Jarrett Bailey

[JarrettBailey]

Hi-

My name is Jarrett Bailey. I am 32 years old and have been playing guitar since I was around 17. I first played in Christian rock bands. Then, after not playing for some time, I joined a funk band (college kids mainly... except me.... I was around 25) and I have been playing in cover groups ever since. I play lead and rhythm, but I have not developed as I think I should. I can solo and improv ok, but CONSTANTLY struggle with tension and stiffness in playing. Since I taught myself, I also have some problems with HOW I make chords and approach learning songs. Also, I have never EVER had a real practice routine. I just purchased Guitar Principles and am hoping that it will get me started on the right track to learning correct practice techniques AND developing a structured practice time for myself. Hope to meet many of you and get some insight and encouragement (and hopefully give some once I start improving) along the way.

Thanks!

[Jamie]

That's great Jarrett...........just make sure you realize that the Principles can't "do" anything. They are a tool you use. Just recently someone posted here about how they bought the Principles ten years ago, and they didn't get any better on guitar! The Principles didn't seem to do anything!

Of course, the problem, as this person realized, was that HE never did anything with the Principles! You don't need any hope, hope has nothing to do with it. The Principles ALWAYS work........as long as you do!

[JarrettBailey]

Jamie,

I guess that was just worded wrongly. I am ABSOLUTELY ready to work! I need to do something to move forward with my instrument. I have a question though. Will the Principles be a practice regimen on their own? Or do you incorporate it into a practice schedule? Since I don't have real practice schedule, I could use any tips and ideas about setting one up that I can get.

Thanks

Jarrett

[Augustine]

Hi Jarrett,

The Principles are as the exercises in the book suggest, a Foundation. Scales, chords, performance pieces and other exercises will make up the rest.

The article "Guitar Practice Organization" was just sent out a day ago to the newsletter mailing list, and you can find it in the Practice Theory section here:
http://www.guitarprinciples.com/practice-theory.html

Where you will also find dozens of other articles...

As an experienced guitarist having recently started with the Principles myself, the things that really helped me along to building a practice schedule were 1) keeping a practice journal, and 2) setting goals. Also I have found that signing up to the newsletter, and reading Jamie's articles have been a tremendous motivator. They say it takes 21 days to build a habit, and if the material on the website helps you along like it has for me, you'll be well on your way to doing just that.

[Jamie]

Hey no problem Jarrett! I don't want to seem like I was jumping on you...but this kind of issue frequently comes up with various folks.

Augustines' advice is spot on. In any case, as you begin, simply ask any questions you like. You will find that there is quite a it of info to be gleaned relative to devising a practice schedule in scanning forum posts already up. In any case, you can always submit your regimen for comments by others on the forum, and revise as needed.

[JarrettBailey]

Augustine-

What types of goals do you set? That's hard for me to do. I mean, other than, "Be a better guitarist", I have a problem setting definite goals. There are some things I have been thinking about including in my practice though:

- Reading
- Scales
- Repertoire
- Technique
- Style (both personal playing style and learning styles like blues, rock, whatever)
- Singing/Playing (not just strumming chords, but playing more intricate stuff while singing.... John Mayer comes to mind)

But I don't really know how to set goals in these areas. Does that make sense? Technique is something that I have ALWAYS struggled with. I never held the pick right, I have always had tension while playing, and recently realized my bending technique is not the best either. So, should I start with ALL technique? Then add in some other things? Do I set time goals (e.g. in one month I want to do build this skill)? These are the things that make it hard for me to set up a practice schedule.

I have actually drawn up a schedule for myself and my daily life, and have been able to alot three different times to add guitar practice for a total of 2 hrs daily practice. It may not always happen, but I gave myself several time slots, so that if one had to get deleted for the day, I still have other time in the day to practice. I am hoping to average 1.5 hrs a day everyday for guitar. For me, that's excellent, since I am very busy most days.

I'm a decent player. I play in a few bands locally, and folks call on me for gigs fairly regularly. That is not to say that I am great, and I am struggling at the very least. But it all comes (at least this is my thought) from learning incorrectly, and CONTINUING to learn incorrectly. So, any info or help getting me started in a regular practice routine would be great. I am tired of being an average player, and I am ready to work to move forward.

