Just a heads that in the next little while I may not be making a daily post (or 5-6 week like I often try to do). Instead I'm going to be focusing on working on the bigger and more important posts that I've been meaning to do for the blog.
This means that you won't see posts as often, but their content will likely be more useful. I'll probably go back to more of the shorter daily posts when I've completed some of the more important, lengthier ones (like ones for my poster).
Have a great day!
Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Double-check Your Music
I've had no shortage of lessons where students think they've been practicing correctly. The emphasis in that last sentence should definitely be on the word think. Often, something is wrong. Maybe it's the rhythm, or one of the notes is played on the wrong fret, whatever. The moral of the story is this: if you double-check your music, this kind of thing doesn't happen.
When to double-check your music
My general philosophy for practice is as follows:
1) Look at the music once either right before playing it the first time, or (if possible) while playing.
2) Play without the music (work towards memorization) as much as you can.
3) Look at the music again at the end of your practice session (either on your last run through the song, or right after, to check that you're playing it correctly).
This process solves a lot of problems. First of all, by checking your music every time you practice, you make sure that you've remembered everything. We all like to think our memories are bullet-proof, but in fact they rarely are, and sometimes a few notes or a particular rhythm falls through the cracks. Then, by playing without the music you work on committing the music to memory (I write about how to do that in the link above on memorization). Finally, by running through the song once more with the music in front of you, you make sure the music is still how you remember it, and you can feel confident you've properly committed at least some part of the music to memory.
Once you feel you've got the song memorized, try playing from memory before looking at the music. If you can do that successfully for the next three practice sessions, it's safe to say that you've got the song memorized. Awesome!
Better to be careful then to be wrong
Always double-check your music using the steps outlined above, until you can confidently play it from memory. Better to be extra certain you've got things right, than to practice something incorrectly!
Double check that music!
When to double-check your music
My general philosophy for practice is as follows:
1) Look at the music once either right before playing it the first time, or (if possible) while playing.
2) Play without the music (work towards memorization) as much as you can.
3) Look at the music again at the end of your practice session (either on your last run through the song, or right after, to check that you're playing it correctly).
This process solves a lot of problems. First of all, by checking your music every time you practice, you make sure that you've remembered everything. We all like to think our memories are bullet-proof, but in fact they rarely are, and sometimes a few notes or a particular rhythm falls through the cracks. Then, by playing without the music you work on committing the music to memory (I write about how to do that in the link above on memorization). Finally, by running through the song once more with the music in front of you, you make sure the music is still how you remember it, and you can feel confident you've properly committed at least some part of the music to memory.
Once you feel you've got the song memorized, try playing from memory before looking at the music. If you can do that successfully for the next three practice sessions, it's safe to say that you've got the song memorized. Awesome!
Better to be careful then to be wrong
Always double-check your music using the steps outlined above, until you can confidently play it from memory. Better to be extra certain you've got things right, than to practice something incorrectly!
Double check that music!
Sunday, 28 May 2017
I hate the recording process
Okay, I confess. I hate recording. I hate mixing. I hate editing songs. All of it.
I LOVE writing songs. The creative process fills me with joy, and purpose. I love doing it. But I don't like any of the work involved with the actual recording process.
I wanted to be done this album in March and now it's almost June. There have been many reasons for the setbacks, which I won't go into detail about today (perhaps that will be the subject matter for a third album, if I live that long).
I'm writing this to confess, and be honest. And to tell you the truth, I really want to quit this project, again for many reasons. But in the interest of following through on my commitment, and acting like an adult, and setting a good example, I am soldiering forward. I know I will enjoy the end product. But the process is not fun.
Yeah, I'm whining a bit here. Nobody likes a whiner. I'm just trying to be honest. And yes, I am aware that it's true that whining about the project won't get it done! Perhaps I'm writing this to show my students that you don't have to love everything you do in music to work through it. Sometimes things suck, and that's okay (this doesn't actually suck that much).
Anyway, back to work I go! Have a great day.
I LOVE writing songs. The creative process fills me with joy, and purpose. I love doing it. But I don't like any of the work involved with the actual recording process.
I wanted to be done this album in March and now it's almost June. There have been many reasons for the setbacks, which I won't go into detail about today (perhaps that will be the subject matter for a third album, if I live that long).
I'm writing this to confess, and be honest. And to tell you the truth, I really want to quit this project, again for many reasons. But in the interest of following through on my commitment, and acting like an adult, and setting a good example, I am soldiering forward. I know I will enjoy the end product. But the process is not fun.
Yeah, I'm whining a bit here. Nobody likes a whiner. I'm just trying to be honest. And yes, I am aware that it's true that whining about the project won't get it done! Perhaps I'm writing this to show my students that you don't have to love everything you do in music to work through it. Sometimes things suck, and that's okay (this doesn't actually suck that much).
Anyway, back to work I go! Have a great day.
Saturday, 27 May 2017
Songwriting Sessions: Communication is Everything
If you're going to write a song, I'm assuming you want someone to hear it (or possibly, "someones" i.e. an audience of multiple people).
If so, you probably want them to understand the song. If that's the case, it's important that your song communicates that understanding as well as possible.
Do they lyrics (if there are any) communicate to the audience effectively?
Does the music give off the right mood throughout the song?
Does the song contain the right instruments for what you're trying to say?
What about the melody? Dynamics? Structure of the song?
These are all things worth considering. Granted, some of this may work itself out naturally while you're writing the song. But if you get stuck or want to make sure your song is a good one, remember that your audience needs to be able to understand what you're trying to say.
Make sure you communicate effectively!
If so, you probably want them to understand the song. If that's the case, it's important that your song communicates that understanding as well as possible.
Do they lyrics (if there are any) communicate to the audience effectively?
Does the music give off the right mood throughout the song?
Does the song contain the right instruments for what you're trying to say?
What about the melody? Dynamics? Structure of the song?
These are all things worth considering. Granted, some of this may work itself out naturally while you're writing the song. But if you get stuck or want to make sure your song is a good one, remember that your audience needs to be able to understand what you're trying to say.
Make sure you communicate effectively!
Friday, 26 May 2017
What Makes a Song Fun?
Every week I attempt to make a post on Friday that's:
1) music-related (obviously, it's a music blog); and
2) somehow fun
Oddly enough, I find this really hard to do, much harder than any other blog post. Perhaps that says something about what I find fun (studying languages and math are counted amongst my hobbies). At any rate...
