Letters To Jamie.....

(a small sample)

From Bob Loncar

Hi Jamie,

I got the Principles DVD 1 and the Principles book almost a year ago. The number of revelations opened to me by your words and work is indescribable.

Practicing in the manner described in your book and DVD greatly helps with technique and the physical barriers to playing well. The level that has been opened to me so far covers finger movement/body awareness, etc.

I must admit, that since doing no tempo posing, slow tempo practice, etc.I have on occasion noticed that my awareness of the time, rhythm and place in progression, has "magically" improved. I truly appreciate everything you have done for MY instrument in your quest for answers. I feel in my heart that this is not just a "talent" thing, not something unattainable by mere mortals such as myself. Thank you,

Your friend and devotee,
Bob L.

From Wes in the U.K.

Hi Jamie,

Firstly can I just say a HUGE thank you. I bought your book and it has
helped me on so many levels. I have 'owned' a guitar for about 5 or 6
years but never really learned to play. I could play a few chords and a
few riffs but no complete songs really. I gave up and my guitar has just
collected dust for about 3 years.

Anyway, after reading your articles on your site...it was like you were talking to me!

The situations you explain all seemed to relate to problems
I had experienced. I just had to buy the book!

Since reading the book several times and in many different places (I take
it nearly everywhere with me, especially holidays). I have been given a
second chance....in fact you refueled my desire! So much so that i just
had to go out and buy myself a new Acoustic guitar!

THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU :-)

Yours truly
Wes, U.K.

From A.A. Nemeh from Helsinki

Dear Jamie,

I must say, playing the principled way, relaxing, taking it step by step, concentrating, and MOSTLY Body Awareness is starting to REALLY sink in. I feel my fingers differently now than when I used to 4-5 months ago.

It's amazing, my inactive fingers stand relaxed and ready like an army, ready to execute my next order, it's simply breath taking, being able to play with such relaxation and confidence. I would like to thank your parents for having put you on amongst us.

Thank you ever so much and please keep enlightening us ever so much more!

All the best,
A.A from Helsinki.

From Sweden

Hi Jamie,

I have played both the classical and the electric guitar for a couple of years, and developed quite fast (because of a great desire, and enjoyment of it). 

But in doing so, my muscles have developed tensions, and pain. Then someone (who's never played an instrument himself before) told me that correct playing should be done through relaxation. I soon understood the importance of this, but there was one problem. I couldn't find anyone telling me HOW that could be accomplished! 

As none of my (very skillful) guitar teachers could show me anything practical, I found myself with this confusing knowledge: "Try not to tense up, while pressing down a string,..."

Somehow I came across your homepage on the net, and decided to buy the DVD. It is probably the best investment I have made, since buying my guitars.

Those 'simple' movements have already improved my playing, and best of all; given me a tool to finally play without more tension and pain.

Thank you for that!

Annica from Sweden

From England

Dear Jamie;

I have been playing guitar for a few years, and recently, have began taking lessons, and practicing for hours at a time.

After going to lessons I still had a number of flaws in my playing. I practiced playing a major scale for a year and could never get through it smoothly and efficiently at a medium speed. When I practiced riffs, my fingers would consistently miss notes. 

Then, I purchased your book a month ago, and it has already changed my playing dramatically. (I had to follow your teachings very thoroughly, practice very slowly, and use a metronome for your book to work --- but it does).

Muscles that I never knew existed have become alive and aware, and with some practice I am able to play passages flawlessly. My own guitar teacher never made me aware of my fingers, or how to control them.

The Principles has changed the way I look at the guitar and will shave off years of wasted practice time (this is especially important if you are 27, like myself).

The techniques force you to relax, and guide your hands and fingers into the correct playing positions.

I read 100's of files on the internet and your ideas and articles have always inspired me to try and become a better player. The Principles are eliminating my bad habits and I am now on the road to becoming an accomplished guitar player! Thank you for writing your book. 

Tom
Coventry Ct.

From Pennsylvania, USA

Hey Jamie!

Just wanted to let you know I have now been playing guitar for just over two years and about a year ago I purchased a copy of "THE PRINCIPLES". 

I must admit, it took me some time to completely "give myself" to the things you were enforcing but I would like to say how glad I am that I did!! 

It's like second nature for me to use the "Tools" and "Exercises" (probably because I "UNDERSTAND" the truth that lies in them!) 

Prior to purchasing The "Principles", I had picked up a lesson book by Troy Stetina, (someone you hold in high regard).

I found that once The "Principles" were truly applied with attention and intention his lessons became easier and the problems I was having within those lessons were isolated, and addressed accordingly! (thanks especially to that little but powerful tool you call "posing").

I continue to improve and develop on the guitar but most of all I have "FUN" as I WORK toward getting better. Thanks again for all of your insight and commitment to helping so many of us see the light in a world blanketed by so much darkness these days!

