Getting back into guitar/singing
Discussion
Any one else ever gone back to basics to re-learn an instrument?
I've decided as trying to improve my life, I'm going to stop using my guitars as decoration and actually use them. I was never amazing but could play a bit of Megadeth/guns n roses type stuff on electric (a good decade ago) up until earlier this year I would say I could do simple stuff very well. Eg, if I knew a song I could look up the chords and belt out a passable version pretty much straight away. Though through being lazy and always looking up the chords I've pretty much forgotten all but a handful of the songs I used to be able to do by heart.
I've decided to start right at the basics with fender's play app. Try and get out of some bad habits. So it's odd playing "this is open e string - plink, plink, plink..." Then between videos improvising a quick blues solo while it loads!
What's shocked me is how s
t my voice had got. I've always been a good singer (at least within the realm of songs that suit my voice), but I just can't keep it up. My throat's giving up after a couple of songs and it feels like the notes are stuck somewhere near the back and top of my mouth.
I've decided as trying to improve my life, I'm going to stop using my guitars as decoration and actually use them. I was never amazing but could play a bit of Megadeth/guns n roses type stuff on electric (a good decade ago) up until earlier this year I would say I could do simple stuff very well. Eg, if I knew a song I could look up the chords and belt out a passable version pretty much straight away. Though through being lazy and always looking up the chords I've pretty much forgotten all but a handful of the songs I used to be able to do by heart.
I've decided to start right at the basics with fender's play app. Try and get out of some bad habits. So it's odd playing "this is open e string - plink, plink, plink..." Then between videos improvising a quick blues solo while it loads!
What's shocked me is how s
t my voice had got. I've always been a good singer (at least within the realm of songs that suit my voice), but I just can't keep it up. My throat's giving up after a couple of songs and it feels like the notes are stuck somewhere near the back and top of my mouth. WRT to getting back into the guitar, maybe try getting out of the blues / rock / metal school of playing (which is difficult, I know) and try playing along to tunes that i) that are outside your usual comfort zone when playing and ii) are "fun" to play or learn?
Or, start exploring different styles like jazz or folk and such?
Certainly folk guitar can be simple and fun to play, with tunes that get a lot of people singing along. You may find that despite years of minor pentatonic noodling, you've got a hidden ability for stringing together a jazz chordal run of (say) minor 7 / dominant 7 / major 7 / minor 9 together with ease. Also learning some basic music theory can be very satisfying (I never knew until recently that a F# half diminished could resolve nicely to an E minor chord); Signals Music Studio on the 'tube is very good for that sort of stuff.
Saying all that, I still occasionally can't resist a quick pentatonic run and am in the process of nailing the 2nd solo for Comfortably Numb.
Or, start exploring different styles like jazz or folk and such?
Certainly folk guitar can be simple and fun to play, with tunes that get a lot of people singing along. You may find that despite years of minor pentatonic noodling, you've got a hidden ability for stringing together a jazz chordal run of (say) minor 7 / dominant 7 / major 7 / minor 9 together with ease. Also learning some basic music theory can be very satisfying (I never knew until recently that a F# half diminished could resolve nicely to an E minor chord); Signals Music Studio on the 'tube is very good for that sort of stuff.
Saying all that, I still occasionally can't resist a quick pentatonic run and am in the process of nailing the 2nd solo for Comfortably Numb.
I managed to buy a very nice 12 string acoustic recently, and have a list of 12 songs that I run though, just singing and strumming. I imagine myself doing this in public while I practice. When I can play all of them perfectly without even thinking about it I'll add some more. The difference it's making to my voice is noticeable, even my speaking voice has improved. It helps that my guitar is so loud that I have to sing quite loudly to hear myself over it.
singlecoil said:
I managed to buy a very nice 12 string acoustic recently, and have a list of 12 songs that I run though, just singing and strumming. I imagine myself doing this in public while I practice. When I can play all of them perfectly without even thinking about it I'll add some more. The difference it's making to my voice is noticeable, even my speaking voice has improved. It helps that my guitar is so loud that I have to sing quite loudly to hear myself over it.
I'd recommend trying to find a local open mic night and get up and play some of your best songs (they usually give a 3 song slot at the ones I've been to). I started going to some last summer and while I've only sung a few times, I've played guitar at loads now and really enjoy it. Go to a few with a view to just watching first as there is a variation in how they are run/what is played/acoustic or electric and also the general standard of the 'guests' playing. It took me a few visits before I played at one that is more rock orientated and I ended playing the last three songs with the house band to about 6 drunks and the bar staff, but it gave me the confidence to go back another time and play to a bigger crowd.For the OP: I've found learning something out of my usual comfort zone has really helped: I go to a college night class as I was seriously stuck in a rut after 40 years of playing on and off. We play songs that are chosen by everyone, so quite an eclectic range. Sometimes I felt like not going on a particular week as I didn't fancy learning the song at all, but oddly these have been the ones I've learnt the most from. Who would have thought a mostly rock guitar player would enjoy playing disco for example? (We covered 'Car Wash' last term).
Just try not to get sucked down a hole of buying lots of new guitars and gear in the mistaken idea that it will make you play better.
I keep trying that, but the practising and learning is what has really made me play better. I was in Andertons yesterday trying out a Gretsch guitar that I really don't need to buy, but will probably end up with one eventually.
^ That's good advice from OSRS, I'll admit.
On NYE, I decided I'd do a solo guitar bit before playing with the "house" band at our local. "Dream a Little Dream of Me" it was, with a jazz twist. Been practicing it over and over at home, and had got it nailed. I'd even come up with my own take on an intro (Cmaj7 / Gsus4 / A7 / Dmaj7 / G7 / G6). Sat in front of a live audience for the first time ever on my own - just me, a guitar and an amp - I shat myself and only just got away with it.
