With the new year you’re bound to get the inevitable New Year’s Resolutions… and there ain’t nothing wrong with some new resolve, but they stick better when you know how to make them happen.
On the Blues Guitar Unleashed Member Forum there is a thread with everybody’s goal for 2015… and I suspect those goals are probably about the same for you (after all, we all play guitar right?)
So let’s cover 5 ways you can play better in 2015 utilizing materials you might already have… but we’ll call it the problem solving approach.
1. Learn 3 songs to be able to lead at the local jam. In this case, last year’s resolution was to even get up at a jam this year which was achieved (always a good thing.)
In order to make that happen you’re basically going to have to pull together a lot of things. You should have many blues rhythms under your belt, and be able to comfortably play some solos (I’d start with the 5 Easy Blues Solos) and you might want to spend some time really studying how songs are put together with something like Blues Gig In A Box… but only if you’ve got the first 13 lessons of Blues Guitar Unleashed down pretty well so you have those rhythms.
2. Start using more major blues and mixing it with the minor blues. Assuming you’re already pretty comfortable at soloing and can play the solos in Blues Guitar Unleashed to at least some degree… this is actually a good time for a course called The Slow Blues Supplement.
There are exercises in all 5 fretboard regions (we often call them boxes, but when you mix sounds you’ll see that doesn’t make a lot of sense.) By the time you’re done you’ll be able to comfortably move between the major and minor blues sounds better than about 95% of the blues players on the planet.
3. Improving at slide guitar (this one’s mine, actually 🙂 But if you don’t play slide at all you might want to check out the Introduction To Slide where I’ll show you the technique to play slide and go through a 24 bar solo in the “4 note solo” style. It’s perfect for getting started.
4. Get out and play at an open blues jam. This one is my personal favorite simply because it’s just so darn much fun. There have been more than a few people who have told me over the years that they never had any desire to get up and play with a band but once they did it the first time they had the bug and were totally hooked on it.
Best way to make it happen? If you’re a beginner go through Beginning Blues Guitar first, and realize that may be a lofty goal but it could be done this year towards the end.
But assuming you can already play a little you need some common blues rhythms and you need to be able to play some solos that aren’t too challenging so you can do them when you’re scared to death (it’s ok… it’s a good scared.) And if you’re sure it’s going to be a shuffle blues the 4 note solo is perfect for that (and if you slow it down it sounds great over a slow blues.)
That scenario is really what Blues Guitar Unleashed is all about. If you have it and haven’t gotten started – well what are you waiting for?
5. To play better today than yesterday. Daily commitment is important, but it’s easy to lose your place and not realize that you’ve come a long way. When you hear yourself every day sometimes you don’t hear the improvement.
Recording yourself (also a big goal this year) is a HUGE help and while I don’t have any specific materials to help with that (it changes every week it seems) your forum brothers and sisters have a TON of info and help available. Record yourself today and listen back in a month… you’ll hear the improvement even if you don’t hear it today from yesterday.
A lot of people also do well with my Practice Generator & Tracking Tool that can really help with putting together a schedule and tracking your progress (hence the name… I’m not real clever with stuff like that.) And even if that’s not your thing, I have some practicing tips that you can use in this video.
And finally, learn the difference between practice and play. 20 minutes of focused practice will do wonders on a daily basis even if you play for 2 hours. You don’t need to practice for 2 hours and most people can’t focus that long anyway (myself included.)
Oh… and don’t do it alone. For all the wonderful things you can study from out there, it still takes a guiding hand once in a while and there are SO many people available (including me) to help you on the forum. It’s available to all of premium members but still there are many of you out there who choose to go it alone.
I promise you won’t find a more supportive group of the nicest people anywhere and I’m proud to call them my friends. I hope you’ll make this year the year you join us.
42 replies to "5 Ways To Play Better In 2015"
I own several of your courses and they are all great.. But the single most helpful thing I bought was “Killer Blues Solos Made Easy”.. For the counting!!!! thanks Griff!
GOAL 1: Finish BGU!
Griff,
Absolutely enjoy your style,and have been a watching ,listening and reading member for some time. Though have yet to post anything.
I have especially enjoyed the on the porch stuff,it has been really helpful in timing,rhythm .
