Written by admin on February 6, 2008 – 2:01 pm
Question: How do you get to Carnegie Hall ?
Answer: Practice, Practice, Practice.
Everyone has heard it before, the only way to get any better at something is to practice it over and over. Whether its mathematics, playing a sport or even doing a professional work related job, the only thing that makes the next time doing it any easier is to do it over and over again.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE FOR PLAYING GUITAR.
The more times that I play a piece of music, the better I get at playing that song up to speed and as good as the pros. After practicing for an hour I’m much better than at the start of practice. I’ve loosened up and its become easier to play the songs and chord progressions after I’ve been playing for some time.
The fact is that practice is what sets apart Professionals from Beginners, Intermediates, and even Advanced Students. The pros will practice for long hours of each day. They take joy in knowing that the more they go over the specific tunes and finger exercises the better they will be at playing those tunes and songs and also how relaxed they will feel playing those tunes and songs in front of family and friends not to mention complete strangers. When a guitar player can play songs while singing (with or without the lyrics) in front of others and feel relaxed about the performance, then they truely know the piece.
Uncle Sam wants you to practice every day !!
Yeah, I know …. its great to be surffing the internet, but please get back to playing guitar. You need the practice. I need the practice. Everyone needs to practice.
Go back to the exercises that you first learned in your first lessons. Repeat them and see if you have increased in skill level. Practice them in different sequences and orders. Pick up your speed. Pick up your accuracy also. Pick the notes so they sound clear and precise.
Go and practice now - You’ll be glad you did later on.