Showing posts with label to. Show all posts
Showing posts with label to. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Making Time to Practice
How Long Should You Practice, and How do You Find Time?
Beginning students, especially adults, seem to have a lot of trouble finding time to practice. The list of excuses is very long, and I believe Ive heard almost all of them by now. Here are some tips to getting yourself into a practice routine.
Beginning students, especially adults, seem to have a lot of trouble finding time to practice. The list of excuses is very long, and I believe Ive heard almost all of them by now. Here are some tips to getting yourself into a practice routine.
- Make the time. Yes, thats right, make the time. Like any other skill, playing guitar takes time, concentration, and commitment. A set time of the day is best, so schedule it like any other important appointment.
- Youre too busy, really? I hear that more and more. Heres a hint: turn off the TV, close Facebook, put the computer to sleep and pick up your guitar. Just like exercise, practicing guitar will become a habit if you do it at a set time each day.
- Any time spent practicing is better than none. We all need to practice more, me included. The question I get from parents all the time is "how much time should he/she be practicing?" The general answer is 15 minutes or more, the practical answer is as much as possible. You dont have to spend hours, but playing every day is a lot better than 3 hours one day and then none the rest of the week.
- Find a comfortable space to practice in. If at all possible, find a place where you can practice thats quiet, away from any distractions, and preferably set up as a guitar practice space. Having your guitar on a stand is a good idea, since its harder to ignore it when its right there in front of you. Invest in a decent music stand so you dont have to waste valuable time locating your music, finding a place to put it, and then finally getting started on your daily practice.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Get use to your guitar pick
Hello again,
Talking about the pick for me by choosing the right guitar picks will make not only the comfortablity, though it will give u a good sound and tone.
YOu should have ur favourable guitar picks. THere are a lot of shape and thickness. Also they made from some different material and color. Spend some time to get a different types of picks and do some experiment so will know the different of each and then choose your best one for you. Get use to it, appreciate it and love it.
Those pick in the picture is in my collection.
Talking about the pick for me by choosing the right guitar picks will make not only the comfortablity, though it will give u a good sound and tone.
YOu should have ur favourable guitar picks. THere are a lot of shape and thickness. Also they made from some different material and color. Spend some time to get a different types of picks and do some experiment so will know the different of each and then choose your best one for you. Get use to it, appreciate it and love it.
Those pick in the picture is in my collection. For your information there is no pick can last forever. One day somehow it will torn up and overused. U need to change it, is good to have stocks of picks. DOnt be so stingy by having just one pick. Put ur pick stock in your guitar case so u can get it easily when u need it next time. ALso good if you have pick holder attached to your guitar.
Have fun
Monday, October 14, 2013
Start to KISS!!! Keep it Simple Stupid!!!
Hmm.....!!!
I remember one time ago. When I taught a guy in a tutorial session, I asked him, "what song do u really want to play?". He replied, "Fade to black, Metallica..."
Well, for me it is a good song, some people can play this song easily. But not for this guy, he is really a rookie, he cant play that song, he needs to play more simple thing. And, more simple arrangement and movement.
So, if u want to play something that really big stuff, but suddenly u stuck and cant do the chords or smoke ur finger with the solo. Its time to start KISS!!! Keep it Simple, Stupid!!! (My ex-boss influence to use this terms, he he. Thank you Mr Terrence)
There are a lot of song we can choose. One great example is the Zombie-Cranberries. Even i use this sond as case study for most of my student in the class. It use simple chords and also simple solo. Only using E minor, C, G and D. And these chords is easy to grip and fast to change ur finger position from one to other. The solo part: only a few note to remember.
Then, form time to time try to find other song, and go out learn something new, try something new.
Okay guys!