YOU ROCK!

Dave Z.
Philadelphia, Pa

From Chicago, IL USA

Hey Jamie, 

I just wanted write to you with some more detailed observations about your new book, The Path: Chords and Rhythm. I started guitar lessons 2 years ago at the age of 44 after having never played an instrument in my life. I floundered around during the first year with several different teachers where I didn't really learn anything of lasting value except a cursory ability to read music.

Even though I have the desire, attention, and intention to learn to be a musician, one of my biggest stumbling blocks has been my inability to practice chords and strumming along to songs, because I found this too boring.

I can now admit to the real reason that I didn't play chords. My previous teachers never told me that they were hard and that I could not learn a bunch of new chord changes between our weekly lessons (before moving on to the next set of chords for the next weekly lesson).

They made me feel inferior and stupid that I didn't "get it." I didn't really understand rhythms. I was not born with a sense of rhythm, nor any natural talent for playing guitar -- just a love of music. However, after reading your book "The GuitarPrinciples Path: Level One Chords & Rhythm" and working with it for the past 30 days, I can tell you that I now know that smooth chord changes and a sense of rhythm can be developed and that it is hard to do for many people, not just the "stupid ones." 

I am finally, after two years of training to play a guitar, getting better at my first few chords: G, Em, C, D. I am also improving at reading and strumming along to different rhythms, including syncopated rhythms and 16th notes (which are quite challenging for me). 

I am having lots of fun, and your new book has given me a new fervor for learning to be a musician. 

Jim C.
Chicago, IL.

From Lowell

Hi Jamie. 

I got "The Principles" about a month ago and have been very busy working with them but I had to stop to write and make some comments. With great knowledge comes great sorrow, and as I turned the pages of your book, I realized that I had been missing out on critical ways of thinking about the "playing mechanism" for years, and that I was stuck at a plateau for the last several years because I was trying to "fight" my way to better technique rather than relax into it.

Of course this feeling also meant that I was receiving Great Knowledge, so my sorrow passed and I became a believer. The hints that were given on the website were really born out in the book. The whole vibe of "The Principles" is great for disarming players, even ones who have been playing for many years such as myself, and getting them to just think critically about how they're practicing.

What I find happening as a result of thinking about relaxing and implementing some of the tools (Posing is by far the most powerful for me) is that my left hand has become much more relaxed, my fingers are hovering closer to the fretboard as I play, moving more independently, and my legato technique is becoming very "liquid". I mean very noticeable in a month!

Now there are times, since I keep "The Principles" out while I'm practicing from other books, when I spend much more time just holding the shape of notes that I want to play lightly and relaxing, letting my fingers, hand, arm, shoulder, body relax into being stretched to the shape while I alternate between floating my arm and then making it heavy and squeezing the notes of the shape out. The "bang for the buck" is amazing because it seems to be bleeding into all areas of my playing.

A friend/musician who I respect runs a studio. He told me recently he noticed "something different" about my playing. I showed him "The Principles" right before the band went into the studio.

When I came out about half an hour later, he was sitting in the sound room strumming his guitar with "Extreme Attention". The book was open to that page in the office. We spent the whole breakdown talking about how your approach gives the missing ingredient in how to "fix problems" that no other book pays enough attention to.

When I thought about it some more, I realized that the approach is very similar to what I was taught about striking in martial arts classes. To throw a fast punch, you must relax your forearm, upper arm and shoulder while keeping your fist tight. If you tense those arm muscles, you can't snap a punch out and back quickly because the tension acts as an opposing force. Those same tensions play against you in the mechanics of guitar playing.

Many books I've used in the past had small sections about technique and they talked about staying loose and practicing slowly, but "The Principles" answers fully the questions that I've asked for years and only gotten partial answers about. "The Principles" doesn't just say "play lightly", it codifies the things, including specific exercises, that need to be done to play with a lighter touch.

Although I've managed to play fast and cleanly at times through sheer "forcing" of my fingers, I'm making far better progress now by what I call "making a maximum effort to make no effort at all". No more white knuckles for me!

Most players I know have, like myself, played for many years and gotten very good but are amazed at the seemingly effortless, slinky hand motions of the top technical players and wondered how they do it. "The Principles" first broke down my mind's resistance to how I looked at mechanics, and now it is helping to break through all the unnoticed (or rather, ignored) tensions that have blocked my fingers from playing at the next level.

I'll always keep your book open, no matter what else I'm practicing. Even when working on things from other sources it's like having a master standing next to you at the dojo whose presence keeps you mindful of all the things he's taught you.

Lowell

From Dave

Jamie,

Thanks for writing "The Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar". I am a brand new (two months old) guitar student, and the book has been extremely helpful to me in some very specific ways.

I am 55 years old, have been a trombone player for 43 years, playing jazz as a weekend warrior. I have wanted to start learning to play jazz on the guitar, and have been encouraged by the guitarist in one of my bands, who has turned out to be my teacher.

