Law of Attraction

How to Kick Butt on Guitar – Creativity Plus Discipline

Being a guitar player is not that different from being an author, photographer, magician or pizza parlor owner.

Huh?

In actuality – it’s only ONE field…we’re all self-employed entrepreneurs getting our creations out into the world, providing value for people, and earning something in return.

As an entrepreneur, you have to self motivate. It’s the “long haul” tactics and daily habits that build into something worthwhile, over time.

Short bursts of inspiration can’t build musicianship or a great career, but a little bit of work every day – towards a worthwhile goal, most certainly will.

I just read an article by my one of my favorite information marketers, Fred Gleeck, and he talked about the writing process…this quote rang true to me as a creative musician.

He says…

The one thing I suggest you do is that you MAKE yourself sit down and start writing every day for a given block of time. Writing is an act of creativity AND discipline.

This is exactly the process I use in regards to practicing guitar… I use “creativity AND discipline.”

You are the CREATOR, not the CONSUMER

As a CONSUMER, and lover of music – when you listen to your favorite musician or band, it’s as if you are getting the most delicious dessert at a fine restaurant, served to you.

Mmmm yummy!

No work is required. You sit back, hit play and enjoy watching and/or listening. Easy as pie.

As the CREATOR of that dessert, you will not likely “feel the feelings” that the consumer feels!

This is precisely the spot where, for example, little kids at music lessons realize they need to practice and “it’s no longer fun.”

The shiny new thing loses it’s luster, you see the errors and really have to polish your work of art.

A Recent Real Life Example

I recently did a stretch of arranging, videotaping and uploading 9 Beatles tunes to YouTube. Here’s one of them for your enjoyment – “In My Life”

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_31xKFzSy4″]

The Discipline:

As the musical “dessert chef” I spent, on average

2-3 days creating the guitar arrangement & practicing it
1 day video taping & recording
Maybe 1 day more recording the video again after “sleeping” on the problems of the first taping
For each of these 5 day projects I have a delicious 3 minutes to present to the world.

The Creative:

Even though it’s “covers” some serious “creativity” went into choosing this stretch of tunes, before I even picked up the guitar.

I felt it was time to inject some new life into my repertoire, and I love hitting the “bullseye” musically for my audience.
Almost everyone loves the Beatles – so it’s as if I am coming “back from the bullseye” like a Zen archer. (See my C + Y = R post)
With a nice set of Beatles songs, I can maybe do a Beatles DVD
I can offer to now teach a Beatles class at a guitar workshop
Of course I’ll have more GREAT tunes to play on concerts
If people like the videos, they’ll share them socially
Maybe a Beatles CD is worth doing…
I strove to get GREAT versions of these songs onto the guitar that really convey the music, better than I’d ever heard…

When I saw what I wanted to achieve, I determined that it would be well worth the discipline and time needed to whip these tunes into shape and make videos, upload etc.

Is there “Luck” involved?

It makes me almost want to barf when someone says “oh you are so lucky – you get to do what you love…”

Are you kidding? I work my tail off and claim it….it ain’t luck!!!

🙂

Hopefully this gives you some “inspiration” to be disciplined, put the time in daily, and stick to a plan – and achieve your dreams!

Now….git to work!

The Musician’s Cure to Social Media Madness

By Adam Rafferty 5 Comments

THE SCENARIO

This last week, I spent a lot of time online, doing my research, keeping up with social media, new (to me) sites like Pinterest.com and Chill.com.

(does this sound familiar?)

Sites like Facebook, twitter and Youtube are helping me reach fans and book gigs…so I wanted to see “what I’ve been missing” and how I could ramp things up, career wise.

Oh boy…all I did was make myself nuts!

Like many musicians, or managers or “labels” I’m scratching my (bald) head wondering what’s next, and will the sites I’m signing onto even last?

Some sites will be here to – stay (for a while) while others will bite the dust like Myspace.

My head started to hurt.

Questions like this plagued me this week (don’t worry – this post will end happy…)

Some of my personal issues:

How can anyone hope to compete with a Youtube channel with millions of subscribers?
To get more hits & views, must I simply play every crappy cover song I can think of, in incredible voluminous amounts?
Will Youtube yank my videos / channel, since I still am doing covers?

then…my personal hell….since I get asked for tabs of my covers constantly…

How the hell can so many guitar instructors out there sell tabs with ZERO licenses in place, and I choose to go the high road and get licenses, am I an idiot?
Will social media change, because right now I don’t want to know about someone’s cat barfing…so I “shut off” and others do too.
Where is it all going? And am I wasting time trying to figure it out?

