What was the thing you learned that made the most difference?

virtual.rayprodigy.net · January 2, 2001

It's not the most important thing I've learned,but it's the one I've gotten the most mileage out of: the whole step bend morphing into a wide vibrato.It fits in a lot of situations and makes you sound like you can really play!

art · February 16, 2001

The thing that made the most difference for me was a realization that came upon me about a year ago after not playing on stage for about ten years (I was caught up in the marriage/family/day job thing but had always kept in touch with my music and guitar). I finally came to terms with the fact that this (music) is what I want to do with my life. I realized that I would never be happy unless I did this. And if I were to do this, I would have to dive in head first and give it my all. I feel as though my playing and musicianship have made tremendous leaps and bounds over the past year. I've set a goal and I'm working towards fullfilling my dreams because now I know that I can........

sbrock1san.rr.com · February 16, 2001

I've learned to stay focused on the types of music I love. I let my heart guide me, not trends and the fashion of the day. Good music always comes back in style if you wait long enough. Some of my fellow musicians have closets full of spandex, skinny ties, and flannel shirts. They lost there way because the musical bandwagons they jumped on weren't reflected in their album collections.

rushtribute · February 17, 2001

Do whatever you need to do to finish the song, either on stage or in the studio.

Tune the Guitar and set-up for your playing style. You must get to know your gear. When I teach, the first thing we do is go over what the parts of the guitar are before anything else.

Pass on your experiences to others, Remember we were all beginners at one time and someone's experiences helped to elevate us to where we are at http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

Peace

Uh Clem · February 17, 2001

Originally posted by swright50@excite.com:
That's interesting about the lefthanded, right-playing thing. I'm lefty also, but do some things "right" because, yeah, it's a righthanded world. I'm a novice guitar player (piano, mostly), but playing guitar righthanded feels natural to me because it seems the left hand has more to think about (frets AND strings). So I went with that. No offense, but I never understood why righthanders play the way they do!

No doubt! When I started learning guitar, my otherwise clueless left hand went into major protest mode. If for no other reason, it was a good thing to do just to wake up my left hand.

OK, so now how the hell do drummers do what they do? Left hand, left foot - that side of my body, I swear, reports to someone else whom I have not met.

nrg music · February 19, 2001

The one thing I learned that made all the difference to me? Sum it up in one word.... Vibrato!! Makes or breaks a player imho!

Simon http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/eek.gif

Tedster · February 19, 2001

I agree, Simon. And it's not easy to learn, and not easy to teach. You're right, though, a good vibrato makes someone definitely sound proficient with perhaps a minimum of "technical prowess", and makes a technical player sound all that much better.

February 22, 2001

Don't know if it's THE most important thing that I learned, but...

A number of years ago, I came to the realization that my timing, well, sucked. I was studying with a guy that gave me this exercise - "Set the metronome to 40 bpm. Play a whole note scale". It's much harder than it sounds -- trying to stay locked in when the beats are 1.5 seconds apart.

So I would dutifully strap on the headphone practice amp, flop in front of the TV and play my whole note scales at 40 bpm. Made me learn not to fight the time.

LiveMusic · March 4, 2001

Originally posted by pybas@earthlink.net:
I had a teacher once named Jackie King who went on and on about practicing EVERYTHING in 12 keys. We'd learn to play tunes by changing keys in cycles, whole tones, minor thirds, the works. One day everything clicked. I quit gigging, went into advertising.

>>> Pybas, it clicked and you quit? I don't understand what you mean by that. Why would you quit when it finally clicked? Thanks.

coles4038 · March 5, 2001

Hi,

Learning Buddy Holly and singing along.

Do not underestimate that.

sixslinger_dup1 · March 8, 2001

The most important thing I learned was simply to keep an open mind. For some reason this simple philosophy seems hard for a lot of people. Listen to anything and everything that sounds good to you even if it's not the "cool thing" or the flavor of the month. After all the practicing pays off with technique and style and you know the theory, the best thing to do sometimes is just "shut up and listen". Musical ideas and inspiration can come from some very unexpected places.