Friday, September 27, 2013
Are You Going to Listen to Your Teacher or Your Friends
Beware of your well meaning friends
Once a beginner starts learning to play guitar, there are all kinds of advice being given by well meaning friends. They have your best interests in mind, but most of them dont teach and therefore the advice you get may not be all good. A good guitar teacher will steer you in the right direction, make sure you dont pick songs that are beyond your skill level and help you make steady progress. Your friends will suggest what they learned, try to help you, but not remember how hard it was in the beginning. Ive had students who got conflicting advice, ideas that would do harm than good, and shown songs, riffs and licks that were way beyond their current abilities.
Pick a teacher thats right for you
There are lots of guitar teachers available, many of them quite good, some not so good, and some good but not for you. The best advice is to ask questions, make sure your teacher has experience with beginning guitar students, and can play and teach the music you like. It doesnt have to be the only style he or she is interested in, but at the minimum a basic understanding is needed. For example, Ive had students that wanted to learn classical guitar, flamenco guitar, slack key guitar and other types of music that Im not comfortable teaching, so I helped them find a teacher that would be more helpful. A good teacher will be up front with you and tell you if you should find someone else.
Once a beginner starts learning to play guitar, there are all kinds of advice being given by well meaning friends. They have your best interests in mind, but most of them dont teach and therefore the advice you get may not be all good. A good guitar teacher will steer you in the right direction, make sure you dont pick songs that are beyond your skill level and help you make steady progress. Your friends will suggest what they learned, try to help you, but not remember how hard it was in the beginning. Ive had students who got conflicting advice, ideas that would do harm than good, and shown songs, riffs and licks that were way beyond their current abilities.
Pick a teacher thats right for you
There are lots of guitar teachers available, many of them quite good, some not so good, and some good but not for you. The best advice is to ask questions, make sure your teacher has experience with beginning guitar students, and can play and teach the music you like. It doesnt have to be the only style he or she is interested in, but at the minimum a basic understanding is needed. For example, Ive had students that wanted to learn classical guitar, flamenco guitar, slack key guitar and other types of music that Im not comfortable teaching, so I helped them find a teacher that would be more helpful. A good teacher will be up front with you and tell you if you should find someone else.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Want to Improve Your Playing Be a Positive Thinker
Sending negative messages to yourself.
It never fails to amaze me how many students start off a song with a phrase like "this is the one I always screw up." Or, "I just cant get that part to sound right." Theyll then proceed to experience the self-fulfilling prophecy and screw the song up or complain, "see, that part doesnt sound right."
What causes these problems?
In many cases its not lack of practice, but lack of confidence. Do negative thoughts or statements instill confidence? Absolutely not. How do you develop the ability to play confidently? Start off by listening to yourself play the song. Isolate the trouble spots, and concentrate on smoothing them out. If you continue to think a part doesnt sound right, listen to a recording of it. Dont try to play along at first, just listen several times so you know exactly what it sounds like. When you can hum it or sing it, then go back and fix your mistakes.
Theres plenty of help available, do some research.
With You Tube videos, guitar teacher websites, recordings, and all types of instructional material available, theres really no reason to struggle on your own. Find a guitar teacher, watch videos of the song youre trying to play, or any combination of those.
Change your attitude and your outlook.
Ive talked a little about this in other posts, but it bears repeating. Think positive thoughts, focus on what youre playing, and try to improve each time you play. Practicing the parts you already do well doesnt help. Work through the difficult passages, playing them slowly at first, then build up the parts around them. I tell my students to work on the hard part, then add a measure or two that lead into that part, and then on the measure or two after it.
It never fails to amaze me how many students start off a song with a phrase like "this is the one I always screw up." Or, "I just cant get that part to sound right." Theyll then proceed to experience the self-fulfilling prophecy and screw the song up or complain, "see, that part doesnt sound right."
What causes these problems?
In many cases its not lack of practice, but lack of confidence. Do negative thoughts or statements instill confidence? Absolutely not. How do you develop the ability to play confidently? Start off by listening to yourself play the song. Isolate the trouble spots, and concentrate on smoothing them out. If you continue to think a part doesnt sound right, listen to a recording of it. Dont try to play along at first, just listen several times so you know exactly what it sounds like. When you can hum it or sing it, then go back and fix your mistakes.
