Funky Fingerstyle Guitar
I’d like to start off by wishing you a wonderful, Happy Healthy Thanksgiving.
I recently read about how gratitude literally re-wires ones brain, unlike any other thought-feeling-emotion – whatever you’d call it.
For that reason, I’ve decided to resume my “gratitude journaling.” I am only on day 3, but since it’s Thanksgiving I wanted to share my “Top 10 List” of things I am currently grateful for – with you.
[Read more…] about 10 Things I am Thankful For Today
When you play the guitar, what are you listening for in your playing?
Let’s take a look at this…
When a painter works on detail, she is super close up to the canvas. Each brushstroke, texture and shading is accounted for.
That requires serious microscope up close focus!
However, there’s another mode of viewing the canvas which is stepping way back and looking at the “whole.”
That puts all the tiny details in a different context.
Playing music can be like this too. We can be very close up, and hear minute details, or we can step back and hear the entire, overall sound.
[Read more…] about How to Listen to Your Own Guitar Playing
I have a lot of students uploading videos to me on StudyWithAdam.com, and often they’ll send a note along with their video upload:
“Adam, I could not play this without making mistakes, but here is the best I could do….”
First off…I’ll admit it…I am as guilty as you are 🙂
[Read more…] about Practicing Guitar and The Illusion of Perfection
Often we have ideas of how our technique “should” look or be when we play guitar. It can cause a lot of cognitive dissonance when our ideas and the MUSIC itself disagree.
Hopefully this info will help you melt into mental, musical and spiritual grooviness.
[Read more…] about Discovering Your Guitar Technique
Just the other day in the studio, long standing musical problems resolved themselves as if by magic.
I am hoping that you can use this idea for yourself when you find yourself up against the wall, with “unsolvable” problems on the guitar, music and life. 🙂
[Read more…] about How to Let Go of Guitar Ego
The big question to ask yourself when buying a guitar is “Where will I play it?”
Will you be playing it on stage & at live gigs, or at home in your studio or living room?
Then you can think about the guitar choice…
[Read more…] about Tips For Buying an Acoustic Guitar
This article is about some of my early struggles as a pro guitar player and how I overcame them…I hope you like the info here.
As a young jazz guitar player I really struggled making ends meet.
I taught, played weddings, did little gigs and in NYC it was a “scramble”. If you live in a smaller town, with less musicians – it can be a little easier.
You may be in this situation yourself, wondering how you can boost your gigs, raise you prices, and so on.
I needed a solution for my situation at the time.
[Read more…] about How to Get More Paying Gigs Playing the 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
Performing fingerstyle guitar on stage can be nerve-racking.
Something you have played perfectly at home suddenly “falls apart” when you try to get on stage and do it in front of people.
For my first few years touring, my hands would shake on stage too, so don’t worry – it’s normal.
I’m going to show you how to solve this problem.
Continue Reading
Last month I was at a guitar festival and a student came in for a lesson.
I tried to play her guitar and find that it was very hard to play. I told her…
“You Need a Guitar Setup!”
Students often think that they need to become “stronger” and push “harder” when in fact – the guitar should become “easier” to play.
[Read more…] about My Personal Fingerstyle Guitar Setup Measurements