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You are here: Home / podcast / FGH-0002: How do you remember old fingerstyle guitar pieces and also learn new ones?

FGH-0002: How do you remember old fingerstyle guitar pieces and also learn new ones?

By Adam Rafferty 8 Comments

https://traffic.libsyn.com/adamrafferty/FGH-0002.mp3

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Summary, Episode 2:

In this episode we have student Q & A. Ben from Virginia asks… “How do you maintain a repertoire of several fingerstyle guitar pieces and also learn new tunes, arrangements and concepts?”

The Fingerstyle Guitar Hangout Podcast with Adam Rafferty

I have 8 points that I mention in this episode, so here is a quick review.

Show Notes:

8 points to help you remember old pieces and learn new ones as well:

  1. (2:52) Consider finding a small background music gig – coffee shop maybe?
  2. (4:55) Surprise! I don’t remember all my arrangements
  3. (5:58) Don’t let 1/2 baked arrangements kick around
  4. (6:38) Delegate to Youtube
  5. (7:33) How do I keep my old tunes alive?
  6. (8:39) Regarding creativity
  7. (9:24) Regarding musicianship & studying theory
  8. (11:09) Practice using old tune / new tune method.


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About Adam Rafferty

I’m Adam Rafferty – a guitar player born and raised in New York City, and currently spending most of my time on tour playing concerts and coaching my guitar students online at StudyWithAdam.com

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ben Harris says

    July 18, 2017 at 11:18 am

    Thanks for answering my question! Lots of great advice in this podcast. Getting together enough to play a small gig is probably what I need to do. Along with arrangements, I’ve always wanted to incorporate improvisational parts into set arrangements.

    Reply
    • adamrafferty says

      July 20, 2017 at 5:00 pm

      Ben – thank you! I realize a “gig” may be a stretch, but think of it as the difference between shooting warm up baskets and “the game” so to speak.

      Also, any feedback on improving the podcast is appreciated. I know it’s just 2 episodes…but ideas for what you’d want – well, lemme know! 🙂

      AR

      Reply
  2. Michael Paling says

    October 28, 2018 at 6:08 am

    Love this advice. I have to work on getting enough for a gig too. One question… have you ever removed a song from your repertoire just because you’re tired of playing it? I’ve got a song that I just can’t get finished, tired of trying, and can’t decide if I should toss it to the edge or not.

    Reply
    • adamrafferty says

      November 23, 2018 at 8:12 am

      Michael – I remove songs all the time. It’s hard when people want to hear it…mostly because some songs were born of an older playing concept, that when I “upgrade” my playing – the old idea no longer feels good / fits. When I stopped using a thumpick there was a big re-shift / change in how I play all my arrangements. Thanks for commenting ! AR

      Reply
  3. Jochen says

    June 25, 2021 at 5:42 pm

    I practice allmost every day an play the whole list of songs I‘ve learned from SWA.
    Two advantages: I bring the Arrangements closer to my brain and I avoid made mistakes.

    All other Songs with my band I play from my mind.

    Greetings
    Jochen

    Reply
    • Adam Rafferty says

      June 28, 2021 at 10:30 am

      Jochen, great! I practice many arrangements every day too, this really wires them into the brain. You are doing a great job! AR

      Reply
  4. Telmo says

    March 20, 2022 at 10:37 pm

    Hi Adam! Great lessons 🙂
    I have a question about playing other people’s arrangements when you just don’t do arrangements. What can we do legally to be able to play those arrangements in a paid gig? How does this work?

    Thank you so much

    Reply
    • Adam Rafferty says

      August 9, 2022 at 3:26 am

      Telmo oh man, playing them at a gig is no problem. Recording them – heck, the arranger barely matters legally, you need to pay publishing fees to the composer.

      Just recently a YouTube start – a young girl did “her arrangement” of “Every Breath You Take” and I could clearly see she took my entire concept and tuning, dd not give me creadit. C’est la vie!

      Reply

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