Taking Things More Seriously (Guitar)

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F88

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Hi Guys,

I am finally back from a military deployment and plugged in my new Manson MB-1 for the first time tonight. It was overwhelmingly brilliant - purchased for equal parts display and fun.

I have been playing guitar for alot of years but to be honest have never really evolved from a riffy/messy/high-gain type disguise of a player. I guess I have a good understanding of guitar, but given that I am looking to take my understanding to another level and start recording/experimenting and making it count.. I am looking for opinions on what you all think my priorities should be.

I know a couple of basic scale shapes, my barre chords need work, my strumming isn't uniform or even acceptable in some circumstances if I'm honest.. I can put a smile on my dial and those of friends and family, but I really think I should have evolved as a musician (term used loosely) more than I have over these years.

If you could give me a handful of priorities to learn, what would they be and what resources would you recommend? Should I gut out some DVD's or a text? Should I put my hand up and get one on one lessons?

This MB-1 isn't going to be in it's wall mounted frame very often and I am nowhere near giving the instrument the level of playing that it deserves.

MIDI/FX can be experimented with.

Technique needs a grounding - and I need your advice :)

Thanks so much guys.

I appreciate your time.

Cheers
 
I think that the key is to keep it interesting for yourself. Maybe that means learning to play some songs that you enjoy listening to. Tab songbooks are a good way to learn other peoples' music, same with guitar magazines. One of the most gratifying things for me is to play the songs that I love. Plus while you're learning how your favorite guitarists play their songs, you can gather ideas to use in your own music and writing.

Practice is going to be the #1 tool for progressing. Finding an instructor that can help you establish good practice and playing habits can be very valueable, if you're in a position to find somebody. Play every day, find music that inspires you. And if you have a creative streak, write as often as you can. Just the practice of writing goofy little things will help you exercise that creative muscle, and before you know it you'll probably have a repotoire of your own.

Good luck!
 
It doesn't matter what or how you learn stuff on the guitar as long as you grasp the fact that noodling around for half an hour playing what you already know isn't learning. Do that for five minutes then set yourself small goals such as learning to play a few scales or new chords, then stop and read up on them and how they are constructed. Then tackle a new song, doesn't matter if you get it down, just try. A lot of guitar technique is also done with the ears and not with the guitar in your hands. Learn to listen to music and try and analyse what is going on and visualise why and how it it works.

Other than that enjoy it and welcome to a lifetime of pleasure and frustration in equal measure.
 
I think you will find that playing with others (whether it be a structured band or just jamming) will help you, too.
 
mjbphotos said:
I think you will find that playing with others (whether it be a structured band or just jamming) will help you, too.
Click to expand...
Hugely. Nothing will improve yer chops like learning new songs in a band setting.


lou
 
Yeah that's the one thing I have lacked. I've never really jammed out, it's been a personal passion.

To be fair though when I was overseas the most fun I had all deployment was 'borrowing' some instruments in a US Church on the base (we were serving in Afghanistan) and rocking out as a group. I hadn't played in a few months and just to pickup a guitar again, especially it that environment put the hugest smile on my face.

I'll make an effort to get involved with others. Again, thanks for the tips guys.
 
I found that learning Triads all over the fretboard really helped me. It really gave me a better understanding of how chords are put together and how to augment them. To get motivated I had to take lessons. I found that being accountable to someone else made me practice more and if you find a good teacher they can find your weakness and push you in the right direction.

I think everyone is different though. There are so many little pieces to the puzzle that you have to learn a bunch to start seeing the big picture. Like Muttley said it probably doesn't matter what you learn just learn somthing new. Pick something you suck at and practice it a little every day.
 
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