Things to Take Seriously
as a Guitar Player
Need Lessons
Focus on Songs and Styles
Learning whole Songs is the main point. The reason being is it creates a whole thing you perform from start to finish.
Often “Players” will do just that play… play anything but a whole song, they might learn parts, chords, riffs styles etc etc but not actually be able to perform a whole song on either an acoustic or Electric guitar!
So, learn some whole songs for performance from start to finish.
It will teach you to complete a series of Rhythm and Lead functions, to play and sing and to perform the whole piece.
If you dont want to sing then learn some Instrumental pieces.
Learn songs in different styles and formats and try and present these. Being able to play Acoustic Folk or Blues and say Reggae or Rock songs means you learn to be flexible.
Although there is an argument for specialising in a genre, by all means do so, be the Maestro of Metal or the King of Gypsy Jazz, however sitting round the campfire and playing some songs people can listen to from a single guitar with a person singing is key to making a Guitar Player, a more rounded and better musician.
It means you've committed to the "Whole Process" in learning and performance.
Hone it and make it yours and create a "Set" of songs you can do. Choose stuff you like, % chances are others will like it too.
Secret: Committing to and performing something your passionate about and which you give yourself to is key to being you. Others will like it or leave it, either way they will know your committed and will respect that!
Timing
Getting the timing and feel for a song right is an art and you need to make sure you’re your ability to hit the right beat and get the right Rhythm is accurate and adaptable.
Study the “rhythm parts” or "guitar accompaniment" to songs. They are often just as technically demanding as the solos to get right.
Play with a metronome, drum track, or drummer when you practice so you learn to play with accurate timing.
Learn the Difference between 3 /4, 6/8, 4/4, 12/8, 5/4 etc and make it work on a guitar. Being able to interpret a strumming pattern and feel is key to making a song work.
Bad timing is obvious to a listener and puts them off, if your not particularly technical but want to be sure your getting it right, then do the following
- Keep the timing you play constant and as accurate as you can.
- Form a strum pattern you know works for your presentation.
- Be consistent and work the "Strumming Style" into the Performance.
- Be committed to the Style and Performance so that people pick up on your confidence, whether they like it or not, they will respect the style and performance.
Chords
Music theory should not be feared it's not that hard, at a basic level, learn the difference between certain chord types and why they are what they are.
- Major chords
- minor chords
- Dominant 7th chords
- minor 7th chords
- Major 7th chords.
Once you have them memorized you can get a song chart book and play almost any popular song.
You can also “interpret” songs more accurately and if you want to play jazzier songs you’ll also need to learn 6th, 9th, 13th, diminished, and augmented chords.
Scales
Learn the major scale and apply it to the whole neck Vertically and Horizontally.
Learn how to start the scale from the 2nd note, 3rd note and so on. Get a basic understanding of Modes.
Learn the Major and Minor pentatonic scale and the Blues scale.
If you want to play jazz or classical music you should also learn the harmonic minor-scale, melodic minor scale, whole tone scale, augmented scale, and the various pentatonic scales and bebop scales.
Super important: Learn to sing all the "modes" starting from the same starting note. That way you train your ear to find the harmony in scales.
Harmonize the major scale. In other words, play the starting chord to a scale and then play each ascending chord that would be built from that scale.
For example, in the key of C this would be: C Major, D minor, E minor, F Major, G Major, A minor, B half diminished, then C Major again.
These are the chords that are connected in one key signature. Learn them in multiple key signatures until the pattern becomes second nature.
This is key to learning to write songs well and gives you an understanding of which chords are grouped together in which keys.
Learn the Circle of 5ths and 4ths!
Right hand Technique
Learn several picking and fingerpicking techniques, regardless of acoustic or Electric both styles use fingerpicking!
Get the other righthand techniques down
especially ,Strumming, palm muting and alternate picking as a minimum.
Other righthand techniques can be specific to styles however being flexible is a great asset. Learn cross picking, linear picking, circular picking, pick slanting, pianistic fingerstyle, country blues fingerstyle, rest strike, free stroke, etc.
Performance and Review
Get Lessons: Many Guitar Players think this is unnecessary... especially once they get the ability to play some stuff.
The big mistake here is that "Peer Review", shows you where your failing more quickly than it would if your attempting to "Self Analyse".
Most people don't self analyse and just circle round and round things, thinking repetition will improve things.
Secret: Repetition only reinforces knowledge both GOOD and BAD!
As soon as you learn a song you should perform it. Even if it’s to an audience of one person or to YouTube. A lot of mistakes will go unnoticed when you’re only playing for yourself.
Playing in front of an Audience causes you to "Manage" the Performance and you learn the weak points almost immediately, did you fluff the intro or outro, did you forget the words, or a section of the solo!
Secret: Whatever Happens, get back on the Horse, Bike, etc and do it again! until it works!
Record yourself playing songs from beginning to end. For the same reasons as above it helps you self analyse.
Secret: Learning to learn is Key, however getting a Coach, Tutor or Peer Review process on your Playing works wonders.
If you do all those things, you’ll be a pretty damn good player. Enjoy it and make lots of cool music.
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