[Augustine]

Jarrett, if you've read the Guitar Practice Organization article you will already have a template for your practice routine, and in a way you have identified your own priorities.

Now can I ask you to carefully think about how much time you have available every day, day in day out, that you can commit to working on these areas, and make the commitment.

Write out your timetable and statement of commitment, and put it in the front of your music folder. Spoken words have power, and written ones even more so.

My experience so far with the left-hand Principles exercises (I use #1, #17, #19, #22-26 and finish with chromatic octaves) is that you need 1/2 an hour minimum to complete them. If you then allowed 15 minutes for each of the areas you have identified, you're up to 2 hours a day. That's a fairly big commitment for anyone with a day job. Maybe you need to prioritise, maybe you've got room for more.

The best use of your time is to work a little bit on all areas every day. Regular, consistent practice is the key to progress. And you should find that gains in one area feed into other areas.

I'd love to have something original to say about setting goals, but Jamie's covered it in her article Goalines Not Deadlines, here:
http://www.guitarprinciples.com/artistic-development/179-goalines-not-deadlines.html

Edit: The advice in that article on setting goals is better than anything I can come up with in the space of a couple of sentences. It's a must-read.

Small goals, specific, targeted. Achievable. Realistic. And of course, you're going to be tracking all of this in your practice journal, and reviewing your notes weekly (at least).

Some things are always goals for improvement but with no concrete objective. Things like releasing tension, improving economy of movement, and freeing the breath are all (I believe) the work of a lifetime. We habitually restrict our breath to avoid intense feelings and that includes the ecstasy of fully immersing ourselves in music, the very nature and purpose of playing guitar means that at some point and to some extent we are all opening our own personal Pandora's boxes, and the walls we put up against those feelings are the walls with which we limit ourselves as guitarists.

I'd like to point out (as I have elsewhere) what an incredible wealth of knowledge and insight is freely available on this site. In fact I'm a little gobsmacked. In my opinion it's like Jamie just left a crate of gold bullion bars left at the side of the road, and except for a select few, people just walk past because either they don't know what gold bullion is, don't have a use for it, don't know what to do with it, or plain just don't believe that anyone would leave a crate of gold bullion bars at the side of the road.

I have guesstimated the content at about 300 pages, and this isn't read-it-once-and-you-get-it stuff, this is stuff I know I'll be able to revisit and gain new levels of understanding from, for years to come. I have read most of it, it has galvanised my sense of purpose as a guitarist, and I urge you, I implore you, if you are serious about music, start discovering and get reading.

[JarrettBailey]

Thanks for the great insight!

I have been reading through a ton of info on the sight including the articles on how to fix bad habits, organizing practice, and aggressive practice. The article on practice organization is EXTREMELY helpful as far as setting up a practice schedule and being deliberate and aware of what needs to be a part of that. One of the articles also answered a question that I have had about studying or correcting things in my technique: Do I have to stop playing and focus solely on technique for an undetermined time? And, of course, I don't. Which is good because I use my playing not only as an outlet, but as supplementary income for my family. But some of these concepts are new to me, and I know it will take time to overcome them. I have known for some time that I hold tension alot when I'm playing. It particularly presents itself when I play songs with fast rhythm strumming (like funk), when I improv/solo, and when I play acoustic guitar. What I don't know (yet) is how to release that tension. But my Principles book shipped yesterday, so soon I will be able to start learning new ways to improve my technique, and fix these bad habits I have learned.

I hope to be a fully contributing member of these forums soon, and not just in need of advice and encouragement.

But thanks for both!

[JarrettBailey]

I have a question, more of a concern because of my situation:

I am in 2 main groups that continually have to learn new music for gigs and stuff. How do you continue to learn songs (quickly) and still adhere to the Principles? Or do you consider that "horizontal" growth at my current "vertical" level?

Hope that makes sense.

Jarrett

[Jamie]

With every new song, vow and strive to learn it according to the Principles. Do so, even a little bit. Do it mostly on whatever is hardest. Over time, you will steer the ship in a new direction.