Home › Forums › Guitar Techniques and General Discussions › I seem to have lost the will to practise
Tagged: music goals, Practice time
- This topic has 46 replies, 20 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 7 months ago by Billy.
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September 5, 2016 at 2:20 pm #50108
Looks like I am in some sort of non practising rut, I honestly don’t know what is going on. I don’t even want to take a guitar out a bag or out of a case and even when I do then I seem to play the same phrase over and over again for about 20mins and then put the guitar away..
Is this a common thing, did I over practise EP153 last month, Am I not getting the same buzz that this lesson gave me???…
Has this happened to anyone else, is it happening to anyone else, what should I be doing. Ignore my guitars until the want to practise returns???
Billy
..Billy..
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September 5, 2016 at 3:01 pm #50109
Funny you should say this… I’ve been in the same place for a couple of months now.. Not sure why, but I just have not had the drive to practice enough to make any progress. That’s why I have not participated in the past monthly challenges. It seems that I pick up the guitar and just wander around with it for a bit and quickly put it down. As I read your post I do have my guitar in hand as I’m working on EP129, and I will probably work on some fret board stuff..
Not sure how to explain it, but I do want to play as my guitar is always on my mind. It’s just when it’s not in my hands, I want to go get it and play, then when I have it it my hands, I just can’t seem to find my way. I also have another hobby that I’ve been focusing more time on. I feel maybe I’ve burnt myself out on the guitar a bit, I’m just guessing. But in any case, here’s hoping that it passes. LoL!!!Mark
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September 5, 2016 at 4:57 pm #50115
Billy,
After your last post where you played the electric I thought you were on your way to new and exciting horizons….what happened..? I think you need to have a shot of whisky and pick up that electric and it will all come together…..Look forward to your next posting.
Tim -
September 5, 2016 at 4:59 pm #50117
Happens to me on occasion too. Sometimes a break from playing helps. If you feel the need to play but aren’t inspired by your normal stuff try learning some jazz chords/progressions or work on something like the Cello Suites, in other words change it up a bit.
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September 5, 2016 at 6:14 pm #50118
I think when I’m happy I look forward to practicing or figuring out a tune,, when I worry or am busy or in a bad mood..i don’t spend time playing my guitar..guess the word “rut” is opposite of being “happy”,, i played upstate on acoustic a bit of lesson 145 delta blues and really was happy practicing that lesson on a campfire. I’m more like beat than in a rut after this weekend!
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September 5, 2016 at 6:14 pm #50119
Billy Well done for posting this because some of the physiological aspects can be pretty challenging in learning guitar. I believe it is a form of mental overload and your brain switches off for a while whilst it absorb the recent input. I bet you if you don’t pick up an axe for a week and ignore the forum and you come back to something that you were just starting to get a little better on right before the fatigue set in you will find that you have moved on and it has become a lot easier to master. It seem right before you advance you need a respite. That is how I have found it often works for me.
I think as we improve and get better these mental challenges become slightly less pronounced. So if I’m right go motor cycling for a few days and then when you have had a musical break play some of the tunes you have already learned. It may take a few plays to remember all the notes. So rather than play it inaccurately I think the secret and opportunity is to deploy the slow play videos here.
The slow play is very useful because if you say right ill play lesson xyz and you use it and just run through you will find that you are much more able to nail the nuances which will also be more apparent. A couple of goes of perfect slow play will be the signal to come up to tempo and I reckon if you follow that you will soon have a real smile on your face and the success and sense of accomplishment will propel you back into full ambition mode. Hope that sounds helpful
John Strat -
September 5, 2016 at 6:49 pm #50122
Don’t let it bum you out Billy. Happens to everyone at some point. I think everyone makes valid points. Maybe just walk away for a few days, like John says your brain is needing a rest.
Rob -
September 5, 2016 at 7:02 pm #50123
@johnstrat
Have to agree with the slow play technique too.
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September 5, 2016 at 7:24 pm #50124
Hey, I get that way too. I haven’t done anything really creative in a few weeks now myself. But, I have been spending time learning my software.. It happens. The last rut I was in lasted over 10 years.
