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Post by wannaplayblues on Jan 21, 2020 7:46:50 GMT -6
Well,
something happened last night I never thought would - I actually got an official, verifiable improvement in my playing.
Yep! I cannot deny the ability has moved forward - all unbeknownst to me until last night. Wanna know how? It's no shock trick or anything, read on...
So, I have the book "Guitar Aerobics" - had it for a few years actually - and every time I start it I get discouraged. Right off the bat, day 1 starts with a 16th-notes-2-bar run. The idea you do it 10 times at various speeds from 40bpm to 112bpm - and that's the workout for that day. Each day has a different workout. Without wanting to get sued, here's two beats worth of the 16th-notes run (notice there are fretted notes too):
EVERY TIME in the past (over the years) I got to 90ish bpm and anthing over that was a mess.
Last night I decided a new plan of action - go as far as I can with each exercise and not worry where I hit my limit. If I only get to 90bpm, then perhaps next year I'll get to 112... So that's my plan for working through this book this year... HOWEVR...
thing is, I got to 112 and nailed it. I have no idea how - other than my generally playing guitar daily has naturally increased my capable speed without my noticing it.
Ok, this should seem obvious; but I have never had a verifiable method to show it in action. Last night I did. Not only that, it has encouraged me to enjoy more where I am in my playing right now - that speed may just come naturally to me over time. I'm certainly going to work through the book and be content with where each limit lies daily.
... that said, I'll probably be annoyed at my limited speed and technique in a month or so and completely ignore my own statements/advice made above
Happy guitar playing all! Just keep at it...
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Post by Phil on Jan 21, 2020 9:48:36 GMT -6
I know I've said this several times before, but I'm old so I get to repeat myself over and over and over. It's been my observation that improvements in physical activities are not linear once you're beyond the absolute beginner stage. After that they come in peaks followed by long plateaus. I first noticed this when I was into training with weights. It worked that way again in my guitar playing after I made my initial improvements - peak > plateau > peak > plateau. With the plateaus getting longer and longer between the peaks. Looks like you hit a peak. Hopefully, it won't be too long before you reach the next one. Don't make the mistake so many of us have made - getting discouraged and stopping just as you're about to hit the next peak.
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Post by jack1982 on Jan 21, 2020 10:41:17 GMT -6
That lick is actually very similar to an exercise in "Speed Mechanics". He stresses to move the pick up and down only the minimum amount necessary (don't move the pick an inch if you only need to move it back-and-forth by slightly more than the thickness of the string). Looks like you probably figured that out already though It is really nice to be able to notice some real, genuine improvement in your playing - congrat's!
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Post by Phil on Jan 21, 2020 11:49:37 GMT -6
That lick is actually very similar to an exercise in "Speed Mechanics". He stresses to move the pick up and down only the minimum amount necessary (don't move the pick an inch if you only need to move it back-and-forth by slightly more than the thickness of the string). Looks like you probably figured that out already though It is really nice to be able to notice some real, genuine improvement in your playing - congrat's! That's the technique Ritchie Blackmoore uses on the solo in "Highway Star." I've seen a lot of Gypsy Jazz players use it also. It's a cool sounding and useful technique to learn.
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