Re: Slow progress
- From: "John B" <jb@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 10:31:50 +1200
"Lew" <notme@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:169zj1u9glla0.1dpej5zhmehfp$.dlg@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> I've been taking lessons for about 6 months. My teacher will
give me
> something to work on and after a couple of weeks we'll move on
to something
> more complicated before I've mastered it. The result is I can
do simple
> things and some more advanced things, but none of them well.
>
> Don't get me wrong, I am MUCH better than 6 months ago. I can
do barre
> chords and scales and chord changes I couldn't dream of doing
when I
> started. I just can't play anything, no matter how simple,
without
> sounding like the Harry Chapin song "Six String Orchestra"
about someone
> who thinks he can play but can't.
>
> Here's my question: Should you master the basics before moving
on, or keep
> pushing even if you haven't? I would like to play SOMETHING
well, but I
> don't want to wake up 2 years from now and be able to play
"Silent Night"
> like a virtuoso but nothing else.
>
> Lew
Mastering the basics is an ongoing event. You should always keep
at it. The basics can be simple or very complicated.
On the other hand, you have to learn songs so you can see how
those "basics" are applied and how YOU can learn to apply them.
Also, review, review, review. Always review everything on a
regular basis and don't try to learn too much too fast. A lot of
teachers, imo, make the mistake of going far too fast. If you are
learning harder things, and you are not getting a good sound
because your fingers fumble or are too slow, step backwards, or
do it very slowly. What you are after is "Perfect Practice."
Everything you practise should be slow and "perfect." Forget
"Practice makes perfect". Go for "Perfect practice makes
perfect." It's the old GIGO. Garbage In, Garbage Out. If you
programme your brain with mistakes and fumbles, that's what
you'll get out the other end.
It's important to develop technique very slowly and carefully. If
you can't play something perfectly slow, you'll never do it fast.
Really focus on minimal finger movement for all chords ands
scales etc.
Another important factor that most don't pay attention to is - be
relaxed. Ensure your whole body from the tips of your fingers to
the tips of your toes is relaxed as possible. As you speed up,
train yourself NOT to get more tense.
When you watch a top pro player, they seem to make everything
effortless and easy. Well it is - for them. And that's because
they are as loose as a ukulele strummer in a pineapple patch. To
develop great technique, and avoid hitting the "wall", you have
to be loose and relaxed at all times. It takes training to
achieve that.
95% of players use too much pressure with the fretting and
picking hand. This stops your progress like a brick wall. Get rid
of all the body tension you can and you will progress rapidly.
A great book that shows the correct way to practice is by Jamey
Andreas. http://www.guitarprinciples.com/
John B
www.free-guitar-chords.com
.
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