|
|
Post by pickindablues on Apr 26, 2014 10:24:23 GMT -6
In John's book, right up front, in How To Use This Book, he says "Always leave yourself time to play for fun without the pressure or discipline of practicing."
Just wondering how other people interpret that and what they "play for fun"?
Personally, I like blues-rock and Clapton, SRV, etc. and for fun I am trying to learn Crossroads (Cream/Clapton) now, but not sure that is not also the discipline of practicing. It is a fun tune, for me, but it is a hard one that requires discipline and practice. That is what got me thinking: what can I play that is not disciplined practice? Maybe, at this point in my learning there is nothing.
Sometimes I just fool around with different chords and progressions and see what sounds cool. I think if I can get to the point of being able to do that in a lead/solo position, maybe mixed in with chords that would be a noble goal.
Anyways, starting to ramble now so its time to get others opinions, thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phil on Apr 26, 2014 11:49:55 GMT -6
I have to admit that I don't do enough scale and exercises type of practice - you know, the work stuff.  I think playing for fun means playing without a predetermined goal. Just noodling around sometimes is fun for me, but I also find learning something new to be fun. I have to be careful not to fall into my old habit of noodling around all the time and not accomplishing anything. I've been messing around with a Piedmont Blues tune (thumb pick and fingers)and dabbling in some very simple Jazz stuff. Right now I'm not focused on those things, so I don't fret (pun intended) about whether or not I have time to play them. But it's also fun for me to learn a new study from BYCU. It's a challenge, but I don't look at it like work. There's also an great feeling of personal satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment when I finally can finally play one up to speed. And that is really fun. So, the bottom line is I guess "playing for fun" is doing whatever makes you happy and you'll get as many different answers as there are guitar players. Phil |
|
|
|
Post by jack1982 on May 2, 2014 6:54:22 GMT -6
Just improvising over a backing track and listening to my phrasing, note choice and technique gradually improve over time is my idea of fun. Maybe it's something I've learned (through work) that sounds especially nice once I've incorporated it into my playing. Often it's a little exercise I've worked on that pays dividends in the technique department and something I was clumsy at before suddenly sounds pretty good. Or you just get those inspired moments from time to time when you're zipping around all over the fretboard and there's some genuine feeling coming through in your playing.
I also have a lot of fun with songwriting. Coming up with something a bit creative, happening upon that chord progression that sounds pretty cool, then coming up with a second progression that sounds like it really fits with the first one...composing a solo to go with it - being able to incorporate all sorts of stuff into it that I don't usually use in my improvising because composing something gives me all sorts of time to plan what I'm going to play and how I'm going to play it, as opposed to just winging it.
|
|
|
|
Post by cunningr on May 11, 2014 8:32:33 GMT -6
I have noticed that in one form or another all instructors say to keep it fun. I usually practice patterns 1, 2, and 3 every time I pick up the guitar. Helps loosen up the fingers, then I practice my chord patterns. Now I have buy BYCU material I am on lesson 1 i found I fish up with the Texas blues not only is it fun it's sounds cool. I am also working on blues guitar unleashed , working on similar chords but some basic chords. Seems both courses have similar studies at the same point, if it gets to much then I plan on tightening the focus. Anyway I think it is key to learning to play, if it's not enjoyable then why do it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phil on May 11, 2014 10:59:45 GMT -6
I think the point these guys are trying to make is don't turn learning the guitar into monotonous drudgery. If you do you'll get bored and won't last. On the other hand, if ALL you do is noodle around you'll also get bored and give it up, because you won't see yourself making any progress.
Obviously, there is a certain amount of monotonous repetition you HAVE to endure in order to learn. But you also have to have some fun. Like cunningr said above, "if it's not enjoyable then why do it." The hard part is to find that balance between work and play and not just noodle around playing the easy stuff that you already know all the time. That why so many of us have never made any real progress until now.
As far as what playing for fun means - that's a very individual thing. But, I think we all can agree that scales and exercises are not much fun.
Phil
|
|
|
|
Post by cunningr on May 11, 2014 11:09:36 GMT -6
We'll summarized, Ii do think the better you get the more fun it is, for me the satisfaction of improving is fun.
|
|
|
|
Post by joachim on May 11, 2014 11:11:43 GMT -6
I am enjoying "Guitar Aerobics" by Troy Nelson tremendously for practicing technique. It makes those exercises quite fun, and they build upon earlier exercises, so you feel you are progressing and get some variations at the same time.
|
|
|
|
Post by pickindablues on May 11, 2014 15:43:36 GMT -6
Phil, Jack, Cunning, Joachim; Thanks for your observations/feedback. I found it all very meaningful and useful. Since I first posted I have gotten better on Texas Rock that it is more of an "automatic" tune and I don't feel the pressure of it being a practiced tune. I am starting to actually have fun with it. I think that, to me, may be the answer I was looking for: that the tunes, once learned, become more fun than work. I guess to some people that would have been obvious, and, now that I see it, it is obvious to me too....  But, I was to deeply stuck in the learning/practicing phase to get it. Thanks guys for pointing the way, somehow I was getting lost.....haha. Also, thanks for all the suggestions. And, I definitely plan on Keeping It Fun! Thanks. |
|
I think playing for fun means playing without a predetermined goal. Just noodling around sometimes is fun for me, but I also find learning something new to be fun. I have to be careful not to fall into my old habit of noodling around all the time and not accomplishing anything.
