How Often Should I Tune?

Playing in tune is an essential part of learning guitar.

I have students who come in all the time and haven't tuned once during the week. There are all kinds of electronic tuners available, so there is NO EXCUSE for playing out of tune! Why is it necessary to play in tune and what difference does it make?

It helps to develop your ear.

You can get used to an out of tune instrument as easily as you can an in tune instrument. Not everyone is blessed with the ability to hear the difference. You definitely don't want to think the instrument sounds good when in reality it's out of tune.

Playing in tune with others is essential.

Nothing is annoying quite like playing with someone who is out of tune and doesn't know it. This is more common than you would think. Using an electronic device to tune is a good way to get used to hearing what an in tune instrument should sound like.

Good tuners are very easy to find.

Back in the day, like all electronic equipment, electronic tuners were expensive, cumbersome and hard to use. My first tuner had two knobs on top, one to select the note and one to select the octave. It was also quite big and cost a couple hundred dollars. The new ones can be the size of a credit card or smaller, some clip on to the instrument, and they know what note you're playing. A couple of the tuners I recommend are: Martin Tuner: a free app from the Martin Guitar Company, it features several different guitar tunings, an ear trainer, and a small slide presentation on how to change strings. The Snark clip on tuner attaches to the peghead and senses the vibrations to tell you what note you're playing. There is no built in microphone which means it won't pick up outside noises. There are too many more to mention, but it's difficult to make a bad choice. The price and ease of use should be your guide.

What the different tuning modes mean.

There are guitar tuners, bass tuners, ukulele tuners, bluegrass tuners, chromatic tuners and the list goes on. If you think you'll be playing and tuning with other instruments, the best choice is a chromatic tuner. Chromatic means that the tuner has all of the notes on it, so you can tune any instrument as long as you know what notes to tune to.


Pitch Pipes, Harmonicas, Pianos and Relative Tuning.

While some people with years of experience or perfect pitch can tune by ear, I highly recommend that you get an electronic tuner so you get used to what your chosen instrument sounds like when it's in tune. The more you hear it being played in tune, the more you'll develop your ability to keep it that way.

Don't Be So Sure You Can't Do It.

My Pinky Won't Reach: I've got students with long, skinny fingers who insist they can't get the pinky to stretch. How do you change that? Stretching exercises, hand position, and practice. I'm the first to admit that physical limitations exist, but you really need to give it a chance first. There are lots of good exercises that can help you overcome at least some of the limitations. Think of it as physical therapy for your guitar playing. The key with stretching and strengthening exercises is to approach it like any other exercise program. Don't over do it, be patient, and be consistent.

Barre Chords: Ah, the dreaded barre chords, the scourge of guitarists everywhere. The problem with barre chords is the flat part of your index finger isn't toughened up, so at first it's very difficult to get all of the strings to sound. The mistake a lot of people make is to try and hold down all six strings without actually making the chord. Remember that when you play the chord even though the finger covers all the strings it's only playing 3 or 4 of them. The fingers in front of it are doing the rest of the work.

I Can't Play the F Chord: Again, the problem is toughening up a different part of your finger. Flatten the index finger out so it covers the first and second string. Place your thumb flat in the middle of the guitar neck and use a clamping motion to hold the strings down. Move this up and down the fingerboard until you can get both strings to sound clearly. Pay close attention to the placement of the thumb and index finger.

Put It All Together: The trick or secret is simply to not accept the idea that your hands are too small, fingers are too fat, or whatever your excuse is. Spend some time each practice session with the idea that you can do it if you continue to work at it.

 

Don't Quit Too Soon!

How long should you give it before you decide to quit taking lessons?

It happens every year about this time, students look back at the past year and wonder what they've really accomplished with taking guitar lessons. If it's been a relatively short time, less than a year for example, they really need to assess the situation.

A recent example of not giving yourself a chance.

Right after the holidays I had a student cancel lessons, even though it had only been a few months. (He started in October.) During that time he missed lessons because of working overtime, having car trouble and being sick, so he took about 12 lessons. He felt like he hadn't made a lot of progress and he was right, but how much time and effort did he give? I had him playing several chords, working on songs that he liked, and doing what I would consider reasonably well considering the circumstances and his previous skill level. The skills amounted to playing a couple of months on his own and trying to learn from the internet. Unfortunately I didn't have a "talent pill" to give him and he started to realize that with or without a teacher, you need to put in the time.