I was mostly self taught on trombone, and only within the last few years learned about the impact of body tension on performance. I have many bad habits, it turns out, which limit my facility on my horn. When starting guitar I was hoping I could get off on the right foot, and not spend time practicing mistakes. Your book has been great. 

Although I do not think of myself as particularly gifted with coordination, the no tempo practicing, posing, and really paying attention to each movement, have helped me progress in this early phase of learning fingerings, scales, chords etc.

Most important is how your approach has helped me mentally. I am over the anxiety about being too old to learn this instrument. 

I have been able to give up, most of the time, my old interest in hurrying to master the ax. Instead, I spend a lot of time in each session paying attention to my body, relaxing, and letting go of the surprising amount of tension which seems to want to creep in. The rotating attention is also helping my bone playing. In fact, this rotation of attention seems so helpful I am recommending it to my therapy clients as a technique for them developing awareness of stress held in the body.

I'm having a great time, and am looking forward to 25 years plus of guitar playing.

Thanks, Jamie.

Dave

From Steve

Hi Jamie,

I received your book 4 days ago and am now using your methods- less strain more gain. Already, I know what has to be done in order to improve on my practice techniques. 

By the way if you remember the email I sent regarding pains in my elbow, well you will be pleased though probably not surprised to hear that the problem has practically gone away !! 

I do the Foundation Exercises with the emphasis on being totally relaxed and being aware of where to find the method to induce the feeling required.

I'll keep in touch periodically but for now, many thanks and I will recommend your book to anyone who will listen.

Regards and good wishes, 

Steve 

Includes ALL the ESSENTIALS to get you started.

The Guitar Principles Beginner's Package  Includes: Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar DVD Guitar Principles Path Level One: Chords & Rhythm   More info...

From Chicago IL, USA

Hi Jamie,

I got my book just two days ago and ever since I have been reading it, I have been laughing out loud nearly every paragraph, with absolute delight. 

Every mistake I have ever made is in your book. So I am approaching things as an absolute beginner even though I have played for many years. 

I haven't even picked up my guitar since getting your book and I already think it was well worth the cost.

 Thanks again and I'll drop you a line as soon I get around to actually picking up the guitar, but it's so difficult to put the book down. 

Tim B. 
Chicago, Illinois

From Shailendra

Hi Jamie,

I saw the newsletter about the July 6th Workshop that I attended and all the praise that you gave to my technique. Well, I'd say that it was simply a demonstration of how powerful your book is that I've been working with, particularly the "Crutches" and "Butterflies". 

No doubt, your book is a revolution in guitar learning techniques and I'm just thrilled these days with the thought that I'm one of those fortunate guys who started learning guitar with your revolutionary method.

The New York workshop was a great help to me, especially for my right hand. It was always difficult to visualize the sequence of correct movements of a rest/free stroke, just by reading (even though you have gone to extremes while detailing them in the book). But, now I know exactly what a rest stroke is, and a free stroke, and the proper way to perform it. 

Also, meeting such a variety of players, and gaining from their skills and knowledge was a really great experience.

Many many thanks for providing these revolutionary Understandings/ Tools/ and Exercises in learning the
guitar. I'm just wondering what the guitar world was without "The Principles" a few years back....

Shailendra

From Fabrice

Hi Jamie,

I bought your book in January 2002 and read it through entirely a couple of times. I am from France (South East) and am a beginner player. I often read and re-read particular sections depending on the issue or problem I have with a new or existing passage. 

I have to say that your book has completely changed my view on learning guitar and music. It has given me more enthusiasm about the guitar and has removed a lot of the frustration I had in the past. Basically, before reading your book I thought that learning guitar was about talent and practicing as much as I could until I got the passage right. So from time to time. I could play a passage well and at other times I made lots of basic mistakes such as missing the string. 

When I worked with your slow and "no tempo" practice I realize that I did not know my fingers very well! It might sound funny but from time to time I would pose in a chord position and ask myself: can you lift the ring finger without moving the other one? Surprisingly, I am amazed that the index moves instead of the ring finger. It is only with attention that you speak about in your book, that I got it right. This happens with new chords and especially, with chords requesting 4 fingers like C9b.

Your book also, makes a good emphasis about attention and intention. In fact this is something we do instantly when we are kids and forgot about while life goes by. So again, since I am practicing using your "Principles" and especially paying attention to each finger's position, this has improved my playing ability, greatly.

I would now really like to find a teacher in France who knows about your teaching "Principles" as my teacher is focusing more on playing than learning. In other words he plays what I can't and then tells me to practice more! Thank you for your book, Jamie!

Fabrice 

From Chris

Jamie,

I've had your book for a few months now...and thought that I'd drop you a note to let you know what effect your publication has had upon my playing.