The irony is…(drum roll please)

By asking these questions I was simply “creating my world” and seeing the world as “I am” not the way it is.

BUSTED.

What appeared to be “out there” was “in here.”

This is kind of heavyweight information when you think about it.

I create my world and you create your world, minute by minute, whether we complain and worry, or whether we rejoice and give thanks!

THE CURE

I picked up the guitar.

I decided to start learning a new tune….”IMAGINE” by John Lennon. It was time to be a musician and not a social media manager for a few hours.

After hours of ironing out an arrangement, I uploaded it to Youtube:

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dELdAQ25kT0″]

This video was done with NO end result in mind….only “love” in mind, honest to God. I wanted my fans to have something nice and soothe them.

I fell completely into the song, the lyrics, the tone of the instrument, Lennon’s voice, intention, and so on.

THE AFTERMATH

As I walked out into the street in NYC after uploading the video and I felt “all my troubles seem so far away” 🙂

The pain, headache, uncertainty and frustration I was feeling were GONE.

What?

I found myself in a “bliss” state.

Immersion into music, with no thought of “what I’d get out of it” is what got me there.

I saw after this that I have the personal power to choose one state or the other.

THAT’S BIG! Do you get this?

What I previously thought “the world was doing” was MY creation.

My NEW (forgotten) mantra “I am responsible for 100% of my life.”

THE IRONY

Once I dropped the video onto Youtube, Facebook and Twitter – it was something useful that people wanted to share.

That’s the way to use social media! (I.E. that’s the horse before the cart…)

THE MEDIUM IS NOT THE MESSAGE

Social media is a pipeline.

Garbage in, garbage out.

Good meaningful stuff in, good meaningful stuff out.

The lesson….offer something good….really good and everyone wins.

What You Can Learn from the Joshua Bell Story

By Adam Rafferty 14 Comments

There’s an urban legend about a world class violinist named Joshua Bell who played his solo violin concert program of J.S. Bach on a 3.5 million dollar instrument in the Washington Metro at rush hour.

Riders walked past, no one “listened” except for snippets – and he earned about 32 bucks.

The writer’s slant on the story is this:

“If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?”

I disagree COMPLETELY with is idea.

Joshua Bell demonstrated an “unsuccessful gig” in the midst of his “successful gigs” and showed all musicians that presentation counts – since the music was a “constant” in the equation. Do’h!!!

It’s NOT on the audience to learn how to be appreciative.
It’s UP to US musicians to learn how to present ourselves properly. (Joshua of course knows how – and was doing an experiment.)

Holding the public accountable for “not noticing us” is a victim mentality, and is very disempowering for musicians.

Whether we see ourselves as concert hall worthy, restaurant gig worthy or street worthy – we will end up playing places that are in accordance with our beliefs.

We are 100% responsible for our vision of where we want to be – even if it is not yet manifest. That starts inside, not outside.

How can I say this utterly blunt stuff?

For years I saw myself as the restaurant guitar guy – which is fine, and not a criticism of anyone playing gigs like that. My self image kept me there, but I realized I wanted more.

Only when I changed the self image (not easy) to being a concert and festival player….life changed around me – as if by magic.

If I did it, you can do it too.

Let me ask you….

Have you ever noticed GREAT musicians who seem to be unappreciated?
Have you ever seen “bla” musicians who have GREAT performance opportunities?

To the victim this seems really unfair, as if evil is winning over good.

To the empowered musician, it makes 100% perfect sense and is totally fair.

It’s all obeying the Law of Attraction.

We all create our worlds in accordance with our beliefs.

The Empowered Take Away Idea:

Even if your music is absolutely world class…you now know, from the subway story, that the “public” needs more than your music alone.

If you want to reach your audience, then this matters too:

How You Dress
How Your Materials Look
Your Punctuality
Where You Choose To Play
Under What Conditions You Choose To Play

I’m making a new moral of the story:

“If we do not have a moment to think about how we present ourselves and our best musical efforts, how many gig opportunities are we missing?”

I’m not posting this to add to the lump of online “how to get gigs” articles.

I am posting this because the victim mentality is poisionous to musicians, and the “take 100% responsibility” mentality is healthy, empowering and leads to greater happiness.

As Above, So Below…on the Guitar

By Adam Rafferty 3 Comments

One of the joys of my musical journey is to discover something musically and see that it also applies to all of life.

(Really guitar and “life” are no different – since it’s our brains looking outward and seeing the contents of our own thought!)

