How do I get better?

giggsy

Okay, after 15 years of playing, I really want to start "playing". I can strum along to most songs and play a lot of riffs with some practice, but I just want to be able to belt out a good solo or improve my improv playing.

So over the years I have picked up some bad habits, and when trying to master the intro to Message In A Bottle by The Police, I realised that for years I have only been using three fingers. So I've been doing a lot of four finger exercises to get that damn pinky to work, but what else would you suggest?

Oh, and I have a one year old daughter, so time to practice is a bit scarce...

Keira-WitherKay

hello, well you should try and find a good tutor and hopefully fix any bad habits.... and yeah unfortunately the more you "put in" the more you "get out" so rehearsal time is essential

good luck

peace and light
Keira

Lacuna-ZA

Go to www.justinguitar.com

He has a great beginner program. Even if you aren't a beginner, there is a technique section with some great exercises to improve your playing.

Also, learn some min pentatonic scales, that is a nice way to start getting into improv. Very easy and forms a solid base for improv in the future.

Might also look into a decent teacher.

[deleted]

giggsy wrote: So over the years I have picked up some bad habits, and I realised that for years I have only been using three fingers. So I've been doing a lot of four finger exercises to get that damn pinky to work, but what else would you suggest?

Eric Clapton, is that you?!

Squonk

Lots on this topic, most recently -
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/general-discussion/exercises-to-%27break-the-mold%27-predictable-linear-playing/

I am with you on this one Giggsy and after looking at lots of posts and reading around the net, I have decided to set aside
one hour every day for improving (Not playing in front of the TV etc.)
Determine what you want to do and go for it, I am currently interested in Jazz, Metal and alternate tunings, So I am going to purpose to learn things in these categories.
Theory seems to be the thing I am going to have to embrace. What I am going to do is take a Chord and break it down into scales, modes etc and vice versa e.g. the A minor Pentatonic, what chords can I play this scale over?

Headphones are good. My practice time after family commitments will be at 22:00

How did you manage to stretch your third finger for "message in a bottle"? ?

Good topic ?

Dirk

Stratisfear wrote:
giggsy wrote: So over the years I have picked up some bad habits, and I realised that for years I have only been using three fingers. So I've been doing a lot of four finger exercises to get that damn pinky to work, but what else would you suggest?
Eric Clapton, is that you?!

Aaah the pinky problem. ? ? Don't worry mate, you're not the only one. I also struggled for a long time to get the pinky thing going. Just have to force yourself to start using it.
Do some finger exercises that includes four frets per string. Start slow and go faster as you get more comfortable. Including a metronome in your practice is probably not a bad idea

------------------------------------------------------------1--2--3--4-
------------------------------------------------1--2--3--4--------------
------------------------------------1--2--3--4--------------------------
-------------------------1--2--3--4-------------------------------------
-------------1--2--3--4-------------------------------------------------
-1--2--3--4------------------------------------------------------------

When you've got that one down, try alternating some of it, for example:

----------------------------------------------------------3--4--1--2--------
----------------------------------------------3--4--1--2-------------------
-----------------------------------3--4--1--2-------------------------------
------------------------3--4--1--2------------------------------------------
-------------3--4--1--2-----------------------------------------------------
-3--4--1--2------------------------------------------------------------------

or

------------------------------------------------------------4--1--2--3-------
------------------------------------------------4--1--2--3--------------------
-------------------------------------4--1--2--3-------------------------------
-------------------------4--1--2--3-------------------------------------------
-------------4--1--2--3-------------------------------------------------------
-4--1--2--3-------------------------------------------------------------------

also try:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------4-1-------------4-1-------------4-1-------------4-1-------------------------
-----3-----2---------3-----2---------3-----2---------3-----2----------------------
---2---------3-----2---------3-----2---------3-----2---------3--------------------
-1-------------4-1-------------4-1-------------4-1-------------4------------------

Hope that helps

AlanRatcliffe

Squonk wrote: (Not playing in front of the TV etc.)

I read something by Bumblefoot a while ago where he said you should play to everything - radio, TV, adverts, trains, sirens going past, traffic... whatever. Don't just try and solo, but try and find something that fits in and works to support it - melodies harmonies and rhythms, etc.. The theory is that this will make you a more flexible player, train your ear and give you the ability to do oddball things in oddball situations. Seems to work for him...

Headphones are good.

Headphones are bloody wonderful! I was recording at 4AM this morning ? (Competition entry, BTW - I think you guys have some stiff competition this week... ?).

How did you manage to stretch your third finger for "message in a bottle"? ?

The key to Andy Summers and his damn add9 chords is to play the notes singly - lift the one finger before you play the next note with the next finger. At the most, he fingers only part of the chord at any one time. If you don't do things like that, things like Every Breath You Take are impossible.

inflames

Aaah the pinky problem

My pinky problem is this: I have steel pins in. So my pinky can only be used in some cords.
For solo's I have to do the 3 finger thing, and that sucks!

Good luck with your quest!

AlanRatcliffe

inflames wrote: My pinky problem is this: I have steel pins in. So my pinky can only be used in some cords.
For solo's I have to do the 3 finger thing, and that sucks!

Go listen to some Django Reinhard - only two usable fingers on his left hand.

SpeedStar

Lacuna ZA wrote: Go to www.justinguitar.com

He has a great beginner program. Even if you aren't a beginner, there is a technique section with some great exercises to improve your playing.

Also, learn some min pentatonic scales, that is a nice way to start getting into improv. Very easy and forms a solid base for improv in the future.

Might also look into a decent teacher.

I give Justin 5 fat lips for his free lessons, you can't go wrong with him. Even if you have 30min a day its enough to work with, just use the time properly. Remember with exercises its DYNAMICS, pracice a pinky exercise for 2min on Low E string on the first fret, then move to high E on 12. Get it? Relax, take it easy, it will come. Patience Young Skywalker

giggsy

Thanks everyone, especially Lacuna for the www.justinguitar.com link and bLuEs for the exercises. Seems like practice is the way to go - just need to set aside some time everyday, I guess.

And Squonk, I am ashamed to say that it took a video lesson from www.ultimate-guitar.com (my favourite site for tabs) to realise how to play "Message..." For ages I had thought that it was impossible and that I was obviously a useless guitarist. Now I am a useless guitarist with calluses on his pinky who can almost play along to the song. ?

Riaan

A well known SA guitarist (who I won't name ?) once told a friend of mine: "There's only one way...lock yourself in the toilet with your guitar and play until you get it right" As an afterthought he added: "Every now and then someone can push a zol under the door for you..."

There, from the pro's mouth...!

aja

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
inflames wrote: My pinky problem is this: I have steel pins in. So my pinky can only be used in some cords.
For solo's I have to do the 3 finger thing, and that sucks!
Go listen to some Django Reinhard - only two usable fingers on his left hand.

You might like this then: (watch his left hand) notice anything different?

[deleted]

Riaan wrote: A well known SA guitarist (who I won't name ?) once told a friend of mine: "There's only one way...lock yourself in the toilet with your guitar and play until you get it right"

Hahaha! I can totally relate to that, and it's true! When I lived in Seoul I had this tiny apartment with an even smaller "bathroom" (the toilet was located in the shower, if you know what I mean), and I was actually worried about keeping my neigbours up so I used to go into that bathroom, shut the door and play until the early hours of the morning with my unplugged Strat. It was like a sweat-box, but it was great practice therapy!