Not being a very out in front type of person i practice with the dog as an audience.
There are no places I am aware of in this area I would think of trying to leave the (basement tapes:-))
Though would like to get more input and better,how do I begin ?
I am better in small bgroups at this point where a mistake is un noticed versus open mics?
Any suggestions?
Cheers griff, good advice as usual, this year is going to be my year. With you help, looking forward to the new year and lots of new lessons. All the best.
Thanks Griff. All good advice. I will work on it.
Hi Griff
Practice practice yup thats me. Still working on that darn solo 4 peice by peice lick by lick, watching your video, going back to the tab, practice practice. Play onlong with the solo 4 sound track, back to the video course, practice practice. You know what I noticed lately my solo have gone from a very mechanical state to a more free flowing feeling state and my fingers are moving way faster so fast in fact sometimes When Im looking at them practicing a lick they move on there own before I think about it at least it seems that way. And the feeling of the sweet notes in my chest from the guitar feel real awsome, way less presure on my fingers as well. So I wont be returning any course I bought of you well because you were right, 20 minutes a day of practicing your coarses will make anyone a better guitar player, maybe not a jeff beck, or a eric clapton but a juat better you guitar player
Thank you 🙂
Hi cant register on members forum dont know how to find what the verifacation question is. Or is it a trick question. Please help as im im findind it so frustrating and i want to learn. If i do ask i wont know… thanks
Really appreciate the constant emails and tidbits on moving forward at all levels. So great. Thank you and Happy New Year to all!
Thanks Griff. I have really appreciated the emails this yer. All those little clips have helped a lot. And I have loved working from Gig In A Box. Happy New Year and all God’s blessings!
Thanks for the advice Griff. As you know I play a lot, but it is all classic rock. This year I’m making an effort to get out to the one or two Blues open mic they have around here.
Happy New Year to you, Laura the Boys and the bands.
Happy New Year and thanks for all of the great info and tips
happy new year griff. no tabas today? i have 3 of your cousrse’s.BGU, LITTLE WING 5 sols. my memory problem has gotten worse. i’ll get a song down, or a good solo and the next day it’s like it never happened. you know i’m disabled with 3 incurable brain virus’s. there taking a toll on my cognativity and memory. looks like my guitar days may be over. want to thank you for all your lessons and your kind words. you are a good person and i’m sure a great Husband and Father. take care and God bless. Paul D.
Hi Paul, go on playing although you have those memory problems, music can heal your soul and learning it can keep your brain active and fit I’m glad you enjoy studying guitar and been a member of this community ( me too) My best whises for you Paul.
Juanlu.
Hey, don’t give up. Keep challenging your brain. There’s always a chance you could beat this virus. The brain has infinite healing potential. If you succumb and think it’s over, it will be for sure.
Good advice for me! NOTE: I have not been on the forum in a long time and I have forgotten my password. Can anyone help me reset?
Griff, that “using more major stuff” was mine … as was “get more comfortable playing in boxes 4 & 5”, and yes your Slow Blues Supplement is / will be a major part of those endeavors. Thank you for having such wonderful courses available!! I run into “problems” on the forum sometimes trying to explain what I’m doing though because like most people I look at everything through my own “filter”. For instance, Box 2 slid down three frets is Box 2 major. But then where are you? Smack in the middle of Box 1. So I view it as Box 1 major … and everybody else insists it’s Box 2 major and that there’s no such thing as Box 1 major. But there I am actually playing it, and it is major, and it is smack in the middle of Box 1. But if I say I’m playing in Box 1 major, everybody thinks I’ve slid box 1 down 3 frets and am playing there … but to me that’s Box 5 major. Oh, aren’t pedantics and semantics wonderful? 🙂
Sound advice, Griff. And I’ve just bought the digital edition of your Intro to Slide course. What sold me is the fact that I do not need to retune to an open tuning. These little digital courses are easy on the pocket, excellent value for money, quick to learn and the digital download is perfect for us non USA residents who don’t have the patience to wait weeks for the goods. Good thinking. All the best to you and yours for 2015 🙂
Good suggestions Griff, l will try those. Seasons Greetings & Happy New Year to you…
Griff, I had not made any new years resolutions mas yet, but those sound like good ones to start with. SO, I will make them now. I also write Country Gospel and have been attempting (trying very hard) to fit some of my gospel into the blues range. some sound pretty good but some sound blaaa. so I am still trying. It is good to receive your blogs and listen to your lessons I enjoy all of them and have saved them all .
