Where would you start with improving your playing?

Markk

New member
Let's say, for the sake of argument, you had the motivation and time, where would you begin in order to start improving your playing? Would you first learn a few covers? Or would you go straight for drills on arps or maj7 scales? Or how else?
 
Re: Where would you start with improving your playing?

play an acoustic guitar only. no kidding.

pick your favorite player and get some of their tab and try to play along, learn what they do and how to apply it to your own writing. do this with as many different players as you can. you will find yourself playing stuff you never thought you would and will start playing outside your comfort zone. you won't get better until you leave your comfort zone.
 
Re: Where would you start with improving your playing?

Modes while doing picking drills to a metronome.
 
Re: Where would you start with improving your playing?

Always vibrato. Separates the men from the boys.
 
Re: Where would you start with improving your playing?

Memorizing scale patterns (blues, diminished, the modes, etc.) in every key across the whole neck. Such that if someone pointed to a position and said play in X key I'd be able to immediately know where I was and what scales are around that point. Ugh - sounds exhausting, now I know why I don't practice much.
 
Re: Where would you start with improving your playing?

Let's say, for the sake of argument, you had the motivation and time, where would you begin in order to start improving your playing? Would you first learn a few covers? Or would you go straight for drills on arps or maj7 scales? Or how else?

I would want to know where you are starting... I dont really practice any more after learning all the patterns for major/minor/blues/harmonic minor, so if I learn something it is from a jam session or to learn a song for a show. learn the fundamentals, then forget em! I remember netflix has a ton of guitar lesson dvds you can rent: http://www.netflix.com/Search?v1=guitar

:friday:
 
Re: Where would you start with improving your playing?

I'm full on attacking my weaknesses already. I've already remedied a few.
 
Re: Where would you start with improving your playing?

I would want to know where you are starting... I dont really practice any more after learning all the patterns for major/minor/blues/harmonic minor, so if I learn something it is from a jam session or to learn a song for a show. learn the fundamentals, then forget em! I remember netflix has a ton of guitar lesson dvds you can rent: http://www.netflix.com/Search?v1=guitar

:friday:

I've decided to try to improve at least somewhere and so I thought I'd head into:

Learning two or so songs that I really enjoy, including solo and what not. (So far one of those songs is That's All by Genesis).

Learning the major scale positions across the fretboard. Not only the pattern but also exercising it on paper and trying to get the notes.

I'm sure there's lots of other things/aspects I could work on simultaneously, but I don't want to burn out too quickly.
 
Re: Where would you start with improving your playing?

learn scales then play songs that use those scales.
 
Re: Where would you start with improving your playing?

I would also say just try different things. if you mind can conceptualize different patterns on the fretboard, lets say your playing something you always play try adding an odd random pattern or arpeggio shape. doesn't sound right? Try again and move it up or down 2 or 3 frets. Chromatic passing tones as well. As others have said learn the major scale and it's modes. I would also recommend learning the melodic minor scale.
 
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