|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:24 pm
So, first off I'll start off my by saying that I'm a terrible guitarist. XD
I don't mean like, I has no skillz. That's also kind of true, but I'm a disgrace to true guitarists in that I haven't touched my beauties in over three months. Maybe like, once in that time span, for about fifteen minutes, and then I packed them all up safely (we're moving.)
And I always find excuses not to play; homework, school, moving, needing to get things done in the new house so we can move in, my addiction to the internet being a detriment, etc. The truth is, my stepdad died in July, and I haven't played since then. He was always a really big part of my guitar life, he knew everything about everything rock, and even though he couldn't play guitar, he knew so much, and he was so supportive and amazing, and I miss him. I just... it hurts. He bought me my first hard case (a coffin case, it's godly. And a bit ironic, I guess.) He took me to my lessons when mom couldn't, until he got sick. And on and on. And it just doesn't seem the same.
But anyway, I need to get back into playing. Not, like, need to for any other external reason, other than I, personally, physically, need it. I just don't even know where to start anymore. Undoubtedly I've lost a lot of dexterity, forgotten a lot. I need to rebuild myself so I can play again. And I really want to learn 'Race Wish' by HIZAKI Grace Project, because that song's just rocking my world so much lately. Getting me through some deep s**t :3
So what do you guys practice? What inspires you when you're in a rut? What do you do to improve?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:01 pm
Let me start off by saying that I'm sorry for your loss... He sounds like a good guy.
As far as finding how or what to practice, I'd say just do what I do: I turn on the radio, pick up my guitar, and find something that catches my attention. Then I play along by ear, look up the tabs for it afterwards, then refine it until I've got it down. I'm currently working with my band on the Rise Against cover of Journey - Any Way You Want It, thanks to that method. Lemme know if it works for you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 5:59 pm
I too am sorry for your loss. And let me just say that you remind me a lot of myself when it comes to guitaring. Everything you said about your skills (or lack thereof) and the procrastination, and not knowing what to do to get out of the rut is exactly how I felt. And kind of do feel now. I'm on the internet more often than I should be but I'm still in the beginner stages of playing the guitar so I epically fail at anything above an F chord, and I haven't picked up my guitar in a month or so. For me the one thing that made me pick it up when I first started and when I got out of my first rut was a concert I went to where I actually got to watch my favorite guitar player in action. That inspired me, made me want to run home and play. But alas I'm in a rut AGAIN.
Anyway enough of my boring life story.
There's tons of books you could use to get you started. Whether it's something like Guitar for Dummies (which I actually used, cause I'm a loser like that) or even just a book of tabs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:40 pm
I'm sorry for your loss.
I actually experienced something like this recently. I got Guillain-Barre Syndrome this year, where I was paralyzed from the neck down for about 3 months. So I had to basically get all my dexterity back.
My recommendation is to find some easy songs that you never got around to learning that you had always wanted to learn. In my case, it was "Shesmovedon" by Porcupine Tree and "Testify" by RATM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:52 pm
Hehe, I just went to see Three Days Grace on Monday, and needless to say I've been playing a lot lately. XP And my friends and I have decided to play our own take of Hallelujah at this jazz club (lol, we're such rebels. XP) because our school performs there every Thursday, and we can just jump in the open jam session whenever we please, and there's very little interest in our fabulous jazz program this year, which sucks. I'm not really a jazz guitarist, but it's not bad :3
Thanks for all you guys' tips!
@ Shadow:: That sounds like a great method!! I never really got very good at playing by ear, but I have done stuff like that for songs I couldn't find the tab to :3 Thanks! And good luck with your band! That's awesome :3
@ Magica:: Aww, that sucks, but I'm sure you'll get out of it soon!! Is Guitar for Dummies any good? I've been playing for five years, but I still feel like a guitar n00b often enough. XD
@ Lethkhar:: Oh wow, that's incredible!! It takes a lot to get back to where you were, I'm learning that the hard way now, I can't imagine what it would be like to start again after being paralyzed. I would have been totally discouraged. That's totally mindblowing, good on you! <3
Ahh, cool tip! :3 I never thought of that. Naturally, I started off trying to learn a super hard song (Race Wish by Hizaki Grace Project; I never could play that fast even before, XP) and got super discouraged, but then I started working on the song with my friends and I'm finding it a lot more fun :3 If not painful. XP
Thanks guys! :3
If anyone has any exercises to practice on improving speed and dexterity, I'd be all ears for that n.n;;;
My fingers feel slow and sluggish. XP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:33 am
Yeah, it worked very well for me. I didn't really know where to start learning and that book helped me a great deal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:45 pm
Yea, it's a good way to gain an ear for music. Now I'm challenging myself to learn Six by All That Remains. Hopefully, once I get it down, the band will learn it to... I'd LOVE to bust that one out on stage! biggrin Challenging yourself really does help you to get better.