What can you do to change it?
  

• Lower your expectations. There, I said it, lower your expectations. Learning the guitar or the banjo is a time art. You need to commit to a practice schedule, set some goals, have a nice place to practice and put in the time. 
• Don't think you'll make progress every week. We've all been told that practice makes perfect, so we think every week we'll get better. Sometimes psychological, physical or mechanical problems hinder our progress. It's easy to get discouraged when you think you got worse instead of better.
• Be patient. I tell my students that in the beginning learning will be painfully slow. This is especially true if you've never played an instrument or if you've never played an instrument with strings and frets on it. You need to keep pushing and understand that your hours of practice will pay off with some persistence and dedication.
• Believe in what your teacher is telling you. I've had students think that I'm just trying to make them feel better when I tell them they're getting somewhere. I take into account the fact that you're nervous, you played better at home or you're having a bad day. Believe it or not I can still tell whether you've practiced and if you're getting better.

So there's your answer. Give it a chance, be patient, work hard, don't make excuses and believe in yourself. A few lessons or a few months of trying to play isn't always an indication of what your results will be down the road.

Are You Using Your Practice Time Wisely?

Many beginning students confuse playing the guitar with practicing the guitar. Here are some proven ways to make sure you're spending your time wisely.

1. Setting aside time to practice. A specific time of day is a good way to get yourself into a practice routine. A lot of my students, especially the adults, devote whatever time is left in the day to practice. This is usually after working, fixing dinner, cleaning house and whatever else is part of their normal day. It's much better to have a time set aside for practicing.
2. The practice space should be quiet, clean and private. I hear complaints all the time about the distractions that take place when trying to focus on music. Kids who come in and ask questions, spouses who interrupt or feel compelled to comment and/or criticize, music or tv playing in the other room, and the list goes on. I know it's hard, but try to get the rest of the family to understand that your music needs your undivided attention.
3. Getting the most out of the time you have. Having the guitar in your hands for 30 minutes isn't the same as practicing for 30 minutes! "Running through the songs" is a good way to warm up, but are you improving or just playing? After a thorough warmup, work on improving something about the song. You do warm up, don't you?
4. Have something in mind. I have many students who complain about not getting any better, but they don't seem to be doing anything to get better once we talk about their practice time. Work on one thing that will improve the performance of the piece. Record your playing so you can hear what it sounds like. A frequent comment is how they played the song perfectly at home last night, but now it's awful. Remember, recordings don't lie. 
5. Know when to quit. No, not quitting the guitar, ending the practice session. Sometimes it doesn't go that well and the harder you try the worse it seems to get. When that happens, either take a break or pick it up again tomorrow. 
6. Relax, don't put undue pressure on yourself. You will make steady progress if you practice, but sometimes it won't feel like it. We all have plateaus that make us wonder if we'll ever be any better or if this is as good as we'll ever get! Don't think it's something that just happens to beginners or amateurs, it's common and it happens to everyone. 

So hang in there, work at getting better, and keep on pickin'.

Negative Expectations

Are you sabotaging your chances for success?

"I'm going to give it another month, and if things don't get better I'm selling the guitar." This is another classic example of not making the time, but making plenty of excuses. What is going to change in the next month when that's the attitude you're carrying around with you?


How to make it work.

Don't try to convince yourself that you have no time. If you want to something badly enough you make time for it. Yes work, family life, political campaigns, vacations and everything else you mention does hinder your ability to make time. The problem is, you need to have an iron clad schedule that nothing can change. Start off with a few minutes a day, get into the habit of making it work, and pretty soon you'll find that you feel awful when you miss a day of practice. I always use exercise as an analogy, it's great when you commit yourself, but blow it off for a few sessions and pretty soon you're your old couch potato self.

Choose your environment.

A comfortable, padded chair with no arms, a sturdy music stand, a metronome and a kitchen timer are all you need to get started. Turn off the cell phone, close the door and issue a do not disturb mandate to the rest of the occupants in your home. Convince yourself that this is your private time and that phone calls, emails and text messages can certainly wait for you to finish practicing. Set the timer for whatever amount of practice you feel you can get in and don't let anything stop you.


Have a reason for practicing.

Practicing an instrument is not "running through each piece a few times." Pick a song, a technique, a trouble spot, or something else that needs work and get busy on that. Record you practice session and listen to it at the end so you can hear some progress. If you don't have a teacher, get one! It sounds self serving, but there's a lot more motivation if you're accountable to someone.

