Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Memorizing Difficult Passages
Beginning guitar students often hit a plateau where they wonder if theyll ever get any better. This usually happens after a couple months, when they realize what theyve gotten themselves into. A mental block forms, and pretty soon theyve convinced themselves that "that part doesnt sound right." Sometimes thats true, but a lot of times its their perception of what its supposed to sound like.
How to get over it and get on with it.
- Listen to a recording of the song. By listening to a correct version of the piece, you start to understand exactly what it should sound like. The best time to do that is when youre not trying to play the song. I had a banjo song that I learned wrong, and the way I corrected it was to listen to the recording over and over until I knew what it was supposed to sound like.
- Slow down. I know, it sounds better fast. I also know if you cant play it slow you cant play it fast. Slow, deliberate practice is how you get over the hump and polish up the song.
- Have your guitar teacher play it with you. Learn the phrasing, the correct fingering and the correct dynamics. Practice the trouble part, then the parts before and after it, then build up speed.
- Be patient. Too many beginners try to do too much too soon, and then cant understand why theyre not making enough progress. Take the advice above and youll find that your progress will be slow but steady.
Bob Lucas
www.blguitars.net
