Currently I am enjoying one of those rare and
all to brief moments when new methods and techniques’ come a little
easier. Being primarily self taught and playing in earnest now for
close to two years, my progress and ability to learn goes through highs and
lows. I am sure that’s true with anyone at any level. But being a relative
novice I am curious if the "highs" will come more frequently as my
skill level progresses.
I experienced more or less a month where things came easily around my one year
anniversery of playing.
I am not sure if it was due to an epiphany, or increased enthusiasm for
sticking with a rigorous practice plan for a year.
I also can't help but wonder if there is a way to increase the frequency of
these "moments of clarity" as I like to think of them. To more accurately
describe what I am referring to let me give some analogous examples;
Day 28 of learning to play guitar.
Ok I know 3 open chords, I can remember most of the notes on the low e string,
I get that there are major and minor notes, and I sort of understand that they
relate to each other somehow, but I have no idea how yet... Thinking about
makes my head hurt, I will just play a piece of "hurt" (Johnny cash, Trent
resnor) as I have practiced it for 26 of 28 days, because trying to understand
a scale(not sure what that means) is just slipping off the edge of my already
overtaxed consciousness. Day 228 of playing.
Hey cool, those open chords I practiced early on can really fill out the sound
on this song when used with power chords, and with a little lick added in. (playing
"She Sells Sanctuary from the cult for the first time)
"oh my god! This guy (guitarist from the cult) is just using a bunch of
harmonics and he plays within the boxes I drilled until I drooled. So he's just using
d5,c5 on the A string and finish with an open G chord!"
And somehow…., comprehension of what 3rds 5ths and 7ths actually are sets in.
With the new found knowledge I rush into learning the opening riffs to a lot of
songs that I likely will never finish with newfound enthusiasm.
The question I find myself pondering is? How often do other players
experience these moments of clarity/accelerated learning. And more importantly
when experiencing the opposite (WTF How the #$#*&*#&$ do I play that?)
moments, how do you overcome them?w do you overcome them?
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Ups and downs of learning guitar blog
