rollinsmusic.com

The advice outlined below is based upon 25 years of teaching and observing the almost universally common psychology of the aspiring guitar student. It has been quite amazing to see over all these years that there is one common factor that prevents RAPID progress.

So common in fact because it is simply due to human nature. If we want something, we tend to want it NOW or even yesterday!.

The desire and hunger to play the guitar well, as soon as possible, although entirely understandable,can actually be the very thing that is holding you back. It will inevitiably make you try to run before you can walk.
Yes , I know that is a real cliche!. Please hear me out......

How many times have you looked at a piece of tab and began to attempt to play it before you have truly absorbed the information on the page??.........

What did it sound like??

How many times did you repeat this action? ...or maybe I should ask how much time did you waste!!!??

Steaming in like this leads to the essential elements required to achieve your goal to be completely ignored and sacrificed, making the whole process needlessly longwinded and very frustrating....for you and also for whoever might be listening to you!.

The essential elements I mentioned are TIMING and ACCURACY. Without these THERE IS NO MUSIC.

THE QUICKEST WAY TO BECOME A GOOD GUITAR PLAYER REQUIRES A LITTLE DISCIPLINE TO BEGIN WITH, WHICH LEADS TO A MASSIVE GAIN. YOU BECOMING A PROFICIENT GUITARIST!.

THE FOLLOWING SIMPLE STEPS IF FOLLOWED TO THE LETTER WILL ENABLE YOU TO PLAY ANYTHING YOU WANT IN

1. When looking at tab or notation for the first time, only consider a small section at a time. Study every
detail. Familiarize yourself with all the movements you will need to make BEFORE making a sound on your guitar. Only when you are certain of exactly what you are meant to be doing, proceed to try and play it.

2 . At first, you must play everything slowly. If something is new to you, it is impossible to play accurately at speed. If you approach the task with haste you will almost inevitably make mistakes.

3 . Accuracy is everything. Accuracy requires focus and patience. Once you are able to play something truly accurately, it is relatively easy to then increase the tempo. You have done the difficult thing already, which is to get it right

4 . 50% OR MORE of any worthwhile musical moment is rhythm. Strive to practice everything to a consistent beat. If possible use a metronome or a drum machine, count in your head, tap your foot, or both!

Do not ignore this and play the sections you find easy, faster than the trickier parts! ( i BET YOU DO!! ). Remain focused on CONSISTANT tempo, relax and listen to the sound you are making. Possibly ask yourself, “ If someone else was playing this, would I enjoy listening to it?”

5. Now, and very importantly, play the phrase you are working on over and over... IN CONSISTANT TIME, creating a LOOP.
Leave a one or two bar pause of silence between each attempt. This creates a solid structure for you to work with as opposed to an erratic, frustrating, haphazard and I suspect non productive approach.

Within a short space of time if you are doing all of the above you should find you are playing the music accurately and it actually sounds like it should!.

If you think this is wrong please feel free to return to "steaming in ".

PS. I TOO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THIS REALLY IS THE ONLY WAY!.........as i said "human nature".......