Funky Fingerstyle Guitar
I recently started going with my girlfriends 13 year old son (gulp…almost stepson?) to Aikido training.
He is an introverted artistic kid and needs to connect the body to the head more – but without competition.
He reminds me of me at age 13, actually 🙂
[Read more…] about How You Can Apply Aikido Principles to Fingerstyle Guitar
Usually I stress the importance of a good musical education. Often I teach hands-on guitar techniques.
Without my teachers & mentors I would not be the person and musician I am today.
However, there is a fundamental but “advanced” step in making music. What I am about to say may sound contradictory.
After you’ve been a good student, go ahead and throw away everything you’ve learned.
[Read more…] about Learn Guitar Technique, then Throw it Away
In this post, I will show you the basics of thumb & finger interaction…That said, there is always more than one way to attack a problem. Currently (2018) I am experimenting with the opposite of what I say here – more like a Larry Graham bass technique.
Here are the basics as they are taught to guitarists 95% of the time, so start here. Enjoy!
I got a question from a blog reader recently that said:
How, in your mind, can you coordinate both a bass line with your thumb and a melody line with your fingers? I can’t seem to divide my mind that way. What can I do to gain finger independence?
There is a 2 part answer!
[Read more…] about Thumb and Finger Independence for Fingerstyle Guitarists
Learning to blend technique and feel are like having a good balance of “head and heart.”
Both are important!
I got a question recently from a subscriber that read…
I was wondering what your opinion was on practicing technique, learning scales, chord progressions, and theory in the context of a song versus on their own.
This is really a good – and complex question. Here goes… [Read more…] about What’s the Best Approach for Improving Your Guitar Technique?
This is a pretty taboo subject, but let’s dive in.
I recently got an email from a reader saying:
“Hi Adam. I’m going through a phase where I can’t find any I situation or have as much fun playing as I used to. Have you got any idea or any tips or me to get back into it? Thanks – Mick”
Musicians are human, and all of us have ups & downs because it is built into our system. When we have ups & downs, much of “how we feel” has do do with the presence or absence of certain naturally produced brain chemicals.
[Read more…] about Practicing Guitar and Your “Happy” Brain Chemicals…