March 15, 2001

Tone,

Living in Austin is intimidating for a guitar player. But it is the best place in the world, too. You've got to get out there. Take ANY gig you can. I played C&W, Rock, cocktails, road work, weddings, even a polka band. But I made a living and gained enough confidence to stand onstage and studio with anyone.

When I was there (here it comes) on any night you could see Eric Johnson, Stevie, his brother Jimmie and the T-birds for a dollar. Willie slept in the Texas Chili Parlor and 6th street was know for it's ladies of the night, not the bars. You just have to get out and PLAY! You live in Buda, right? There's gotta be 5 country bands within 10 miles of the Salt Lick at any time (they LOVE the BBQ.)

As for Jackie's theory, it's a little long for this forum, but the basic concept is that if you take a Cmaj7 and play a Eflatmaj7 you make the C a minor#5. If you move up another minor3rd (to the flat5) that changes the C again. In chords and in soloing, you don't think in terms of "I'm gonna use a flat5 here" you say, "I like the tonality of Gflatmaj7 moving into the V of C, so I'll play Aflatmin7 / Dflat7 / Gflatmaj7 (ii-V-I) and resolve THAT into C."

Thinking like that keeps you out of learning billions of scales and then the pain of having to think about all of it in order to play (if you're like thatm anyway.) This REALLY moves you towards HEARING the changes instead of think about it.

Try playing a fmin7-Bflat7-Cmaj7 (a ii-V a minor third up resolving to the original tonic--the first triune)and you'll see what I mean. It's a real easy way to hear the sound of the harmony.

best, and good luck to you,

dave p.

squeegee-boy · March 20, 2001

Being a great guitar player does not make one a great musician, and many great musicians are not necessarily great guitar players. Its the old art vs. craft battle, and finding the right balance between them. And trying to listen to music as a non-musician would, and asking non-musicians what they like in a particular piece of music and why. And always wash your hands after playing someone else's guitar. Nothing worse than catching a cold from Sneezy, the guitar player in the opening band, in the middle of a 10 week tour of Canada in the winter.

bootyquake · March 21, 2001

The most important thing I ever learned?

I will be a student of music forever.

Vegar · March 21, 2001

the most important thing I guess is being able to listen while you play, and give room for the other musicians. In my view, it is very important to give the other guys in the band the feeling that they're playing great because of you... and this is achieved by listening to you fellow bandmates and....giveing them lots of space.

I belive that this is by far more important then being able to play 16th in 200 BPM

.... but thats my humble opinion

Vegar http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

Kris · March 23, 2001

No offense, but I never understood why righthanders play the way they do!

----------------------------

It seems to me that the fretting hand should be the more nimble hand, which for me would be my right hand. I'm left handed and have jammed and broken and smashed my fingers on this hand countless times over the years (baseball, auto repairs, doors, etc). I also use the left much more on a day to day basis for writing ... ect basically everything. It always needs a little more stretching out to get loose.

Thanks to my dad I play guitar right handed because he wouldn't let me restring his acoustic back in the day. I have always felt that I would have been a better player as a true lefty. Oh well. What can ya do?

michael saulnier · April 3, 2001

To take the time I spend writing on Forums, and use it to practice like hell...

Oooops...

guitplayer

David W · April 4, 2001

I played fast and hard with a pick for many years and then stopped playing to become an engineer. One day ten years later I had the chance to overdub on a session when the studio player was sick. I didn't have a pick so I played with my soft finger tips. I played with a new sensitivity that was so connected to the instrument that I can no longer can use the plectrum. Now I use thumb and fingers on both hands. Very connected yes?

April 4, 2001

Appreciate the theory, but play with your heart.

rosespappy · April 5, 2001

The single most important thing I've learned......

Have something to say. This inst. is unique in that it can be heard in mountain canyons, great music halls, high school hallways or retirement home rooms. If you've got nothing to say, play an inst. that is recognized for your ability to repeat what someone else had to say. I guess that discription could fit the guitar as well, but if you've got something to say, people will recognize your "speech" when you play.

ed hamilton · April 8, 2001

If you want to sound unique.

Pick your influences carefully!

