What can I do to improve my guitar playing?
Discussion
I've been playing guitar on and off for about 20 years and I feel quote comfortable doing simple improvisation over blues backing tracks, etc. I'm good with basic chords and strumming patterns and have learnt one scale shape but my picking work is slow. I can read TAB sheets fine, but I have no idea which notes are which other than chords.
I tend to find that when I pick up my guitar I lose interest after about 10 minutes as I run out of ideas pretty quickly and end up playing the few little riffs I know over and over.
I want to improve my playing and re-ignite my interest but I'm not sure how to do this or what style I want to develop. I love watching Vai and shredding techniques, but I've had a Vai TAB book for a while now but I think it's a little beyond my ability at this stage (!)
Would it be best for me to find a local guitar tutor, or is there a DVD lesson pack that is popular for intermediate players? How did you guys do to get better?
I tend to find that when I pick up my guitar I lose interest after about 10 minutes as I run out of ideas pretty quickly and end up playing the few little riffs I know over and over.
I want to improve my playing and re-ignite my interest but I'm not sure how to do this or what style I want to develop. I love watching Vai and shredding techniques, but I've had a Vai TAB book for a while now but I think it's a little beyond my ability at this stage (!)
Would it be best for me to find a local guitar tutor, or is there a DVD lesson pack that is popular for intermediate players? How did you guys do to get better?
dojo said:
You can get some interesting online lesson sites (guitar master class . net ) you can get set assignments if you want
Trouble is, you need the mindset to actually do these. Great way if you are dedicated, but I suspect not great if you don't put the effort in.Op - Join a band. You'll be amazed at what you learn and pick up. And combine this with writing your own stuff.
Top tip.
Don't sit doing the same thing every time!
As mentioned, get together with someone else, bass, gtr or vox and then you'll have to do something different.
Work out a version of the tune to the film 'Love Story'. It works really well on guitar - esp if you screw about with the harmonies.
Don't sit doing the same thing every time!
As mentioned, get together with someone else, bass, gtr or vox and then you'll have to do something different.
Work out a version of the tune to the film 'Love Story'. It works really well on guitar - esp if you screw about with the harmonies.
Great suggestions guys.
I'd be really interested in some kind of casual improv Jam session. I did have a search for something like this but I only found "Guitarist wanted for rock band" style adverts which looked all a bit serious/try hard.
Any ideas how I could find a relaxed jam session suitable for beginner-intermediate players?
I'd be really interested in some kind of casual improv Jam session. I did have a search for something like this but I only found "Guitarist wanted for rock band" style adverts which looked all a bit serious/try hard.
Any ideas how I could find a relaxed jam session suitable for beginner-intermediate players?
I find this site very useful: http://www.justinguitar.com/
The other thing that picked me up again when stuck in a rut was doing a bit of teaching.
The other thing that picked me up again when stuck in a rut was doing a bit of teaching.
1) Be more interested. If you're not arsed, you're wasting your time
2) Practice new things. Move modes, try scales, look at one area to change at a time. If you always play pentatonic licks in A, it's time to learn another
3) Move your fingering (snigger) around, see if you can use all 4 fingers instead of the usual 3
4) Learn a solo - Hotel California is awesome for this. What's also good is that you learn new ideas around chords and bass lines. It's better in A than Bm
2) Practice new things. Move modes, try scales, look at one area to change at a time. If you always play pentatonic licks in A, it's time to learn another
3) Move your fingering (snigger) around, see if you can use all 4 fingers instead of the usual 3
4) Learn a solo - Hotel California is awesome for this. What's also good is that you learn new ideas around chords and bass lines. It's better in A than Bm
Tab is great, but it's a lazy shortcut and you miss out on much of the learning process.
So pick a solo you like and that you think isn't too far out of your skill level, and load it into some software that lets you slow down music without changing the pitch. (don't know any to suggest, I use Sony Vegas but that's just because I had a copy from back when I used to edit video).
Slow it right down and learn it with your guitar in your hand, don't try to write anything down. If there are parts where you can't work out what's happening, then keep slowing it down and literally take it one note at a time until you can play what you are hearing. It helps to sing along with the recording too - if you can sing it, you can play it.
If you want to stretch yourself then pick a non-guitar solo, like saxophone, as it will get you playing note combinations that people don't tend to choose on guitar, rather than the usual pentatonic stuff.