So don't give up easily, set aside a specific time to practice, make sure you're in a quiet place that makes it easy to practice, and work on something. Again, get yourself a teacher so you have to show that you've worked on playing on a weekly basis. The more you practice, the easier it becomes, the easier it becomes the more you'll want to practice.

Learning a New Song

How do you go about learning a new song? There are different approaches, and it's important to remember that what works for one person may or may not work for the other.

Phrase by Phrase:
One way to learn is to take a small piece of the music and practice it over and over until you can play it flawlessly. This is a good way to learn if you can stand to make what seems like little progress. The key elements would be a metronome, a program to slow songs down, and lots of patience. I use and recommend Riff Master Pro (affiliate link) to set up a loop that plays the phrase over and over. Choose a speed that's slow enough that you don't practice mistakes, and speed up a very small amount once you can play at the previous speed without any errors. A few measures at a time is best, no longer than one line.

The Whole Song:
I learn a new song by playing through the whole thing to see what I'm up against, and I'll do it a few times. Every song will have phrases that are fairly easy to play, some that are a little harder and some that will require the phrase by phrase, or even note by note technique to get them smooth and up to speed. Once I've played the song I have a better idea of what's going to need work.

One Page at a Time:
A long song or one that has different parts to it or maybe more than one solo is another challenge. I'll treat it like each solo is a separate song and work from there. Again, I'll play it all the way through before I break it down into smaller pieces.

Listen to the Song.......Often!
One of the common beginner mistakes is to think they know the song well enough that they don't need to listen to it. You may believe you're playing it right only to find out later that you've practiced a mistake over and over. When I took music theory our professor told us that you need to hear a song at least 10 times before you start to know and understand it. Note the key words start to know and understand it. Many times I'll have a student march into the room and proudly proclaim that he or she has memorized the week's assignment only to play it wrong. Trust me, play along with the recording and just as important, listen to the song when you're not practicing.


 

Being Logical and Taking Your Time

The method to your teacher's madness!

It happened again the other night, a student who "wants guidance" but doesn't recognize it when he's getting it. Here's what he needs to be looking for and listening to.

Why do we play songs at the lesson?

The best thing a music teacher can do for you is listen to you play, then play the song with you. This helps you learn to make music with other people, understand why timing is important, and it helps you get over nervousness/stage fright. Yes, I know, you play better at home. THAT'S WHY I'M PLAYING TOO!

I can't make the song sound like the recording.

The recording has been made by professional musicians with thousands of dollars' worth of equipment. In addition there is more than one guitar on the record and someone is singing or otherwise providing the melody. You're supposed to be playing rhythm guitar which means keeping a steady beat. A common beginner mistake is to try to strum with the phrasing of the tune to the song instead of a straight rhythm part.

Beware the evils of internet overload.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record about this point, watching You Tube videos of a "guitar teacher" showing you how to strum, how to play chords or whatever, you have no idea who's teaching you. He or she may know exactly what they're doing, or, they may not be a much better player than you are. Keep in mind that a good guitar player isn't necessarily a good teacher.

Take your time and learn it right.

The key to learning guitar is not multi-tasking. My emphasis is on teaching and learning each technique as a separate function. Don't worry about palm muting if you can't change chords in time. Don't worry about complex strumming patterns until you can play the song up to speed.

Summing it all up.

Learning to play guitar or any other instrument is a time art. Hurrying through so you can learn the next technique catches up to you in the long run. In the words of Ringo Starr: "You know it don't come easy."

New Year, New You?

Happy New Year!

The new year has begun and there's always a lot of soul searching, resolution making, and bad habits that are going to be fixed. That usually lasts anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, then it's back to the same old, same old. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started.

New Strings.
If your strings have not been changed since last New Year's, now's the time. New strings make your guitar sound better and they're not rusty or caked with gook. While you have them off, clean the fingerboard. I use Gibson Fingerboard conditioner which cleans the wood and adds a little moisture.

New Books or Songs.
Are you still practicing the same songs you were playing months ago? Congratulations, you've found your comfort zone! The bad news is, you're not making any progress. Yes, it's fun to play songs you know well, no, you shouldn't forget about them. Think about how excited you were when you first started to play them and how happy you are now that they're polished up and ready for public consumption. Get yourself a new book, or pick out a new song and challenge yourself a little. Maybe a different genre or something that's more technically challenging to get you to the next level.