I have been doing a lot of slow, deliberate practice on fingerstyle guitar pieces like “Thriller” and “Aqualeros do Brasil” and “Fly Me To The Moon” simply because I want the groove to be deeper and want the perfect sparkling and coordinated “mix” of melody, bass and accompaniment.

It never fails; once I put my mind on the role and job of my right hand thumb, I see that it has been pulled by the influence of the other right hand fingers, and is not as solid as I thought it was! [Read more…] about As Above, So Below…on the Guitar

Perception – Ain’t it a Bitch?

By Adam Rafferty 3 Comments

When a bell is struck, it vibrates and then in turn vibrates the air molecules around it. Waves of air molecules eventually hit one’s eardrum and vibrate the eardrum.

When we hear the sounding bell, we think and perceive the bell as “out there” but the sound is really “in here”. It’s the eardrums reaction to being hit by the vibrating air molecules.

Isn’t it interesting how we perceive not just sounds – but people, events, smells, sights and all sensations as originating “out there” when in fact they are inner experiences?

When the line of what’s “out there” and “in here” starts to blur for me it’s actually quite fascinating. We can change my perception of what’s out there if we want.

Here’s a fun example of how we all have different perceptions of the same “thing” out there. You may see from this that perception could just be an inner experience.

Today in the Aachen, Germany train station I could not help but notice a very attractive woman…long black hair, (looked freshly blown and straightened from the hair salon), silver hoop earrings, tight jeans, black boots and a coat with a big furry collar and to boot she had a gorgeous face. I even got a smile from her. Hey, what’s not to like?

On board the train, I was asked by a female conductor for my ticket. I looked up and – oh gosh, it was her! Huh?

She was an undercover cop, busting riders who thought they’d get away with a free ride on a regional train!

Aha! If they see an official conductor, that could alert freeloaders to run to the bathroom hideout. Luckily, I paid for a ticket and got a second chance to flirt.

Off in the distance I heard desperate arguments from riders (one teenage girl rider was almost in tears) followed by my favorite lady cop’s unwavering demands for 50 euro as a penalty.

Talk about a tough cookie! She was not taking no for an answer. Her job was to shake people down for money, and she was on the warpath!

In review – someone who boosted my ego and made me feel good today pretty much destroyed a few peoples days and caused them to be upset.

She was the same person all day, but depending on one’s perception, you either liked her or hated her.

Perception – ain’t it a bitch?

Do You Have New Years Resolutions? Consider This…

By Adam Rafferty 4 Comments

We all make New Year’s plans and resolutions – plans on how to “work hard” to “get what’s out there.” I’m offering you a different angle on that idea….

I recently picked up a copy of Deepak Chopra’s book “The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire” and just finished it on a plane ride to Europe. What’s not to like about a title like that?

“The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire” is an excellent book. Deepak is a dedicated meditator and I felt that the book pulled me into the peaceful, mystical, “boundless” place that he writes from. I am thankful to feel very chilled out right now. I needed that!

I admit, I sometimes fall prey to the state of “wanting more”, and I work every day at finding peace and gratitude for what I’ve got. I always come back to finding that my joy, peace and creativity comes from being spiritually centered.

“Wanting more” is in fact the cause of pain and restlessness itself. There is a cure though. Once we are thankful for what we have and enjoy a feeling of peace within, more comes rushing into our lives. That’s the irony!

I read something in the book that resonated with me, a message I much needed to hear as I gathered ideas about “achieving goals in 2012”, and I’d like to share it with you.

“Suppose a hunter in the Amazon rain forest is having difficulty finding game. If he goes to a Shaman, neither the hunter nor Shaman looks anywhere but within the hunter himself to solve the problem.”

“It never occurs to them to say something like ‘There’s no game out there’. ”

Happy New Year, and may all your good find you in 2012!

Passing Inspiration Forward

By Adam Rafferty 1 Comment

For a few years I have practiced outside my NYC apartment in the building hallway. I do this to get away from my laptop and also enjoy natural reverb!

Moments ago, I heard little guitar strings getting plucked outside my door by someone else.

I sensed that I was being summoned, so I opened my door to see who it was.

A little boy named Matthew (age 7) got a mini guitar for Christmas.

His family lives 2 apartments down the hall…he’d been inspired by hearing me play out there.

I asked him if he liked Michael Jackson, and his face lit up. “I love Michael Jackson!”

I asked them to wait one moment at my door. I came back out with a gift in hand. I handed him & his mom an “I REMEMBER MICHAEL” CD.

“WOW!!!”

As I gave inspiration to this little guy, I was reminded that this is what it’s REALLY all about – passing inspiration forward.

Gear Outside, Tone Inside

By Adam Rafferty 30 Comments

I get a lot of questions about my guitar “tone” in my videos.