So what is your practice like? I usually play one of the solo lessons from here, then maybe work on a speed technique I like, which is just going up and down the neck on each string alternating fingers. One of my favorites just to practice is LEG019.. At one time I was trying to work that out as a song, but, decided it is just a great fingering exercise.
Don't practice till you get it right, practice till you can't get it wrong.
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September 5, 2016 at 7:35 pm #50125
Hey Billy (@williammillar31hotmail-com), et. al.
I just want to chime in and say this is completely normal and not to fret (no pun intended).
I too go through spurts of feeling discouraged and feel like I am not making progress with my playing. This can happen for many reasons and it doesn’t matter too much why. What you do while you are in these times is what separates the guitar players who keep going and those who quit.
Here are some things I do to get my fire ignited again during these times:
1) Recall a time when playing guitar made you happy or you were really enjoying yourself. Remember that feeling. This could be just after conquering one of Brian’s lessons, learning a song, or finishing an AM challenges, etc. I remember one of the first campfire style jams I attended about a year or so ago. I played a solo and it just clicked and was magical. I was not able to do that prior to that. It was such a great feeling to have the hard work pay off. Billy, I remember you mastering the EP154 Gypsy Waltz lesson. That seemed pretty big for you. You were pretty stoked and you really did awesome on it!
2) Review your previous recordings of your playing and see how far you have come and acknowledge that. I will guarantee that no guitar player is where they want to be with their playing (including professionals) but we all can recognize progress when it is recorded. Honor and respect yourself by acknowledging how far you have come.
3) Take a break from playing. Could be a day, a week, etc. But make sure it is temporary. Focusing on anything intensely over a long period of time will burn you out. Trust me I know first hand. It is ok to have other interests, hobbies, etc.
4) Go on Youtube and find new music that gets you fired up. Spend a couple hours listening and just enjoying it.
5) Practice something completely different then you were practicing. [Come back to the original material when you feel refreshed. Because you will master it! :)]
6) Free play/jam. Play along with a new jam track, a radio station, or play a song you know. Don’t worry about mistakes just have fun and don’t put expectations or rules on anything. Play like no one is listening. 🙂
7) Go to see some live music at a pub or different venue.
8) Meet new people and/or look for a jam buddy (or a new jam buddy).
9) Start using the term “yet” when you feel negativity creeping in. I can’t play that…YET. I am not good at guitar…YET.
10) Talk to fellow members on the AM forum and tell them how you feel. (Good job Billy!)
11) Hang out with people that make you happy, are positive, and support your hobbies and goals. With that said, stop hanging out with people that do the opposite.
12) Go to the store and buy new picks, strings, or something small that makes you want to play. If you are blessed and can afford a new pedal, guitar, or amp go for it but just know it is not required. New strings on my guitars makes me happy and it is under $15 US.
13) Go to the music store and window shop and try out new gear.
That is all I got off the top of my head. Just know it is normal and if getting better at guitar is your goal, you will get past it and be playing again soon.
Let me know if I can be of any assistance. Happy Picking Billy!
Warm Regards,
-Bryce
Anchorage, Alaska -
September 5, 2016 at 8:14 pm #50127
Bryce’s list is good. I will add one thing that can help a lot:
Shorten your practice time, but focus it. Make a very small goal for a short practice session – maybe just getting the evenness of vibrato on a certain note. Or getting the pitch of a particular bend right. With that in mind, that’s the only thing that the short practice time would focus on, and the rest can be terrible, so long as you work to improve that one small thing.
Then, with the rest of the time that you would ordinarily practice, do something fun, either with the guitar or away from it.
Suppose practice means – 10 minutes of scales, 15 minutes on this lesson, another 15 minutes on another lesson, maybe review a lesson from a couple months ago, etc… This involves putting in a lot of time, but without focusing on any particular goal. And what you then do can wind up in the worst of all possible worlds: being both not fun and not productive.
