've been bored of playing sometimes. But: 1.- I try to learn something different every time. Not just some 4 chord songs. 2.- Try to write some of your own songs. 3.- Record your own backing tracks and solo over it! 4.- Transcribe songs by ear!! I know its challenging, but it will make you a much better player and its really fun to learn songs by ear because it is really challenging!! 5.- I play guitar with a friend and he sings over it and we are making a couple of songs. The point is that you don't really need a WHOLE band to make your own songs What is a WHOLE band any way? You just get stuck in the formula orchestration so everybody can play their parts all the way through. Find another acoustic guy and/or bassist - maybe keyboards and go find your voices.
Members Faust1587 Posted April 4, 2011 Author Members Posted April 4, 2011 *update* so I actually managed to set up a band audition. Thanks guys for your support. I think I just want to be in a band... is what it comes down to. I've managed to start getting interested in playing again, even if I have to learn cheesy songs like Jessie's girl.... well at least now it serves a purpose. But I do like the funk tracks people have posted, that sure is inspiring.
Members GreenAsJade Posted April 4, 2011 Members Posted April 4, 2011 Yay for you! I agree that sometimes it's worth learning whatever the songs are so that you can play them with a band.... GaJ
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