I was asking myself, "What makes a song fun?", and this was one of the first songs that came to mind:
Then Youtube's autoplay led me to this song, which I definitely think falls under the "fun" category...
1) music-related (obviously, it's a music blog); and
2) somehow fun
Oddly enough, I find this really hard to do, much harder than any other blog post. Perhaps that says something about what I find fun (studying languages and math are counted amongst my hobbies). At any rate...
I was asking myself, "What makes a song fun?", and this was one of the first songs that came to mind:
Then Youtube's autoplay led me to this song, which I definitely think falls under the "fun" category...
I'm a sucker for a good pop song, and I think these two songs are fantastic examples of fun songs (although in different ways - the first is more quirky, the second more straightforward). I have been known to dance around the dining room with my daughter to "Good Time."
Perhaps you don't find pop music fun. Well, even punk rockers like a good pop song! Check out my post on "retooling" (here) and you'll see what I'm talking about (spoiler: there are two fun songs I link to in this post).
Hope you're having a good time and a great day!
Thursday, 25 May 2017
Growth Occurs Faster Than Decay
Your growth on guitar tends to be faster than your decay. The better you get at a song (and at playing in general), the longer you can go without practicing something.
Let me give an example to make my point.
I have been playing guitar for about 20 years. I have found that most simple strumming songs require no practice for me to be able to play them well. Compare that to a new student, who would need to practice the song on a fairly regular basis to see improvement.
From this we can also observe that the harder something is for you to play, the more often it needs to be practiced.
And so, of course, the better player you are, the easier songs will tend to be, and the less practice will be required. I don't mean to discourage practice, of course... you should be consistent with practice, and be sure to practice enough. I've written in more detail how much you should practice here.
Keep practicing and keep growing!
Let me give an example to make my point.
I have been playing guitar for about 20 years. I have found that most simple strumming songs require no practice for me to be able to play them well. Compare that to a new student, who would need to practice the song on a fairly regular basis to see improvement.
From this we can also observe that the harder something is for you to play, the more often it needs to be practiced.
And so, of course, the better player you are, the easier songs will tend to be, and the less practice will be required. I don't mean to discourage practice, of course... you should be consistent with practice, and be sure to practice enough. I've written in more detail how much you should practice here.
Keep practicing and keep growing!
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Wednesday Weekly Progress - May 24
Things are moving forward. Here's what's been going on for me this week:
2) Songs For Ghosts (my 2nd album):
Mixing did not happen as often as I'd like, but progress was made. I know now exactly what needs to be recorded again and I've made some small dents in the mixing process.
1) Blog - ongoing:
This was a decent week for the blog. Here's what I wrote about:
Test Your Limits and Your Beliefs: Your beliefs may be limiting your ability to learn your instrument. Find out how and why, and how to eliminate any negative beliefs you may have about your ability to play music.
Songwriting Sessions: Retooling: Learn what retooling is and how to use it to improve your songwriting.
God Save the Queen!: It was Victoria Day here in Canada, so it only seemed appropriate to pay homage to our monarch.
When to Practice Slowly: Sometimes practicing slowly is your best bet to... believe it or not.. play faster! Learn more about this and when and why you should practice slowly.
Progress so far: 16.2% (these percentages are just a guess, but probably close enough)
This was a decent week for the blog. Here's what I wrote about:
Test Your Limits and Your Beliefs: Your beliefs may be limiting your ability to learn your instrument. Find out how and why, and how to eliminate any negative beliefs you may have about your ability to play music.
Songwriting Sessions: Retooling: Learn what retooling is and how to use it to improve your songwriting.
God Save the Queen!: It was Victoria Day here in Canada, so it only seemed appropriate to pay homage to our monarch.
When to Practice Slowly: Sometimes practicing slowly is your best bet to... believe it or not.. play faster! Learn more about this and when and why you should practice slowly.
Progress so far: 16.2% (these percentages are just a guess, but probably close enough)
2) Songs For Ghosts (my 2nd album):
Mixing did not happen as often as I'd like, but progress was made. I know now exactly what needs to be recorded again and I've made some small dents in the mixing process.
Progress so far: 95.3% - mixing in action
3) Poster for my office:
I wrote two posts about my eventual wall poster, Test Your Limits and Your Beliefs, and When to Practice Slowly. I put a small dent in my work towards the page I'm working on for how to read guitar tab, too (but it's not done yet).
Progress so far: 57.8%
4) Other repertoire - ongoing:
This was the best week of practice I've had in recent months. I'd like a bit more this week, but we'll see how things go.
Keep on being awesome!
3) Poster for my office:
I wrote two posts about my eventual wall poster, Test Your Limits and Your Beliefs, and When to Practice Slowly. I put a small dent in my work towards the page I'm working on for how to read guitar tab, too (but it's not done yet).
Progress so far: 57.8%
4) Other repertoire - ongoing:
This was the best week of practice I've had in recent months. I'd like a bit more this week, but we'll see how things go.
Keep on being awesome!
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
When to Practice Slowly
A lot of songs require fast and co-ordinated movements from the hands and arms. So in a sense our goal is always to play quickly. But sometimes, we need to play slowly to achieve that goal. Here are some instances when playing slowly is, strangely enough, your best bet to playing quickly and properly.
When to play slowly
1. When you don't understand the rhythm: If the song is new, or the rhythm is a bit strange, you're going to need to take some time to make sure you're doing to rhythm properly. This is especially true if you're practicing without a teacher. You need to give yourself enough time to pay attention to the rhythm, while also playing the correct notes with the correct fingers. Sometimes this means playing at half the speed of a song, or even a quarter of the speed (or slower!)
2. When you're trying to encourage a new playing habit: Most of the time, when you can't play something truly difficult, it's because your technique is off, and playing the same way over and over isn't going to change things. You need to slow down enough to make sure the new movement you're making is smaller, more relaxed, and more precise. You simply can't do that when playing quickly. Teaching your hands new muscle memory requires slow and consistent repetition, until the habit starts to feel more natural.
3. When finishing a practice session on a song: The best way to memorize the correct way to play a piece of music is to end with one practice at about half the speed that you would normally play. For some reason, this helps your mind and hands to remember how to play the piece in a more relaxed way (perhaps because it's easier to play in a relaxed state when playing slowly).
Slow down to speed up!
There are probably other instances in which you should play slowly, but those are the three most important ones that come to mind. Practice slowly at the right times, and you will find yourself playing faster than ever... odd as that may seem!