But if you accomplish one tiny goal every time you sit down to focus, you will be astonished at how fast you progress, and how fun the path can be. By the way, this is a whole lot easier said than done.
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September 5, 2016 at 8:40 pm #50128
Billy M,
I’m pretty sure this happens to everyone at points in their hobby! I think the best thing to do is not stress over it. Accept it as normal, take a break and come back to it later. Maybe this is over simplified but it may be helpful to know your not alone in this feeling.Cheers
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September 5, 2016 at 9:11 pm #50129
Thanks for posting this Billy M, this is what has happened to me and why I have not participated in the last monthly challenges.
Suddenly I find that the lessons, including the latest rhythm ones, appear overly difficult for me – I’ll get certain parts down but can’t get them all…will get the hammered note but the palm muting will be inconsistent, or vice-versa. Very frustrating for what appears to be so simple on the video lesson.
Then I go to basics and try for a while and feel either stuck or bored, so when i return to the lesson the same problem with my inconsistencies.
Hmmm…I might try Duffy’s suggestion, but for now I’m just on a holding pattern.
Cheers,
Richard
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September 5, 2016 at 10:16 pm #50133
I was going to chime in but instead refer to Bryce especially # 4 and # 7. There are hit songs on you tube with tab and video. Pick one you like and you will be surprised how fast you pick it up after these lessons. If there is a place to see live music near you go for it. We have been going to a small venue with some great bands. It is just so good for the soul!
MikeMike
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September 6, 2016 at 1:04 am #50137
Thanks for all the useful input everyone, It looks like I need to be taking a step back and doing something different for a day or two, though in saying that I really have struggled to get any form of progressive practise done in the last 6 or 7 days..
Time to revert back to my copy of “first learn how to practise” once I have had some time out and see if i can make this fun for myself again.Thanks again
Billy
..Billy..
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September 6, 2016 at 2:07 am #50138
Billy I am confident that you will find it fun again once you have unburdened the overload. So go easy for bit and pick up that gypsy waltz again next time you feel like playing and then your electric debut which you did so well. Slow play them through because you will be able to correct the blemishes and you will see and feel just how far youve advanced. Happy hols john strat
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September 6, 2016 at 3:17 am #50139
Or try a new instrument – bass is for example ridiculously easy to start to play (although hard to master) and it WILL help you with fretboard memorization. Harp is fun to make noise with. Banjo is great right hand practice. Ukulele is great tuning practice (that thing wont stay in tune for a minute).
You’d be surprised what you discover and music will be fun yet again.
My Youtube Playlist
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September 6, 2016 at 3:59 am #50140
Hi Billy
This happened to me a while back, I had got into trying to learn jazzy stuff, and before I knew it all I was doing was learning theory, theory and more theory, then I realized all the fun had gone, I wasn`t enjoying it anymore, so I took a step back, decided I would rather play good old blues n RnR, and learnt my first piece to post for the July challenge, and now the enjoyment and pleasure is well and truly reinstated.
AllanM -
September 6, 2016 at 6:07 am #50150
Billy,
I would just add that there is one lesson that I have always favored it may not appeal to you but I think it will as it is a fantastic sound and you will find easy to accomplish. It is the lesson LEG022 a simple blues lead.it is a little easier that LEG019 as gnlguy mentioned but both are real winners. I believe that you would master this pretty if not very quickly, even in perhaps a few minutes. Success breads confidence and pleasure which will really help pull you through these blues if I can coin the term. All the best JohnStrat
PS I bet nearly every AM member has been hit with this at some time or another!!
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September 6, 2016 at 6:13 am #50152
Thanks gents, I think i need to be finding another lesson which grabs me like Gypsy and 153 did…. back to the drawing board as they say..
..Billy..