Before I begin, it might be helpful for you to know a little about me. I've been playing for roughly 20 years. I took formal lessons for the first three to four years. Over the past 16 years, I've largely been "self-taught"-(books...recordings...videos, etc.). I've played acoustic and electric...played in bands...and worked as a solo artist. 

Most people might think that after playing guitar for 20 years, I'd be able to spot "trouble" areas...easily. Not so! After reading Chapter One, I discovered that I was experiencing a significant amount of pain when playing certain passages. In conjunction with this I also learned that what you call "muscle memory" has HUGE impact on the way we play.

After taking a close look at my playing, I discovered something that I learned 18 years ago was causing me all kinds of grief "today". Way back when...I was learning a relatively simple song called "Spanish Romance". The way that my teacher then taught me to play a specific bar had "trickled" into other aspects of my playing.

Rather than taking the time to figure out a "better" way to play that passage, I had simply forced my fingers to do something that they didn't want to do! Thanks to your book...I've corrected that specific problem!

From Jeremy

Hey Jamie,

I just wanted to praise you on such a great learning tool... thanks for all the insight and the wonderful book!!!! I got a guitar for Christmas in 2000. For the first year or so, I just played around with it looking up tab and "playing" what I found. But for some reason I could not play as well as the original composer of the music! 

So I found your website while searching the Internet for guitar sites to start a serious learning process. I read a lot, if not all of the testimonials on your site. I thought to myself, if there are this many people praising this her for what she wrote in a book, and it has tremendously helped them to play the guitar...I need to get it. So I ordered your book in the winter of 2001, and was very pleased at how fast it arrived. 

I understand that patience is an absolute necessity if you want to play the guitar, and play it well. So I practiced everyday for awhile and found myself to be one of those people that needs to be shown what to practice, along with "The Principles", so I am now working with a guitar teacher. I am very pleased to say that with the teacher giving me things to practice, and then practicing them using the exercises you have created, I have progressed as a player very rapidly in the past 2 months.

I, myself, have noticed the progress. Now, I'm practicing at least 2 hours a night after work!! That is something I never did before. Also, I'm slowing down and concentrating on what I am doing wrong and correcting it. I want to thank you personally for such a great book, that is easy to understand and applies to everything in life... not just the guitar.

I have turned many people to your website so that they could see what I am talking about. Many thanks for the great book, the essential practice tools, and your wonderful website that I visit at least 3 times a week. I am getting better and better and look forward to reading more from you and progressing to my next level as a player.

Thanks for all that you do!!!

Jeremy

From Jerry

Hi Jamie,

Thank you VERY much for sending the book so quickly. I received it last week and read it from cover to cover. I can't begin to tell you how much it has helped me already. I've been playing for about 10 years and most of the time felt like I was banging my head off a brick wall. "The Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar" will increase/expedite my development as a guitarist ten-fold. 

Please accept my gratitude, the book is fantastic!!!

Thank You
Jerry 

From Athens,Ohio

Hi Jamie 

I ordered "The Principles" back in the fall of 2001 and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get this email out to you. 

First of all, let me tell you a bit about myself: I am not the eternally struggling student that your Q&A sessions seem to deal with. I have been playing for 17 years and hold a BM in jazz guitar performance and I feel that I've always done pretty well, thank you very much. 

I had been working on improving my fingerstyle technique and repertoire when an internet search uncovered your essay, "Changing from Guitar Student to Guitar Player: The Importance of Having a Repertoire" at staffordguitar.com, and I just couldn't believe how well thought out and well written your ideas were.

As I progressed to the guitar principles site and read several more of your essays and responses to student's questions I was really excited by what I had found because like yourself, I have a love of teaching. 

Currently I am teaching 28 private students each week and I'm looking to expand the time I have available for teaching. The biggest thing that I am getting from "The Principles" is how to improve my teaching and get better results from my students.

As I'm sure you have seen with your own students, introducing even a single one of your concepts into a pre-existing lesson seems to instantly change the students idea of what they need to do and how to do it. 

I think the understanding part of each tool and exercise is a big part of what's missing from most approaches. Some of the concepts in "The Principles" are not new, but the difference is in how clearly you have put them all together, leaving nothing to chance. And of course, as one grows as a musician, the book's depth grows too. Needless to say I have been using " The Principles" in my own practice sessions. Great job!

From Australia

Hi Jamie,

Using your book, "The Principles Of Correct Practice For Guitar", I have nailed a lick in two days that I gave up on two years ago!

It's the finger tapping intro from Mr Big's 'Green Tinted Sixties Mind' at 102 bpm.

I used the " play two -three -touch" approach in your book, and it worked wonders. I made another test and found a fingerstyle lick that was pretty tricky and I nailed that in 1 hour.

"The Principles" is the best investment a guitarist can make.

I'm going to start promoting your book by word of mouth here in Canberra.

