Becoming a Better Player
29/08/09 03:28 Filed in: Playing Better
The common thread that I see and hear amongst my “more proficient” students is that they can play fast and intricate passages with a little bit of practice. And, as they get better, their stage presence becomes more commanding and they start showing signs of, not only improvement but—dare I say it?—the potential for prominence. However, the other common thread is that they spend most of their time on developing what they’re already good at and dismissing what they really should be working on.
I’m often bewildered at the commonalities and how they seem to be reflected in every player regardless of level. The two areas that I’m referring to in becoming a better guitar player were discussed in the previous article on the Six Ts for becoming a better player and they are tone and time.
Since writing the previous article I’ve been approached by not only students but teachers on different methods and approaches for focusing on these deficiencies in the lesson room. The first method that I use is the blues. Effectively playing the blues is essential for every self-respecting guitarist. The 12-bar form lends itself to many styles and is a building block for both lead and rhythm playing.
By focusing on the lead-playing subtleties of everyone from B.B. King, T-Bone Walker, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, and every other legendary player you can think of, you begin zeroing in on different aspects of tone. Also, as students begin to imitate and emulate these iconic players, they begin to develop a more mature tone themselves.
In addition, the rhythm playing aspects of the players mentioned in the previous paragraph form another concept of study. From their chord choices to their rhythmic phrasing against the subtle blues shuffle offer a significant lesson in rhythm-guitar playing and timing. The ability to groove at various tempos (or tempi for the conservatory trained) will improve their overall feel and timing.
In closing, I urge the guitarists who are on that road of getting better to focus on increasing your chord vocabulary and rhythm playing while you also work on the subtleties of effective soloing. Because soloing isn’t about playing as many notes as you can but about playing the right note at the right time.
I’m often bewildered at the commonalities and how they seem to be reflected in every player regardless of level. The two areas that I’m referring to in becoming a better guitar player were discussed in the previous article on the Six Ts for becoming a better player and they are tone and time.
Since writing the previous article I’ve been approached by not only students but teachers on different methods and approaches for focusing on these deficiencies in the lesson room. The first method that I use is the blues. Effectively playing the blues is essential for every self-respecting guitarist. The 12-bar form lends itself to many styles and is a building block for both lead and rhythm playing.
By focusing on the lead-playing subtleties of everyone from B.B. King, T-Bone Walker, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, and every other legendary player you can think of, you begin zeroing in on different aspects of tone. Also, as students begin to imitate and emulate these iconic players, they begin to develop a more mature tone themselves.
In addition, the rhythm playing aspects of the players mentioned in the previous paragraph form another concept of study. From their chord choices to their rhythmic phrasing against the subtle blues shuffle offer a significant lesson in rhythm-guitar playing and timing. The ability to groove at various tempos (or tempi for the conservatory trained) will improve their overall feel and timing.
In closing, I urge the guitarists who are on that road of getting better to focus on increasing your chord vocabulary and rhythm playing while you also work on the subtleties of effective soloing. Because soloing isn’t about playing as many notes as you can but about playing the right note at the right time.
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