What do you guys do to improve your playing?

sleeperls · Post by **sleeperls** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:14 pm

Since i'm getting back into things Its made me want to be a better player. Basically im stuck in the 90's simple songs and chord progressions. When i was young i got better by playing with other guitar player that where better than i was.

Now im kinda stuck. I remember the songs i wrote But its to the point im not growing anymore.

JamesSmann · Post by **JamesSmann** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:15 pm

buttsecks. and lots of it.

TheodorJ · Post by **TheodorJ** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:16 pm

I practice.

Justin · Post by **Justin** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:37 pm

Try to learn new songs, things that are more complicated than what you are use to playing. Get some Metallica tabliture or something, even if you don't like them.

sleeperls · Post by **sleeperls** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:47 pm

St. Jimmy wrote:buttsecks. and lots of it.

Seems ive found the local post whore already.

my cat and dog are already on that for ya.

Ive found some things online what are the ones you guys use most.

Justin · Post by **Justin** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:52 pm

sleeperls wrote: Seems ive found the local post whore already.

PAHAHAHA

Aug · Post by **Aug** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:23 am

there is no magic, man. discipline.

sleeperls · Post by **sleeperls** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:30 am

Oh i dont mind putting the time in. Thats what its all about. Just figured you guys that are still playing had some sites that you rely on with good tabs and methods i could check out.

I've got 15 years in allready whats a few more gunna hurt trying to improve.

BobArsecake · Post by **BobArsecake** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:23 pm

Learning theory and figuring songs out from it, and practising scales.

BradK · Post by **BradK** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:23 pm

lately I've been trying to listen to tons of different styles of music to try to get more ideas for playing and learn some different chords. it has really helped a lot. just listen to stuff you're not used to listening to and try to play along.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:40 pm

Learning new songs is a great way to do it, especially if they challenge you or are in a different style to how you play normally.

Playing with other people improves your timing hugely also.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:39 pm

Yep - playing with other people helps lots I find.

JamesSmann · Post by **JamesSmann** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:10 pm

St. Jimmy wrote:buttsecks. and lots of it.

blane · Post by **blane** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:50 pm

scales, new chords. pop in a cd and play leads over top of as much music as you can.

tareofthesnob · Post by **tareofthesnob** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:12 pm

lock yourself up in a room and stop when you bleed. ow

Justin · Post by **Justin** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:27 pm

tareofthesnob wrote:lock yourself up in a room and stop when you bleed. ow

Are we still talking about guitar playing?

dodgedartdave · Post by **dodgedartdave** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:33 pm

Get yourself The Mel Bay Chord Encylopedia and start learning new chords. I have one and I learn stuff everytime I pick it up.

benwalker · Post by **benwalker** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:34 pm

watch paul gilbert videos and then get depressed about the fact that my fingers neither have the stretch nor the strength to do string skipping between huge distances...

...so then try practicing it anyway, despite the fact that it will never get used in any band i'm likely to play in

analogsystem · Post by **analogsystem** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:16 pm

Practice with a metronome for 15 minutes a day, just mechanics. Then when you go to learn covers or play with a band, you'll be surprised how much faster you can pick up new material.

benwalker · Post by **benwalker** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:30 pm

it's particularly bad because i've been playing for years (~19 and i'm now 26) but never bothered with anything more complex than the odd slash-esque moment or pentatonic noodling. plus every band i've played for has been britpop/rock etc, where playing anything not considered in-keeping generally results in a '57 being thrown in my direction

i did classical grades all the way up to 8, but got into (what shredders would probably consider) sloppy habits when playing electric.

still.

metronome and guitar-rig are available so it's a case of slowly slowly. I got most of scarified nailed, albeit about 10bpm slower and there's still no-way I can do alternate picking in the solo or the sweeps at the end (despite following the tutorials), but watch this space eventually....

\m/