All the best,
David 

From Nathan

Dear Jamie,

First, thanks for the book. I showed it to my teacher, Steve Bondy, who earned his MA in guitar from the University of Denver under Iznaola, and he was very impressed. One of his comments was that it was in some respects a very detailed and precise treatment of topics that Iznaola also treats, but in much more general terms.

If you know Iznaola's students, and the reverence in which they hold him, that's probably the highest praise imaginable, (insofar as pedagogy of the guitar is concerned). He said he would recommend it to all of his students.

Personally, I have found your book very helpful, and I mean this by an objective standard: my playing is improving, and is a lot easier. More for less!

This means a great deal to me; more perhaps than I can express.

Thank you again. You are an admirable teacher and thinker--and since I'm a school principal, I know whereof I speak.

Nathan Crow

From Iran

Dear Jamie,

I am the guy who once wrote to you from Iran; you replied to my call for help , I bought the Principles and you did kindly post it to me all the way from US to Iran.

I am sure you know it better than anyone else that your book did entirely change my way of looking at this intriguingly attractive instrument. Your book was, is and will always remain the "turning point" of my musical life.

Without having the least intention to exaggerate the importance of the Principles, I must say that your book is more of a "movement" and the "insight" you introduced to the guitar playing world equals the insight introduced by the European intellectuals to the dogmatic world of the 18th century. I am convinced that my comparison holds true in sustaining not only the enlightening similarities of the two movements but their effects and outcomes too:

- After the Enlightenment man's way of looking at the world changed forever

- After "The Principles" it is almost impossible to view and conceive the guitar learning mechanisms/approaches/processes the same way we used to do in the past

Fortunately, you didn't do what most writers do these days: sell the book and goodbye ! Your newsletters are coming to us regularly to well establish and reinforce the "insight" you had brought, by the Principles, to the corner of our rooms , to the most intimate moments of the constant endeavors of our musical lives (just as a periodic rain refreshes and guarantees the growth of crops once planted in a field). We read your newsletters and thank you very much for the attention you pay to the healthy growth of the seeds you've sown in the once barren lands of our minds. Thanks for not leaving us.

Thanks,
H G

From Gary

Hi Jamie 

This is the second time I have written. I thought that I needed to write again to express the importance, to guitar players, of what is taught on this site and in your book.

In two short months, since applying "The Principles", my playing has improved by leaps and bounds after trying so hard unsuccessfully for the past 30 plus years.

Practice is no longer a chore; as a matter of fact, it is now difficult for me to stop a practice session. I feel a sense of satisfaction, relaxation and euphoria during and after each practice session. 

To those out there who are contemplating buying your book - BUY IT. After you receive it READ IT CONTINUALLY, not just once. Practice as you normally would but learn the method taught in "The Principles" and repeatedly access yourself during practice to see if you are sticking to "The Principles". 

If you are not, make the necessary changes so that you are applying "The Principles". Don't be selective, read the book and apply All of the techniques taught not just the ones you feel are important - They are all important - trust me. Watching yourself play in a mirror is most important because you don't have to bend forward to see if you are playing properly. Mirrors allow the player to watch the fingers with no disruption to the attention required to learn how to practice. 

The barriers to good playing which once haunted me are gone and I still have only managed to incorporate some of "The Principles", I am gradually adding more with each practice session.

I suggest that those who are achieving limited success are those who are making limited use of the things which you teach. I still have a long way to go to achieve my goals with the guitar, but I finally have the tools which are necessary to get there. 

Have you ever watched great guitarists? They looked so relaxed. It all looks so easy. That's because it IS, once you understand the importance of how to practice, it will become easy for you too. 

Gary Watts

From Aubmor,

Hi Jamie,

I picked up the guitar more than 5 months ago and engaged the services of a teacher. After a total of 4 months of weekly paid lessons I found that I had not progressed one iota and knew that there must be another method.

I was practicing diligently daily with no signs of progress. I purchased a copy of your book in October and just gave it a quick glance. Meanwhile, I continued with my weekly lessons. Again, I was not having any progress so I resolved to return to your book with renewed vigor.

My teacher soon noticed the changes and wanted to know if I had engaged the services of another teacher! I then turned him on to the "The Principles".

My progress has been steady and measurable since I have been using the book religiously. What my teacher was doing was loading me up with all these different chords without any regard to technique. He felt that I was going to "get it " eventually. Your book has taught me that "getting it" is not a hit and miss affair but rather a concerted effort of learning and ensuring that you "get it" and then keeping it with constant practice until all "The Principles" become second nature.

Thanks a lot Jamie! Waiting for other great books from you.

Sincerely;
Aubmor

From India

I must say, this is one of the best books I've ever read. Not just on guitar, but probably on any subject.

You'll find a lot of guitar books which tell you a lot about chords, scales and lots of stuff. But not a single book ever tries to give you the fine points, fine points that need to be trained with from the very beginning, so that bad practices and habits are not set up in your playing. Self-observation is not something that any tutor tells you about, more than once or twice. This book makes you realize that it is not how many songs you can play, but rather how smoothly and well you can play them.