Theres plenty of help available, do some research.
With You Tube videos, guitar teacher websites, recordings, and all types of instructional material available, theres really no reason to struggle on your own. Find a guitar teacher, watch videos of the song youre trying to play, or any combination of those.
Change your attitude and your outlook.
Ive talked a little about this in other posts, but it bears repeating. Think positive thoughts, focus on what youre playing, and try to improve each time you play. Practicing the parts you already do well doesnt help. Work through the difficult passages, playing them slowly at first, then build up the parts around them. I tell my students to work on the hard part, then add a measure or two that lead into that part, and then on the measure or two after it.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
3 Legendary and Easy to Build Guitar Pedals
If you want to build at home some guitar effect and you don't have enough time or skills for complicated constructions, but you want to make something with an awesome tone, this is the way to go:
- Dallas Fuzz Face
- Dallas Rangemaster – treble booster
- MXR Distortion +
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Is It Possible to Practice Too Much
How much is too much when it comes to practicing?
The law of diminishing returns. While its extremely important to maintain a steady practice routine, there is a point where youve stopped making any progress that day. Usually after 45 minutes to an hour, its time to take a break. Your fingers get tired, you quit hearing what youre playing, and you dont seem to be getting anywhere. Thats how you know you need to do something else for a while.
I practiced that part over and over, but when I went to play it for my teacher I messed it up. Playing at home is a lot different from performing for someone else. Whether its your teacher, your class, or a live performance, its much harder to play in front of people. You need to build confidence in your ability to play the part that gives you trouble and you cant let it get the best of you. My students will say things like "here comes the part I hate", or "heres the part I always have trouble with", and guess what? They immediately have trouble with it! At that point the problem is in your head, not in your fingers.
How do you overcome this? No matter how painful it is, play in front of and with other people. I conduct a "controlled jam session" at the studio where I get students of the same level together so they can all experience playing with others. The first week or two everyones timid, shy and pretty much unable to perform at their normal level. Once they become more comfortable and relaxed the tension slowly goes away and they play much better.
Open mikes, jam sessions and other outlets. Being nervous or scared is a common reaction, so the best thing to do is to learn a few songs that you can play well, record and/or make a video of yourself playing the songs, and play them for friends and family members. Most cities have open mikes or jam sessions, so the best way to get some experience is to just do it. At jam sessions, play along in the background until youre comfortable. Most jammers are very encouraging and youll be surprised at how helpful they can be. At an open mike, its only going to get better if you keep doing it. Again, most of the people attending will be very encouraging and helpful.
Be prepared. Before you leave the house be sure you have everything you need. Extra picks, strings, a capo, a strap and an electronic tuner should all be in your case. If youve never practiced while standing up, youll be surprised at what a difference it makes. When you think youre ready, just go for it.
The law of diminishing returns. While its extremely important to maintain a steady practice routine, there is a point where youve stopped making any progress that day. Usually after 45 minutes to an hour, its time to take a break. Your fingers get tired, you quit hearing what youre playing, and you dont seem to be getting anywhere. Thats how you know you need to do something else for a while.
I practiced that part over and over, but when I went to play it for my teacher I messed it up. Playing at home is a lot different from performing for someone else. Whether its your teacher, your class, or a live performance, its much harder to play in front of people. You need to build confidence in your ability to play the part that gives you trouble and you cant let it get the best of you. My students will say things like "here comes the part I hate", or "heres the part I always have trouble with", and guess what? They immediately have trouble with it! At that point the problem is in your head, not in your fingers.
How do you overcome this? No matter how painful it is, play in front of and with other people. I conduct a "controlled jam session" at the studio where I get students of the same level together so they can all experience playing with others. The first week or two everyones timid, shy and pretty much unable to perform at their normal level. Once they become more comfortable and relaxed the tension slowly goes away and they play much better.