New Guitar.
Is your old guitar kind of clunky? Does it make you want to sit down and play it or have you gotten to where you really don't like that make or model any more? If you can afford it, treat yourself to a new one. Or if you do like it, try something different. Maybe a classical guitar, a 12 string, an acoustic if you only play electric, you get the idea.

So have a wonderful New Year and dig back into playing and practicing your guitar!

Finger Picks and Thumb Picks

How do you know if you should use finger picks or thumb picks?

Many fingerstyle guitar players use them, and many don't. As I was learning to play and started to play the acoustic guitar into a microphone, it became more of a necessity if I was going to control the volume and tone. Like other beginning guitarists, I started out using bare fingers which were fine for playing at home, but when I needed more volume and balance it just didn't work. Next came just the thumb pick, and that made bass notes that overpowered the treble strings. After several attempts I decided one pick on my thumb and one pick on my index and middle finger was the solution.

Can't I just grow my nails longer?

A lot of people do that, but I really hate having long fingernails. For some really cool videos and advice, I'd recommend you visit http://www.jamestaylor.com/guitarlessons/ to see what James goes through to play with bare fingers. One of my guitar students recommended the site which is not only interesting but very well made. Check it out! (I love the camera they have inside the sound hole so you can clearly see how he picks.)

What kind of picks should I use?

Everyone's different, so my best advice would be to experiment and see what works for you. I use Zookies thumbpicks which have a 10 degree angle, and Dunlop .0225 picks for the fingers. You can watch my short instructional video here: Fingerpicking Guitar Lesson.

Be patient when using the picks.

I tried several times before I could get comfortable with the picks since you have no feeling with them. Once you commit to using them, use them all the time. Switching back and forth from picks to fingers will make it even more awkward and more difficult to get used to them.

 

Avoiding Tension and Sore Muscles

Are you supposed to be in pain when you play?

I get that question a lot, and while your fingers may get sore and your hands may be tired in the beginning, being in pain usually has to do with a mechanical problem. Let's look at some of the reasons you could be experiencing unnecessary pain or soreness.

Where do you practice, and where is your music?

I've had students tell me they practice in a recliner, sitting on the edge of the bed, or on a nice, comfy couch. So where do you put the music? "On the floor, on the coffee table, or on the side of the bed." A basic music stand costs about $15, go get one now! Set it up where there's plenty of light, get yourself a nice chair with no arms, and practice in a room where there are no distractions. One banjo student even told me he practiced with the radio on the background, tuned to a station that had nothing to do with banjos or bluegrass music.

Relax your picking hand.

Beginning guitar students tend to hold the pick tightly so they don't drop it. You need to hold it tight enough so that it doesn't wriggle around, but no so it feels like you're making a fist or squeezing it. A medium gauge pick is probably a good choice, but picks are cheap, buy some different thicknesses, sizes and shapes. I use Jim Dunlop nylon picks with little bumps on them to keep them from spinning around or feeling slick. This is really important if you play outside in hot, humid conditions.

The fretting hand can relax as well.

When you first start learning you do have to hold the strings down using a lot of pressure, but as your fingers toughen up you don't have to push so hard. My students tell me it doesn't look like I'm pushing that hard and that's because I'm not. Yes, there are certain chords and fingerings that require more pressure, but it's not as bad as you think.

Sit up straight and hold the guitar correctly.

Again, this eases tension and makes it less difficult to get nice, clear notes and chords. If you're not sure how to sit, there are pictures and descriptions in almost any guitar instruction book or on the internet. Have your guitar teacher help you sit and hold the guitar correctly, you'll be amazed at what a difference it makes.

Make a To Do List, Set Some Goals and Focus

How to start making progress again.

It happens to the best of us. We're learning songs, working on technique, feel like we're getting somewhere, and then we hit the proverbial brick wall! We seem to be getting worse instead of better, our motivation's taken a serious hit, and we're starting to wonder if this is as good as we'll ever be able to play. I see and hear this from my students all the time, and experience it myself too.

First things first, take a break.

It sounds wrong, but sometimes the best thing you can do is walk away.  Take a few days or even a week or so and just do something else. My feeling is that we still practice in our subconscious mind, and taking a break is the same as going on vacation and not thinking about work. I've quit playing and working on a song and actually been able to play it better after leaving it alone for a while.

Make a to do list.

Record yourself, listen to how you sound, and make a to do list of things to work on. We're all our own worst critics, so be critical and write out exactly what was good and what needed improvement.