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September 6, 2016 at 1:15 pm #50166
If I may help Billy.. Believe me when I tell you ,, every lesson I do here on AM isn’t easy yet these are in fact excellent lessons to learn and will certainly help anybody willing to take the time.. i mean, i thought this morning I was going to blow through ep168 .. but hrs practicing it today, with breaks in between of coarse.. I find it hard to keep with the jamtrack.. so i just slow down instead of slopping through fast tempos.. nothing good will come out of trying to play fast and out of tempo..any lessons you really want to play tight like Brian shows us must be played slow just play it slow and steady..the speed will follow depending on your skill level.. learn to follow the tab while watching Brian on the sound slice here..I find it to be best featured software for learning anything Brian teaches! I have all three parts done but need now to play many more hrs to the fast jamtracks and perhaps try different keys once I’m up to EP 168 LESSON speed in Key of A
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September 6, 2016 at 2:01 pm #50169
Sunburst. That is so typical of my experience too. I have hit exactly the same as you on the 167 lesson. So Im doing exactly as you say and watching the tab it is o so helpful and trying to build tempo. Regards John Strat
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September 6, 2016 at 3:48 pm #50176
Yes Johnstrat, but you can’t make it work,, you have to be having fun and wanting to feel it.. doesn’t have to be nor should it be note for note but..it sure does help to try first and complete exactly what Brian is doing as for tab just to get a feel of the tempo. i have to also practice ep 167 again.. I really have fun too with the throwback Thursday lessons .. really so many to keep forking over on am.. each lesson just helps me get better learning the fret board/positions /techniques .. still like using fingers instead a pick most the time. best regards
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September 6, 2016 at 4:59 pm #50183
That hasn’t happened to me so far, but I’ve only been learning guitar for a bit over 2 years. In my case, I don’t see it as just learning guitar. What I aspire to do is learn different styles of music, learn to compose my own music, learn how to improvise, learn about interesting living and dead musicians, learn about different kinds of musical instruments, and on and on. I want to get better with my pedals (especially my looper pedal), get more skilled at the video and audio recording processes, become at least moderately skilled with composing music on my DAW (Logic Pro X, for me), maybe make some amateur-level music videos. So practice is just something I do to facilitate all the other goals I have. Some months ago, I realized that it was futile to try to learn and commit to memory every single lesson that Brian produces. So if a weekly lesson comes out that is designed to teach something I already know, or is a style of music that I’m not interested in, then I just spend time playing around with my pedals, or building a project in Logic Pro. More fun, less work. How could I ever get bored?
Sunjamr Steve
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September 6, 2016 at 5:53 pm #50188
Diversity is certainly a key issue and I think from what you say Sunjamr you deploy it naturally. Maybe Billy has tried to hard a t a particular cliff face and found it too much for now and fatigued out. That is where diversification comes in handy and can give you successes elsewhere in one of the more readily achievable lessons.
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September 6, 2016 at 7:40 pm #50193
exactly johnstrat, totally agree, and sunjamr makes a valid point , however,, not to sound snobbish but I can play everything Brian teaches and throws out here on his site.. and I don’t need the bells and whistles to modify or anything other than a favorite practice amp and few quality guitars(acoustic and electric) my point is one who practices and feels they are in a rut is normal.. I admit it myself with certain challenges.. all one needs to understand is to accomplish any lesson anywhere be it online or from a dvd /book.. you need commitment and a passion to play.. listen to all those famous players and they live or dead will tell you the same.. you and you alone make your strings ring.. all hands on thousands of hours/years. I tell you the truth, should I ever get in a rut/burnt out trying to get right with any lesson on am or any sites i visit,, i simply share it with those who are most willing to help me. Billy is going through growing pains like all of us lol.
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September 7, 2016 at 4:23 am #50217
Billy, I also go through this from time to time. Sometimes a short reprieve is called for (maybe a few days), other times it can be weeks. My longest “rut” lasted close to a decade but exposure to AM yanked me right back on the right path again!
Workload can be a deterrent, as it’s pretty tough to devote time to playing when your mind needs to be elsewhere. One thing that keeps me going is my desire to compose my own versions of other’s songs (a few of which I’ve already posted on the AM site). This can even be hit or miss but when it’s on, it’s on and my enthusiasm for playing/practicing seemingly can’t be satiated. There are days where it can be a struggle to find and stick with one song to do- other times it can be impossible to narrow it down to a couple songs to work on because I have so many I want to tackle.
