Simple Music Secrets

The number one way to increase the amount of practice time on your instrument that you can do right now!

I’ll bet you cannot guess what it is. It is so simple as to be ridiculous. Keep your instrument out of the case and available at all times. I keep my guitars on stands and I find that every time I have a stray thought or musical question I can easily reach over and pick up my instrument and use it, if only for a few minutes. If the guitar is in the case, in the closet and I have to go and get it,  I will be less inclined to do so.

How Keeping Your Guitar in the Case
can actually Help your Practice

Conversely, if I want to concentrate on only electric guitar or only classical; I will put all guitars away except for the one I want to focus on. Last week I put away my classical and electric and I have focused on only the acoustic steel string by default.

So do whatever you can, place your instrument on a stand, hanging on a wall or any way you can keep it close at hand. You will play more I guarantee it!

I want to make an unabashed plea to those who do not read music to do so and I will illustrate why it can be such a joy.

My genre of music is mostly folkish/country/blues but I have studied classical and I know how to read music. The other day I heard on the radio Chopin Ballade #1 in g minor for piano and I loved it. I wrote it down on a notepad in the car and later I purchased not only a cd, but the written music for it.

This is significant in many ways. It helps to really have a visual reference for what is taking place in the music as well as it enhances my appreciation for the techniques and themes that are within the music. As you listen without the music you can feel what is happening but you can not really understand it in a deeper way without the music, unless you are a very accomplished musician.

Understanding and being able to pick out certain sections also help in other ways. I intend to study some of the passages for guitar, since that is my main instrument; not necessarily to perform it, but to use it for ideas and inspiration. Any time you are in a rut in creativity it is a great way to break out of the slump, as it were. Study another style or instrument if only briefly and you will find it is fun and stimulating.

I wanted to talk about the exact steps to learn to play guitar one step at a time over the next few posts. First up is how to find the guitar itself.
Luckily today there are many very well made guitars for a reasonable price so that is nice. Years ago there were only cheap guitars and expensive guitars. Not much in between. I know I had a Silvertone before I graduated to an Ovation and eventually a Martin.
If you do not have a friend to help you, I would suggest a visit to your local music store or stores to get an idea what you want. Please don’t buy anything for a week or so. Go home, research the exact model numbers on the internet and get an idea if the price you are looking to pay is in line with the current retail price. You can buy online also, although I would not recommend that for a first time purchase because the new player is more apt to be happy with a guitar that he picks out the first time. After a while you can buy online and you will know what to expect from experience.
You can buy a very decent, first time guitar for $300 these days. You can of course pay less and perhaps find a good one on Craigslist or at a garage sale. If you are patient and have a friend to help you check out possible buys that would be the most economical way.
Finally you have to decide whether you want an electric guitar or an acoustic one. Unless you are just dying to play electric, I would recommend starting with an acoustic guitar at first. It requires no amplification (an additional expense), and you can play all types of music on it and is also portable to the campfire or at the beach etc.

Next time;tune the guitar.