If your a guitar player who thinks that he or she knows it all, then you should just skip this post! Also, this post is VERY LONG as well!
Every once in a long while I come across a guitar player who thinks that they know it all. I think that we’ve all met a person like this who fits the category? I understand that in order to be a great player you have to have this invincible attitude or ego to obtain these lofty goals but come on, you can’t know everything. There is always someone out there that knows something that you don’t.
In my younger days, there were moments when I had this type of footprint attached to my persona. Sometimes upon entering a Brantford music store some musicians put down what ever they were playing and looked at it as if they didn’t know what this thing was that they had in their hands. Sometimes at a party or other social event guitarists would not play while I was playing or afterwards for that matter. This I thought was good for my ego, but later on I realized that we all were doing was just cheating ourselves out of a learning experience. After not playing for many years, I started to understand this problem.
While living in a dorm/frat house I started to play with many levels of musicians. I realized that some had these guitarists were playing these great little progressions that I had never heard of before and it spurred on my thirst for more musical knowledge. I made great efforts to stunt my level of playing and let other people shine. This approach made others relax and play without intimidation.
Fast forward to today, I think that it is time for me to take lessons again, not to figure out songs/styles but for technique. I know proper positioning, how to change chords efficiently, but I could use some work on understanding progressions better.
Another area is finger picking.
My classical picking is now at the level of a hack, but I can achieve the action and dexterity that I need to pull off a song or style without any noticeable problems. The classical stance is something that I do not use to any great extent but it does come in handy once in a long while.The real problem is with my thumb drone or an alternating bass picking style. The easiest way to understand this is to imagine a piano. You have the left hand working the bass or lower notes and the right hand doing the phrasing/melody. In guitar, your thumb is the bass and the rest of your fingers are the right hand playing the phrasing/melody.
Bruce Cockburn is the master of this in my eyes! It’s almost impossible to pigeon toe his style into one word but this is one of his many fortes. The best example of this is one Going to the Country which I have been trying to finger out or master for many years. I wish that the intro to the song was there to introduce to you to what I mean about his playing ability.
So now I am toying with the idea of taking lessons at the 12th Fret by a gentleman call Dave Martin. He specializes in picking, he loves the some style of picking that I do and best of all he has the same length of fingers that I have. While talking to him, he told me that he has come up against the same playing/technique problems that I have so it would be nice to have someone who has similar issues in this area.
They charge around $22.50 a 1/2 hour so I’ll try him out for a bit and see how it works out! I’ll get back to you later on the results and besides, he probably knows something that I don’t!
I began the guitar at age 50 and am still playing and having fun because I found a good instructor. He outlined how during the holidays people come for lessons they received as a gift but prefer to demonstrate their guitar prowess to the instructor rather than see if they can learn something new. I was speaking recently to a friend of mine about instructors. He has played for 20 years and is in a band and he decided to go back and get a refresher himself. He goes tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing about both of your experiences!
I’ve been playing guitar for over 25 years now and have played in some pretty influential bands but everytime I sit down and listen to some other players, I realize that there’s no way anybody can ever have the instrument truly mastered. We’re always learning something new an to me, that’s the beauty and fun of playng the guitar.
Godd article, btw.
That’s the beauty of being human there Jamconnect, you can never fully know everything that there is to learn about something.
I started learning the guitar last week. I’m just following some tutorials on about.com, and getting tips off some friends. I doubt I’ll ever get that invincible attitude, being too old to learn quickly, but hopefully I’ll meet song great musicians along my journey of knowledge.
It’s true in any field no one person is really a master but we can all say our piece with authority. Going through periods of intense practice alternating with times of inactivity and self doubt are part of the job of constantly rediscovering your own guitarist’s “voice”. One piece of advice I can give any guitarist is to learn what other guitarists went through to become great. Clapton, De Lucia, Bream, Williams, Feliciano, Dylan, Knopfler – all began as struggling no-nothings who had to practice day and night to find some way of expressing themselves. Most of us don’t have that kind of time to master the guitar through repeated and long practice. If we struggle when we are asked to play, the only confidence we can really have is in having some idea of what we want to say.
