Fresh Start Guitar - Great For Beginners & For Getting Out of A Musical Rut.
You Know The Old Saying…
If I could go ‘back in time’ and ‘learn to play guitar’ and ‘learn how to become musical’ all over again, I would do things very differently.
Three Basic Elements Are All We Need
As it turns out, there are only three basic elements we need to ‘make rock solid’ in order to excel within the musical style of our choosing.
A player who establishes the three basic elements properly has a chance to turn their musical foundation into a wonderful lifetime of making great music. On the other hand, a player who does not fully establish the three basic elements must then suffer the consequences. Ask me how I know.
Start Simple & Use Your Favorite Music To Build Your Foundation
Well, there must be a catch, right? Otherwise, most everyone would just simply work to establish the three elements and then be free, right?
The truth is that the three basic elements are always present, and it is mostly a matter of highlighting them so that we, as players, can work on the quality of our understanding and the quality of our execution. I have short exercises to help players do just that, but the rest of the work usually takes place while playing music that we love.
In other words, a student who is working on a song that they love might get started with a simplified arrangement of that song [more on that later] so that they have the best possible combination to work with:
A) Music that motivates them
And B) Music that is played simply enough for them to continue establishing the three basic elements.
Once the three basic elements have been established within the song we are working on, then-and-only-then is it practical to consider increasingly more complex arrangements of that song.
In other words, we start just as simply as possible and work to build our basic foundation until naturally we have become ready to take on more complex arrangements.
Keep It Simple?
Of course, after we start simple and use ‘simple’ as a great vehicle for building our three basic elements / foundation, we might not feel the need for anything more complex - that is something that is up to each artist.
For Example: Check out the following very simple arrangements that I have been working with. For me, they are a bunch of fun and feel complete enough for me to just pick up the acoustic guitar and have fun playing wherever I feel like playing - no cables, amplifiers, backing tracks, etc are needed. Keep in mind, simplified arrangements can be made of any style of music.
Freeborn Man:
Please, Please Baby:
Drift Away:
Don't Rock The Jukebox:
Swinging Doors:
Beer Never Broke My Heart
All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down
"I Play My Music In The Sun"
Outside in the fresh air and sunshine has become my personal favorite place to make music. How about for you?
Why Haven't I Named The Three Basic Elements?
So, why haven’t I named the three basic elements? Some time ago, I would have - but, through time I have seen many students misunderstand how to approach the development of one concept or another. The best growth, I have found, is when a student and I have a proper vehicle, like one of their favorite songs, that we can simplify and use to actively develop the three basic elements.
Am I Still Using This Approach For Myself?
Yes, as mentioned above, I quite enjoy creating simplified arrangements of songs and then putting them into he following sequence:
A) Practice
B) Record
C) Listen & Evaluate For How Well I Am Representing The Three Basic Elements
And D) Repeat.
Recording can be quite a humbling experience. The good news is that ‘making music’ is almost always a blast since making music, regardless of exactly how well, has a very positive, drug-like effect on our brains. However, once we listen to a recording of ourselves, we are then faced with recognizing all of the improvements we want to make. This is why the sequence, listed above, works so well for those of us who are brave enough to take it on.
Great For Complete Beginners On The Guitar As Well As…
As you can imagine, the approach outlined in this article is perfect for complete beginners who want to learn and grow just as quickly, thoroughly and efficiently as possible. And, it is also perfect for any player who has been stuck and needs to get out of a rut.
Take A Few Lessons? I Did It The Hard Way, But You Don't Have To
If you are interested in lessons, I do enjoy teaching quite a bit and will be happy to do some virtual lessons to help you get on track to experiencing musical momentum, freedom and enjoyment! Feel free to contact me through this site to learn more!
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