Set some goals for yourself.

After you've listened and critiqued yourself, set a deadline. Decide you'll master what you're working on, and hold yourself accountable. Be realistic and reasonable, but be hard on yourself as well. With a specific time frame in mind, your motivation will definitely improve.

Focus.

Now that you have the to do list and goals in place, work on being in focus. It's way too easy to get distracted, let your mind wander, and play things that are easier and more comfortable. Set a timer and use that as a way to give the song your undivided attention. Work on difficult passages, smooth out the rough parts, and again, record yourself. It's hard to hear progress from day to day, so a recording is a good way to judge where you are and where you still need to be.

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 I've heard almost all of them by now. Here are some tips to getting yourself into a practice routine.

• Make the time. Yes, that's 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. 
• You're too busy, really? I hear that more and more. Here's 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 don't 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 that's 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 it's harder to ignore it when it's right there in front of you. Invest in a decent music stand so you don't have to waste valuable time locating your music, finding a place to put it, and then finally getting started on your daily practice.

So make time for playing your guitar every day, or at least 5 days out of the 7. If you're an adult student, one of the reasons you decided to learn guitar is most likely as a way to relax and enjoy yourself. Make practicing fun, and devote some time to your playing. Even though guitar can be overwhelming in the beginning, the more you practice the easier it will become. Taking private, one on one lessons is a great way to not put pressure on yourself. Have your guitar teacher map out a plan for you and you'll have no one to compete against, no set timetable, and no pressure.

Strength and Independence, Part 2

Playing guitar well involves building strength and independence in both hands.

The previous post suggested a left hand pattern to work on, now it's time to get the right hand moving as well. Once you can do the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th fret exercise, you can start to build technique with your right hand as well.


Alternate picking and timing exercises.

Play the left hand exercises as before, but now play two of each note using alternate picking. Pick down on the first note and up on the second. While doing that, count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. You should tap your foot and it should follow the same pattern as your picking hand, down on the number and up on and. Practice slowly, with a metronome, and once you're able to play the exercise flawlessly, add a few beats per minute. Beginning guitar players need to be patient, not rush, and build muscle memory.


A new exercise for the fretting hand.

Still using the position playing concept of one finger per fret, now play 2nd fret, 2nd finger, 3rd fret, 3rd finger, 4th fret, 4th finger and 1st fret, 1st finger. Go slow until your fingers land on the right frets, then add the metronome and the down and up picking.

Commit yourself to doing these exercises when you start your daily practice and you'll be surprised at how much easier it gets.

What is Position Playing?

Position playing for beginning guitar players.

Position playing means using one finger per fret. So if you're playing in the 5th position, your 1st finger plays the 5th fret, your 2nd finger plays the 6th fret, your 3rd finger plays the 7th fret and the 4th finger plays the 8th fret. Position playing is extremely useful when soloing so you don't have to do too much extra moving back and forth. Most guitar teachers teach positions using scale patterns which will help you figure out which position to use.

Exceptions to the rule.

There are times when it will be necessary to go out of position by 1 fret in either direction. Some of the scale patterns need to be altered so that you're still in the basic position.

How fingering relates to scales and chords.

Every chord has a corresponding scale, so when you become more advanced you'll be able to visualize the scale that goes with that particular chord. Once you become more familiar with the guitar fretboard you'll be amazed at how logical it is.

The takeaway from all of this is to be patient, play slowly so that you develop muscle memory, and get in the habit of using one finger per fret. One of the most important things my guitar teacher did was to not let me get away with using the wrong fingers!

Building Left Hand Strength and Independence

In order to play for a considerable length of time, your left hand needs to be strong.

Here are a few left hand exercises to help you gain strength and independence in your left hand:

1. Hold down the 1st string, (the skinny one closest to your leg) at the 1st fret and then pick the string.
2. Without taking the 1st finger off of the 1st fret, play the 4th fret with your 4th (pinky) finger. Don't avoid using the pinky, yes it's weak, and yes many people work around it. If you're going to play barre chords and complicated solos, you'll be glad you took the time to strengthen it.
3. Without taking the 1st finger off the 1st fret, play the 3rd fret with your 3rd finger.
4. Without taking the 1st finger off the 1st fret, play the 4th fret with your 4th finger.
5. 1st finger, first fret.
6. Without taking the 1st finger off the 1st fret, play the 4th fret with your 4th finger.
7. Without taking the 1st finger off the 1st fret, play the 2nd fret with your 2nd finger.
8. Without taking the 1st finger off the 1st fret, play the 4th fret with your 4th finger.t

The left hand fingering should be 1, 4, 3, 4, 1, 4, 2, 4. Leaving the 1st finger down through the whole exercise is what makes the strengthening and independence take place. In addition, this exercise promotes the idea of position playing, which is using one finger per fret in a section of the guitar fingerboard.