Open mikes, jam sessions and other outlets. Being nervous or scared is a common reaction, so the best thing to do is to learn a few songs that you can play well, record and/or make a video of yourself playing the songs, and play them for friends and family members. Most cities have open mikes or jam sessions, so the best way to get some experience is to just do it. At jam sessions, play along in the background until youre comfortable. Most jammers are very encouraging and youll be surprised at how helpful they can be. At an open mike, its only going to get better if you keep doing it. Again, most of the people attending will be very encouraging and helpful.
Be prepared. Before you leave the house be sure you have everything you need. Extra picks, strings, a capo, a strap and an electronic tuner should all be in your case. If youve never practiced while standing up, youll be surprised at what a difference it makes. When you think youre ready, just go for it.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
How to Keep Getting Better on Guitar
Making steady progress.
Everyone wants to make steady progress on the guitar, but be prepared for times when it doesnt seem to get any better. We all reach plateaus, and sometimes it can be very frustrating. A plateau is just a temporary setback, so try to accept it as that. When I was first learning guitar and later banjo, I remember sitting there wondering if I just ran out of talent or skill, and that was as good a player as I was capable of being. Over the years many students have told me "I think Im getting worse instead of better." Here are some ways to help you get off the plateau and back to making progress.
Work out the details.
Whether youre a beginning guitar player, an intermediate player, or even a guitar teacher, there are times when its easier to play what you know and not work on the hard parts! Im as guilty as anyone, with a list of songs that Ive never finished for whatever reason. Sometimes its a physical problem, sometimes its mental, and be honest with yourself, sometimes you just dont like the song well enough to finish it.
Physical problems.
Ive had students who will complain about not being able to execute a particular fingering, complaining that either their fingers arent long enough or that the pinky doesnt work. Before giving up, you can try using different fingerings or playing the passage on a different part of the fingerboard. The nice thing about the stringed instruments is that you can play the same note in different places. Maybe you can find the same notes higher up the neck where the frets are closer together. Most students dont take the time to strengthen the pinky, they just chalk it up as not being able to get it to work. Practice some stretching and strengthening exercises and you just might be surprised at the difference.
Mental problems, or, dont think.
Self-fulfilling prophecy time. Here comes that part I cant play. I always screw this part up. I can never get this part to sound right. Sound familiar? Almost any one of those problems can be solved by not over thinking the problem, thereby building self confidence. Guitar is a lot like sports. While talent is important to some extent, the ability to play the part perfectly has a lot more to do with how you perceive it. Get rid of those negative thoughts. If you think the part doesnt sound right, listen to recordings, get your teacher to help you make it sound right, then move along. I have students who can play passage perfectly, but they still come in convinced it "just doesnt sound right when I play it."
Everyone wants to make steady progress on the guitar, but be prepared for times when it doesnt seem to get any better. We all reach plateaus, and sometimes it can be very frustrating. A plateau is just a temporary setback, so try to accept it as that. When I was first learning guitar and later banjo, I remember sitting there wondering if I just ran out of talent or skill, and that was as good a player as I was capable of being. Over the years many students have told me "I think Im getting worse instead of better." Here are some ways to help you get off the plateau and back to making progress.
Work out the details.
Whether youre a beginning guitar player, an intermediate player, or even a guitar teacher, there are times when its easier to play what you know and not work on the hard parts! Im as guilty as anyone, with a list of songs that Ive never finished for whatever reason. Sometimes its a physical problem, sometimes its mental, and be honest with yourself, sometimes you just dont like the song well enough to finish it.
Physical problems.
Ive had students who will complain about not being able to execute a particular fingering, complaining that either their fingers arent long enough or that the pinky doesnt work. Before giving up, you can try using different fingerings or playing the passage on a different part of the fingerboard. The nice thing about the stringed instruments is that you can play the same note in different places. Maybe you can find the same notes higher up the neck where the frets are closer together. Most students dont take the time to strengthen the pinky, they just chalk it up as not being able to get it to work. Practice some stretching and strengthening exercises and you just might be surprised at the difference.