The principles that the author stresses again and again, are so valuable and essential, that these should be stressed by every author out there writing on guitar.

As far as the author having a big ego, or talking down from a pedestal, I fail to see where this happens. Sure, she does talk about various people whom she has guided, but nowhere does she actually bash them around verbally. Rather, one gets the impression that she is genuinely ruing the fact that even though so many people work so hard, they don't get the maximal benefit out of those long hours of practice.

This book reminds me of the books written by Bruce Lee, one of the greatest known martial artists. Bruce Lee constantly stressed that no matter how high your kicks, or how powerful your punches, the thing you must see is whether your motions are kinesthetic at root.

In short, I'd recommend this book heartily to anyone who has an introspective bent of mind, and genuinely wants to become the best damn player that he can. Beginners especially will be able to benefit most, as they can learn good practices from the beginning itself.

“Zorro the Fox” 

From Cananea, Sonora, Mexico

Practice without the principles feels clueless, no consistent learning and things like that, once you get the principles and start to follow the wise directions there, I'm sure you will have another perspective about playing the guitar, you will begin to feel it in your fingers, and have lots, lots of fun discovering new ways to learn the guitar.

Good luck!

Saludos,
César V. (Guitar Student)

From Kansas, U.S.A.

I'm am so glad that Jamie published "The Principles of Correct Practice For Guitar" (that title strikes me a little funny, more like a doctorate thesis then just another 'Be a Ripping Shred Monster on Guitar' but I guess that's just one more thing that separates you from the crowd) because now I really feel like I can reach my full potential as a guitar player. 

I've been playing for twenty years. Two years ago I decided that I will become the best I can be, I was not impressed with my playing and didn't really see any musical growth. I started getting all kinds of of books and DVD's that stated I would, with this one magic product, be a shredding monster. Of course most were just the same scales, chords, bits of theory - sometimes inaccurate - that every other course offered. Here's the sad part. When I did get a great DVD from a player I really liked, ie. John Petrucci, the examples that were shown were beyond my ability. I didn't give up and finally stumbled across your site when I was searching for speed guitar.

I read the reviews of "The Principles" and decided that I HAD to get this book. It was a real - "When the student is ready, the teacher will arrive" - moment. From the profound to the blinding stupid, I found all kinds of things that I was doing wrong with my body. The biggest thing I got from "The Principles" book was I actually enjoyed playing guitar - for 20 years I "enjoyed" playing, but wow, I had no idea how much TENSION I was hold in my arms, fingers, toes, stomach, etc.... I may have liked playing but my body was going through the pits of Hades to do the easiest things. 

I'm so glad I didn't stop with just the one book. I've also picked up Scales Mastery, The Octave Exercise, Six Essential Scales, Hammer and Pulls and (drum roll) my latest buy--Rock and Blues Foundation Course!

I'm to lesson seven right now and loving it (I almost have a decent vibrato)!! This is what I got into guitar for! Another happy thing is that I can now make use of the Petrucci and Troy Stetina material! 

Chiden

From Buckinghamshire, Great Britain

Guitar Principles gets you to really perfect your technique. With enough discipline and time you'll be able to play Yngwie before you'd think you would.

That's what it has done for me; I can play much better than people I know who’ve been playing as long as me. Playing well technically will really help you create better music

Also I’ve found it's made me 100x more dedicated to the guitar.

You will need A LOT of discipline, it's not just randomly practicing scales, more like doing exercises very slowly and with huge concentration until you perfect them, then moving onto more advanced ones - which will be easy if you really do like the guitar enough.

"Guitaristic" (Guitar Student)

From Boston, MA

The principles are not simply exercises like you will find in guitar magazines or the latest "PLAY GUITAR NOW!!!!" book at Guitar Center. It is a method of learning to train your body to play the instrument so that you can learn any style of music that you would like. It is a more disciplined approach than the typical haphazard one taken by most people in their music store lessons or self-taught methods.

 Those who are serious have reaped huge rewards, and those who have used this method from the very beginning of their instruction are light years ahead of those of us who have been hacking for years before we discovered this method.

I personally have been more than satisfied with every item that I have purchased from this website.

Dave G.

From Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Do yourself a favor and buy the Principles. It is an amazing book.  I know money can be a problem sometimes, but the value and wisdom of Jamie's books has no price. Reading and working with the Principles can really change your whole life for the better.

I can only speak for myself here so the last I can say is that this book changed my life and that it's mandatory for every true guitar student.

All the best,

Dollonder

From Severna Park, Maryland, U.S.A. 

 Guitar Principles has changed my whole approach to practicing. I used to follow the "repeat it a thousand times until you can do it" approach. Now I am much smarter, focusing in on exactly what needs work, using exercises from the book to fix things, or using the Principles learned from the book to devise my own exercises.

