Members Ragecord Posted April 14, 2009 Members Posted April 14, 2009 Aight thanks for reading, my situation is ive got a band and weve been to gether 6 months and really starting to get our sound. Ive been playing guitar for 15 years, im 29 yrs old. our drummer has been playing drums for 15 yrs and hes 29. we got a very talented singer hes 26 yrs and we just fired our FRIEND/BASSIST due to his lazyness and overwhelming drinking problem. Weve got a new bass player that is unbelievable. i need help because im the only other guitarist in this band so this guy is honestly freakin awesome. Hes a cool guy too, just what we wanted. whats the problem you ask? ok ive been playing 15 years so im decent, hell not even as decent as i should be considering ive been playing that long. but how can i get better quicker?? gimme you top exercises top advice, i just wanna bet better cuz with our new bass player riping {censored} up ive gotta level to get through Any good feedback appreciated. by the way im serious, i wanna get better and i know yall got some advice to pass to a fellow musician. LOL
Members 1001gear Posted April 14, 2009 Members Posted April 14, 2009 It's not a linear process and it wont be overnight either. And you didn't supply enough information.
Members mosiddiqi Posted April 14, 2009 Members Posted April 14, 2009 If you're serious about getting serious..then you need to get serious. ...I don't think a specific exercise is what you need...listen to all the music you can and play your guitar all the time. I know that's a bit vague, but you have to LIVE the guitar in order to get really, really good. Play all the time, love playing and learn something new every day..that's a good goal to have.
Members Virgman Posted April 14, 2009 Members Posted April 14, 2009 Jam with the bass player a lot. Take up heroin.
Members 1001gear Posted April 14, 2009 Members Posted April 14, 2009 Good point. One should be armed and ready for success.
Members Virgman Posted April 14, 2009 Members Posted April 14, 2009 Seriously, you could record the bass player and drummer then go home and jam along with the recording. That's probably the most direct way to work it out.
Members jeremy_green Posted April 14, 2009 Members Posted April 14, 2009 Were I you I would focus on being a SMOKIN rhythm player. Really get in there in the pocket and work on grooving the bands ass off. If you are a good guy to work with and a solid component of the band - it doesnt matter your chops. Thing is - this approach with really help your soloing as well - thats the thing a lot of guys miss. If you cant keep up chop wise keep up groove wise. I would way rather hear a guy who is in time and groovin than a technical dude who is out a bit any day. Your insecurities sounds like they are getting the better of you ... what do you think these guys are gonna turf you out or something? Why the panic tone?
Members girevik Posted April 14, 2009 Members Posted April 14, 2009 Weve got a new bass player that is unbelievable. i need help because im the only other guitarist in this band so this guy is honestly freakin awesome. Hes a cool guy too, just what we wanted. whats the problem you ask? ok ive been playing 15 years so im decent, hell not even as decent as i should be considering ive been playing that long. but how can i get better quicker?? gimme you top exercises top advice, i just wanna bet better cuz with our new bass player riping {censored} up ive gotta level to get through Any good feedback appreciated. by the way im serious, i wanna get better and i know yall got some advice to pass to a fellow musician. LOL Ear Training book by Bellson. Ask him about this. If you really want him to stay in the band, don't treat him like a potential enemy. Learn what you can from him.
Members mhoward Posted April 15, 2009 Members Posted April 15, 2009 ... gimme you top exercises top advice, i just wanna bet better cuz with our new bass player riping {censored} up ive gotta level to get through ... LOL I think the previous advice is the best you can get for the guitar playing. I'm sorry to drift off topic here, but for your life beyond guitar playing, how about learning how to write? You know, punctuation, capital letters... you're 29 and you're not typing on a cell phone; learn how to communicate! >
Members Knottyhed Posted April 15, 2009 Members Posted April 15, 2009 Aight thanks for reading, my situation is ive got a band and weve been to gether 6 months and really starting to get our sound. Ive been playing guitar for 15 years, im 29 yrs old. our drummer has been playing drums for 15 yrs and hes 29. we got a very talented singer hes 26 yrs and we just fired our FRIEND/BASSIST due to his lazyness and overwhelming drinking problem. Weve got a new bass player that is unbelievable. i need help because im the only other guitarist in this band so this guy is honestly freakin awesome. Hes a cool guy too, just what we wanted. whats the problem you ask? ok ive been playing 15 years so im decent, hell not even as decent as i should be considering ive been playing that long. but how can i get better quicker?? gimme you top exercises top advice, i just wanna bet better cuz with our new bass player riping {censored} up ive gotta level to get through Any good feedback appreciated. by the way im serious, i wanna get better and i know yall got some advice to pass to a fellow musician. LOL The best way to get good really fast is to practice about 8 hours a day and get a really good guitar teacher. As for specifics, well you've given us nothing to go on. To be honest, this forum's only any good if you have a specific question. NObody can tell you what to practice without knowing where you are currently and what your goals are - getting better is not a goal - better at what? Sweep picking? theory? If a teacher isn't an option, figure out where your weak areas are, and then come back with some specific questions about what to practice.
Members Selsaral Posted April 15, 2009 Members Posted April 15, 2009 The best way to get good really fast is to practice about 8 hours a day and get a really good guitar teacher. Yeah how much do you practice? If you really want to get good, beyond a garage-band level, you need at least 4 hours a day of focused practice on your own, outside of band practice. You need to be picking advanced techniques to work on, both rhythm and lead, acoustic and electric. Pick different styles, learn entire songs, and work on stuff that seems beyond you.