Mental problems, or, dont think.
Self-fulfilling prophecy time. Here comes that part I cant play. I always screw this part up. I can never get this part to sound right. Sound familiar? Almost any one of those problems can be solved by not over thinking the problem, thereby building self confidence. Guitar is a lot like sports. While talent is important to some extent, the ability to play the part perfectly has a lot more to do with how you perceive it. Get rid of those negative thoughts. If you think the part doesnt sound right, listen to recordings, get your teacher to help you make it sound right, then move along. I have students who can play passage perfectly, but they still come in convinced it "just doesnt sound right when I play it."
Friday, July 26, 2013
What Do You Do to Learn A New Song
How to go about learning new material
Listen to the song. Get a copy of the new song and listen to it several times. Before you attempt to play your guitar on a song you have to listen and understand exactly how it goes. Many times a student will insist he or she knows how it goes, only to find a part they dont remember. Being able to hum or sing the song means you have the ability to know what its supposed to sound like.
Dont practice mistakes. When youre just starting to learn a song on your guitar, go slowly enough that you cant make a mistake. Guitar playing is all about muscle memory and your fingers remember all of it, good and bad.
Do what works best for you. Everyone has a different way of learning. Some guitar teachers advocate learning one measure or even just a small phrase while others encourage you to play the whole song. The best thing to do is experiment and see what works for you.
Be patient and dont try to rush. A common beginning guitar player mistake is to try to play fast. Remember, if you cant play it slow, you cant play it fast.
Using these playing tips should help you improve at a faster rate, so experiment and give them a try.
Listen to the song. Get a copy of the new song and listen to it several times. Before you attempt to play your guitar on a song you have to listen and understand exactly how it goes. Many times a student will insist he or she knows how it goes, only to find a part they dont remember. Being able to hum or sing the song means you have the ability to know what its supposed to sound like.
Dont practice mistakes. When youre just starting to learn a song on your guitar, go slowly enough that you cant make a mistake. Guitar playing is all about muscle memory and your fingers remember all of it, good and bad.
Do what works best for you. Everyone has a different way of learning. Some guitar teachers advocate learning one measure or even just a small phrase while others encourage you to play the whole song. The best thing to do is experiment and see what works for you.
Be patient and dont try to rush. A common beginning guitar player mistake is to try to play fast. Remember, if you cant play it slow, you cant play it fast.
Using these playing tips should help you improve at a faster rate, so experiment and give them a try.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Guitar Peamp Buffer Booster easy to read schematic
This is the schematic that I wrote about in the post: New guitar preamp project
It shows a construction of a guitar preamp with some untypical switching system and clear, warm tone.
I made it for those of you, who want some more clear and easy plan.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
How to Wire a Blend Pot
If you're looking for some new, unique tones with your old two-pickup guitar, this mod project will be helpful. In this article I will show you how to wire a pickup blend potentiometer together with a classic 'volume+tone' stack. It is a guitar wiring system without common pickup selector. The blend pot will take its function, in quite original way.
Diagram:
Monday, June 24, 2013
Everybody Needs Somebody That They Can Talk To and Pick With
Do you want to speed up your progress?
I was always interested in learning to play guitar, in fact I had my first guitar lesson when I was 5 years old. Unfortunately, that was my last one until I was in high school. I didnt have a guitar and remember sitting on the floor, guitar book next to me, pretending I was strumming. Im sure my parents and the music school were just humoring me since I never got to go back. When I did start to play guitar, it kind of happened by accident. A friend and I were at a high school basketball game and started up a conversation with a guy we thought we knew. As it turned out, we didnt know him, but we became friends. He had a guitar, an old Kay archtop he was learning on, and I would play it when I went to his house. Soon after that, another friend at school told me his dad had a guitar he wanted to sell. We went and looked at it and since he didnt want much for it, I was the proud owner of a new guitar.
Practice + A little friendly competition = PROGRESS!
