Aug 09
22

Guitar Question!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

4 Comments

i have guitar lessons in a few days and i really want to completely surprise my guitar teacher with some awesome solo or song that is easy but sounds super cool can you help me

I’ve been playing for a little over a decade, and I know the difference between quality playing ie genuine skill and something flashy that’s meant to look impressive.

I, as a musician, have no respect for players who strike a guitar pose, try to pull off some flash two-hand tapping or sweep-picking, and completely screw it up, hitting their notes incorrectly, string buzz, miffing notes, extra string noise, etc. I’ve heard too much of it, and it basically just makes me shake my head, roll my eyes, and walk away.

So "flash" does not impress me. On the other hand, it is a breath of fresh air to encounter a guitarist who may not be able to play lots of that flashy stuff, but what they do know how to play they’ve got *down* and can perform it flawlessly.

You want to impress your teacher? Come in and play your scales perfectly, fluidly, in time… nail your chord transitions cleanly, etc. That shows you’ve been practicing, and that you’re motivated to truly become a better player by learning the fundamentals of the craft, instead of just shooting for the glamour and excitement and hype of it all.

People who aren’t musicians are impressed by guitarists who move their hands up and down the neck a lot, who strike guitar hero poses, and confuse sloppy playing with "emotion".

Musicians *expect* you to play your notes correctly, to play "in key" when required, and keep time with the rest of the band. Musicians are impressed when you play something that is even moderately difficult, play it flawlessly, and make it look *easy*.

In other words, musicians set the bar much higher than your average joe, and your teacher will absolutely know when you’re trying to sound "cool" instead of sounding skilled and talented!

Keep practicing!

Saul

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Posted in guitar solo lessons by Brian Nisbet 4 Comments

4 Responses to "Guitar Question!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?"

  • carnieofvenice says:
    August 22, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    Your lessons teacher probably isn’t going to be too impressed by something you can whip up in a few days since they know what goes into playing but something that will make them happy is you practicing a lot and learning your exercises
    References :

  • Nyx says:
    August 22, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    Go to Justin Sandercoes comprehensive and free guitar instruction site, and find a lesson you like:
    References :
    http://www.justinguitar.com/

  • Gianni C says:
    August 22, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    you dont have to do that, trust me. Just make sure you know as much about your guitar as possible, how to strum, hold down strings correctly, ect. Your teacher will acknowledge that you are not a "noob" if you know your instrument instead of a few licks and may actually see you as a little more advanced.
    References :
    Experience

  • Saul says:
    August 22, 2009 at 10:56 pm

    I’ve been playing for a little over a decade, and I know the difference between quality playing ie genuine skill and something flashy that’s meant to look impressive.

    I, as a musician, have no respect for players who strike a guitar pose, try to pull off some flash two-hand tapping or sweep-picking, and completely screw it up, hitting their notes incorrectly, string buzz, miffing notes, extra string noise, etc. I’ve heard too much of it, and it basically just makes me shake my head, roll my eyes, and walk away.

    So "flash" does not impress me. On the other hand, it is a breath of fresh air to encounter a guitarist who may not be able to play lots of that flashy stuff, but what they do know how to play they’ve got *down* and can perform it flawlessly.

    You want to impress your teacher? Come in and play your scales perfectly, fluidly, in time… nail your chord transitions cleanly, etc. That shows you’ve been practicing, and that you’re motivated to truly become a better player by learning the fundamentals of the craft, instead of just shooting for the glamour and excitement and hype of it all.

    People who aren’t musicians are impressed by guitarists who move their hands up and down the neck a lot, who strike guitar hero poses, and confuse sloppy playing with "emotion".

    Musicians *expect* you to play your notes correctly, to play "in key" when required, and keep time with the rest of the band. Musicians are impressed when you play something that is even moderately difficult, play it flawlessly, and make it look *easy*.

    In other words, musicians set the bar much higher than your average joe, and your teacher will absolutely know when you’re trying to sound "cool" instead of sounding skilled and talented!

    Keep practicing!

    Saul
    References :

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