How do you learn/practice?

jkmcgrath · Post by **jkmcgrath** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 5:03 pm

I was curious how you all learn songs and practice when your not in a band?

WHen I took lessons I would have a new song each work that the teacher would have me work on and then later it was mainly scales from my last teacher.

Now I find myself noodling making up my own stuff the majority of the time and hence really know no song completely. It works good cause depending on my mood is what I play literaly.

What are your alls suggestions for maximizing learning and rentention?

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 8:01 pm

First, stop taking lessons. It sounds off the wall, but that's how i learned my lead style. When you are taking lessons, you are somewhat at the mercy of your instructor on what kind of pace you wanna take when learning. When you are a free man you can do what you want at your own pace.

I find that if i wan't to learn something new, that's probably a cool lead guitar line in a song, i'll listen to it a ton of times off a CD, and then take a metronome to smooth things out so your fingers aren't just trying to be sporatic and frantic. The sound of the metronome can get on you nerves at first, but it keeps you more rhythmic and on cue with the drummer for future endeavors.

What I do is of course goof around a lot. If I find something that sounds cool, i will ask myself why it works. Once you find out why the riff works with the key you are in, you are able to apply it to other keys and lead passages that you didn't think would work before.

My final advice would of course be... "Just feel it MAN!!" Feel the song out and get down and dirty with it. Once you get it in your head and are really feeling it out there is no stopping you to mastering it. This philosophy of mine applies mostly to lead guitar and making gross drooling faces while playing but your leads will be sicker and meaner!

jkmcgrath · Post by **jkmcgrath** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 8:44 pm

Yea that is pretty much how I am doing it now. I just started playing again after a 12 year absence. I took lessons back then for many years.

I just find myself playing the same riffs and rythyms over and over BUT not when I set down and say "hay I want to play xyz" I cnt remeber the shit lol

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 9:44 pm

If you find yourself playing the same damn riffs over and over again just say to yourself, "Hey! What the hell are you doing! Mix it up damnit!!" A good self-harassment helps.

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 9:46 pm

Another thing you may want to do is listen to a ton of different types of music. I find that if i'm listening to a ton of blues, i'll start busting out these blues riffs in hard rock songs too much and it sounds a little off. By mixing up your listening crop, you'll be more diversified in what you think sounds cool.

Post by **VelvetGeorge** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 6:33 pm

Well, ever since I started the Darkness I haven't really had time to practice.

George........uhhh , I mean........ Justin

jkmcgrath · Post by **jkmcgrath** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 6:40 pm

LoL

Ok Justin umm George

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 8:40 pm

If you haven't bought that CD yet... DO IT NOW!

Joruke · Post by **Joruke** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:06 am

I would suggest learning all of the notes on the fretboard first.