When to play slowly
1. When you don't understand the rhythm: If the song is new, or the rhythm is a bit strange, you're going to need to take some time to make sure you're doing to rhythm properly. This is especially true if you're practicing without a teacher. You need to give yourself enough time to pay attention to the rhythm, while also playing the correct notes with the correct fingers. Sometimes this means playing at half the speed of a song, or even a quarter of the speed (or slower!)
2. When you're trying to encourage a new playing habit: Most of the time, when you can't play something truly difficult, it's because your technique is off, and playing the same way over and over isn't going to change things. You need to slow down enough to make sure the new movement you're making is smaller, more relaxed, and more precise. You simply can't do that when playing quickly. Teaching your hands new muscle memory requires slow and consistent repetition, until the habit starts to feel more natural.
3. When finishing a practice session on a song: The best way to memorize the correct way to play a piece of music is to end with one practice at about half the speed that you would normally play. For some reason, this helps your mind and hands to remember how to play the piece in a more relaxed way (perhaps because it's easier to play in a relaxed state when playing slowly).
Slow down to speed up!
There are probably other instances in which you should play slowly, but those are the three most important ones that come to mind. Practice slowly at the right times, and you will find yourself playing faster than ever... odd as that may seem!
Monday, 22 May 2017
God Save the Queen!
Today is Victoria day in Canada, where we celebrate the birth of Queen Victoria. It's a holiday for us, too. God save the Queen!
(consider this a make up for Friday's lack of fun post)
Sunday, 21 May 2017
Songwriting Sessions: Retooling
Definition of retool (courtesy of Merriam Webster Dictionary)
transitive verb
1: to reequip with tools
2: reorganize
3: revise, modify
intransitive verb
to make especially minor changes or improvements
Sometimes, all you need to write a song is to take an idea that already exists in some form or another, and to retool it.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- take a chord progression from a well-known song and change the key, tempo, etc
- take an instrument normally played in one style of music (say, banjo in bluegrass music), and use it in another style of song (pop)
- take a certain concept from a song (the ways lyrics are sung or spoken) and use it in a completely different context
Here's a real-world of example of the last idea:
Original song
New song based on original song
There's always inspiration around the corner (or in the next song you listen to) if you open your ears and your mind to it. Happy writing!
Thursday, 18 May 2017
Test Your Limits and Your Beliefs
You are not an unmoving stone. Your body and mind cannot and will not always be what they are right now. They will change.
If this is true, then why assume you can't accomplish exactly what you want on your instrument? Why not believe you can play any song you'd like to play, or to write your own beautiful music?
The fact is, you must test your limits and test your beliefs. Eliminating false and negative beliefs will motivate you to keep playing and practicing. The number one reason a student stops playing music is because "it's too hard" or "too much work". If music wasn't too hard, or too much work, would you keep doing it?
How to Test Your Limits and Your Beliefs
Here are some tips on how you can change your mind about what you're capable of accomplishing.
Notice what negative beliefs you have, and what kind of limits you place on yourself: What kind of thoughts do you have that are negative? "I can't do this" and "I'm not good enough" are just two examples of thoughts you might tell yourself that simply aren't true (or at least, they don't have to be). Write them down if it makes it easier to remember them.
Here are some negative beliefs that I used to have:
- 6 notes per second is fast
- playing the intro to Thunderstruck is impossible (which is about 9 notes per second!)
- writing songs is difficult and I'll never a good song
- learning songs by ear is difficult
Ask yourself what you'd really like to do on your instrument: Now comes the fun part. Make a list of what you'd like to accomplish on your instrument. Write it down, record it on your phone or tablet, or just keep remember if you've got a good memory.
I wanted:
- to play more quickly (I'm not sure exactly how fast)
- to play Thunderstruck
- to write a good song
- to learn songs by ear whenever I felt like it
Now to start working on those goals. Here's how...
Close the gap: Sometimes students think that either can play something, or they can't. And that is true in the sense that they can either play something really well, or not. But what many students don't realize is that there is a whole range of how good or bad we are at playing something. There is a spectrum of skill and you're somewhere on it!
We "close the gap" between where we are, and where we want to be, by realizing there is this broad range of skill and ability that we can cross, on our way to musical excellence. The easiest way to close this gap? Read on...
Find a way to measure your progress, then measure it!
I just wrote a post about this, which you can read here. Basically, find a way to keep track of your progress, so you can see you're getting better, and keep your motivation and energy levels high!
I used to pretty consistently practice with a metronome, so I would know exactly how well I could play something. While I don't do that as much anymore (for various reasons), it is an effective tool and one you should use at least occasionally (especially if you want to see that you're getting faster at playing something).
Nowadays I write music, and I usually find some way to challenge myself by doing that. I record my music and track my progress by listening to how good my playing really is (I've also written about recording yourself here).
Test Your Limits, Change Yourself
There is a great musician within you. It's up to you to bring him or her out by testing your limits, and challenging your beliefs. You can do it!
If this is true, then why assume you can't accomplish exactly what you want on your instrument? Why not believe you can play any song you'd like to play, or to write your own beautiful music?
The fact is, you must test your limits and test your beliefs. Eliminating false and negative beliefs will motivate you to keep playing and practicing. The number one reason a student stops playing music is because "it's too hard" or "too much work". If music wasn't too hard, or too much work, would you keep doing it?
How to Test Your Limits and Your Beliefs
Here are some tips on how you can change your mind about what you're capable of accomplishing.
Notice what negative beliefs you have, and what kind of limits you place on yourself: What kind of thoughts do you have that are negative? "I can't do this" and "I'm not good enough" are just two examples of thoughts you might tell yourself that simply aren't true (or at least, they don't have to be). Write them down if it makes it easier to remember them.
Here are some negative beliefs that I used to have:
- 6 notes per second is fast
- playing the intro to Thunderstruck is impossible (which is about 9 notes per second!)
- writing songs is difficult and I'll never a good song
- learning songs by ear is difficult
I wanted:
- to play more quickly (I'm not sure exactly how fast)
- to play Thunderstruck
- to write a good song
- to learn songs by ear whenever I felt like it
Now to start working on those goals. Here's how...
Close the gap: Sometimes students think that either can play something, or they can't. And that is true in the sense that they can either play something really well, or not. But what many students don't realize is that there is a whole range of how good or bad we are at playing something. There is a spectrum of skill and you're somewhere on it!
We "close the gap" between where we are, and where we want to be, by realizing there is this broad range of skill and ability that we can cross, on our way to musical excellence. The easiest way to close this gap? Read on...
