I got an email about one of my more popular courses, 5 Easy Blues Solos, and it was something I hear a lot so let’s address it for everyone, shall we?
The question was basically this –
“I learned the 5 Easy Blues Solos, but what do I do with them now? When I try to play with a band or at a jam I get all flustered and I don’t know where to start. I’d be happy to simply play some simple 2 or 3 note phrases but I get all twisted up.”
That is a VERY common problem and one of the biggest sticking points of soloing in general. And it’s because the whole idea of improvising is highly misunderstood…
For a minute, just imagine that when you talk you are improvising… (that’s not really a stretch because in most cases you are.)
When you are a little kid, you struggle finding what to say, so to work on that you memorize things like poems, nursery rhymes, songs, and even little speeches.
Why? Is it because when you speak to someone else you’re going to talk in the form of a poem? Of course not! It’s because of the “fake it til you make it” principle.
What’s that you ask? By doing the thing that you want to someday be able to do, you get to take away 1 large part of the equation while you fill in some of the other things.
When you get on stage or get together with some friends, there are a dozen little things that will cloud your brain… so 100% of your brain is focused on things OTHER than what you’re going to play. And guess how much that leaves of your brain power to come up with something play? (I’ll give you a hint… it isn’t very much 🙂
But let’s say that you don’t have to think about what you’re going to play… you’ve memorized one of the 5 solos and when your turn comes you just play it and it works perfectly.
With that little bit of success you gained a little confidence and next time you do it you only need 95% of your brain for other things and now you have 5% left over to think about what you’re playing… but that’s not enough so you still play the solo as written but the next time you are down to 90/10… and so on.
After a few times, you’ll notice that the nerves are largely gone and you find yourself thinking about how you might change the solo to make it more “your thing.” NOW the improvising is coming into play… but you had to “fake it until you made it.”
The more experienced you get and the better your technique becomes, the faster that process goes. But the first time is going to take a few tries at least so be patient with yourself and enjoy the ride because it can be a blast!
57 replies to "Fake It Til You Make It…"
Been faking it for 50+ years…Still haven’t made it!
Practice, practice, practice….admit lack of musical talent. Next!
You are not alone Jim !!!! The joy of playing with headphones …. no one else hears … rock on ..
Alex
To play a wrong note is insignificant….To play without passion is inexcusable. (L.V. Beethoven)
“Mary had a little lamb”…
Right-on
We all get that feeling when playing with some one new or for the first time.
I live in small community you would not believe the B S, I have herd from local people. Have a beer and chill out. If it don’t go well, tell them you made me screw up its your fault. Besides that practice with music and head phones that all the music runs through. Listen to your self. If you like that its good enough. Your on stage or not. Most people don’t have a frapping clue about playing a guitar.I was told for years that I could not play until I did a demo dub over tape.twenty songs.Took it to one of my job sites and played it.Along with several other tapes. All I herd from there on out was , Shit you can play.You got to play music that pleases you first.besides that never stop until you get the sound you like. Once you have the tone you like your playing will please your ears. And maybe your sole.
Great advice Griff.
I am studying the caged system and I drift into a noodle alot or putting things together. I have 5 easy blues solos but I guess I need to try just doing one thing at a time instead of many things all at once…
To Paul, the 65 Yr Older—Play it like you mean it–Encouragement from a 64 Yr Older!
I like the analogy. I also like to play what I feel–J. Coltrane
Thanx to Jim Warren for his analogy to public speaking. In a musical context, this is exactly what needs to happen, for we are “listening to the musical conversation” and when we solo (or publicly speak) we are adding our voice to the dialog. Our physical design teaches us a very important lesson: we have 2 ears & only 1 mouth…So we should listen at least twice as much as we speak. All musicians will play the same song differently, so when you add your musical comments, be sure you play (speak) in context, say something worthwhile when you join in the musical discussion and revel in the exchange of ideas being presented!