Do this exercise 2 or 3 times on each string every time you practice, and you'll notice results in a short time. It will make it easier to reach notes and hold them down without buzzing.

Frustrated and Other Negative Terms

Are you slowing your progress with negative thinking?

I have a new student, he's been playing for 4 weeks, and he must have used the word "frustrating" no less than 15 times at his lesson! Are you doing that too? Yes, beginning guitar lessons is very hard at first. Your fingers feel fat, they won't go where your brain tells them to go and to add insult to injury they hurt when you play. Wow, no wonder he was frustrated.

How to overcome the beginning guitar player blues?

• Accept the fact that you're a beginner. No one starts playing the guitar or any other instrument without feeling frustrated. After a couple lessons you realize it's not a short term project.
• Make it a game. See how many times you can play song, exercise or scale without a mistake. Set the metronome to painfully slow, play the music, and when you can do that perfectly, in time, without stopping, kick the beats up a little. Key words, a little.
• Record yourself.  Many beginning guitar students can't hear any progress, so one technique I recommend is recording yourself. Do that, listen to it, then put it away for a few weeks. The next time you listen to it you should be amazed at the progress you've made, provided you've been practicing in between.
• Get feedback from your teacher. When your guitar teacher suggests something or points out a problem area, pay attention! The goal before your next lesson should be to fix whatever the problem area is so you can move forward.
• Be extremely patient. I know, easy for me to say! Learning guitar is all about muscle memory and unfortunately it's not something you develop instantly. While practicing does help, the process really can't be accelerated that much. Playing music is definitely a time art.
• Lose the negative terms and thinking. Attitude plays a major role in your ability to progress. Don't allow your "lizard brain" as Seth Godin calls it get the best of you. Think positive thoughts and look at learning the guitar like the challenge that it is.

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R.I.P. Doc Watson, One of My Guitar Heroes

     It was a sad day when I read that Doc Watson passed away on Tuesday, May 29. I'll never forget checking his first record, simply called Doc Watson, out of the library after reading in the liner notes that he liked to play fiddle tunes on guitar. I'd never heard anyone do that with a pick, and I was absolutely amazed at his speed and technique.
     Then there was the fingerpicking on the guitar. That I was familiar with, but again his flawless technique had me wondering how in the world anyone could play like that. I had been playing guitar for maybe a year or two at the time, and vowed that I'd learn Doc's arrangement of Sittin' On Top Of The World. The only problem was, I couldn't figure out how he was getting that sound.
     I listened, experimented, and finally, after reading the liner notes, (duh), I found that he had tuned his guitar to a D chord. I knew about lowering the 6th string to D, but didn't know about the rest. His tuning from the low notes to the high ones was: D, A, D, F#, A, D. A couple years later I found a guitar tab book, which is still in print, and figured out how to play the song.
     If you're not familiar with Doc, check him out on You Tube, or get some of his recordings so you can appreciate the great gift that he gave to the world. His playing, his singing, and his versatility were what made me a fan from the day I heard that first album. So to Doc Watson, Rest In Peace, we're going to miss you.

Is Your Guitar Teacher Inspiring You or Showing Off?

Inspiration or show-off?

There's a fine line when it comes to showing a beginning guitar student how a song goes, and having him or her interpret it as showing off. I've had students tell me I was showing off or trying to show them up, when actually I was playing the song fast enough that they would hear what it was supposed to sound like.

Does your teacher show off sometimes?

Absolutely! Most of the time it's when I'm asked to play something, maybe even on a different instrument. Students have asked me to play the banjo for them, or if they play banjo to play something on the guitar. Sometimes they're searching for credibility or checking to see if you really can play a particular song.


What's the problem?

The problem pops up when your guitar teacher does more playing than teaching. We're not talking about accompanying you, but rather playing instead of teaching. This happens a lot with teachers who are either inexperienced, lacking in self confidence or just trying to impress the student.


What should you do?