Find a way to measure your progress, then measure it!
I just wrote a post about this, which you can read here. Basically, find a way to keep track of your progress, so you can see you're getting better, and keep your motivation and energy levels high!
I used to pretty consistently practice with a metronome, so I would know exactly how well I could play something. While I don't do that as much anymore (for various reasons), it is an effective tool and one you should use at least occasionally (especially if you want to see that you're getting faster at playing something).
Nowadays I write music, and I usually find some way to challenge myself by doing that. I record my music and track my progress by listening to how good my playing really is (I've also written about recording yourself here).
Test Your Limits, Change Yourself
There is a great musician within you. It's up to you to bring him or her out by testing your limits, and challenging your beliefs. You can do it!
Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Wednesday Weekly Progress - May 17
Progress continues to be steady. Here's what I was up to this week.
2) Songs For Ghosts (my 2nd album):
The mixing continues! I've discovered some tracks that need replacing, but progress is good, albeit a little slow this week. I expect a lot more work to be done this week based on less time restraints.
1) Blog - ongoing:
What Should I Practice?: Curious about how to go about practicing? This short post should get you started.
Just Intonation Guitar: If you've ever felt like you can't quite tune your guitar perfectly, check out this video on a guitar with frets based on "just intonation" tuning. Pretty neat and kind of strange!
Songwriting Sessions: Where to Start: Trying to write a song, but you can't figure out how to get started? Here's a post on how to do just that.
Practice Makes Permanent: Learn why everything you do while you practice affects your playing skills and habits.
That Which Is Worst Should Be Practiced Best: Find out why you should spend the most time on the hardest parts of playing your instrument.
Progress so far: 16% (these percentages are just a guess, but probably close enough)
What Should I Practice?: Curious about how to go about practicing? This short post should get you started.
Just Intonation Guitar: If you've ever felt like you can't quite tune your guitar perfectly, check out this video on a guitar with frets based on "just intonation" tuning. Pretty neat and kind of strange!
Songwriting Sessions: Where to Start: Trying to write a song, but you can't figure out how to get started? Here's a post on how to do just that.
Practice Makes Permanent: Learn why everything you do while you practice affects your playing skills and habits.
That Which Is Worst Should Be Practiced Best: Find out why you should spend the most time on the hardest parts of playing your instrument.
Progress so far: 16% (these percentages are just a guess, but probably close enough)
2) Songs For Ghosts (my 2nd album):
The mixing continues! I've discovered some tracks that need replacing, but progress is good, albeit a little slow this week. I expect a lot more work to be done this week based on less time restraints.
Progress so far: 95.2% - almost done selecting tracks, looking forward to mixing soon
3) Poster for my office:
I wrote two posts about my eventual wall poster, Practice Makes Permanent, and That Which Is Worst Should Be Practiced Best. I haven't forgotten about my post on how to read tab, either! It's simply the one that has taken the most work.
Progress so far: 57.4%
4) Other repertoire - ongoing:
I've gotten some practice, in particular on the electric guitar and on piano, as well as singing. I need to get more work in on my acoustic repertoire.
Hope you've had an awesome, productive week. Rock on!
3) Poster for my office:
I wrote two posts about my eventual wall poster, Practice Makes Permanent, and That Which Is Worst Should Be Practiced Best. I haven't forgotten about my post on how to read tab, either! It's simply the one that has taken the most work.
Progress so far: 57.4%
4) Other repertoire - ongoing:
I've gotten some practice, in particular on the electric guitar and on piano, as well as singing. I need to get more work in on my acoustic repertoire.
Hope you've had an awesome, productive week. Rock on!
Tuesday, 16 May 2017
That Which is Worst Should Be Practiced Best
If one of your songs is weaker than the others, it should be practiced more than other songs.
If part of one of your songs is weaker than the other parts, it should be practiced more than other parts.
If some part of your playing technique is weaker than others, it should be practiced more.
You want all of your playing to sound good. All of your songs, every part of each song, all of your tricks and techniques, your bells and whistles.The only way that's going to happen is if you make the harder stuff... well, not so hard. If something is more difficult to play, that means it's going to require more practice.
This is why I say:
That which is worst should be practiced best.
(It's probably better English to say "most", but it somehow sounds more poetic and memorable this way).
The challenge lies in convincing yourself to do this. We want to have fun on our instrument, so who wants to spend lots of time on the really hard stuff, right? The truth is, you will enjoy the instrument far more if you do spend more time on the difficult parts, because those are what will really change your playing for the better.
When I was learning ACDC's "Thunderstruck", I spent about a year-and-a-half on it. I could have spent far less time on easier songs, but I wanted to improve my overall playing ability on the instrument. And boy did I ever! Learning that song catapulted my playing ability to greater heights than I ever imagined possible.
I have seen so much success following this philosophy of practice that I generally never learn a new song unless it provides a challenge, because I want to keep getting better, and because I now have the faith that I can master any song I practice. And that kind of faith is a bonus from practicing this way: you will become confident in your ability to learn whatever you want to learn, and it will make practice far easier.
So remember...
That which is worst should be practiced best.
If part of one of your songs is weaker than the other parts, it should be practiced more than other parts.
If some part of your playing technique is weaker than others, it should be practiced more.
You want all of your playing to sound good. All of your songs, every part of each song, all of your tricks and techniques, your bells and whistles.The only way that's going to happen is if you make the harder stuff... well, not so hard. If something is more difficult to play, that means it's going to require more practice.
This is why I say:
That which is worst should be practiced best.
(It's probably better English to say "most", but it somehow sounds more poetic and memorable this way).
The challenge lies in convincing yourself to do this. We want to have fun on our instrument, so who wants to spend lots of time on the really hard stuff, right? The truth is, you will enjoy the instrument far more if you do spend more time on the difficult parts, because those are what will really change your playing for the better.
When I was learning ACDC's "Thunderstruck", I spent about a year-and-a-half on it. I could have spent far less time on easier songs, but I wanted to improve my overall playing ability on the instrument. And boy did I ever! Learning that song catapulted my playing ability to greater heights than I ever imagined possible.
I have seen so much success following this philosophy of practice that I generally never learn a new song unless it provides a challenge, because I want to keep getting better, and because I now have the faith that I can master any song I practice. And that kind of faith is a bonus from practicing this way: you will become confident in your ability to learn whatever you want to learn, and it will make practice far easier.
So remember...
That which is worst should be practiced best.
