Epiphany Moment with Principles

[Ryan]

Hi!

I'm Ryan, an American working in Japan, and I started guitar about six months ago. In the last month I've been reading the resources on this site and forum, which culminated in a moment of epiphany I thought I would share with you. This moment hooked me to Guitar Principles, and now I couldn't be more excited to be studying with Jamie's amazing resources! I can easily say that finding Guitar Principles is the best thing that's happened since I picked up the guitar.

About six months ago I decided to start learning steel string acoustic guitar. My only other experience playing music had been with French Horn through high school, but I stopped in college and hadn't played anything since. Once I knew that I needed guitar and playing music in my life again, I rushed through a beginner and intermediate course on the usual popular guitar sites. I improved at a steady pace, learning up to 5th and 6th string barre chords and the E pattern diatonic scale, but as I learned, everything was feeling more and more difficult.

As I was approaching my limits I felt that playing was more and more like work, straining and contorting my left hand into place, and tensing my right for faster pick patterns. Strain became a part of my practice, and I began to even dread playing because of the discomfort. I was doing less practice and making less progress. I frantically looked for more resources on the internet, but everyone seemed to say this was normal. Only once in a hundred or so comments or web pages would I see mentions of too much tension, and I quickly dismissed them while looking for an easier way out.

As it happened, one of the many websites I had skimmed for answers was Guitar Principles. I hadn't read or looked very closely, but it stuck in my mind because of images showing steel string acoustics and electric guitars played in the classical position. At the time, I had no idea why anyone would do that. I had even read in other forums that it was uncommon and weird compared to the casual position, and I unfortunately believed those comments, having never tried.

One day, at my wit's end with uncomfortable guitar playing, I decided to try the classical position for fun, and returned to Guitar Principles for more instruction. I set up a firm flat chair and stacked some books under my left foot to give it a go.

The result was transforming.

At first I hunched up as usual, but then tried straightening my back. This IMMEDIATELY melted a huge amount of tension (feeling quite good) and started my hands shaking. I remembered I had read about hand shaking in the forum, that it's a sign of excess tension or weak muscles and should be eased into by relaxing and breathing properly. Trying those techniques worked as well, leaving me more comfortable than I had ever felt with a guitar in my life.

With this simple realization about tension, the comments and instruction on the website began to make sense. I saw how bad practice reinforced my tension, fingering errors and inconsistent picking. As I tried more techniques over a few days, I began to noticed the opposite effect of what had plagued me for six months. I was shocked to learn that the more I practiced correctly, the easier playing became.

It sounds absurd, but bad practice had been putting more and more tension into everything I did, doing much more harm than good. Rushing through those other guitar courses had been like copying someone's homework, and then wondering why you couldn't remember the material.

Once the reality and value of correct practice became clear, everything made more sense. I immediately bought the Principles on amazon, and after reading that ordered more material here at the store.

Applying the most basic of the principles was an incredible moment of epiphany, and one that I never would have had if not for the amazing content in this site, forum and in Principles book. Now I even look for excess tension throughout the day, something I had never been able to control before.

I'm really looking forward to progressing with the Principles, and then on to more material. I feel that redoing the last six months will be a small price to pay for the rewards of correct practice, even the few I have already seen. Thanks to Jamie and the entire community, I'm very happy to be here.

-Ryan

[Jamie]

Hey Ryan, your joy at being here is only matched by MY joy at having you here!

That was one of the most powerful, articulate and cogent descriptions of the reality of present day "guitar instruction" and its devastating results for fervent and sincere guitar aspirants I have ever read. It is also an excellent inside view into the thoughts and emotions of a guitar seeker being subjected to the incredibly inadequate "instruction" that is out there. Of course, all of that instruction becomes incredible and useful once what is missing is supplied.................and of course, that is where GuitarPrinciples comes in!

Well, reading your post was an excellent start to my new year! Thanks for that Ryan, and let's look forward to an ever-expanding Epiphany through this year for you.....I like to keep "Epiphany" as my constant state!

T