Is it just me?
- Thread starter C-Grin
- Start date
That’s why I like slow Blues :dood: . The brain doesn’t have to work as hard.
OP
C-Grin
Ambassador of Wonderland
Oddly enough Slow blues is my Achilles heel, (well one of them) not as easy as it seems.
Hopefully the tool/software/program you're using allows you to slow the piece down.
If so, start slow...very slow, if need be. Focus on accuracy and timing. Work on small sections at a time.
Only increase the speed when you can play error free at a slow timing. Then work your way up in speed. If you start making mistakes, STOP. Don't practice mistakes. It will reinforce the error. Slow back down a bit and continue.
Take breaks to let your mind absorb the info. Get plenty of sleep. This helps your brain process the information.
Sometimes, that’s the way it goes!
I run into that, too. Sometimes there will be pieces that seem like they should be difficult, but they come together for me rather quickly. Other times there will be a piece which appears simple, but it will take longer to work on it.
Don‘t be overly self-critical for needing to put in extra work for some pieces. Just keep at it.
Clockworkmike
Ambassador of STACKS in WV SHACKS
Lol it's ok man, it just takes time! You seem to play just fine by me anyways, for whatever that's worth.
I really can't "shred" myself, but, I can play pretty fast and fake it a lot. And that's not much of a skill or even practice thing, rather other factors such as being erratic, jittery, caffeine loaded and generally high stress fed lmao
I really can't "shred" myself, but, I can play pretty fast and fake it a lot. And that's not much of a skill or even practice thing, rather other factors such as being erratic, jittery, caffeine loaded and generally high stress fed lmao
OP
C-Grin
Ambassador of Wonderland
Thanks my friend, I as we all are a work in progress. I sometimes hit a wall and run though so time to buckle down?
OP
C-Grin
Ambassador of Wonderland
I appreciate that and am willing to take any help I can get, I do have a battle with shiny object syndrome. I am working to get better and actually finish something.
Here’s an idea…
Commit to only around 20 to 30 minutes at a stretch. Then, take about a ten minute break. Get a snack or a cup of coffee. But, don’t drink alcohol; it can interfere with your brain’s internal communications pathways; thus, inhibiting your brain’s ability to process the information and new task.
Work through this process until you just decide to give it a rest for the day.
The bottom line: this is all about your brain. It is learning something new and is developing coordination of muscles and the associated timing of those muscular movements. This takes time. You want to do those things which optimize your brain’s ability to do this.
mcblink
Ambassador of Riffs & Spliffs
I've been working on a passage that is kicking my butt too. It's not even a particularly difficult passage, but since I've learned that the writer is actually playing it in a different position than I thought, I've tried to correct myself. By doing so, I've made it more difficult on myself than it used to be since his position requires more "work" so to speak....but the way he's doing it gives a certain fluidity to the phrasing than I can muster by doing it my own way. Otherwise I have no problem transposing difficult passages onto a different position if it allows me to be more.....economical in my movements
Yes, this can really create hiccups when you’ve gotten used to doing something one way, then try to relearn it a different way. I have been going through this very thing with a new song we decided to add to our repertoire. I’m glad I’ve been going to the effort, as I do think I’m playing it better now than I was before, but it takes two to three times the work to “relearn” something than to learn it in the first place.
ibmorjamn
Ambassador of Moar Jammin
I could not agree more. They are not humans, they are aliens!
I would say they are totally human and not really much different from you or me.
If you read the history of some of these great players, you’ll see they got to where they are by the same thing required of anyone: lots and lots of practice. They often started very young, when the mind is most pliable and able to learn, and practiced for hours and hours out of the day.
So, to look at them now, after they’ve come on the scene, they look other-worldly. But, taking everything in context, things are clearer and less “alien”.
OP
C-Grin
Ambassador of Wonderland
I hear you and get what you are saying, but..... (oh here is that but) I have known many musicians in my life and seen many many talented people. But I have known 2 people that in fact were alien (actual alien from outer space) so what now mr ? Hmmm?
ibmorjamn
Ambassador of Moar Jammin
That is true, started young.
There are several people I know that started in school band playing obscures (to rock) instruments and they seem to have a little better understanding of at least theory and or timing.
If for example you do choose someone like Uli, he is what I believe a Hendrix reincarnated. Hear me out, not a clone.
Plenty of those.
The weird obsessed part is he married Monica Dannemann.
But his whole early career was an obsession.
OP
C-Grin
Ambassador of Wonderland