Ben the only thing that I can say to you is TAKE IT VERY SLOWLY! Take apart every aspect of a lesson.
(1) Sit back and look at how your fingers move from one chord to another. This is very important! Make sure that your fingers slowly at first and then as you perfect how your fingers will move, speed will come naturally.
(2) Make sure you pay attention to how you hold your pick! My way of playing is be VERY firm in the tension that you apply to it!
Good luck sir and please write back here if you have ANY QUESTIONS! Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question.
Ben, Keep on Jammin’
Ricky, I honestly can say, nice reply!
I guess I was lucky when I started off taking guitar seriously. I had all the time in the world and maybe having that natural ability didn’t hurt but there is nothing better in mind then taking completely apart a tune and figuring out other ways to play it. Ohhh, I just got a rush of adrenalin from that one Ricky!
This is the best phrase ever on this blog in my eyes and I want everyone to try to incorporate it into their own playing lives!
“If we struggle when we are asked to play, the only confidence we can really have is in having some idea of what we want to say”
Now that is something that I might just go out and put on a T-shirt! Keep them coming Ricky.
Keep on Jammin’
Great advice Chris, I think it takes a certain change in attitude from when you are younger to loose this compeditive urge and try to get the most out of a jam by finding new directions with people.
I also know what your talking about with the finger picking, I practiced classical for a fair few years, but the finger picking never became ingrained to an extent that I keep the skill without practice, like it did with a pick.
Keep up the great posts
Thanx for the vote of confidence learn guitar!
I know that was a long post, and generally my wife thinks that I should keep things to a minimum, but i was honestly putting my heart on my sleeve!
I hope that at least some younger players may use this as a catalyst to try these approaches in soul searching for that one feel or sound!
In regards to your picking, if you can at least throw something in now and then to keep you audience thinking, it will pay off for the better! I have problems with proper classical technique now a days, and I find myself second guess myself and that is when I get in trouble with my presentation. I think that everyone is more then aware of it but truth be told, they have no idea!
Anyways, thanx a lot for your comment! It means a lot to have someone of your level and maturity writing on this blog!
Keep on Jammin’
Over my playing career I have mainly taught myself, via the internet and books. Occasionally I have decided to take up some lessons.
I did this about 4 times with 4 different teachers. I think ultimately it was well worth it and getting a different persons perspective on your playing, can only be a good thing. whether is is good or bad points – it helps you learn where to improve and how.
Beautiful Effects! This is what I am talking about.
I hope that all 4 of those teachers where showing you different styles of playing. The more you learn the better off you are … I think!
Keep up the great work!
Keep on Jammin’
I don’t think you are ever too old to learn something new. I have been playing a long time and still learn new things all the time even from guys that have not been playing that long.
Nice article
You certainly can show an old dog new tricks! Look at me, I’m living proof Doug.
Its awesome reading all the experienced talk, sharing and the desire to still keep learning. Guess I have made a good decision in learning how to play the guitar.
Raul, you can’t go wrong at all! It WILL PAY OFF for you later, trust me on that one!
Keep on Jammin’
learning how to play guitar could make a good guitarist even better and i think that practice can even make the great players greater just so they can stay on top. it will always pay off
Great post I believe playing the guitar is a great pastime and can be both very relaxing and also a great way to meet new people with a shared interest.
My mother bought me a guitar at the age of 16. At that time, I went over so many websites offering guitar lessons online. I did take a paid subscription to one but frankly it wasn’t helping at all. So obviously my guitar was eating dust for the next 6 months until my mother hired me a guitar teacher. At that point I was able to progress into learning guitar. Though I am a little out of practice nowadays due to college but I can still play decently. I love finger picking! 🙂
P.S. I didn’t find this post long at all! Great post! 🙂