It depends on how comfortable you are with it. When I've been accused of showing off I explain why I played that song or passage in that way. I try to lead by example and make it clear that what I just played is for the benefit of the student. There are times when a certain technique or song has to be played at a faster pace for it to make sense. So, listen to what your teacher is playing, and if you have any questions or concerns about the motive behind it, just mention them and see what the answer is. Most of the time it will be played with every intention of instructing rather than showing off.

Optimist, Realist or Pessimist, Which One Are YOU?

Would you describe yourself as an optimist, a pessimist or a realist?

As a guitar teacher I've taught, (am teaching), plenty of examples of all three. Most beginning guitar students start out as optimists, and I do my best to have them maintain that outlook. I've said for years that talent is overrated, and I still believe that to this day. Let's look at how attitude plays an important role in learning to play guitar.

The optimist.

The beginner starts out being optimistic about how much fun guitar will be, the enjoyment that will be derived from it, and how great it will be to have a hobby that will last a lifetime. He or she has no doubt that learning the guitar will become a part of the daily routine and that progress will be steady.

The realist.

A little more conservative than the optimist, but still maintains a lot of the same positive attitude. Smart enough to not buy the "learn guitar in a weekend" hype, and understands that learning is going to be a slow and sometimes difficult process.

The pessimist.

The most difficult of the three to teach. The pessimist calls or sends an email with red flags waving. I'm thinking maybe I'd like to try to learn guitar, but I'm not sure I'll be able to do it, or I may not even like it that much. Already convinced that it will be hard to learn, the journey begins on a negative note.

Changing the thought process.

Before seeking out a guitar teacher, you need to ask yourself some questions. Here are some you should think about in no particular order.

• Have I always wanted to play guitar? Some beginning students have a burning desire to learn to play. I took my first guitar lesson when I was 5, although I believe my parents were just humoring me. They bought me a beginning guitar book but no guitar, and I was supposed to "practice" playing air guitar. When I didn't practice enough, remember I was only 5 years old, they told me I couldn't take lessons.
• Do I have time to practice?  A minimum amount of practice time would be 5 days a week, at least 30 minutes. Making the commitment to put in the time is absolutely essential. If you can't see that happening, taking guitar lessons is probably not a good idea.
• What kind of music do I want to play? If all you can come up with is a general statement like I just want to learn to play guitar, you need to drill deeper. While it's possible to start taking generic guitar lessons, it's a lot more fun to learn songs you know and would like to play.
• Am I willing and able to commit time and money to this? While the cost of entry isn't a large amount of money, there are some basics that will help you get the most out of your lessons. At the bare minimum you need a decent instrument, a music stand, and learning resources. Either a teacher or a do it yourself method to guide you. Self serving or not, I always recommend a live teacher, especially in the beginning. The main reasons are that a book, CD or DVD can't answer questions, and they won't correct potential bad habits. There are many different ways to get started on guitar, and a teacher can move you in the right direction.

So there's a basic overview of getting started on guitar. It's a new year, time to decide if you're serious enough about learning guitar to take action. I've played guitar for years and can honestly say that it's still fun to play.

 

Are You Learning Guitar the Right Way?

Have you ever wondered if you're learning guitar the right way?

After working on playing guitar for a few months, a beginning guitar student will wonder if there's something he or she can be doing better so that they learn guitar the "right way." The first thing to keep in mind is that everyone's tastes and goals are different, so you may want to start thinking instead in terms of learning the "right way for me."


The guitar is a very versatile instrument.

Since the guitar is so versatile, there are many approaches to teaching and learning. One of the first things you and your guitar teacher should do is have an interview to help you understand the different teaching methods and ways of getting started. The type of music you like, the equipment you own, your previous musical background, and the level of commitment will all be considerations. It's a good idea to think about these things before you set up your first lesson. Hint: "I just want to learn guitar, I want to learn songs," and other general statements Don't Help! Dig deeper and find what really would make you want to stick with learning guitar. Think about particular artists, bands and styles of music. The more details you can provide the better.

So, what's the right way to learn then?

Set goals, learn technique and remember that you're supposed to be having fun. If you've never played an instrument before you'll have to develop a basic skill set to work from. Your guitar teacher will help you learn what tools you'll need to play the style you like. For example, if you want to play rock guitar you need to work with using a pick, and you can't give up on it. Too many beginning guitarists get discouraged and think they'll find a short cut to learning. Believe me, it will catch up to you and you're not going to like relearning something.