I LIVE IN OLD TOWN TORRANCE WE HAVE STREET FAIRS ABOUT 3X A MONTH. LAST WEEK THEY HAD THE 50’S FAIR. THE BAND WAS VERY GOOD THEY PLAYED ALOT OF OLD BLUES ROCK AND ROLL. ONE GAL WENT UP AND SANG. SO I ASKED TH GUYS IF THEY KNEW “JOHNNY BE GOOD BY CHUCK BERRY. THEY DID,. I ASKED TO USE TH GUYS GUITAR , BUT NO LUCK, SO I SANG THE SONG, BUT THEY PLAYED IT DIFFERANT THAN CHUCK DID. THE SOLO, I GOT THE GUITAR AND PAYED. I DID FLUB ON ONE OFF BEAT, BUT KEPT GOING. THEN THE LAST VERSE I PLAYED THE LIL CORDS AND SANG AND PLAYED. THE BAND WAS SURPRISED. THEY DID NOT BLIEVE I WAS 65 YEARS OLD. SO WAHT YOUR SAYING IS JUST PLAY. IF YOU FLUB, KEEP GOING. MY SOLO WAS LIKE THE ONE FROM BACK TO THE FUTUER. YET THEY THOUGH I DID OK, I THOGHT I STUNK. I PLAY FROM MY GUT. I USE BOX 1 AND 2. PLUS THE 4 NOTE SOLO AND COMBIE THE. THIS SOFTAWRE, JUST CONFUSES THE HECK OUT OF ME. THANKS, GRIFF.
I’ve sent a few emails but I haven’t gotten an answer. I’m using an iPhone 6 iOS 11.0.3
Where do the downloads live ? Where do they go when I hit the download button ? If I use my Mac I can make a
Folder ( usually on my desktop ) and find it . Or go to the download folder . But the iPhone doesn’t have a decent file
System like every Mac or windows pc ever made . What’s up with that ? Where do my lessons go when I hit the download button ?
Thanks
Vic
Vic, your question doesn’t have anything to do with the BGU website. It has everything to do with your operating system.
The answer to your question is that your downloads go where your operating system put them. You are able to tell your operating where to put them. If you haven’t done that, downloads go to where the “factory default” sends them.
Try searching YouTube for “download files iPhone 6 iOS” I found this video. I don’t know if it help, but it might
https://youtu.be/ldEskuiXOuE
I have an iPhone six. I use the app Good Reader. It has a connect button on the bottom. Go to the BGU web page from there. The file will be in Downloads in the app. Click on it and it will be unzipped and added to the list in the app. Hope this helps. Works great for me.
It’s very difficult to say something more than a few words and then remember exactly what you said the next day or week or month later. To that analogy let me say that I have seen many legendary guitarists in my day and when they play their famous recognizable songs live the solos are not the same as the recorded version. Everybody improvises everything live and it’s something that does not need to be complicated by overthinking. Start with 3 or 4 notes in your favorite box pattern in the main key of the song and go from there.
On the subject of faking it till you make it, I do a number of blues songs that are nowhere near note-for-note of the originals, but they work all the same. My teacher told me to just go out there and do it even if its not exactly “right” as long as it sounds pretty good. Then, as you move along over time, you make little improvements until you sound more and more like the original song mostly with the same or similar licks, riffs etc. But for me, the reason to do that is more about learning styles from the masters rather than having a fast and hard rule about note-for-note. I just had to suspend my attempt to make perfect copies of songs because it was too frustrating, tedious and time-consuming. Still the song should be recognizable to someone who has heard it before, so it should be pretty close with your own added flourishes and improvised licks, etc.
Thanks Griff, I am 74 and enjoy your style of teaching. Still working on the 5easy Blues solos.
I watch all your videos and enjoy the tips and learning.
Chip
I wish we could all get away from the word “improvised.” The word conjures up different images for different people I know, but for the beginning ” improviser” there is usually some anxiety associated with it. In public speaking class in college, we started with the “impromptu” speech, then graduated to the “extemporaneous” speech. Finally, we did a memorized speech. In the first, you have no preparation or practice on the topic before you deliver it. In the second, you have had time to do a little study. In the last – well – you have the speech memorized.
In learning the blues, we do the second and third of these more than the first, but we are doing them in reverse! First, we memorize a solo ( or two or 3 or 10) that can be played across a 12 bar structure. In the process, we start learning the “licks” that the solos are made from. After a while, the (10) solos we memorized, start to run together in our minds and we accidentally start mixing and matching different pieces from different ones together into all new solos. Often, whole new ideas will come out that weren’t in Any of the solos we memorized!