Since my friend Rich and I both knew people who played guitar, it was fun to learn something new and then show it off the next time we got together. However, youd only be able to be better for one day since the person that you were showing off to would immediately go home and learn what youd played! In addition, I found a guitar teacher so it helped both of us learn more quickly.
Finding someone to practice with can really help.
There are several advantages to having a practice partner. Its a lot less frustrating to know that youre not alone in the beginning stages and that there are other people struggling to improve. If you find someone with similar taste in music you can have fun trying to learn new songs. Things tend to go faster when you have a little friendly competition. It tends to make you practice more.
How to find someone.
Not knowing someone can be a deterrent, but there are lots of ways to solve the problem. The first resource would be your guitar teacher or the place where you take lessons. We offer controlled jam sessions and have had several friendships develop in the classes. Not taking lessons? Try going to an open mic or a jam session. In our area there are several open jams and open mics. You dont have to play at first, maybe just listen and see if theres someone at your level. While its ideal to have someone that plays better than you, if theyre too advanced they may not be interested. Good luck and I hope you find someone to pick with. It really does make an enjoyable hobby even better.
I was always interested in learning to play guitar, in fact I had my first guitar lesson when I was 5 years old. Unfortunately, that was my last one until I was in high school. I didnt have a guitar and remember sitting on the floor, guitar book next to me, pretending I was strumming. Im sure my parents and the music school were just humoring me since I never got to go back. When I did start to play guitar, it kind of happened by accident. A friend and I were at a high school basketball game and started up a conversation with a guy we thought we knew. As it turned out, we didnt know him, but we became friends. He had a guitar, an old Kay archtop he was learning on, and I would play it when I went to his house. Soon after that, another friend at school told me his dad had a guitar he wanted to sell. We went and looked at it and since he didnt want much for it, I was the proud owner of a new guitar.
Practice + A little friendly competition = PROGRESS!
Since my friend Rich and I both knew people who played guitar, it was fun to learn something new and then show it off the next time we got together. However, youd only be able to be better for one day since the person that you were showing off to would immediately go home and learn what youd played! In addition, I found a guitar teacher so it helped both of us learn more quickly.
Finding someone to practice with can really help.
There are several advantages to having a practice partner. Its a lot less frustrating to know that youre not alone in the beginning stages and that there are other people struggling to improve. If you find someone with similar taste in music you can have fun trying to learn new songs. Things tend to go faster when you have a little friendly competition. It tends to make you practice more.
How to find someone.
Not knowing someone can be a deterrent, but there are lots of ways to solve the problem. The first resource would be your guitar teacher or the place where you take lessons. We offer controlled jam sessions and have had several friendships develop in the classes. Not taking lessons? Try going to an open mic or a jam session. In our area there are several open jams and open mics. You dont have to play at first, maybe just listen and see if theres someone at your level. While its ideal to have someone that plays better than you, if theyre too advanced they may not be interested. Good luck and I hope you find someone to pick with. It really does make an enjoyable hobby even better.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Five Questions to Ask Yourself About Taking Guitar Lessons
Self Assessment for Beginning Guitar Players
As I said in a previous post, the hardest students to teach are the ones who have no real idea of what they want to play on guitar or why theyre even taking lessons. Saying "I just want to play guitar" is far too broad of a statement when you think about the versatility of a guitar. Answering the following questions will help you focus on what you have in mind.
As I said in a previous post, the hardest students to teach are the ones who have no real idea of what they want to play on guitar or why theyre even taking lessons. Saying "I just want to play guitar" is far too broad of a statement when you think about the versatility of a guitar. Answering the following questions will help you focus on what you have in mind.
- What kind of music do you enjoy the most? Dont just answer "I like all kinds of music." Were looking for specific styles.
- Who are your favorite guitar players? Name no less than 5. Dont worry about whether or not you think theyre beyond your ability, just name names.
