
degenaro
Well-known member
In order to not sound to pompous let me state that this is what works for me. And I've been asked about it and figured I'd share. Plus we might as well make it a thread since I'm curious how other guys practice.
Especially John perry.
Years ago I did what at the time I assumed everybody does, learn something half fast and when I got bored I moved on.
So I knew like a gazillion lines, sorta. And when it was time to pull them out it was really hit and miss. But then again back then in my severe substance abuse days hit or miss was the norm for me, and I really didn't think it had to with what I ...or more specially of what I didn't practice.
About a 8 years ago I came across this book called Effortless Mastery, and I was able to relate to very well. But even if the book is to esoteric for somebody there is a specific approach to practicing in there that worked great for me.
It describes that you can play something..
A) All The Way Through!
B) Perfect!
C) Up To Tempo!
D) Effortlessly!
Lets leave out D, since unless you went through the booka nd subscribe to the approach it's kinda annoying becuase it's just way feel-good, gooey, tree hugging, hippish kinda approach.
I digress...
So we have, Up to speed, all the way through and perfect.
Whatever you practice, lets say a minor pentatonic sequenced in 16th,, or a chord progression or a riff...pick 2 of the list. And make it happen.
Play it all the way through, at tempo...and don't worry about slop. Play it all the through perfect, and don't worry about tempo...just play it at a tempo-no matter how slow so it is perfect (as in in time, in tune, and in pocket).
Or play it at tempo and perfect, even if all you can do right now is 2 or 3 successive notes...play those up to speed. Then add another.
this approach will get whatever your learning under your hands, and once it's fully digested it can be opulled out at will and made to sound right.
As an example I was working on some new lines last night..in Eb, and I was transposing a line from another key. And thinking what happens when I play it in E over the Eb backing...nothing like determination to make a bunch of wrong notes right.
Muscle memory...when I went through Sheets Of Sound1 I spent an insane amount of time with the guitar unplugged on my lap in front of the televison, essentially just getting my hands to repeat the motion they had to learn. Once I had it under my fingers I actually started to incorporate it.
Questions? Comments?
Especially John perry.

Years ago I did what at the time I assumed everybody does, learn something half fast and when I got bored I moved on.
So I knew like a gazillion lines, sorta. And when it was time to pull them out it was really hit and miss. But then again back then in my severe substance abuse days hit or miss was the norm for me, and I really didn't think it had to with what I ...or more specially of what I didn't practice.
About a 8 years ago I came across this book called Effortless Mastery, and I was able to relate to very well. But even if the book is to esoteric for somebody there is a specific approach to practicing in there that worked great for me.
It describes that you can play something..
A) All The Way Through!
B) Perfect!
C) Up To Tempo!
D) Effortlessly!
Lets leave out D, since unless you went through the booka nd subscribe to the approach it's kinda annoying becuase it's just way feel-good, gooey, tree hugging, hippish kinda approach.
I digress...
So we have, Up to speed, all the way through and perfect.
Whatever you practice, lets say a minor pentatonic sequenced in 16th,, or a chord progression or a riff...pick 2 of the list. And make it happen.
Play it all the way through, at tempo...and don't worry about slop. Play it all the through perfect, and don't worry about tempo...just play it at a tempo-no matter how slow so it is perfect (as in in time, in tune, and in pocket).
Or play it at tempo and perfect, even if all you can do right now is 2 or 3 successive notes...play those up to speed. Then add another.
this approach will get whatever your learning under your hands, and once it's fully digested it can be opulled out at will and made to sound right.
As an example I was working on some new lines last night..in Eb, and I was transposing a line from another key. And thinking what happens when I play it in E over the Eb backing...nothing like determination to make a bunch of wrong notes right.
Muscle memory...when I went through Sheets Of Sound1 I spent an insane amount of time with the guitar unplugged on my lap in front of the televison, essentially just getting my hands to repeat the motion they had to learn. Once I had it under my fingers I actually started to incorporate it.
Questions? Comments?