So pick a solo you like and that you think isn't too far out of your skill level, and load it into some software that lets you slow down music without changing the pitch. (don't know any to suggest, I use Sony Vegas but that's just because I had a copy from back when I used to edit video).
Slow it right down and learn it with your guitar in your hand, don't try to write anything down. If there are parts where you can't work out what's happening, then keep slowing it down and literally take it one note at a time until you can play what you are hearing. It helps to sing along with the recording too - if you can sing it, you can play it.
If you want to stretch yourself then pick a non-guitar solo, like saxophone, as it will get you playing note combinations that people don't tend to choose on guitar, rather than the usual pentatonic stuff.
All the widdle diddle superfast playing does not really impress me.
Find yourself a vocalist, get your acoustic out and learn some songs between you start to finish, little bit of strumming and some fingerstyle and get yourself out to some open mic nights,
Playing guitar is not a competition, be happy with what you have learned so far, enjoy it and playing with other people in front of a audience is great satisfaction, you will be aplauded for a good song not how many notes a minute you can squeeze in,
Martyn
Find yourself a vocalist, get your acoustic out and learn some songs between you start to finish, little bit of strumming and some fingerstyle and get yourself out to some open mic nights,
Playing guitar is not a competition, be happy with what you have learned so far, enjoy it and playing with other people in front of a audience is great satisfaction, you will be aplauded for a good song not how many notes a minute you can squeeze in,
Martyn
Edited by Martyn-123 on Tuesday 29th September 13:35
I got a DVD from Lick Library on how to play ChickenFoot - has taught me a lot about rock blues and some solos.
I will hasten to add that I'm still rubbish, but at least I can play some phrases made famous by Mr Satriani.
They are here: http://www.licklibrary.com/
I will hasten to add that I'm still rubbish, but at least I can play some phrases made famous by Mr Satriani.
They are here: http://www.licklibrary.com/
I just ordered a new multi effects as I fancied a change from my old Zoom505.
I went for a Zoom 3GX. It's got a 40s looper so you can lay down some strumming then play it back and solo over it. It's also got some drum beats you can loop.
I remember when I got my 505 some 15+ years ago, it really boosted my play time while I explored the new sounds and options.
I went for a Zoom 3GX. It's got a 40s looper so you can lay down some strumming then play it back and solo over it. It's also got some drum beats you can loop.
I remember when I got my 505 some 15+ years ago, it really boosted my play time while I explored the new sounds and options.
Learn some new physical techniques
hybrid-picking (pick plus fingers)
Teach your right hand new stuff (no not THAT!) e.g. string popping, harmonic picking (e.g.Robbie Robertson), palm damping (stop it!), double-stopping (pick two strings at once).
Combine with string bends, reverse bends, double stop bends.
All on YouTube
hybrid-picking (pick plus fingers)
Teach your right hand new stuff (no not THAT!) e.g. string popping, harmonic picking (e.g.Robbie Robertson), palm damping (stop it!), double-stopping (pick two strings at once).
Combine with string bends, reverse bends, double stop bends.
All on YouTube
Learn some new physical techniques
hybrid-picking (pick plus fingers)
Teach your right hand new stuff (no not THAT!) e.g. string popping, harmonic picking (e.g.Robbie Robertson), palm damping (stop it!), double-stopping (pick two strings at once).
Combine with string bends, reverse bends, double stop bends.
All on YouTube
hybrid-picking (pick plus fingers)
Teach your right hand new stuff (no not THAT!) e.g. string popping, harmonic picking (e.g.Robbie Robertson), palm damping (stop it!), double-stopping (pick two strings at once).
Combine with string bends, reverse bends, double stop bends.
All on YouTube
OP - I am in exactly the same boat. I lack perfect pitch and natural talent unfortunately.
The only time I did improve my playing was during my late teens when I was in a band with my mates - I played the bass in the band, but also played the guitar writing songs etc, and I found the motivation kept me practicing and learning new stuff.
My advice would be to see if any of your friends have similar musical aspirations - much less intimidating than joining a band with people you don't know.
The only time I did improve my playing was during my late teens when I was in a band with my mates - I played the bass in the band, but also played the guitar writing songs etc, and I found the motivation kept me practicing and learning new stuff.
My advice would be to see if any of your friends have similar musical aspirations - much less intimidating than joining a band with people you don't know.
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