Monday, 15 May 2017
Practice Makes Permanent
So often as musicians we hear the phrase "practice makes perfect". But one of my students once told me a much better phrase she picked up from her voice teacher:
Practice Makes Permanent
What does this mean? It means that everything you do on the instrument affects your playing. Any incorrect movements in your playing will show up later as part of your "muscle memory" (how your body remembers to play it).
In other words, make sure your habits are good right from the get-go. Don't allow any bad habits into your playing (in practice this is pretty much impossible, but you should do your best to follow it as closely as you can). Don't use the wrong fingers, or ignore the correct strumming, or anything else like that, because you don't want to get used to playing something the wrong way.
Always do your best to use the correct habits when playing. Be very thoughtful about your practice, and don't allow for mindless repetition. Mindless repetition almost always leads to bad habits with your playing technique, even if you're not aware of them!
Because practice makes permanent, don't do anything while practicing that you don't want to be part of your playing. Use proper technique whenever possible, and always pay close attention to how you're playing. This will make it much easier to learn your instrument, even if you're relatively new to playing.
Practice in two dimensions (if you don't know what I mean by this, check out my post here).
Practice Makes Permanent
What does this mean? It means that everything you do on the instrument affects your playing. Any incorrect movements in your playing will show up later as part of your "muscle memory" (how your body remembers to play it).
In other words, make sure your habits are good right from the get-go. Don't allow any bad habits into your playing (in practice this is pretty much impossible, but you should do your best to follow it as closely as you can). Don't use the wrong fingers, or ignore the correct strumming, or anything else like that, because you don't want to get used to playing something the wrong way.
Always do your best to use the correct habits when playing. Be very thoughtful about your practice, and don't allow for mindless repetition. Mindless repetition almost always leads to bad habits with your playing technique, even if you're not aware of them!
Because practice makes permanent, don't do anything while practicing that you don't want to be part of your playing. Use proper technique whenever possible, and always pay close attention to how you're playing. This will make it much easier to learn your instrument, even if you're relatively new to playing.
Practice in two dimensions (if you don't know what I mean by this, check out my post here).
Saturday, 13 May 2017
Songwriting Sessions: Where to Start
So you want to write a song. How do you even begin such a daunting task? Fear not, fellow minstrel, I'm here with some tips to get your creative juices flowing.
How to start songwriting in 4 easy steps
Step 1: Choose your instrument
Most songs are written on piano, guitar, or synthesizers/keyboards, so those are good instruments to start with. If you're starting with a melody, you could sing it, or you could play it on any instrument that you're comfortable with (assuming that instrument has the range i.e. enough different notes, that you want).
Step 2: Choose your method
I firmly believe there are no hard and fast rules for how to write a song, and I know stories of many different (and successful) songwriters who've done it in different ways. So do whatever feels natural to you. If you're writing music and lyrics, you can start with the lyrics, or the music, or do both at the same time. It doesn't really matter.
If you need more guidance, I offer some tips in the following posts:
Songwriting Sessions: How to write a song
Songwriting Sessions: Writing the music before the lyrics
I wouldn't worry too much about how you "should" write. I would just start writing (and don't stop!).
Step 3: Know what to do if you get stuck
You can always make progress with your songs. For instance, there's always something to write about (which I've written about, here). You can use other artists as inspiration, if necessary (I've written about that here). And lastly, if you really feel stuck, learn some more theory. Theory is the universal solvent that remedies all musical confusion. Learn your scales, learn how songs are structured, and learn more about music.
And if all seems hopeless...
Step 4: Don't give up!
It may seem like you'll never finish that song, but don't give up! You aren't going to get worse as a songwriter, and if you keep putting a sincere effort, your skills will sharpen and you'll get your music done.
Get started on your path to songwriting awesomeness
Pick an instrument, pick a writing method, keep learning more, and keep at it. You can do it!
How to start songwriting in 4 easy steps
Step 1: Choose your instrument
Most songs are written on piano, guitar, or synthesizers/keyboards, so those are good instruments to start with. If you're starting with a melody, you could sing it, or you could play it on any instrument that you're comfortable with (assuming that instrument has the range i.e. enough different notes, that you want).
Step 2: Choose your method
I firmly believe there are no hard and fast rules for how to write a song, and I know stories of many different (and successful) songwriters who've done it in different ways. So do whatever feels natural to you. If you're writing music and lyrics, you can start with the lyrics, or the music, or do both at the same time. It doesn't really matter.
If you need more guidance, I offer some tips in the following posts:
Songwriting Sessions: How to write a song
Songwriting Sessions: Writing the music before the lyrics
I wouldn't worry too much about how you "should" write. I would just start writing (and don't stop!).
Step 3: Know what to do if you get stuck
You can always make progress with your songs. For instance, there's always something to write about (which I've written about, here). You can use other artists as inspiration, if necessary (I've written about that here). And lastly, if you really feel stuck, learn some more theory. Theory is the universal solvent that remedies all musical confusion. Learn your scales, learn how songs are structured, and learn more about music.
And if all seems hopeless...
Step 4: Don't give up!
It may seem like you'll never finish that song, but don't give up! You aren't going to get worse as a songwriter, and if you keep putting a sincere effort, your skills will sharpen and you'll get your music done.
Get started on your path to songwriting awesomeness
Pick an instrument, pick a writing method, keep learning more, and keep at it. You can do it!
Friday, 12 May 2017
just intonation guitar
This is a very interesting video about a just intonation guitar:
Believe it or not, we didn't always tune our instruments the way we do now. We use what's called "equal temperament tuning" nowadays. If you don't know anything about equal temperament versus just intonation, well, don't feel bad. Most musicians don't, and I'm still pretty new to the subject. But check this video out below if you want to learn more about it.
Believe it or not, we didn't always tune our instruments the way we do now. We use what's called "equal temperament tuning" nowadays. If you don't know anything about equal temperament versus just intonation, well, don't feel bad. Most musicians don't, and I'm still pretty new to the subject. But check this video out below if you want to learn more about it.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, 11 May 2017
What should I practice?
Every student should practice. That much is obvious. But what is not obvious is what the student should practice. While there are some basic guidelines I think I can give - you should probably be practicing at least one scale, and at least one or two songs - the specific details of your practice regimen will (or perhaps should) differ from someone else's.
Allow me to use my own practice as an example. Right now I rotate practice on about thirty or forty songs, some of which are on piano, some on guitar, some are on ukelele, and some (at least currently) only have a home on bass guitar. With that many songs it is impossible for me to practice all of them everyday. In fact, some songs I don't practice for weeks at a time!
From the theory side of things, I rarely practice my scales (except on piano) because I know them very well, but I will review them from time to time. I believe scales should be practiced by just about every musician, but I limit my practice on them simply because I have to manage my practice time carefully, and most of what I do does not require greater knowledge of scales.
Now, would I recommend most students practice this way? Absolutely not! Most students would never see progress this way. For most students I would recommend practicing somewhere between one and five songs, and to continue developing knowledge of the fretboard (keyboard, etc.), which usually means working on scales for at least five or ten minutes per practice.
Students who are more advanced could consider adding songs and developing a larger repertoire, depending on genre and whether or not the student is going to be performing. When I used to play the pub and restaurant circuit, I played thirty to forty songs every night, and so I had about one to two hundred songs that I would rotate.
In general, don't practice so many songs that you can't make good progress. I know some students who want more and more (and more!) songs, and this is bad if you can't keep up. Finish the material you're working on and then review it from time to time, if you'd like, while adding new songs.
I've talked about practice time in the past, but I'll restate it here: most students should aim for a minimum of an hour practice a week, and dedicate at least five minutes a day to working on scales. I used to spend about 30 minutes to an hour every day working on my scales on guitar and bass (which is why I know them so well).
Practice schedules can change as you get better (and probably should), and I can't possibly give a "one size fits all" approach to practice. But hopefully this gives you an idea of where to start.
Allow me to use my own practice as an example. Right now I rotate practice on about thirty or forty songs, some of which are on piano, some on guitar, some are on ukelele, and some (at least currently) only have a home on bass guitar. With that many songs it is impossible for me to practice all of them everyday. In fact, some songs I don't practice for weeks at a time!
From the theory side of things, I rarely practice my scales (except on piano) because I know them very well, but I will review them from time to time. I believe scales should be practiced by just about every musician, but I limit my practice on them simply because I have to manage my practice time carefully, and most of what I do does not require greater knowledge of scales.
Now, would I recommend most students practice this way? Absolutely not! Most students would never see progress this way. For most students I would recommend practicing somewhere between one and five songs, and to continue developing knowledge of the fretboard (keyboard, etc.), which usually means working on scales for at least five or ten minutes per practice.
Students who are more advanced could consider adding songs and developing a larger repertoire, depending on genre and whether or not the student is going to be performing. When I used to play the pub and restaurant circuit, I played thirty to forty songs every night, and so I had about one to two hundred songs that I would rotate.
In general, don't practice so many songs that you can't make good progress. I know some students who want more and more (and more!) songs, and this is bad if you can't keep up. Finish the material you're working on and then review it from time to time, if you'd like, while adding new songs.
I've talked about practice time in the past, but I'll restate it here: most students should aim for a minimum of an hour practice a week, and dedicate at least five minutes a day to working on scales. I used to spend about 30 minutes to an hour every day working on my scales on guitar and bass (which is why I know them so well).
Practice schedules can change as you get better (and probably should), and I can't possibly give a "one size fits all" approach to practice. But hopefully this gives you an idea of where to start.
Wednesday, 10 May 2017
Wednesday Weekly Progress - May 10
It's been a busy week (as always!) but things are going great. Here's what I've been up to.
1) Blog - ongoing:
I got a couple of posts done this week, here they are:
Know Thy Tempo: What is tempo? How do I know if I'm playing the right tempo? Why is tempo important? All of these questions (and more!) answered in this post.
Songwriting Sessions: Sometimes It's All About the Mix: Some songs need the write mix to really sound right. If your songs are lacking a little something, you should give this post a read.
Progress so far: 15.7% (these percentages are just a guess, but probably close enough)
2) Songs For Ghosts (my 2nd album):
The mixing begins! In what will likely be the shortest part of the process, I now get to make all the songs sound balanced and professional.
1) Blog - ongoing:
I got a couple of posts done this week, here they are:
Know Thy Tempo: What is tempo? How do I know if I'm playing the right tempo? Why is tempo important? All of these questions (and more!) answered in this post.
Songwriting Sessions: Sometimes It's All About the Mix: Some songs need the write mix to really sound right. If your songs are lacking a little something, you should give this post a read.
Progress so far: 15.7% (these percentages are just a guess, but probably close enough)
2) Songs For Ghosts (my 2nd album):
The mixing begins! In what will likely be the shortest part of the process, I now get to make all the songs sound balanced and professional.
Progress so far: 95% - almost done selecting tracks, looking forward to mixing soon
3) Poster for my office:
This week I did manage to do one post about my poster: Know Thy Tempo
I've reached about the halfway point for these posts, and although I was expecting to be done this poster by summer (or late spring), my inability to set proper deadlines strikes again. Nevertheless, progress is being made and I'm feeling good about this project.
Progress so far: 57%
4) Other repertoire - ongoing:
I've gotten some practice here and there on all of my instruments, so I'm starting to see a shift back towards better practice. I always practice each week - I'm around a guitar, bass, ukelele, and keyboard six hours a day most days, teaching - but lately my work on my repertoire has been lacking a bit.
Hope you've had a great week, and keep practicing!
3) Poster for my office:
This week I did manage to do one post about my poster: Know Thy Tempo
I've reached about the halfway point for these posts, and although I was expecting to be done this poster by summer (or late spring), my inability to set proper deadlines strikes again. Nevertheless, progress is being made and I'm feeling good about this project.
Progress so far: 57%
4) Other repertoire - ongoing:
I've gotten some practice here and there on all of my instruments, so I'm starting to see a shift back towards better practice. I always practice each week - I'm around a guitar, bass, ukelele, and keyboard six hours a day most days, teaching - but lately my work on my repertoire has been lacking a bit.
Hope you've had a great week, and keep practicing!
Tuesday, 9 May 2017
the mixing begins!
I'm finally starting to mix the album. I have no idea how long it will actually take, but rest assured I'm excited and work is getting done. I may end up re-recording some little bits here and there (is an artist ever truly finished with his work?), but I'll do my best to just get it done.
Woohoo!
I always tend to underestimate how long a project will take me, but at least you can't say I'm not ambitious. May as well shoot for the stars, right?
Woohoo!
I always tend to underestimate how long a project will take me, but at least you can't say I'm not ambitious. May as well shoot for the stars, right?
Saturday, 6 May 2017
Songwriting Sessions: Sometimes It's All About the Mix
Some songs simply do not have the same impact without the right instrumentation. For example, a lot of electronic, pop, and techno songs are not nearly as exciting without the synths, drum machines, and whatever other samples or electronic music is used.
Sometimes it's because the music is too simple without all the extra bells and whistles that come with a cool sample or two (or a hundred). Is this bad or wrong? Does it mean the song is bad? This is just my opinion, but I don't think it does. I think we see the same thing with rock music, too. A lot of the impact in rock music comes from heavy, distorted guitars, and loud drums. Take away the drums and the distortion and you're sometimes left with something... a little less than exciting.
"We Will Rock You" by Queen is not nearly as interesting when you're the only one stomping and clapping, but "We Are the Champions" would sound great with only a solo piano or guitar, as long as you've got some great vocals.
How to write with the mix in mind
As a songwriter, use this knowledge to your advantage. If you want a song that sounds strong no matter what, make sure that the piano or guitar part is strong enough to stand by itself, make sure you've got a killer melody, and make the song as interesting as possible.
You can also use this info to your benefit in the opposite direction: if you're feeling stuck while writing, try something simple (a simple guitar riff, melody, or what have you), and loop it. Then add something on top, and keep doing that until you feel you've got a song started.
As always, never let anything keep you from writing! Keep at it.
Sometimes it's because the music is too simple without all the extra bells and whistles that come with a cool sample or two (or a hundred). Is this bad or wrong? Does it mean the song is bad? This is just my opinion, but I don't think it does. I think we see the same thing with rock music, too. A lot of the impact in rock music comes from heavy, distorted guitars, and loud drums. Take away the drums and the distortion and you're sometimes left with something... a little less than exciting.
"We Will Rock You" by Queen is not nearly as interesting when you're the only one stomping and clapping, but "We Are the Champions" would sound great with only a solo piano or guitar, as long as you've got some great vocals.
How to write with the mix in mind
As a songwriter, use this knowledge to your advantage. If you want a song that sounds strong no matter what, make sure that the piano or guitar part is strong enough to stand by itself, make sure you've got a killer melody, and make the song as interesting as possible.
You can also use this info to your benefit in the opposite direction: if you're feeling stuck while writing, try something simple (a simple guitar riff, melody, or what have you), and loop it. Then add something on top, and keep doing that until you feel you've got a song started.
As always, never let anything keep you from writing! Keep at it.
Thursday, 4 May 2017
Know Thy Tempo
Different songs can have different tempos. The "tempo" to a song is the speed of the beat, i.e. it's usually how fast you'd tap your foot along with the song.
When learning a song there are two things about tempo that you need to keep in mind:
1) You need to know the tempo of the song.
If you're looking at the official sheet music or tablature of a song, the tempo should be clearly indicated, often with a number, occasionally with only an italian word like moderato, adagio, etc.
Here is an assorted list of songs and their respective tempos:
160 - Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry
130 - Thunderstruck by AC/DC
116 - Last Kiss by Pearl Jam
110 - More Than a Feeling by Boston
94 - Collide by Howie Day
88 - Wonderwall by Oasis
72 - Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
As you get further down the list, your foot taps more slowly with each song (because the tempo is slower).
Listed here are the Italian names for tempo and the number of beats per minute each represents. I never use these names while teaching guitar, bass, or ukelele, so I had to actually look them up.
Tempo name and number (bpm)
Largo: 40-60
Larghetto: 60-66
Adagio: 66-76
Andante: 76-108
Moderato: 108-120
Allegro: 120-168
Presto: 168-200
Prestissimo: 200-208
2) You need to know if you are playing at that tempo.
This may seem obvious. If you're playing a song, you should be playing it at its proper tempo. Of course! And yet, so many students don't actually know whether they're playing the song quickly enough. Or, worse yet, they think they are playing the correct speed, and they aren't.
Enter the metronome.
Using a metronome, you can check if you're playing the correct tempo by setting the metronome to the speed of the song, and then playing along with it. If you can keep up with the beat of the metronome, then you're good!
Sometimes it is difficult to play along to a metronome, for any number of reasons. The song may be too fast for you, or you may have trouble following it. It may take time and practice to play exactly along with the metronome, but don't give up too easily. Every student that I've had use the metronome has gotten better with practice.
Know thy tempo
To play any song properly, you need to play it properly: the right notes, the right rhythm, and the right tempo. With time and practice you'll find learning, playing, and knowing the correct tempo will become second nature!
When learning a song there are two things about tempo that you need to keep in mind:
1) You need to know the tempo of the song.
If you're looking at the official sheet music or tablature of a song, the tempo should be clearly indicated, often with a number, occasionally with only an italian word like moderato, adagio, etc.
Here is an assorted list of songs and their respective tempos:
160 - Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry
130 - Thunderstruck by AC/DC
116 - Last Kiss by Pearl Jam
110 - More Than a Feeling by Boston
94 - Collide by Howie Day
88 - Wonderwall by Oasis
72 - Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
As you get further down the list, your foot taps more slowly with each song (because the tempo is slower).
Listed here are the Italian names for tempo and the number of beats per minute each represents. I never use these names while teaching guitar, bass, or ukelele, so I had to actually look them up.
Tempo name and number (bpm)
Largo: 40-60
Larghetto: 60-66
Adagio: 66-76
Andante: 76-108
Moderato: 108-120
Allegro: 120-168
Presto: 168-200
Prestissimo: 200-208
2) You need to know if you are playing at that tempo.
This may seem obvious. If you're playing a song, you should be playing it at its proper tempo. Of course! And yet, so many students don't actually know whether they're playing the song quickly enough. Or, worse yet, they think they are playing the correct speed, and they aren't.
Enter the metronome.
Using a metronome, you can check if you're playing the correct tempo by setting the metronome to the speed of the song, and then playing along with it. If you can keep up with the beat of the metronome, then you're good!
Sometimes it is difficult to play along to a metronome, for any number of reasons. The song may be too fast for you, or you may have trouble following it. It may take time and practice to play exactly along with the metronome, but don't give up too easily. Every student that I've had use the metronome has gotten better with practice.
Know thy tempo
To play any song properly, you need to play it properly: the right notes, the right rhythm, and the right tempo. With time and practice you'll find learning, playing, and knowing the correct tempo will become second nature!
Thursday something or other
I'm in the midst of finishing a blog post on tempo. I haven't forgotten about the tab reading post for guitar (or bass, or uke).
Some posts require more concentrated periods of time. The tab reading post will probably take several hours of dedicated work, and I simply don't want to put that much into right now. It will get done, just not yet.
The tempo post should be done soon. I'll update here if I finish it today.
Have a great day!
Some posts require more concentrated periods of time. The tab reading post will probably take several hours of dedicated work, and I simply don't want to put that much into right now. It will get done, just not yet.
The tempo post should be done soon. I'll update here if I finish it today.
Have a great day!
Wednesday, 3 May 2017
no wednesday update
Still hard at work on the album. Rather than give an update I'll just refer you to the new post I made below this one. Have a great Wednesday!
Don't Compare Yourself with Others
If you're trying to learn a song it's sometimes a good idea to compare your playing to a recording to try to figure out how to play better. This is a good idea. But other than trying to polish your playing skills, I think it's best it's best not to compare your playing to someone else's. Here are a few reasons why:
1) You haven't been playing the same amount of time: Most of the time, it's a bit silly to compare your progress to another musician, simply because you haven't been playing the same amount of time. If they've had longer to practice and to learn their craft, can you really expect to be as good as them?
Objection #1:
"But wait", I hear (some of ) you thinking. "What if I compare myself to others who did start at the same time, or compare my progress to the progress of other musicians when they had the same amount of time on the instrument?"
Well, that brings me to my second reason...
2) Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses: No two musicians are exactly alike, and that usually means that we learn about the elements of music at different speeds. Some musicians find rhythm incredibly easy and have no problem mastering it (they're rare, trust me) Some musicians learn to read music quickly. Others start with a great sense of pitch.
None of you tend to be the same, so it's not worth comparing yourself to others. Chances are you are better than someone else at something.
Objection #2:
"But wait", I hear (some of) you thinking. "What if they've been playing the same amount of time as me, and they're better than me at everything?"
Okay, let's move on to my third reason...
3) Your practice habits may be different than someone else: Okay, even if someone is better than you after playing for the same amount of time, they may have practiced more. Maybe they practice twice as much. Or maybe they've got better practice habits. Maybe their teacher has given them better ideas for proper practice than yours has (assuming you have a teacher).
Objection #3 (boy, you're really giving me a hard time today):
"But wait", I hear (some of) you thinking. "What if we've been playing and practicing the same amount of time and with the same habits, and they're still better than me at everything?"
Okay, I'll admit it. It's possible to meet someone else who plays the same instrument who:
1) has been playing about as long as you have
2) has practiced about as much as you have
3) doesn't know any special practicing techniques or habits that you don't also know, and
4) is better than you.
So let me pull out the big guns...
4) It doesn't really matter if someone else is better than you, because there will probably always be somebody out there who is better than you:
I accepted a long time ago that I'd probably never be as good as Eddie Van Halen, Andre Segovia, or Joe Pass, all masters of their respective music genres. But I don't need to be. If I was as good as any of them I wouldn't be focused on becoming a great teacher, and frankly, I can do a much greater service to the world of music by being a great teacher than I can by being another great player.
I'm also pretty happy with my progress on the guitar, bass, ukelele, and piano, and voice. I'd definitely like to be better at all of these instruments, but that's the great thing about learning music: you can always get better.
The sooner you focus on simply getting better, the happier you'll be.
1) You haven't been playing the same amount of time: Most of the time, it's a bit silly to compare your progress to another musician, simply because you haven't been playing the same amount of time. If they've had longer to practice and to learn their craft, can you really expect to be as good as them?
Objection #1:
"But wait", I hear (some of ) you thinking. "What if I compare myself to others who did start at the same time, or compare my progress to the progress of other musicians when they had the same amount of time on the instrument?"
Well, that brings me to my second reason...
2) Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses: No two musicians are exactly alike, and that usually means that we learn about the elements of music at different speeds. Some musicians find rhythm incredibly easy and have no problem mastering it (they're rare, trust me) Some musicians learn to read music quickly. Others start with a great sense of pitch.
None of you tend to be the same, so it's not worth comparing yourself to others. Chances are you are better than someone else at something.
Objection #2:
"But wait", I hear (some of) you thinking. "What if they've been playing the same amount of time as me, and they're better than me at everything?"
Okay, let's move on to my third reason...
3) Your practice habits may be different than someone else: Okay, even if someone is better than you after playing for the same amount of time, they may have practiced more. Maybe they practice twice as much. Or maybe they've got better practice habits. Maybe their teacher has given them better ideas for proper practice than yours has (assuming you have a teacher).
Objection #3 (boy, you're really giving me a hard time today):
"But wait", I hear (some of) you thinking. "What if we've been playing and practicing the same amount of time and with the same habits, and they're still better than me at everything?"
Okay, I'll admit it. It's possible to meet someone else who plays the same instrument who:
1) has been playing about as long as you have
2) has practiced about as much as you have
3) doesn't know any special practicing techniques or habits that you don't also know, and
4) is better than you.
So let me pull out the big guns...
4) It doesn't really matter if someone else is better than you, because there will probably always be somebody out there who is better than you:
I accepted a long time ago that I'd probably never be as good as Eddie Van Halen, Andre Segovia, or Joe Pass, all masters of their respective music genres. But I don't need to be. If I was as good as any of them I wouldn't be focused on becoming a great teacher, and frankly, I can do a much greater service to the world of music by being a great teacher than I can by being another great player.
I'm also pretty happy with my progress on the guitar, bass, ukelele, and piano, and voice. I'd definitely like to be better at all of these instruments, but that's the great thing about learning music: you can always get better.
The sooner you focus on simply getting better, the happier you'll be.
Monday, 1 May 2017
How to read music
[under construction]
This is a hub page for learning to read music. There will be links to various lessons on how to read guitar tablature, bass tab, ukelele tab, and sheet music for all of these instruments.
As of right now I am working on the page for guitar tab, which is almost functional (incomplete but useful), and I expect it to be up later this week. I will be working on it everyday until it is finished, so until it's done I wouldn't expect any large updates to the blog.
I've got to go work on my album! Almost finished selecting tracks for the last song, then I have a a few re-records of various tracks, then the mixing begins!
This is a hub page for learning to read music. There will be links to various lessons on how to read guitar tablature, bass tab, ukelele tab, and sheet music for all of these instruments.
As of right now I am working on the page for guitar tab, which is almost functional (incomplete but useful), and I expect it to be up later this week. I will be working on it everyday until it is finished, so until it's done I wouldn't expect any large updates to the blog.
I've got to go work on my album! Almost finished selecting tracks for the last song, then I have a a few re-records of various tracks, then the mixing begins!
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