I think it's just me putting too much pressure on myself, so I need to do a couple of open mic nights to settle myself.
On NYE, I decided I'd do a solo guitar bit before playing with the "house" band at our local. "Dream a Little Dream of Me" it was, with a jazz twist. Been practicing it over and over at home, and had got it nailed. I'd even come up with my own take on an intro (Cmaj7 / Gsus4 / A7 / Dmaj7 / G7 / G6). Sat in front of a live audience for the first time ever on my own - just me, a guitar and an amp - I shat myself and only just got away with it.
I think it's just me putting too much pressure on myself, so I need to do a couple of open mic nights to settle myself.
Really interesting point about trying a different genre - I'm normally blues/rock oriented, but I've changed my "Fender Path" to acoustic folk to push me out of my comfort zone like some have suggested. At the minute it's still "this is how to play a note" but I think it's best to start right back at the beginning, in case I've got bad habits.
I used to love open mics! I'll have to learn a handful and make my way down there.
Related story - the last open mic I went to (1 or 2 years ago - I can't even remember)
I went to the local for a pint, realised there was an open mic night upstairs, so walked home to pick up my guitar and have a bash.
I the intervening half hour, the guy running it went home sick and packed up. After telling two women at the bar I was going to have a go, the three of us went upstairs... to an empty room!
Bless 'em - they still said I could play for them, so there were the 3 of us at one end of the function room while the staff laid out all the other tables around us for the following morning's Lion's club meet. Not going to lie, the second half of my "set" I was just starting a song I couldn't really remember and hoping by the time I got to the middle muscle memory would help me out and finish it off :-p
Oh and at the end we all had mad sexytimes on the amplifier (that last bit is a lie).
I used to love open mics! I'll have to learn a handful and make my way down there.
Related story - the last open mic I went to (1 or 2 years ago - I can't even remember)
I went to the local for a pint, realised there was an open mic night upstairs, so walked home to pick up my guitar and have a bash.
I the intervening half hour, the guy running it went home sick and packed up. After telling two women at the bar I was going to have a go, the three of us went upstairs... to an empty room!
Bless 'em - they still said I could play for them, so there were the 3 of us at one end of the function room while the staff laid out all the other tables around us for the following morning's Lion's club meet. Not going to lie, the second half of my "set" I was just starting a song I couldn't really remember and hoping by the time I got to the middle muscle memory would help me out and finish it off :-p
Oh and at the end we all had mad sexytimes on the amplifier (that last bit is a lie).
cherryowen said:
WRT to getting back into the guitar, maybe try getting out of the blues / rock / metal school of playing (which is difficult, I know) and try playing along to tunes that i) that are outside your usual comfort zone when playing and ii) are "fun" to play or learn?
Or, start exploring different styles like jazz or folk and such?
Certainly folk guitar can be simple and fun to play, with tunes that get a lot of people singing along. You may find that despite years of minor pentatonic noodling, you've got a hidden ability for stringing together a jazz chordal run of (say) minor 7 / dominant 7 / major 7 / minor 9 together with ease. Also learning some basic music theory can be very satisfying (I never knew until recently that a F# half diminished could resolve nicely to an E minor chord); Signals Music Studio on the 'tube is very good for that sort of stuff.
Saying all that, I still occasionally can't resist a quick pentatonic run and am in the process of nailing the 2nd solo for Comfortably Numb.
Just to balance your opinion, and offer my own.Or, start exploring different styles like jazz or folk and such?
Certainly folk guitar can be simple and fun to play, with tunes that get a lot of people singing along. You may find that despite years of minor pentatonic noodling, you've got a hidden ability for stringing together a jazz chordal run of (say) minor 7 / dominant 7 / major 7 / minor 9 together with ease. Also learning some basic music theory can be very satisfying (I never knew until recently that a F# half diminished could resolve nicely to an E minor chord); Signals Music Studio on the 'tube is very good for that sort of stuff.
Saying all that, I still occasionally can't resist a quick pentatonic run and am in the process of nailing the 2nd solo for Comfortably Numb.
I don't think 'folk guitar' music is necessarily a good example of 'simple to play', unless you are classing very technically simple open chord strumming pop-folk music.
In which case, I think it's more accurate to just say 'learn a few basic open chords, and strum along to pop songs that you like'.
Personally, I think single lead line solo's, especially on an electric guitar, are much easier to play, than (as an example), technically challenging fingerpicking 'real' folk music in open tunings etc.
Big fan of both listening to, and learning/playing, Bery Jansch, John Renbourn, etc stuff, it can be extremely technically challenging to play, as you have to break rules all the time by playing strings with what you would naturally feel are the 'wrong' fingers, making each song almost unique.
The picking patterns are different in each song, and change constantly throughout the songs. It is definitely NOT easy !
Blues stuff in comparison is much easier, and once you have learnt a few scales, you can play it in lots of different neck positions, it's the same thing just higher up. Also Blues sounds very samey, once you learned how to bend a note and do a few slides, that is halfway to being actually quite a master of the genre..........
Don't get me started on Floyd, I used to play so much Guilmoor's stuff but it bores me now. Too samey.
Example - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OXoLD_zV3M (same guitar as me !)....
Edited by Nik Gnashers on Friday 11th January 21:06
Edited by Nik Gnashers on Friday 11th January 21:10
Edited by Nik Gnashers on Friday 11th January 21:11
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff