Ah! New hard drive arrive. Going to get busy transferring files over this weekend
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Nov 6, 2010
Nov 2, 2010
RE: Practicing guitar
Anyway back to what I was saying. I want to talk about Practice. Not performing, not a show, not playing in a band.... practice. I want to talk about practice.
So if you are new to playing guitar or want to get better at your instrument I'll need 100.3 percent of your attention, if you're not a guitar player, you're off the hook this time. I was thinking how important it is to give a new technique your entire attention, means no distractions. Not only practicing it SLOWLY and flawlessly but also in time with a metronome. Do I need to mention to turn off that TV?
Patience is key. I think that patience could be the #1 thing most people struggle with. They don't want to put in the time that it really takes to truly get good and not fake it. Okay, if you feel the need to try the technique real fast, fine. Do it super duper fast or whatever and get it out of your system then get back to seriously practicing. Hey, I'm totally guilty of that at times. Just be patient. And I'm talking about being patient for months, even years sometimes. Remember, being good at something takes a lot of time a dedication. I still feel like I have a lifetime to go of learning and practicing my instrument. Hell, maybe two lifetimes!
There are a few things that I think are much more important then speed. can you think of what they might be?..............Time is up! Well I was thinking of "time" and "dynamics". Try working on your dynamics of the technique. I always start out practicing a new technique at a very loud volume. I find it easier to soften up once I feel comfortable with the playing. I have found it more difficult practicing something over and over softly and then trying to add power. As for time, practice slowly and make sure your notes line up with the click of the metronome. As you are playing the technique with the metronome work on your dynamics. Play it softly, loudly. Soft to loud, loud to soft but in time. Very important.
Get to know your strengths and weaknesses. Really try to identify and work on the weaknesses. Most of the time you may only want to work on your strengths, but it's so important to work on the weaknesses!! Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with working on the strengths (keeping the pencil sharpened), hell turn on the TV for that one if you want. But for things you want to improve on or start to learn, seriously take the time to concentrate and pay attention to what you are doing. Try something for 5 min straight. You'd be surprised how long 5 min can be playing the same thing slowly over and over. And you'd be surprised how much better you'll be at it after the 5 min are up. Now, don't expect a huge improvement, but you'll notice a difference. By doing all of this you'll find that speed will automatically happen over time. As I've said before somewhere in this blog I have a metronome and a timer that I like to use when practicing. I actually like the old school wind up metronome, something real about it opposed to a digital click that feels completely lifeless to me.
Okay, my nails are dry and I need to get practicing as I don't have a lot of time these days so I need to make the most of it and typing isn't helping my playing any. So I shall say goodbye for now!
SD
So if you are new to playing guitar or want to get better at your instrument I'll need 100.3 percent of your attention, if you're not a guitar player, you're off the hook this time. I was thinking how important it is to give a new technique your entire attention, means no distractions. Not only practicing it SLOWLY and flawlessly but also in time with a metronome. Do I need to mention to turn off that TV?
Patience is key. I think that patience could be the #1 thing most people struggle with. They don't want to put in the time that it really takes to truly get good and not fake it. Okay, if you feel the need to try the technique real fast, fine. Do it super duper fast or whatever and get it out of your system then get back to seriously practicing. Hey, I'm totally guilty of that at times. Just be patient. And I'm talking about being patient for months, even years sometimes. Remember, being good at something takes a lot of time a dedication. I still feel like I have a lifetime to go of learning and practicing my instrument. Hell, maybe two lifetimes!
There are a few things that I think are much more important then speed. can you think of what they might be?..............Time is up! Well I was thinking of "time" and "dynamics". Try working on your dynamics of the technique. I always start out practicing a new technique at a very loud volume. I find it easier to soften up once I feel comfortable with the playing. I have found it more difficult practicing something over and over softly and then trying to add power. As for time, practice slowly and make sure your notes line up with the click of the metronome. As you are playing the technique with the metronome work on your dynamics. Play it softly, loudly. Soft to loud, loud to soft but in time. Very important.
Get to know your strengths and weaknesses. Really try to identify and work on the weaknesses. Most of the time you may only want to work on your strengths, but it's so important to work on the weaknesses!! Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with working on the strengths (keeping the pencil sharpened), hell turn on the TV for that one if you want. But for things you want to improve on or start to learn, seriously take the time to concentrate and pay attention to what you are doing. Try something for 5 min straight. You'd be surprised how long 5 min can be playing the same thing slowly over and over. And you'd be surprised how much better you'll be at it after the 5 min are up. Now, don't expect a huge improvement, but you'll notice a difference. By doing all of this you'll find that speed will automatically happen over time. As I've said before somewhere in this blog I have a metronome and a timer that I like to use when practicing. I actually like the old school wind up metronome, something real about it opposed to a digital click that feels completely lifeless to me.
Okay, my nails are dry and I need to get practicing as I don't have a lot of time these days so I need to make the most of it and typing isn't helping my playing any. So I shall say goodbye for now!
SD
Thoughts about Practicing guitar
Sitting here with Cosmo on my lap waiting for my nails to dry so I can start practicing guitar. Got me thinking..... sigh, hold on... the cat is meowing at me to pet her and not type.... brb
Oct 31, 2010
Oct 24, 2010
Thoughts
Halloween is only a week away and I'm getting my netfliks que ready for the scary movies. I don't consider myself too much of a scary movie fan however Halloween is one if my favorite holidays so I gotta do it up. Don't worry, I don't go overboard or anything like dress the cat up in a costume. I just like a few scary movies and some candy. Maybe some lit candles or something....
Speaking if cats, my little flea ridden pet Cosmo is insisting on sitting on my lap at the moment. Don't ask me how she got fleas... I have no idea. Same goes for Herbie. Advantage to the rescue!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Speaking if cats, my little flea ridden pet Cosmo is insisting on sitting on my lap at the moment. Don't ask me how she got fleas... I have no idea. Same goes for Herbie. Advantage to the rescue!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Oct 19, 2010
This week
The hard drive i record my music on to is having problems, I have everything backed up but need to pick up a new HD before I continue. Man, same thing happened during my last album.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sep 24, 2010
The fly...
So there was this fly buzzing my ear while I was sitting here in the couch, don't ask who let the fly in, I have no idea. Anyways, I call my trusty fly swatter Cosmo Kitty. Impressively she shows up on location immediately, literally with in seconds ready to take action!
So I pointed to the fly, and said "fly!" "fly!!" look! Go get it!! She looked left, she looked right and then laid down and went to sleep....
So I pointed to the fly, and said "fly!" "fly!!" look! Go get it!! She looked left, she looked right and then laid down and went to sleep....
Sep 22, 2010
Sep 18, 2010
Sep 14, 2010
Practice tips!
Im out at the moment and thought I'd use the good ol' trusty iPhone for a blog entry. I just so happen to have it along with me and thought I'd write what was on my mind for a second or two.
Been playing a lot of guitar lately which has been nice. And for all you guitar players out there, a friendly reminder to stretch your hands/arms every once and a while, or better yet, before and after practice! Something I always forget to do but very important non the less. (I don't usually use the term "non the less" and thought i'd give it a try!) Anyway, I say this because I noticed it was difficult for me to stretch my arms out to the sides and tilt my hands towards the ceiling. As soon as I started to tilt my hade back I thought "wow, this isn't good maybe i need to stretch more" So! Don't follow my example, just follow my advice! That's it for now, gotta go.
Have a nice day.
Oh, If you don't play guitar or an instrument, disregard this post, you're fine.
Been playing a lot of guitar lately which has been nice. And for all you guitar players out there, a friendly reminder to stretch your hands/arms every once and a while, or better yet, before and after practice! Something I always forget to do but very important non the less. (I don't usually use the term "non the less" and thought i'd give it a try!) Anyway, I say this because I noticed it was difficult for me to stretch my arms out to the sides and tilt my hands towards the ceiling. As soon as I started to tilt my hade back I thought "wow, this isn't good maybe i need to stretch more" So! Don't follow my example, just follow my advice! That's it for now, gotta go.
Have a nice day.
Oh, If you don't play guitar or an instrument, disregard this post, you're fine.
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