Music Lessons, Little Rock
Working with what you've got...
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Had a thought the other day when working with a student...
The student was just like you and me, they wanted to play better than the currently can and they wanted to do it RIGHT NOW! They have a vision of what it will be like to finally be able to play like "my favorite guitar player" and feel frustrated that they can't play like that already.
In working with them, I know that one of their goals is to write their own music. So I suggested that we work with what they can do right now, rather than waiting for that mystical day when they can play like "my favorite guitar player".
We worked up a chord progression and wrote a short solo to play over it.
The solo wasn't fast, or flashy. Nor did it require any pyrotechnics or stage dancers. (it would have been cooler with both though!). The chord progression was just a few major and minor chords.
But guess what ... it was musical and very cool!
They were actually surprised at how cool it sounded when we listened back to the recording.
My point is that you should always try to improve. But, don't wait for some far off day to try and make your own music. Work with the tools you have RIGHT NOW and try to be creative with what you have. Believe me when I say this will do a great deal for your playing!
Here are a few ideas to work with:
1. If you cannot play a hard rhythm guitar part or riff, simplify it by playing just power chords, removing fills, whole and half count rhythms, etc. Using the part as inspiration, turn it into something you can play and make it sound as cool as you can.
2. If a solo is technically challenging, create your own solo. Work out the key and a few scale choices (ask your teacher for help if necessary). Then take those scales and play a few short phrases until you come up with a motif or theme. Once you have that, develop it into a longer part. Repeat this until you have a full 8-16-32-etc. measure solo.
3. If you always play with a pick, try playing fingerstyle. Grab your favorite chord progression and work up an easy fingerstyle pattern to play it with.
4. Keep the pick, but rather than strumming, play each note separately (arpeggio) ala House of the Rising Sun.
5. Record yourself.
6. Make music with others. Find others on your level that want to learn and explore with you. Spend a few hours working on progressions and soloing. Start a garage band, play a local pub, do a coffee house gig.
guitar guitar lessons in little rock little rock guitar lessons home recording house of the rising sun jam session chord progression soloing
Had a thought the other day when working with a student...
The student was just like you and me, they wanted to play better than the currently can and they wanted to do it RIGHT NOW! They have a vision of what it will be like to finally be able to play like "my favorite guitar player" and feel frustrated that they can't play like that already.
In working with them, I know that one of their goals is to write their own music. So I suggested that we work with what they can do right now, rather than waiting for that mystical day when they can play like "my favorite guitar player".
We worked up a chord progression and wrote a short solo to play over it.
The solo wasn't fast, or flashy. Nor did it require any pyrotechnics or stage dancers. (it would have been cooler with both though!). The chord progression was just a few major and minor chords.
But guess what ... it was musical and very cool!
They were actually surprised at how cool it sounded when we listened back to the recording.
My point is that you should always try to improve. But, don't wait for some far off day to try and make your own music. Work with the tools you have RIGHT NOW and try to be creative with what you have. Believe me when I say this will do a great deal for your playing!
Here are a few ideas to work with:
1. If you cannot play a hard rhythm guitar part or riff, simplify it by playing just power chords, removing fills, whole and half count rhythms, etc. Using the part as inspiration, turn it into something you can play and make it sound as cool as you can.
2. If a solo is technically challenging, create your own solo. Work out the key and a few scale choices (ask your teacher for help if necessary). Then take those scales and play a few short phrases until you come up with a motif or theme. Once you have that, develop it into a longer part. Repeat this until you have a full 8-16-32-etc. measure solo.
3. If you always play with a pick, try playing fingerstyle. Grab your favorite chord progression and work up an easy fingerstyle pattern to play it with.
4. Keep the pick, but rather than strumming, play each note separately (arpeggio) ala House of the Rising Sun.
5. Record yourself.
6. Make music with others. Find others on your level that want to learn and explore with you. Spend a few hours working on progressions and soloing. Start a garage band, play a local pub, do a coffee house gig.
guitar guitar lessons in little rock little rock guitar lessons home recording house of the rising sun jam session chord progression soloing
Good advice you gave here! I remember at one moment I was so unhappy with the guitar I had that I didn't do anything else but think of the guitar I would like to have and...I was feeling miserable and unhappy until I payed some thinking: it is always good to strive for something better, but ALWAYS FEEL HAPPY with what you have in hand. Playing the guitar is an ever learning process so I think that a person waiting for that great moment when he/she will be as good as the guitar hero he/she admires will never come cause you will always have something to learn. It is a moving target
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Well, gear is another story LOL !!!
We would all love to have that vintage '59 les paul blazing through a nice marshall stack. Throw in a custom designed pedal board, etc. etc. etc.
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