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Learn Guitar Online – 3 Things I’ve Noticed Along The Way Playing Guitar
By Mike Hayes | June 25, 2009
Guitar players are a fascinating lot, in my work as a performer
and teacher I’ve had the opportunity to study guitarists of all
shapes and sizes at close range.
Over the years I’ve noticed certain changes in how music is
recorded, performed and studied. Here’s a collection of
observations on how things are currently shaping up.
1. Music merchandised via visual stimulus not audio – this is one
of the most significant changes in the presentation and marketing
of music.
Today, record companies invest millions of dollars in videos to
sell the latest and greatest!
How many times have you purchased a CD based on the video
presentation … when you finally got the album home you realized
that the music didn’t really sound as good without the dancing
girls, exploding guitars and flying pigs.
All the smoke and mirrors stuff is there for a reason and one
reason only … and that is to “create a distraction” from the
fact that there’s not much going on musically.
True music is about audio, it doesn’t need the flying pigs stuff
to entertain … just watching a skillful performer can be very
entertaining.
2. Students are always in a hurry – young student’s these days
have a lot in common and I’m not just taking about the mobile
phones permanently attached to their ears.
They are always in a hurry to get nowhere fast! Newbie students have no sooner mangled their way through a pile sonic sludge when they cry … “what’s next, what’s next!”
Of course what’s next is more of the same, there can’t be anything else. At the centre of the problem is today’s microwave mentality says more, faster and louder must be better … or is it?
In my book, the ability to play one piece of music with accuracy
dynamics and emotion is more valuable than playing seventy sloppy
tunes.
When you take your time and learn to play correctly you are also
training your nervous system to perform your next piece just as
well. You as setting a “performance standard” for your guitar
playing
The player who is in a hurry, achieves nothing of lasting value,
just another mess … in fact, they usually use electronic
effects to disguise their lack of skill.
3. Jam sessions replaced by computers – In my work as a professional guitarist I’ve been very fortunate over the years in that to have been able to meet and play with many of my favorite musicians.
One thing all these players have in common is a wealth of
playing experience from jam session.
Jam sessions are where musicians learn their craft and how to
interact with other musicians. There’s a certain skill you learn
playing the same song for two hours with a group of musicians that you don’t get from a TAB … you definitely get to know all the nooks and crannies of the tune.
I’m all for computers but there’s some things they just can’t
replace.
Real people play real instruments and most importantly … it’s
fun.
Here’s a quote for all those players who just can’t seem to find
time.
“You will never ‘find’ time for anything … if you want time,
you must MAKE it!” – Charles Buxton
And now I’d like to invite you to get free access to my “How To
Remember 1,000 Songs” eCourse. You can download the course for
free at: http://www.guitarcoaching.com
From Mike Hayes – The Guitar Coaching Guy & the Express Guitar
System
http://www.GuitarCoaching.com
http://AdvancingGuitaristProgram.com
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