What we are really doing as “improvisers” is delivering an extemporaneous performance, not an impromptu one. The more licks you know, the more prepared material you have available to draw from when you perform, but I find it is best to learn them within the context of a complete solo. Then just PLAY. Just like learning to talk – You can’t do it from a dictionary. You need to put the words in the context of a sentence. In soloing, you need to play the music in the context of a song.
Hey, I’m 61 and am still faking it til I make it. Half of my solos are completely inprovised because my memory span at this age is suffering. The audience still seems to love it though. Thanks for the ngreat tips Griff.
I work at sea for weeks at a time and always take my guitar. I’ve found Griffs courses to be a great thing to work through during my offshift periods and by using a set of headphones I don’t disturb anyone. Also by using IKmultimedia software I can have as many different backlines and effects as I want without having to take anything other than my Strat and my laptop with me. My internet connection at sea is very slow so downloading Griffs extras is impossible but he has been kind enough to email bit’s and pieces to me in the past in particular the 4 note solo. This attitude prompted me to buy a few of his tutorials and to be honest they have kept me sane for months at sea.
Well done Griff you’re attitude is as inspiring as the quality of your teachings.
Hey here would you mind leasing me know which hosting company you’re utilizing? I’ve full your blog in 3 changed internet browsers and I be obliged to utter this blog loads a lot nearer at that moment mainly. Bottle you suggest a sunny internet hosting provider at a moderate price? Thank you, I welcome it!
Hi griff how fantastic to actually see big bill bronzy which you posted after your blues gig. I have since I was a kid of 10 listened to my fathers. LP ‘s. of American. Blues men such as big bill. The LP that stuck in my mind so much was big bill,s last session with tracks like glory of love etc what a treat. To open my. iPad and see him playing. Thanks to you griff he had a really relaxed style smiling all the time I loved it other. Blues men of the 50,sand 60”s. such as sleepy John. Estes. Scrapper Blackwell and leroy Carr. Oscar woods. Who featured. On an LP titled. Out came the blues. Oscar played a. Rendition of lone wolf blues any BGU members. Had the. Old LP’s or would. Like to comment. I am ebargery@btinternet.com All the best to you guys over the big pond Edward.
Hi ya out there in the USA my name is Edward Bargery I live in plymouth England. a coastal city with a proud heritage we that is my wife val and myself live about 3 mile from plymouth barbican and. The mayflower steps from which our pilgrim forefathers set out to your great country of which we hold such a special tiie with in history Would any member’s. of griff’s BGU like to write on the net to me talk guitar about what you play what guitars / guitar that you play favourite musicians or about yourself are you in a band whatever This is entirely genuine if you would care to do this that would further my interest and broaden my music I am. Very much into Clapton “s. music and style more so now thanks to griff sparking. Me up love that Clapton flurry griff. I will try and try as johnny cash said. I’ll get it one piece at a time. So anyone out there in the good ol. USA please apart from my email address call me Ted. I am to friends all the best to you over there
Hi griff last night I sent your selves an e mail For the blues solo,s on DVD ,S has the order come through. Please sorry to write on this page but hope all is ok with it looking forward to receiving it Many thanks Edward bargery plymouth England.
Hi griff how are you this evening griff I am still awaiting. my DVD ‘s. have you received my order which I paid by card Hopefully. All is ok with this.and you have my order which I await with anticipation All the very best regards to yourself and Laura Edward bargery. Plymouth. England.
hi griff,,,after reading one of your e-mails about our strengths and weaknesses,alot of it made sense but i’m not so sure what you mean about “slurring the notes”,when you talked about your difficulty with alternate picking. Could you explain this please? And how did you do this ? Could be something to help alot of us at times.Thanks,,and thank you for great videos,instructions,etc.,,the best of what i have seen on the net !
Someone please correct me if I’m wrong. I think “slurring” notes is to just slide from one fret to another. It’s a way to approach a note kind of like a grace note. The slur usually happens fairly quickly but slow enough to hear that’s what you did.
Hi Griff,.
I have fun reading these emails and comments. Most of them apply to all of us. I have not had an opportunity playing with others. But I think that is where all the fun begins. In the meantime, I practice. I’d say your book probably has enough to practice on. My problem is I have been having pain in my ring finger. I think it has a lot to do with bending, maybe my way of doing it. Any suggestion would be appreciated.
