My One Secret To Better Guitar Playing Is........ (Page 1 of 2)

Not really a secret trick or tip but the main thing that helps me progress is passion. I never have to make myself pick up the guitar and practice. I do it because I love it and I do it A LOT. Since I've started playing it's been my life! Really! The song's I'm working on are recorded to a cd and I listen to them over and over everyday at work going through the progressions in my head. When I sit at a desk, hold a tool, or whatever I'm doing... I'm holding it with my index and barre finger flexing it to build up stregnth. You can work practice into so many everyday activities if you try. Muscle memory is important in progressing but there is more to it than just practicing on the guitar. Keep it on the brain throughout the day so that when you finally get your hands on the guitar you don't have to think about what your supposed to do or play next. It's amazing what the mind can accomplish without even touching the guit!! .-Pix

I dont know if I have any secrets I dont listen to radio just strum and see what comes out but I enjoy watching other musicians and listening to original songs its hard to write a post on Chordie especially the last week or so there a gorgeous blond with low cleavage asking me to start my journey on the right of the screen

Just as others have already metioned i too practice " new chords" and stretch my fretting fingers. One other thing i do which may be normal for alot of people is that i practice playing in different keys other than what i usually sing in then i capo it so it will match my voice.

My tip is........play to an audience. For me no matter how I practice it never sounds the same as when you play to an audience. Once I think something is good (ish), i try playing it to an audience, if they like it I try a harder audience. To avoid having them running out screaming i mix the more eclectic stuff with easy stuff i know they will like. For a real test, try playing music a particular audience might not necessarily like ie folk to a jazz audience, blues to to a rock audience.

The best thing thats help me ,,,beside Chordie is being able to leave my guitars out where I can get too them at anytime,,,,I know that maybe hard to do if you have small kids around,,,but my kids are all grown...LOL

My secret To Better Guitar Playing Is........
Over the last few years I have to to say has been the computer and internet. Principally Chordie of course watching vids of all sorts on Utube etc and discovering a world of brilliant guitar players unknown to me making me want to stretch myself and learn more challenging guitar songs. Also inspiring me to look at my songwriting again and bringing more depth to my musical ideas.
I play everyday and just love it.. I guess thats the real key to improving.....
ark

Russ
Evony Ad. has a lot to answer for..:)
http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=12000

Chordie  :

If it wasn't for this forum and all the good people and good advice here I would have dropped the guitar long ago.

Thanks All

Kap54

Elvis Costello recently talked about a song in which he mentions his concrete fingers. You know how they set like concrete when you're trying out a new chord, or a new song.

I like to value the times when I get those concrete fingers, cause it means there is more to learn, and I love the buzz when you can play it with ease.

Also what Duxrus said about having the guitar at hand - so when you're dressed up to go out and herself says she'll just be five minutes ( and you know you have half an hour ) - you just reach out. She's started calling it the wooden woman !!!

Brilliant.......

I'd agree with all the above especially leaving the guitar out where you can just pick it up, play a few riffs and put it down.  I don't set aside any practice time, I just go when I feel like.. which is most of the time.  Even if the kids are watching TV, I'll pick it up and gently strum using just my thumb for hours!

One of the first posts mentioned passion and I think thats the thing you need.  Without a real passion you wont get through those early dark days of bleeding fingers and dodgy strumming.

I'm with SouthPaw and Zurf.

The one thing that has consistently taken my playing to another level was playing with other musicians. When I started, I thought was making pretty good progress  but I was always playing by myself. After a while, I felt like I was stuck in a box with my playing. Then I decided to search music forums for people looking for others to play with. I met a couple of cool people who I began to jam with regularly, and every session with them was an eye-opener. We also met a whole bunch of musicians in the parks where we would meet to jam or at jam/open mic nights in pubs and cafes. I've learned so much from each of the people I had the pleasure of sharing musical ideas with, no matter what "level" they were. From soloing technique and music theory from a rock guitarist or latin rhythms from percussion players, there has always been something new to explore.

Also, I think that, in order to really appreciate these experiences, you have to keep an open mind and be humble. Sometimes, you might look at a musician playing their instrument and think "I'm better than that, for sure!". But, if you actually start talking to/jamming with them you'll discover that there is something in their music that's unique and that you couldn't see at a first glance. It really pays to be open-minded.

Yeah that's true too.  Many songs that become favorites came from other people suggesting ones I sure never came up with.

Steve