Jim in Brady Texas
Happy New Year! Thank You Griff for all you do for us that aspire to be ‘Blues’ Guitarists. I did 4 out of the five, need to work on the slide, but my New Year’s Resolution are a repeat of last years five and to continue improving my skills…thanks again.
Happy New Year Griff, and thanks for your help this past year and am looking forward to more great insights and lessons in the coming year. Have been going to a lot of open blues jams, and must be doing something right, ‘cos I keep getting invited back.
Since I already play slide, looking forward to getting deeper into some more slide styles, a la Chris Whitley, Roy Rogers and Leo Lottke.
Your help has been invaluable in helping me get back into playing, not just the blues, but all the music I’ve enjoyed over the the years. Thanks for helping rekindle my love for the guitar and for learning!!!
So, you call it slide guitar. Back in the folk music era (50s &60s), we always called it “bottle neck blues”!
Happy tidings for 2015 to you Griff! I continue to learn using your material and approach. For all that is available on the internet, you’re one of two teachers I have fallen in step with. Please consider that high praise. Also, best to all those at the forum for 2015 and beyond. Happy music making!
Happy New Year Griff to all your family many thanks for the great lessons
Hi all. Can someone tell me how you get in the forem
Happy new year to you all. Regards. Richard
Buy a course from Griff…the Forum comes with it! It’s probably as valuable as any one course…so it’s really a TWO-FER!
Thanks for the great advise Griff. Happy New Year to you and your family.
Happy New Year to Griff and all forum members! Griff- really appreciate all the great lessons,videos,tips,and encouragement.it seems jyou send one of these at just the right time with the right emphasis.
Happy New to you Griff & Ty for your work & help!
Bookmarked this as a favorite since you’ve covered my goals for me! Thanks for that.
Hoping to run into some folks in the San Diego area this year at a gig – maybe later on in the year, but this is definitely the year! Skydiving and gigging – not sure which I’m more afraid of.
Cheers and Happy 2015 to all. Let’s make some music!
Happy new Year Griff to you and yours. I want to thank you for all the great lessons and information you have posted, they have helped me so much. Like many I tend to jump about a bit between courses and what you have said about “the rising tide” is true, but I have signed up for the practice generator which I hope will keep me focussed on where I am and what I am aiming for this year.
All the very best for 2015
This year I’d love for you to have a video on how to record yourself and transfer it to a site like BGU forum.
Hi Griff, lots of good advise once again. I gotta get my recording together. I know I’ve improved but it would be good to hear that improvement. I’m up to lesson 6 in BGU but I still struggle with lesson 2, I keep going back to that one. Anyway it’s a great journey were on, see what 2015 brings.
Happy New year to you and your family.
Keep them lessons coming.
Cheers Griff.
saddler.
Thank you my friend. Your encouragement keeps me going. RAY.
Hi Grif
Thanks for all your great lessons and Happy New Year to you and your family.
best wishes
Marc(from Manchester,England)
Thanks Griff,A great way to start off 2015,all mthe very best to you and yours,Len.
Hi Griff
Happy New Year to you and your family and many thanks for all the great info and videos
Reg, France
good advise Griff…I gotta work on #1 about 5 times over…Happy New Year…later.
cowboy
Griff, Happy New Year. I plan on following your instructions on how to improve playing. I have been unorganized this past year, so now,this is THE year for me. I have a cousin I talked to yesterday who is a great guitar player, so we plan to jam. Have a great day. Thanks Griff . Mike Z.
the reason I don’t use your forum Is it not user friendly. The question you ask is like trying to get in a bank vault it to bad but on the good side out think I do have a few of your course
Andy…it takes a bit of effort to get in but that is due to hackers…once in the forum, it’s pretty easy to get around and the sections are based on Griff’s courses…give it a shot…lots of good people and great info…later.
cowboy
Don’t give up on the forum. Once you get in the first time, you’ll see how easy it is. It’s a great place to hang out, and you will learn a lot.