Things You Can Do Right Now To Become A Better Guitar Player from
"The Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar"
1. Watch yourself and your hands and fingers in a
mirror when you practice. Look for tension and economy of
motion. Make sure you are not causing tension by the way you
are sitting and holding the guitar.
2. Redefine the word "mistake" as an unwanted result. This
means it has a cause, which you can discover, and change, to
produce a different result (what you want). Regard every
mistake as a learning opportunity. Find it's cause and plan how
to improve it and get a different result.
3. Get specific about every mistake, "Be absolutely clear
about exactly what is happening." What note is missing or
damaged? What finger was supposed to play it? Where was that
finger before it was supposed to play?
4. Record yourself every day. Listen back and decide the
worst thing about your playing, and start thinking of a way
to improve it.
5. Play for other people as much as you can. Be aware of
how you play, and how you feel each time you do. Be aware of
how you feel physically, any tensions in the body. Be
aware of how you feel emotionally. Do you feel fear, anxiety,
pleasure? Study yourself each time and you will get to
know yourself as a performer, and you will improve.
6. Pretend each finger is a person and give them a name.
Pretend you are that person-finger playing in a band. This
will promote intimate awareness of the experience of that
finger while playing. The lack of this awareness is the root
cause of all technical difficulties in playing. This is called
"Following."
7. Keep "reminders" in front of you as you practice.
Whatever you have decided is your weakest area, and is most in
need of improvement, decide what to do about it.
Write it down, and keep it in front of you, hanging
somewhere, or taped somewhere so it is always in your mind when
you practice. There is always something!
8.Every time you move a finger, think about and imagine your
next move.
9. Every time you practice, pay attention to your entire
body.
10. Use a metronome for building technique. For instance,
start scales at 60, 4 beats per note. Notice the tensions in
the fingers and body at this speed. Continue at 80, 100. Go
back to 60 at 2 beats, then 80, 100. Then 60 at one beat,
then 80, then 100. Go back to 60 and do eighth notes, then
80, then 100. Finally, do sixteenths, up to your limit.
mirror when you practice. Look for tension and economy of
motion. Make sure you are not causing tension by the way you
are sitting and holding the guitar.
2. Redefine the word "mistake" as an unwanted result. This
means it has a cause, which you can discover, and change, to
produce a different result (what you want). Regard every
mistake as a learning opportunity. Find it's cause and plan how
to improve it and get a different result.
3. Get specific about every mistake, "Be absolutely clear
about exactly what is happening." What note is missing or
damaged? What finger was supposed to play it? Where was that
finger before it was supposed to play?
4. Record yourself every day. Listen back and decide the
worst thing about your playing, and start thinking of a way
to improve it.
5. Play for other people as much as you can. Be aware of
how you play, and how you feel each time you do. Be aware of
how you feel physically, any tensions in the body. Be
aware of how you feel emotionally. Do you feel fear, anxiety,
pleasure? Study yourself each time and you will get to
know yourself as a performer, and you will improve.
6. Pretend each finger is a person and give them a name.
Pretend you are that person-finger playing in a band. This
will promote intimate awareness of the experience of that
finger while playing. The lack of this awareness is the root
cause of all technical difficulties in playing. This is called
"Following."
7. Keep "reminders" in front of you as you practice.
Whatever you have decided is your weakest area, and is most in
need of improvement, decide what to do about it.
Write it down, and keep it in front of you, hanging
somewhere, or taped somewhere so it is always in your mind when
you practice. There is always something!
8.Every time you move a finger, think about and imagine your
next move.
9. Every time you practice, pay attention to your entire
body.
10. Use a metronome for building technique. For instance,
start scales at 60, 4 beats per note. Notice the tensions in
the fingers and body at this speed. Continue at 80, 100. Go
back to 60 at 2 beats, then 80, 100. Then 60 at one beat,
then 80, then 100. Go back to 60 and do eighth notes, then
80, then 100. Finally, do sixteenths, up to your limit.
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