As others have suggested, I’ve also found that going to see a live performance can be a great source of inspiration. For me, it doesn’t even have to be rock/blues related… My wife and I were recently on vacation in Ireland. It was a well-timed vacation, for I was also in a playing rut at the time. Seeing several local musicians playing live at pubs was very influential for me. Got a chance to talk to a few of them- they’re just like you and me. I couldn’t wait to get home and pick up a guitar again!
Having a few hobbies other than music also helps- variety is the spice of life. I always viewed my wide varying interests as a curse because it never left me time to devote to any one thing. But over time I’ve found that I want to get back to music more and more… Take a break, take a ride, let it be for now. You’ll find yourself itching to pick it up again and get after it with the same enthusiasm you’ve had in the past!
Mark
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September 7, 2016 at 5:53 am #50221
I’ll tell you this, it really is good to know that this is a normal phrase and we all hit it at some point or points.
My main problem is that I basically have a low concentration level when it comes to things like this, It is just so so easy for me to switch off during a lesson when I get lost because I don’t have a clue what is being talked about, or if I feel that some bits are rushed over… Those are my switch off points.
learning EP153 I put a lot of time and effort into breaking it all down to learnable chunks, videoing the sections and more or less disecting it phrase by phrase, Playing them back while practising them or playing them back on my kindle when at work and waiting for work..
Everyday I was either learning to play a section or studying a section or working out where i was in the tab and how to fit it all together.. I think I have just burnt out my concentration levels and just need to recharge my batteries.
I have taken in what everyone has said and I will be looking at a new way to practise, doing EP153 the way I did, worked to a degree...Billy..
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September 7, 2016 at 6:54 am #50226
Billy Sticking my neck out a bit here because it may not be for you but I reiterate do go and listen to LEG022 its a great sound and if you like it and take it on I feel sure its one you can pt under your belt in very short order. That will be an advance, a success and something learned and that = enthusiasm restoration. As we said LEG019 is also a great sound but there is a relatively a faster lick that takes a bit of working up. The new EP167 rhythms are also in this area. For Lessons before Brian introduced SoundSlice there is a useful bit of software called SlowHand it is relatively in expensive about 40$ and it allows capture from YouTube and then you can slow down zoom in and loop segments. I used this myself to build my tempo up on EP050 the Freddie King lesson which has some fast finger twisters in it. I am convinced LEG022 is for you! HA take plenty of pinches of salt. I must have a long neck!! JohnStrat
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September 7, 2016 at 8:13 am #50229
I’ll have a look at those later today after work John, I cant get video sound on my phone from the forum for some reason..
Thanks for your input John, its a great help.Billy
..Billy..
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September 7, 2016 at 10:16 am #50237
Hey Billy, I’ve been watching this post off and on (but I haven’t read every reply, looks like you struck a lot of nerves).
One thing that helps me when things start sounding stale is to go back to a rhythm that once excited me, something kind of driving and simple (simple note-wise). For me that’s most often been one of the Bo Diddleys, a boogie shuffle, “I Ain’t Got You,” “You Don’t Love Me” or a “Mannish Boy” riff and I just work on finessing it, playing it as smoothly and gently as possible (theres’s something about trying to restrain a driving rhythm that wakes up my desire to play).
Although I wasn’t currently in a rut, the EP167 lesson (and EP168 when I get to it) “woke me up” even more.
Don D.
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September 7, 2016 at 10:56 am #50239
Billy,
Your honesty about the ‘rut’ has inspired so many interesting and important ideas! Thank you for raising the question. I personally think that sometimes our brain and muscle memory need time to digest what we have been learning and a ‘space’ opens up in our practice routine. Redirecting thoughts toward other artistic and creative things can be so rejuvenating (others have mentioned this, too) I really liked Vojtechs idea about tinkering around with a new instrument.
Thanks for posting.