DO NOT COP LICKS from the guys you admire. Listen but do not learn their lines. It is hard to NOT play them later and everybody knows where you got em from.

Hold the guitar anyway you want to.

Hold the Pick (or not) anyway you want to.

Learn to pick anyway that feels good to you.

Find your own fingerings for everything!!

If someone ever says you are doing anything wrong - YOUR ON THE RIGHT PATH!!!

Learn to play piano- music theory will suddenly make sense.

Record companies really suck.

The entire planet will try and beat the originality out of you.

KEEP DOING IT ALL WRONG.

Go to Law school. I didn't.

Don't get married until you are a burnin m-th-r f-ck-r. You can't practice and stay married.

Dylan · April 12, 2001

Originally posted by ed hamilton:
DO NOT COP LICKS from the guys you admire. Listen but do not learn their lines. It is hard to NOT play them later and everybody knows where you got em from.

Most of top guitar players out there all copped licks from someone at one time or another. For Eddie, it was Clapton that was copped. Does Eddie sound or play like anything like Clapton? Not at all. In fact, he has a very distinguishable sound that is very unique. There's nothing wrong with learning licks as long as you apply them to your own taste and style. I can't imagine trying to become a better player (regardless of the instrument) without doing any kind of transcription. Just play what's true to yourself and you won't be able to not sound unique! Don't be afraid to learn something because you feel that it will hinder your creativity. Ignorance is not bliss and education will only make you stronger.

What was the thing that I learned that made the most difference? Probably that there is a whole world-full of music out there waiting to be played, and that I should never run out of material to keep myself going. I've met people who feel that they have met their limits as a musician, and I hope that I never get to that point!

-Dylan

mesabplayr · April 16, 2001

Knowing when NOT to play......

Speed Ain't everything......

nrg music · April 17, 2001

mesabplayr wrote:

>> Knowing when NOT to play......

Speed Ain't everything.>>

Definately a Master in the making!! cool advice... Way to go man!!!

Simon http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

fantasticsound · April 17, 2001

(Standing up in front of the post audience..)

I... am... a lefty playing guitar righty.

Am I on my way to recovery?

I bat righty, throw lefty, frisbee righty, skateboard lefty. It's a wonder my body doesn't attempt to split in half and walk separate ways. (hop?)

As for guitar, my mother and older brother started before me, there were righty instruments in the house, and frankly, I don't think playing the guitar righty or lefty would make a difference to me. Think about the first time you fingered a chord and strummed. Pretty weird stuff for both hands. I've tinkered with fingering lefty instruments and my righty instruments upside down, but with fingernails for picks, it's hard to fret anything with my right hand. I always encourage new students to play righty, regardless, for the reason stated above, and the varied supply of instruments. Let's face it, many lefty guitars are available today, but 100x as many are available righty.

As for the most important lesson I've learned on guitar, It's all about feel. I have a friend who has taught himself keys, then programming drum machines, then drums, then guitar and bass. He did this to be able to record his music. While his technical prowess on any of the instruments is fair at best, he plays what he DOES know very solidly. In turn, his music sounds fantastic. Now I can play circles around him, but frankly, his songs sound better. I just wish I knew how to apply this lesson more effectively. lol

Neil

mesabplayr · April 17, 2001

Thanks Simon....I try to keep it simple,.. but still shred..

ricknbokker · April 17, 2001

Everything I know, I learned from Cheap Trick. Weird? Sure. But after I learned all their tunes, it seemed I could play almost anything.

Be prepared? Ab-so-friggin-loot-ly! I'll do anything to not look like an idiot. (maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that Cheap Trick thing!) http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/confused.gif

Steve

lwilliam · April 18, 2001

A few things:

1. That I could use a single scale through a chord progression like ii-V-I. This was a breakthrough at the time.

2. That I would NEVER be able to play like Larry Carlton (this was BAD IMO), so I stopped trying to imitate him and developed my own style.

3. Learning to play the flute a little bit taught me SO much about phrasing on the guitar, that my whole machine-gun approach to soloing stopped and I learned how to SAY SOMETHING with the spaces between the notes.