It also taught me a novel idea: to use my brain. I.e., when there is a problem or a difficult passage, stop and think about it; figure it out; pay attention to the right things; analyze it, do an inventory of what is going on with the whole body that might contribute to the difficulty.

Before, I used to just play something over and over hoping that my fingers would eventually figure out a workable approach. Sometimes they did, and often they didn't, but even when it worked it was a horribly inefficient use of my practice time. So if you are in it for the long run, this information will empower your practice. It will save you years of wasted time.

Flatfive

From Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.A.

In short, the Principles have helped me with:

Dedication

Focus

Inspiration

Strength

Better Tone

...along with a dynamite set of great hands-on exercises.

Barry F.

From Salt Lake City, Utah

I purchased "The Principles" as part of a commitment to become more systematic and disciplined in my practicing. I took a few group lessons early on, using a friend's guitar. I started feeling that I was attempting to play way beyond my ability. The number of complicated slides, rhythm changes, chord positions, pinches, pull-offs, whammys, hammer-ons, and general musical complexity boggled my mind and frustrated my fingers.

I started wondering if I had a shoulder injury. My right shoulder kept aching so much that I would have to stop playing and rub it and try to stretch it out after every forty five minutes of playing. Looking back now that actually seems really funny to me. But at the time I would frequently wonder if my hands were deformed in some way that would prevent me from ever playing.

I figured that my shoulder was too weak to hold my arm up during playing so I started lifting more weights in order to strengthen it. HA! I feel so embarrassed now to think that my first impulse in trying to address this pain was to throw more muscle at it. But that led me to Jamie's online articles and to the GuitarPrinciples website.

The Principles explained many things about playing guitar that I had not noticed or known to be on the lookout for. It helped me establish a mental basis for what I am trying to pay attention to during my time with the guitar. Before I was trying very hard to learn the song, play the chord transition smoothly, play faster. Now I sit very still and calm and pay attention to very subtle feelings in my body that I wasn't even looking for before.

I have looked at many guitar instruction books, and this is the only one that really addresses where to be within your body in order to become a musician. It helped me become more committed to establishing a strong foundation of good technique so that now instead of rushing to see how much of a snazzy new song I can play by the end of the week, I will spend lots of time just watching my fingers respond to my thoughts with the guitar. That rushing, frenzied, frustrated feeling in practice is gone now.

Also, I was in pain before and I am not anymore. I had shoulder pain that limited my playing and reduced my practice time severely. I have not felt that pain since started using the Principles and letting my shoulder relax each time I detect it tensing.

Finally, the "Principles" have helped me redefine and rediscover success in my playing and practicing.

Andy Guss

From Reykjavik, Iceland

Hi all,

It's funny, the first time I read the book I had a great time, I felt that Jamie Andreas knew everything about me and my guitar playing difficulties and illnesses. What was even better, I was offered a cure! I actually read the book a couple of times before putting it down and I keep picking it up all the time.

When reading the book initially, I understood (for the first time since I started playing some years ago) some of the things that had been keeping my progress at bay. Unnoticed excessive muscle tension and lack of focus and awareness. Before reading this book and using the exercises in it, I was a very good example of a frustrated guitar player, not having fun practicing because I couldn't see any progress or development.

After the first reading, I promised myself I would stick to it and do exactly like the book's author (whom I knew nothing about at the time) said for better or for worse.

Now 2 years later (or so) I practice 2-4 hours a day (weekdays) and more on weekends. And I'm having a ball! This book has helped me more than any other guitar lesson material or teachers in the past (before I got "Principled"), even if you put them all together.

Mind you, nothing is for free so a lot of dedication, desire, work and love are needed on the guitar playing path. But reading and using this book and the whole Principles theory/philosophy has helped me and countless others go from being frustrated and stuck to being able to play what you want to play, have fun and love growing as a guitarist and at the same time, as a person.

This is "the bible" for the serious guitar student.

Jonsi

From Hull, UK

Hi! I'm quite new to the Principles, but I'd just like to thank Jamie for this inspiring work. Motivation is a major factor for any aspiring musician, as you will all know and Jamie has enabled me to maintain my motivation in the early and most difficult stages of my playing.

I am a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist by day and I'd like to say that Jamie's approach ties in very well (uncannily so!) with my therapeutic approach. It really is about the cognitive or thought process and behavioral awareness, and technique!!

Personally I feel that this is what is lacking in most guitar tuition books/material and Jamie has obviously recognized this over the years, so I'd like to thank you Jamie for de-mystifying, and clarifying what it takes to achieve guitar playing goals, and making this accessible to all.

Drudion (Psychologist)

From BC, Canada

I have just started with The Principles, but from what I have read so far in the book, (and what I had read on the site before I received my copy of the book), it applies to much more than just guitar.