Cheers, Debra -
September 7, 2016 at 2:57 pm #50261
Billy Sticking my neck out a bit here because it may not be for you but I reiterate do go and listen to LEG022 its a great sound and if you like it and take it on I feel sure its one you can pt under your belt in very short order. That will be an advance, a success and something learned and that = enthusiasm restoration. As we said LEG019 is also a great sound but there is a relatively a faster lick that takes a bit of working up. The new EP167 rhythms are also in this area. For Lessons before Brian introduced SoundSlice there is a useful bit of software called SlowHand it is relatively in expensive about 40$ and it allows capture from YouTube and then you can slow down zoom in and loop segments. I used this myself to build my tempo up on EP050 the Freddie King lesson which has some fast finger twisters in it. I am convinced LEG022 is for you! HA take plenty of pinches of salt. I must have a long neck!! JohnStrat
John, I went to lesson LEG022 and downloaded the tab and the backing track and then I saved the video along with the other dl’s.. Played the video, got my guitar out and tried the lesson a couple of times…then I put my guitar away, Right now I am just not feeling this…
I am giving it a rest after tomorrow night( cos I said I would go to an acoustic jam)with a deadline of getting my s*** back together on Sunday….
..Billy..
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September 7, 2016 at 3:14 pm #50262
Billy, That’s fine take the break no pressure to try anything. Have a break but youve had a look so Im hoping you will be thinking he’s right its a nice tune and it looks like i could get that down fairly swiftly ..if not forget it and look for one you do like and rekon should not be difficult and only when your ready give it a go.
Have a good session at you jam and cheers John Strat
PS it could take you a good few week to get steam up again but let it wend its course you will know when your refreshed.
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September 7, 2016 at 5:22 pm #50276
I thought I would give myself a shake by listening to my recordings from the 1st one 6 months ago.
Some of these I recall with a bit of fondness..The 1st, this was 6 months ago…
The 2nd one which was 3 months ago.. I dont know what i was thinking about here…hahahaha
https://soundcloud.com/billy-897485295/practise3105
3rd and a month back, it is supposed to be bending em like Clapton…hahaha
https://soundcloud.com/billy-897485295/stringbendpractise
The next two from a month ago have to go together, I worked my socks off on this tune.
And last but not least from 15 days ago..
I hope this doesn’t come across the wrong way, but listening back the last 6 months I can hear just how much my playing has improved..
Anyway, I hope that this helps me in some way to get my mojo kick started again…
Billy
..Billy..
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September 7, 2016 at 7:22 pm #50282
Billy This is great and haven’t you come a long way!! that is exactly the point and here you have the record which proves you worked those sock off. Well a break aitn anything but natural. Clapton worked his socks off when he was young and particularly with John Mayall as you probably know it was very grueling by all account.
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September 7, 2016 at 7:52 pm #50284
Billy in all honesty, listened to all your reditions and hear you are hitting them notes great.. you just keep watching Brian play and I am sure you aren’t a long way off.. btw second one sounded to me like “from the beginning” Greg Lake ELP LOL.. But you really just relax and take your time.. from what I can hear,, you need to focus on getting your fingers placement in sync with the tempo.. other than that,, I hear the strumming and chords sound clean so you can’t be that far behind getting these to comfortable tempo.. trust me, you are pretty dang good but once you take a break and come back.. you’ll see what I mean.. you’ll start feeling each measure.. meanwhile, practice more but remember not too much to think it is work instead of fun.. why bother unless it is fun?.. you thinking millions like me?.. lol just joking!
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September 7, 2016 at 9:02 pm #50289
Billy I just got out of one of these funks where I didn’t feel like playing at all. I think it lasted around a month, but today I think I played for 8 hours so I think Im back on track. Don’t sweat it you will find the groove again. My biggest problem is trying to focus on one piece at a time. Hang in there…
Jdub
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September 7, 2016 at 9:59 pm #50293
yea, I am hearing progress.. I think what you need to do is set small goals. Probably even better, have someone set small goals for you and you work to those. It is a long road, ya know. If you want it, you’ll get there. But, the key is, you have to want to get there.
