Guitar Tip: Sound good by yourself.
One of the most concentrated periods of my growth as a guitarist came in the mid 1990s, when I decided that I needed to get a solo-guitar gig. I talked a local cafe into letting me play on Sunday mornings for a few hours. (Payment was a big brunch and $10 cash—and, of course, whatever I got in my tip jar.) At the start, I thought I needed to work up some fully fleshed-out arrangements of songs—with melody, chords, and bass lines all woven into a rich tapestry. Before long, though, I found that it was more effective and more fun to play minimally. One Sunday at a time, I taught myself to play in ways that suggested a lot without actually playing so much.
I encourage you to put yourself in a solo-guitar situation on a regular basis. You may or may not become more minimalist, as I did, but you’re bound to discover new aspects of the guitar and of your own musicality.
This channel is for my weekly Guitar Tips series. I'll be posting one each Friday Subscribe to see them all.
~Adam
Guitar Tip: You are what you practice.
The great thinker Albert Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” We can apply that to our guitar practice. What exactly are you trying to achieve on the instrument? Where would you like to be, guitar-wise, one year from today? Think about that. Once you’ve got a clear picture in mind, ask yourself exactly what you’d need to practice to get there. Practice those things and eliminate everything else from your routine. If you want to get better at playing grooves, work hard on your groove playing. If you want to be a stronger soloist, don’t simply run up and down scales. Really practice soloing. Craft some 8-bar or 16-bar solos—with beginnings, middles, and endings—over the kinds of chord progressions you’d like to be fluent with. If you want to develop your ears, focus all of your study time on ear-training.
One year from now, you may find that you still have work to do, but I guarantee you’ll be a lot closer to your goals. I can also assure that if, instead, you fall back into the same old practice routines, you’ll be more-or-less the same guitarist you are today, just one year older. Insane, right?
This channel is for my weekly Guitar Tips series. I'll be posting one each Friday Subscribe to see them all.
~Adam
Guitar Tip: Position yourself.
Two of my favorite guitar books are Mick Goodrick’s ‘The Advancing Guitarist’ (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/65...) and Wayne Krantz’s ‘An Improviser’s OS' (http://www.waynekrantz.com/book/). Position playing is covered in both books, from very different perspectives.
In Goodrick’s model, a position encompasses a 6-fret span. Take 5th position, for example. Your 1st finger would play any note at the 5th fret, your 2nd finger any note at the 6th fret, and so on; additionally, you may use your 1st finger to reach back for notes at the 4th fret, and your 4th finger my reach forward for notes at the 9th. This allows for total chromaticism and also gives you some options for alternate fingerings—where a given note may be playable on two different strings.
Krantz’s concept is more austere. 5th position includes only the notes playable at the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th frets. So, for example, when playing an E major scale in that position, you’d have no C# in the lower octave. (It can’t be accessed on the 6th string, or the 5th.) You’d also have no F# or B in the middle register, and no G# in the upper octave. Such hiccups in the scale may lead you to some interesting, atypical melodic choices.
Explore both approaches, improvising your way around a single scale in a particular position. Are there clear advantages to either approach? Any disadvantages? Getting to know both systems will help you truly understand and appreciate the guitar’s unique layout.
This channel is for my weekly Guitar Tips series. I'll be posting one each Friday Subscribe here to see them all.
~Adam
P.S. Lately I’ve been teaching more and more lessons online—via Skype, FaceTime, and intotheShed. If you’re interested in remote lessons, wherever you are in the world, drop me a line. The email address is LESSONS@ADAMLEVY.COM.
Guitar Tip: Form follows function.
I don’t believe there’s any one “correct” technique for the guitar. How you hold your pick (or your plucking fingers), where you place your thumb along the backside of the guitar neck, and so on—these are personal choices, which should be directed by only one question: What are you trying to achieve musically? Every aspect of your right- and left-hand technique must help you achieve your musical goals—efficiently, comfortably, and safely.
This channel is for my weekly Guitar Tips series. I'll be posting one each Friday. Subscribe here to see them all.
Lately I’ve been teaching more and more lessons via Skype and FaceTime. If you’re interested in remote lessons, wherever you are in the world, drop me a line. The email address is LESSONS@ADAMLEVY.COM
Guitar Tip: Keep a practice journal.
Assuming that you practice, it’s worth keeping notes on the various short- and long-term projects you’re spending your practice time on. Be specific (e.g., what piece you are working on, and at what tempo). A journal can help you appreciate your progress. It can also help you pick up where you left off, if you go off of practicing for awhile.
This channel is for my weekly Guitar Tips series. I'll be posting one each Friday. Subscribe here to see them all.
Lately I’ve been teaching more and more lessons via Skype and FaceTime. If you’re interested in remote lessons, wherever you are in the world, drop me a line. The email address is lessons@adamlevy.com.
~Adam