The Principles, at least portions of them, can be applied to everything from golf, to the martial arts, to bodybuilding, to shooting a rifle.

Muscle memory applies to EVERYTHING we do - whether we acknowledge it or not - it is a wisdom that transcends time - most people don't think about it, and many people don't even know it exists, but I can assure you, The Principles (at least, the principle behind it all) applies to everything.

Even sitting here typing this, I found my shoulders tensed, my abdominal muscles tensed - becoming aware of tension and following The Principles will 'bleed' over into so many other facets of your life, and general awareness of the way you carry yourself, at the very least, will make you feel very different, if you think about them outside of playing a musical instrument.

Tony Bonomo

From Boonville, Indiana, U.S.A.

Hello,

I would first like to take a minute to introduce myself and to say thank you to Jamie for giving me a new lease on my guitar playing life. I cannot stress enough how fortunate I feel to have stumbled across this site while browsing around halfheartedly in a search for a yet another guitar instruction book.

I am 36 years old and have been "playing" guitar since I was 15. I quote the word "playing" because I cannot actually play anything, at least to any degree of accuracy and skill. I used to practice constantly early on, but was incredibly naive in that I didn't feel the need for an instructor and thusly my practice, as I have found out thanks to Jamie and the Principles, has been more or less worthless. I now know why my progress has been stalled for all these years. You want to talk about tension and bad habits? My playing is the very definition of the words.

I received the Principles in the mail last Friday and am working on my third reading of it already. When I read page 14 in particular I was thrilled. This book was written for ME. The guy who had the desire but was getting beaten down with the frustration of not seeing any real progress. I’m no better now than I was when I was 20! Yet I’ve put in MANY, MANY hours since then.

For the last year or so I have not even picked up my guitar, though I kept it on the stand in my living room. It was painful to see it sitting there, knowing I couldn't do anything on it but play butchered renditions of the beginning of about 100 songs, but I had accepted I didn't have the talent to play guitar. After all those thousands of hours of "practice" I can't play, so I obviously just don't have what it takes.

Now, finally, that's all changed. I now KNOW I can do it. I now know that I have never really practiced in my life. I feel pretty stupid really. I kept making the same mistakes in the same spot in the same licks I was trying to play for YEARS. I never really considered isolating a particular weakness and focusing on it with the type of focus and intensity that is explained in the Principles. Eliminate tension? So simple and yet so brilliant!

Now, when I play a part I've struggled with forever and I watch my pinky flying all over the place, when I feel my whole left arm as tensed up as a banjo string, when my left shoulder starts to ache, I laugh out loud and then want to cry. If only I'd had this information 20 years ago!!

Starting last night, I am on a mission. I have no doubts this time. I am going to FINALLY become a guitarist. I put in three hours last night of finger flapping, posing and some no tempo, and confirmed my suspicions. Those bad habits are very deeply engrained and are going to take some time to dredge out, but knowing this will work, as proven by the testimonials of those folks who have been in my shoes, gives me a newfound determination and MAN it feels good.

I used to sleep with my guitar. I have a stack of guitar magazines over six feet tall, I've owned and sold thousands of dollars worth of equipment, and except for the last year or so, guitar was my central focus in life (excepting my family of course). Now it is once again and for that I want to say,

THANK YOU Jamie Andreas.

Brian

From Wholenote.com

After toiling away, reinforcing bad habits, practicing ineffectively and so on for 9 months, I discovered, "The Principles." The book's unique approach is unique among books I've seen and read. The book includes mental aspects of playing that have enabled me to make my practice time much more effective.

The left and right hand exercises have helped me understand and begin to improve my playing ability in a matter of days. Much of what is in the book is nearly common sense, but not obvious to a beginner. It's based on Jamie's many years of experience as a player and teacher. I wish I had this book when I started...

Suitable for all skill levels of guitarists.

Jeff Y.

From Coventry Ct, England

I have been playing guitar for a few years, and recently, have began taking lessons, and practicing for hours at a time.

After going to lessons I still had a number of flaws in my playing. I practiced playing a major scale for a year and could never get through it smoothly and efficiently at a medium speed. When I practiced riffs, my fingers would consistently miss notes.

Then, I purchased "The Principles" a month ago, and it has already changed my playing dramatically. (I had to follow the teachings very thoroughly, practice very slowly, and use a metronome for the book to work --- but it does). Muscles that I never knew existed have become alive and aware, and with some practice I am able to play passages flawlessly. My own guitar teacher never made me aware of my fingers, or how to control them.

The Principles has changed the way I look at the guitar and will shave off years of wasted practice time (this is especially important if you are 27, like myself). The techniques force you to relax, and guide your hands and fingers into the correct playing positions.

I read 100's of files on the internet and Jamie's ideas and articles have always inspired me to try and become a better player. The Principles are eliminating my bad habits and I am now on the road to becoming an accomplished guitar player!

Tom