Members Martin_s Posted July 10, 2008 Members Posted July 10, 2008 I've only been playing for about 9 months. Taking privated lessons the last 3 months after 6 weeks of group lessons. Seems that it takes me at least twice as long to master anything new as my teacher expects it to. Last week I was told that I needed to stop being so 'analytical' and to 'find the beat' and just play. I admit that I do tend to be a bit of a prefectionist - although I'm certainly not perfect. Just that when trying to play along with my teacher, I find myself wanting to go back and correctly hit the notes that I might have gotten wrong - which of course means that we are no longer playing together. Has my technique improved due to the lessons? Yes. Slowly. Have my skills increased? Yes. Can I play in time to a metronome like he keeps telling me that I need to? No. I find myself listening to the metronome and not to the music! Same with trying to tap my foot. I seem to not be able to keep time with my foot and play at the same time! (I think he called this 'older white guy syndrome' or something like that.) I'm just about to the point of saying to hell with it, but I have found playing to be enjoyable and relaxing at times. At other times having to pick up the guitar is the last thing that I want to do! (Yes, I practise every day. But some days are WAY better than others.) I'm open to all suggestions, comments, ideas, criticisms, etc. Thanks Martin
Members donut jones Posted July 10, 2008 Members Posted July 10, 2008 you have to practice learning to live with your mistakes and just playing through them, i think is what he's saying. it's pretty annoying to watch someone stop and go back and replay something because he made a mistake, and of course, if you're in a band, you don't have that luxury at all. as for good days and bad days on the guitar, we all have them. it might be due to diet or personal {censored} that wears you out in your life... it may be nothing. you get used to it.
Members krystledawne Posted July 10, 2008 Members Posted July 10, 2008 Get another teacher. I'm serious. Not everyone communicates in the same way, and maybe you need to find someone that is able to inspire you. I'd say before you pack it in, decide what you really want out of it, and sit down and interview a few different teachers and find one that can faccilitate your vision. If you want to be able to play things you enjoy just because you love it, how fast you progress should never be an issue as long as you are putting in the effort. Any progress is good progress, find someone who will help you meet your own expectations, and no one elses. I do agree with the above post, but like I said it's about what you really want to do with it. Good Luck!
Members Kuroyume Posted July 10, 2008 Members Posted July 10, 2008 I agree with the responses so far. Timing is CRITICAL! Notes (solos, riffs, melodies)/harmonies and rhythm/timing are the two major required areas of music. You have to learn to coordinate subconsciously (eventually) your playing with timing whether it is a metronome, foot tapping, or the drum beat in a song. At first, yes, it can be difficult to pay attention to both the timing and what you're trying to do on the guitar simultaneously. My suggestion is this to improve your timing: * Start with a single note or chord and play it straight against the metronome at the lowest speed at which you are very comfortable then double the speed until it's rather fast and you can barely keep up. Add no accents (for 4 or 6 beat for instance). The point here is to get your picking hand timing solid with the metronome (etc.). * Now do exactly the same thing but with accents. For a 4-beat, you have two choices: 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4or (bluesy)1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4 And a 6-beat for variation and illumination:1-2-3-4-5-6-1-2-3-4-5-6(Note: for alternate picking, the first accent is on the downstroke while the second accent should be on the upstroke). * Now, try the same thing with a scale or chord progression. You don't have to change the chord for every beat/tick - maybe every 4/6 or 8/12. Think about bars here. Keep the progression simple for now: I-IV-V (E-A-B) or I-vi-ii-V (F Dm Gm C). The overall idea is to remove the distraction of what you are playing and concentrate on the timing. As your timing improves, you'll find that more and more complexities on the guitar aren't distracting from your sense of timing. Best of luck!
Members RedYagiDY Posted July 10, 2008 Members Posted July 10, 2008 All I can suggest is join a band as early in your musical carrier as possible. Replaying missed notes is TERRIBLE, when ever you miss a note or make a mistake, just remember to keep your right hand moving, and be playing the note that you ought to be playing at that time. Also when your doing metronome practice, listen to the metronome for a few mins before you ever even pick up your guitar. The idea is you wanna feel the beat of the metronome not just hear it. That will make playing in time with it much easyer. But its still much better for you to do the first thing I said and get with a band which is esentilly a metronome that is much easyer to listen to.
Members Kuroyume Posted July 10, 2008 Members Posted July 10, 2008 A band is a good way to get timing and other musicality up to snuff in a hurry (or face expulsion) but it depends if one can put this together. I've been in Parker, CO for nine years and haven't chanced upon any musicians that aren't already in bands or into my style. Part of that problem is mine since I've been cloistered in my home office for the past few years working on computer software. I had plenty of musician friends in Philly and we had a band for a while but that is not possible to continue obviously.
Members Neilsonite Posted July 11, 2008 Members Posted July 11, 2008 I'm a full-time teacher, and I can tell you that from what you've said, your teacher is doing absolutely the right thing, and you will thank him later! A sense of rhythm is vitally important - it's the connective tissue that holds the music together, and the little conductor in your head getting your hands to play the right thing at the right time. I'm assuming you're trying to play some chord progressions? If so, here are a couple of tips... - Start simple, mainly focusing on down-strums. When you're comfortable, you can include some ups - remember, you don't need to add them in, they're already there between each down! So, all you need to do is let your pick hit the strings on its way past. - Don't worry about the precise 'strumming pattern' at first, simply swing in time with the pulse of the song. Once you have that rhythm strong in your head, everything else is easy. Being perfectionistic will actually stop you from being able to attend to the pulse, which is the only thing you need to worry about at first. Don't get caught up in trivial and unimportant details, it's all about the big picture at this stage. - When changing chords, focus on the next chord, making sure you arrive at the right time, on the correct beat. To get there on time, you'll need to leave early. How early? Doesn't matter exactly, early enough to get there on time in a relaxed, easy way. Don't focus on how early, focus on getting there at the right time. You'll hit some open strings while you're changing chords, and that's fine, it sounds good, it's part of guitar playing. Hope that helps! James
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