Members Jasco Posted April 15, 2009 Members Posted April 15, 2009 Yeah how much do you practice? If you really want to get good, beyond a garage-band level, you need at least 4 hours a day of focused practice on your own, outside of band practice. You need to be picking advanced techniques to work on, both rhythm and lead, acoustic and electric. Pick different styles, learn entire songs, and work on stuff that seems beyond you. I'd agree with everything except the part I highlighted in your quote. I think working on basic techniques is more helpful in most cases, even for high level players.
Members Echoes22 Posted April 15, 2009 Members Posted April 15, 2009 here is what I do.... 1/ finger gymnastics to a metronome (15min -hour a day)2/ practice scales/modes to a metronome (run through each scale like 8 times)3/ practice difficult chords (15-30 min)4/ record my own backing track or use a looper 5/ jam on top of the backing track (hour)6/ play with my band every single day (2-4 hours) 7/ spend your spare time studying or just thinking about theory (for example if you don't know your circle of 5th/4th by heart... start there)
Members jeremy_green Posted April 15, 2009 Members Posted April 15, 2009 I'd agree with everything except the part I highlighted in your quote. I think working on basic techniques is more helpful in most cases, even for high level players. Agreed I think a lot of us dont know the "basics" as well as we seem to think we do.
Members girevik Posted April 15, 2009 Members Posted April 15, 2009 6/ play with my band every single day (2-4 hours) I wish I could do that. Pretty sweet situation you got there.
Members Echoes22 Posted April 15, 2009 Members Posted April 15, 2009 I wish I could do that. Pretty sweet situation you got there. It's hard work... I have work at 8 or 9 every morning (a real full-time job mind you, I do IT work for BMS, a huge pharmaceutical corp) and we get done jamming at 2AM at least twice a week. I am completely deprived of sleep half the time and it's taking a big toll on my physical and mental well-being. Add to that 2-4 gigs a week, trying to record an EP, promoting for shows, trying to get more shows, trying to maintain a normal relationship with my girlfriend. I don't know if it's really a "sweet situation", it's just what needs to be done in order for us to "make it"... which after all of that still may not happen, but at least {censored} I am trying as hard as I can.
Members Knottyhed Posted April 15, 2009 Members Posted April 15, 2009 Yeah how much do you practice? If you really want to get good, beyond a garage-band level, you need at least 4 hours a day of focused practice on your own, outside of band practice. You need to be picking advanced techniques to work on, both rhythm and lead, acoustic and electric. Pick different styles, learn entire songs, and work on stuff that seems beyond you. I average 3 hours a day, if I had time I'd practice more. Thing is I've been playing a long time and frankly, with that level or practice I improve pretty slowly these days. In my experience it's pretty hard to actually practice more than 8 hours a day because you have to eat/sleep/take breaks/talk to people (unfortunately).
Members Knottyhed Posted April 15, 2009 Members Posted April 15, 2009 I think working on basic techniques is more helpful in most cases, even for high level players. There's allot of truth in that, I get more mileage these days working on things like my ear and chord knowledge than I do out of practicing technique. To be honest I think most player's actual technique (and I include myself) is well beyond their actual grasp of the stuff that really matters - i.e. musicality/ear etc.
Members girevik Posted April 15, 2009 Members Posted April 15, 2009 It's hard work... I have work at 8 or 9 every morning (a real full-time job mind you, I do IT work for BMS, a huge pharmaceutical corp) and we get done jamming at 2AM at least twice a week. I am completely deprived of sleep half the time and it's taking a big toll on my physical and mental well-being. Add to that 2-4 gigs a week, trying to record an EP, promoting for shows, trying to get more shows, trying to maintain a normal relationship with my girlfriend. I don't know if it's really a "sweet situation", it's just what needs to be done in order for us to "make it"... which after all of that still may not happen, but at least {censored} I am trying as hard as I can. What I meant was that it is rare to hear about a band being able to practice together every day because of logistical challenges (scheduling of each band member, where each band member lives and works in relation to the others, etc.). Most impressive.
Members Echoes22 Posted April 15, 2009 Members Posted April 15, 2009 What I meant was that it is rare to hear about a band being able to practice together every day because of logistical challenges (scheduling of each band member, where each band member lives and works in relation to the others, etc.). Most impressive. and to make things even easier, i am moving in with them on the 25th... although come to think of it this could be either really good or really bad... we'll see in a few weeks
Members Yngtchie Blacksteen Posted April 16, 2009 Members Posted April 16, 2009 Have we heard any clips?
Members ringo11 Posted April 18, 2009 Members Posted April 18, 2009 Get the lessons offered by Doug Seven. Its Country, its fast, its hard. But he lays it out there. My playing has improved 10 fold just trying to do what he's laying out in the DVD's/Cd's. I think his new site is " Hot Sizzlin' Country" or something like that. Just google his name.
Members lollygag Posted April 23, 2009 Members Posted April 23, 2009 Don't let anyone tell you that if you practice 8 hours a day you will get better. it isn't how long you practice, it is how effective your practice sessions are. practice doesn't make perfect-- Perfect practice makes perfect! Perfect doesn't exist, only the illusion of perfect (i'm not being philosophical, just realistic) aside from that, you learn from the best, choose songs that are easy for you to learn, then play them, then take songs that are just a bit beyond your talent, start playing them and working on them. Remember that your playing can only be as good as your ear. Work with that bass player and learn new stuff together, that way you can start to overlap each others' knowledge and get tight. here are some good things to get under your belt if you haven't already learned them, if you have, then continue to learn them! there is always a deeper understanding that can be achieved... *Chords: maj, min, dim, 7ths*extension tones: 9ths, 11ths, 13ths*expanding your repertoire of "riffs"*playing less notes (try to achieve the maximum effect with the minimum of material)*teach others (only when you can easily and successfully explain it to someone else does it mean that you have it internalized)*ear training*musical memory remember to not work on too many things at once though, it can be easy to spread yourself thin... Nobody is the master of all
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