Don't practice till you get it right, practice till you can't get it wrong.
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September 8, 2016 at 4:31 am #50302
I see your point there Blu but surely each and every lesson is a set of goals.
I am sitting here in the local sheriff court waiting to see if i am selected for jury duty and all i am thinking is the acoustics are great in here and i should have brought a guitar…..Billy..
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September 8, 2016 at 5:31 am #50304
Lol
Don't practice till you get it right, practice till you can't get it wrong.
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September 9, 2016 at 10:42 am #50381
Last night I gave the city jam session a miss, what with one thing or another I have had a pretty hectic old week. So I text Tommy to let him know that I wouldn’t be going and he wasn’t too fussed about missing out on the session either.
I had the house to myself and it was so peacefully quiet, Wasn’t long before I got to thinking about Lights rendition of EP134 and as it was the 1st ever lesson on A.M.that I attempted, I thought I would see just how much of it I could remember….
Easily must have been an hour that passed as I tried to get my fingers to play the song as I recalled it and when I finally fired up my laptop to play Brian playing EP134 my recall of it while sounding similar was in essence nothing like Brians version…hahahahaSo, I have decided what I am going to do about this here rut of mine. I am going to search out the type of songs in lessons that I want to play, I am going to Ignore the challenges but I am going to give myself the same months time frame to learn whichever song I have chosen.
I need to be doing some form of “Theory study” as learning bits of theory as part of a lesson is not working for me....Billy..
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September 9, 2016 at 11:10 am #50382
Hey Billy, what’s your favorite song? Or what are your five favorites? Would you like to be able to play them? I’d be curious to know but you don’t really need to post your answers here; it’s just an angle you might be able to use to motivate yourself.
The main reason theory is important is as a shortcut. The reason I say this is it’s basically what I’m using to tell me what to NOT play, and I’m thinking strictly of harmony (chords and scales). There must be rhythmic theory too, but unfortunately that’s all feel to me. I started counting too late in life to be able to implement it. It just confuses me, causes me to hesitate and falter (I wonder how long it would take me to overcome this, would it be worth taking the time?).
Don’t worry about not bringing the guitar. No way they’d let you play it there.
Don D.
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September 9, 2016 at 11:21 am #50384
Don’t worry about not bringing the guitar. No way they’d let you play it there.
And there was me thinking I could play “I shot the Sheriff” and if I had the Judge join in it would have to be worth at least another 50 bragging points…hahahaha
..Billy..
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September 9, 2016 at 3:47 pm #50393
Billy,
For what it’s worth, my approach to the lessons and wanting to practice them is finding one that I really like and think that I can realistically play given some time and solid effort. ( I believe that you may be heading in that direction too by the sounds of things)
So, that’s the reason that I don’t typically enter the monthly challenges because the lesson may not be one that I want to necessarily take the time to learn at that particular time. There are exceptions of course since EP142 that I just completed happened to be one of the past monthly challenges.
I believe that if you really spend time on the lesson that you are passionate about learning then you’ll end up completing it. I don’t tend to worry about how much time it may take to learn the lesson because I don’t want to have a time limitation staring me in the face while I may be struggling to learn the lesson. Now you may drive your family crazy playing the same tune for months on end but I find that the approach works for me.
Anyway, enough said on the subject. You’ll find your way for sure. I’ve no doubt.
Tim -
September 9, 2016 at 6:55 pm #50406
Billy, if you could get away with that, you’d have every right to brag.
Don D.
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September 15, 2016 at 3:28 am #50763
I’ve now had myself a good rest away from guitar and it was refreshing to pick up my guitar again last night.
Every thing is a bit more relaxed and i think i put too much practise into EP153 that i burnt out my consentration levels.
I am going to go back to the 1st lesson I tried to play 6months ago and see i can improve my playing on that, EP134 which Lights tackled a few weeks back has rekindled my interest…so, “Stand by your bunks”...Billy..
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