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Improving Guitar skills without a guitar


e021708

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Posted

I'm spending several hours a night in front of a computer without out access to a guitar. I have access to the internet and a printer and lots time.

 

What can I do to improve skills? any guidance is helpful.:freak:

 

Thanks.

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I used to keep slowed-down solos and things on my MP3 player and listen to it over-and-over on my commute. I'd go over things in my head and just visualize things then practice once I got home. Haven't been doing that lately though as I've been busy.

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Tap rhythms with a metronome...do a page a day from this book:

 

 

Nice! I've looked at that book, and was thinking about getting it, but how are you supposed to tap those rhythms if you don't know what they're supposed to sound like? Maybe use Power Tab or Guitar Pro as kind of a cheat sheet?

 

I was also looking at the Rhythm Bible because it has a CD.

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Nice! I've looked at that book, and was thinking about getting it, but how are you supposed to tap those rhythms if you don't know what they're supposed to sound like? Maybe use Power Tab or Guitar Pro as kind of a cheat sheet?


I was also looking at the Rhythm Bible because it has a CD.

 

 

You're supposed to read the rhythms...

 

Anyways, my suggestion is konokol exercises. I looked into konokol after hearing John Mclaughlin uses it, and it is an excellent system. JM just released a DVDthat teaches konokol if you want to look into it.

 

http://www.abstractlogix.com/xcart/product.php?productid=23241

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Posted
You're supposed to read the rhythms...


Anyways, my suggestion is konokol exercises. I looked into konokol after hearing John Mclaughlin uses it, and it is an excellent system. JM just released a DVDthat teaches konokol if you want to look into it.


http://www.abstractlogix.com/xcart/product.php?productid=23241



I get that. It's just hard to do if that's an area that you really need improvement on.

Looks like a cool vid. Thanks. :thu:

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Visualize yourself playing guitar. Seriously. Imagine the feel of your hands on the neck and the sounds coming out of the body/amp. Your brain responds in nearly the same way as if you were actually practicing.

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Visualization can be a powerful way of learning, I agree completely. I wrote an article that might be of assistance http://www.classicalguitarlatinstyle.com/tips/?p=11 you might also check out Ricardo Iznaoloa's book "On Practicing". Also check out this article (it's originally for classical players, but I think it applies to anyone) http://www.guitarramagazine.com/GuitarForum4 . I have lots of success with my students for learning the guitar neck, standard notation, ear training, etc. with my site http://www.guitargames.net . I have posted about it before, basic membership is free and you can do it without a guitar.

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Posted

I would

- brush up on music theory
- including harmony - learn some chord progressions
- take up that tip on ear training
- learn lyrics to songs if you sing - it don't help play but means you don't use valuable practice time
- learn some rythym grooves - drumming for dummies is a good book to look at at - think about where you play the guitar in the groove
- listen to some music

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Posted
I'm spending several hours a night in front of a computer without out access to a guitar. I have access to the internet and a printer and lots time.


What can I do to improve skills? any guidance is helpful.
:freak:

Thanks.



I like this website

http://www.good-ear.com

Good ear trainer. It won't directly improve your guitar skills, but it might help you improve your musicianship.

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Posted

I use a Gripmaster to strenghten my hands while driving. Ihave been doing this for about a year, every other day. It has definitely improved my hand stregnth and think it has improved my tone.

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I focus on fretboard visualization & ear training:

 

Seeing and singing (with a pitch-pipe close by):

the actual notes in various 2-octave arpeggios

the notes and noting the intervals / chord degrees of chord voicings

coverting triad arpeggios to 7th chord arpeggios and such

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Posted

this is a great thread with lots of great advice. i have been working 12 hour nights 3 or 4 days a week and the phone sometimes does not ring all night. so, i've been doing a lot of weird things. i make copies of fretboard charts and write all the notes on paper in random as fast as i can. i make blank copies of fretboards and chart scales over and over to see how fast i can do it.

i have always played with lead patterns knowing where the roots are and basically the rest by ear. now, the intervals are just falling in to place in my mind when i play. i think that this whole process may actually help me to play better as i have some time now to analyze things. i have played by ear for many years and now i actually start to understand.:thu:

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Posted
I would


- brush up on music theory

- including harmony - learn some chord progressions

- take up that tip on ear training

- learn lyrics to songs if you sing - it don't help play but means you don't use valuable practice time

- learn some rythym grooves - drumming for dummies is a good book to look at at - think about where you play the guitar in the groove

- listen to some music



this is on target thanks!:thu:

  • 2 months later...
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Posted

also, if you are interested in learning to read sheet music, you could take a piece of music and sing the letters of the notes. This will help you learn the notes better, and make it easier to play written music once you have a guitar at hand.

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Posted

I use a Gripmaster to strenghten my hands while driving. Ihave been doing this for about a year, every other day. It has definitely improved my hand stregnth and think it has improved my tone.

 

 

The Gripmaster takes a lot of flak on the Electric Guitar board, but I think I'd like to try one during my daily commute. Do you use the "light", "medium" or "heavy" one? I doubt that the "heavy" one is appropriate, but I'm not sure whether to start with the light or medium.

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Posted
I'm spending several hours a night in front of a computer without out access to a guitar. I have access to the internet and a printer and lots time.


What can I do to improve skills? any guidance is helpful.
:freak:

Thanks.



My first question would be why are you spending several hours a night in front of a computer without access to a guitar? If you can reverse that situation then your problem is solved.

If not, then the advise given above about visualization is good, as well as trying to improve your listening skills or timing.

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Posted

My first question would be why are you spending several hours a night in front of a computer without access to a guitar? If you can reverse that situation then your problem is solved.


If not, then the advise given above about visualization is good, as well as trying to improve your listening skills or timing.

 

 

i get paid to sit here.

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