As for speed and dexterity... I've got a song or two in mind for you to learn...
-Hand of Blood: Bullet for my Valentine
(It's actually not that hard and helps with finger dexterity... biggrin )
-Master of Puppets: Metallica
(Really helped me gain speed)
Those two songs are a little challenging to learn, but you can get them with a little work! I think you'll be surprised at yourself after those two songs.
(P.S.) Give some parts of Six a shot... They're pretty fun!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:25 pm
For inspiration I listen to these albums-
The Division Bell,
Animals,
Wish You Were Here,
Dark Side of the Moon,
The Wall [Disc 2]
I Give one of them a listen, and it makes me want to play ^^
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:30 pm
Usually for practice, I pop my iPod on, plug in, and just go.
Found that most Gojira helped my tremolo picking and harmonic sweeps. Other than that... it's just fun to thrash out to it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 5:44 pm
Here are some dexterity exercises that are pretty basic but after a while, they can help you get faster.
So start with your 1st finger on the 12 and follow these fret numbers from the 6th string all the way to the 1st string (double them, it helps your strum get up to speed as well):
12-13-14-15, after this, go backwards...
13-14-15-12, same thing...
14-15-12-13, same here...
15-12-13-14, here too...
When you've got those, play the 1st pattern (12-13-14-15) alternating strings. Play the -12- on the 6th string, and then the -13- on the 5th string and alternating. until you reach string 1
Hope that helps anyone who needs it...you can also switch the patterns up to make it much harder. After a while you might want to move on to harder stuff 'cause this is pretty basic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 6:15 pm
If you want to get your picking speed up, is what you mean, learn to play This Calling by All That Remains and The Light That Blinds by...wow i forgot the band name x] You'll find out though, so don't worry x]
Fretting hand speed - learn to sweep (that will help with picking too).
Hope I helped.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:41 am
ok
Ill tell u what I use to practice, been playng guitarr for 3 weeks.
Smoke on the water.
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
--------3---5-----0---3---6-5-----0---3---5-----3---0
--------3---5-----0---3---6-5-----0---3---5-----3---0
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
really easy
?????
-----2---0---2---4--5---
--------------------------
-------------------------
--------------------------
--------------------------
--------------------------
2X times
|---------------2-------------0-
|--5--5--4--------5--5--4-----
|--------------------------------
|--------------------------------
|--------------------------------
|-------------------------------
|--5--5--4--4--5-----2--0
|-------------------------------
|-------------------------------
|-------------------------------
|-------------------------------
|-------------------------------
Look in google, "Para Elisa", from Betonven o Mozart. Well that sould do, try also seven nation army, californication (red hot), and the beggining of One(metallica twisted )
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:53 pm
The first song I learned was Otherside from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I would though recommend playing something with quick riffs like Crazy Train (RIP Randy Rhoads) or some Stevie Ray Vaughn (RIP) blues if that's your thing.
Sorry for your loss by the way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:18 pm
I'm sorry for your loss, but use this as your motivation: What would your step-dad want you doing? Playing or stopping playing? I'm pretty sure he'd be a bit disappointed if he knew you stopped.
Race Wish? That's a bit of a lofty expectation for right now. That songs pretty hard. What you wanna do is start off easy. Maybe do radio songs? I never did, my first song was Beast and the Harlot by A7X (I had only been playing a year, so I know you can do it if you wanted). Play everything slowly and pick up the pace.
DON'T put it off if you have a choice. Pick it up and play it; even if it means you have to force yourself. The LAST thing you want to do is not play. Trust me. I haven't been playing recently either (I've been doing other kinds of music and other things); I know how hard it is to play. But you have to.
Begin learning some Music Theory. If you really do want to get started I can give you some links to articles that will help you get started. Just say the work.
If you want any exercises I can give you those too.
Good luck, happy composing, and above all, have fun.
Robotic Seahorse The Light That Blinds by...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:05 pm
ShadowKin-TNC- Yea, it's a good way to gain an ear for music. Now I'm challenging myself to learn Six by All That Remains. Hopefully, once I get it down, the band will learn it to... I'd LOVE to bust that one out on stage! biggrin Challenging yourself really does help you to get better. As for speed and dexterity... I've got a song or two in mind for you to learn... -Hand of Blood: Bullet for my Valentine (It's actually not that hard and helps with finger dexterity... biggrin ) -Master of Puppets: Metallica (Really helped me gain speed) Those two songs are a little challenging to learn, but you can get them with a little work! I think you'll be surprised at yourself after those two songs. (P.S.) Give some parts of Six a shot... They're pretty fun! Bullet for my valentine HELL YEAH!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