Ok, yes it has improved since I first started posting videos. But, this brings to mind a very valuable music lesson I once had from my mentor which I’d like share with you.

Nerd speak for one sentence: For this video I use a Maton guitar, a fresh set of uncoated phosphor bronze strings, 2 RODE mics and a DI, into Garage band. (For more detailed CD type recording my setup varies slightly.)

I recorded this song about 25 times in my home studio the day prior as practice.

I searched, listened, and allowed magic to pop up, I discarded ideas that did not work, and I voiced the same chords “umpteen” ways until I found just the “right” way.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR-2Q175y2M]

This was not an analytical process….it was intuitive, creative and gut level. Right and left brain had to work together to realize the overall sound I wanted.

During the practice session I had a myriad of tones, dynamics, grooves, tempos…

Each practice recording sounded totally different from the next in color and timbre. Of course there were technical things that I worked on, but it was all in the service of the sound.

When one practices a performance or crafts an arrangement it requires searching for “just the right sound.” The small changes made over time are like the low flame that turns a pot of chopped vegetables and water into a “savory soup”.

This “savory soup” does not come only from a Maton guitar, a fresh set of uncoated phosphor bronze strings, 2 RODE mics and a DI, into Garage band. It comes from listening and undergoing the process I have described.

Looking back, I can remember 20 years ago asking my mentor about the sound of my guitar. At the time I was trying to decide whether “flat wound” or “round wound” guitar strings had a better tone.

He told me “the tone you seek is inside.” 20 years later I see what he meant!

Until next time….Enjoy!

Silence

By Adam Rafferty 4 Comments

Good Morning Gang! It’s 5:24 am here in New York. I’ve been up since 3am….I turned in early last night. 2 cups of coffee later…and the sky is still black.

I’d like to share something very special to me with you today. I will tell you about one of my greatest loves in my life.

This is how I find my peace. Without this, my music would have no ground. It’s the secret of my success. It’s one of the most important things in my life.

Silence.

Like most people (maybe you), I experience ups and downs, moments of confusion. The noisy mind does this.

Often I want “more” – more love, money, control, attention, certainty in life – but with that comes stress. It’s all just mental noise. It’s “grabbing” instead of “having”.

So after thinking, stressing, losing myself in trying to figure it all out, trying to squeeze this poor little brain (inside the bobbing bald head) for “the answer” which never comes…I have to give up, because there is no answer.

But wait…something beautiful happens when I give up and sit still.

When I sit silently 30 minutes once (or twice) a day…

Answers come on their own, magically.

I feel my own “noise” for 20 minutes and then a “merging” with it all happens.

Past, present and future turn into one beautiful, cohesive “glow”.

I become “nothing” but it’s the most beautiful “nothing” there is.

I’m not “happy”, I just “am”.

Like a pond, the ripples on the water eventually slow down until the water looks like glass.

It’s natural.

It’s simple.

It’s amazing and beautiful.

[shhh….]

Little Changes – Big Difference

By Adam Rafferty Leave a Comment

A lot of the time, we want to improve something in our lives – be it our musical ability, career, body weight, financial life, etc. I was reminded of a very valuable lesson just the other day.

My buddy’s wife is a physical therapist and she kindly showed me a few easy exercises to improve my posture. After years of hunching over a guitar and a computer, I need chest opening / stand up straight type routines more than “iron pumping” exercises.

She showed me some very easy exercises simply offering a little bit of resistance. I noticed that her posture was great. I asked her if she worked out and if so, what she did.

“I’ve just been doing these exercises with my patients for 25 years. That’s all.”

Wow. That inspired me to do the simple things she told me to do….but of course the key is to do it every day!

This reminded me of something Jack Canfield mentioned in one of his programs. Sometimes little changes in life can feel like nothing, but over time they really amount to a big change.

If you were driving straight and just did a one degree turn, eventually that would totally change your direction and bring you somewhere else, right?

Making big changes too suddenly can cause upset; for example in the musical realm if you completely change your technique, you can really hurt yourself! If you make huge changes in your personal affairs, you often experience upset…it’s good to go slow!

Hopefully this will offer you encouragement to not look for immediate results, yet have the courage to make small changes to achieve your dreams. See the benefit of doing something slightly new – over time – to achieve a new result.

It may be a new piece you are learning, a scale on your instrument, a new language, a new workout routine, meditation, reading, better eating habit.

Don’t look for results right away…that’s like planting a seed and digging it up the next day to see if it sprouted.

Be happy with an itty bitty small change in a habit, and watch where that takes you over time!