- What is your main reason for choosing to learn guitar? Do you want to be in a band, play and sing for fun, jam with other people? Again, "I just want to play guitar" is not helpful.
- If you could play like ONE GUITARIST who would it be? We all have favorites and I know picking just one is difficult, but it gets you thinking about what you really like. I have guitarists that I like but dont necessarily want to play like them. For instance, I like listening to jazz and classical music on the guitar, but its not my main interest.
- Name the songs youd most like to play. Having a list of songs is a good step towards learning to play guitar. Seek out a teacher, present him or her with the list, and get advice about which songs to start with. Depending upon how long youve been playing, it may not be possible to play them immediately, but thats a great way to set goals.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Pay Attention to Details and Improve Your Sound
Make your music more musical.
What makes a great guitar player sound that way? Attention to detail. No strings buzzing, no squeaks, no deadened strings, playing clean, clear notes. Its things like that you need to listen for. Whats the best way to hear them? Record yourself. Recordings dont lie, they pick up every sound good or bad. When the strings buzz you need to push harder or play closer to the frets. A deadened string is almost always caused by something being in the way. Keep your fingernails short, push up your sleeves and arch your fingers so they dont bump into the other strings.
Listen closely to the recording and youll hear the trouble spots.
A lot of times we get so intent on playing that we dont hear ourselves. Ive had to tell students to listen to their playing and gotten blank stares in return. You need to hear what you sound like before you can fix the bad spots. Once you pick them out, then you grab your guitar and start slowly and methodically making the song sound better.
Attitude means a lot.
Once you find the phrases that need work, practice them slowly and build up speed so you can play them with confidence. Saying to yourself: "here comes the part I always screw up" becomes a reality. I hear lots of negativity during lessons and it will definitely affect the students performance. A positive attitude can make a big difference in helping you progress.
Put it all together, practice it and try again.
After youve eliminated the rough notes, cleaned up the chords and corrected the timing, record yourself again. If youve followed through and worked hard at improving your sound, the results should make you very happy. If not, repeat the above steps.
What makes a great guitar player sound that way? Attention to detail. No strings buzzing, no squeaks, no deadened strings, playing clean, clear notes. Its things like that you need to listen for. Whats the best way to hear them? Record yourself. Recordings dont lie, they pick up every sound good or bad. When the strings buzz you need to push harder or play closer to the frets. A deadened string is almost always caused by something being in the way. Keep your fingernails short, push up your sleeves and arch your fingers so they dont bump into the other strings.
Listen closely to the recording and youll hear the trouble spots.
A lot of times we get so intent on playing that we dont hear ourselves. Ive had to tell students to listen to their playing and gotten blank stares in return. You need to hear what you sound like before you can fix the bad spots. Once you pick them out, then you grab your guitar and start slowly and methodically making the song sound better.
Attitude means a lot.
Once you find the phrases that need work, practice them slowly and build up speed so you can play them with confidence. Saying to yourself: "here comes the part I always screw up" becomes a reality. I hear lots of negativity during lessons and it will definitely affect the students performance. A positive attitude can make a big difference in helping you progress.
Put it all together, practice it and try again.
After youve eliminated the rough notes, cleaned up the chords and corrected the timing, record yourself again. If youve followed through and worked hard at improving your sound, the results should make you very happy. If not, repeat the above steps.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Guitar Wiring Problems 5 Things to Check Out Before You Spend Money on New Parts
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| photo by notsogoodphotography |
I've got a few tips for you that will help you repair your guitar and probably also save some money. This is what you should check out when your guitar wiring doesn't work properly:
Open your guitar's wiring cavity. Watch out on the body finish.
1. Switches
A (Gibson): If you have problems with a Gibson-style switch, try to look at it closer. Do you see that springy, thin pieces of metal. Try to carefully push them to the inside of the switch. Sometimes, after years of work, they are pushed out a little bit.
B: Use compressed air (or just blow) to get rid of dust inside the switch. You might be surprised what a little bit of dirt can do.
2. Connections, joints:
Read more »
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