1. When bending with your third finger, try adding your middle finger and first finger to help bend the string. It’ll relieve the stress on your third finger.
2. Here’s another idea: When bending with the third finger try making the third finger rigid and twist your wrist. That way you’re not having to push with your finger, you’re simply holding your finger rigid and using your wrist to do the work.
3. Another way to relieve stress on your third finger while bending is to start with your elbow away from your body while making your wrist and finger rigid, then moving your elbow towards your body to create the bend.
Use whichever is most comfortable for you. I hope this helps…
may buy the 5 easy solos ,was tempted to last week they sound good, few other things to arrange first though,so you will keep them on sale ?
YEAH that killer 4 note solo is the bomb you can move it all over the place just about. start there then get the course if you dare. Great investment takes time to learn it all still have not finished it but some pieces are enbedded in my little brain.
Not all the tabs on U.G. are right but some are . Maybe not 100% but that`s how they can get away without issues. Most music is redone in a studio by other musicians. For example Carol Kaye . Ever wonder why in a concert some of the music does not sound the same as a recording . Very few bands sound great in concert . It is all under the fingers but repeat the same way each time afraid not. So yeah fake it till you make it can work but maybe not .
Well saw the video of your friend and you when you thought the video recorder was off . The pick up maker and You playing the pinkish colored guitar. Funny I got a pink mexican fender strat in my shop for repairs. Its like this a speeding race car driver forsing the car to go faster its going to crash . Music has to course thru you it comes from the heart been saying that for awhile . slow down and increase the speed when confident takes time if you are trying to read tab and play at the same time . I choose a piece of music that I have heard more than enough I know what it supposed to sound like and try to copy it . No tab at first and see later how close I actually got it . Now if you paid attension to the teacher here understand theroy composition and technics you may be suprised how close if not dead on. All music has been done at least a few times and they borrow pieces from eachother. The only difference is the tempo . The cords of the songs may be the same ,but, like I said only the tempo changes octives too . example sweet home alabama , warewolves of london same cords diffrent tempo . How many diffrent ways can you play a lic in diffrent octives? DO IT ALOT ALL OVER THE GUITAR . Remembering and memorizing all the notes is very important . I also would like to say that all guitars have their own particular residence no two sound exactly alike . I tried seven guitars out in a music shop more than once finally I decided that I liked a 80s kramer focus 2000 . switched the floyd rose from a 70s kramer then added seymour duncans . Wow if it just sits plugged in it seems to sing . Saw the exact same guitar set up on ebay going for a grand. Of course I would make you sick if i told you what i paid for it without the modifications ! cho brahs in the music world.
Hi, first time poster …
if you go to a local jam session and check out the scene first, you’ll be more comfortable the next time if you want to play. Be respectful and get to meet some of the drummers and bass players that will be the backbone of anything you can play.
And some drummers wit heaven send your some tracks tomokaybalong with so when you finally do take the stage, you’ll have butterflies but you’ll have taken care of enough prelims to just okay what you’ve practiced.
it’s gets easier each time !!
Hi Griff,
Great lessons and I am working on the 5 easy solos around my busy work schedule at 67 yrs yep still working. For Doc Eli, to get those hard pads or calluses on the finger tips, just keep practicing fingers on the fret board like Scales or Power Ons & Bend the strings A E2 & D even when Guitar not connected to Amp. Your fingers will eventually get hard tabs and calluses. If you leave the guitar for more than a week then your finger tips start to get soft again. I am sure Griff has a much better way to advise you but this is how I have hard pads and calluses.
Michael -Sydney Australia
I learned many years ago that there is one main difference between the amateur and the professional player, and that involves faking it sometimes. The amateur usually freezes up and stops playing or keeps on doing the wrong thing. The experienced professional is not immune to making mistakes, but knows how to cover his a$$ when he does get lost or makes a mistake. He can either make the mistake seem intentional by repeating it or he lays back and listens until he regains confidence in where he is in the tune. I am an older player still at it after fifty five years, but I still learn new things. Most of the time it is from younger players that I learn such as Griff. No matter how much of a hot shot player one may think he is, there is always a twelve year old kid that will come along and blow him out of the water.
you gentlemen are the cats meow ,just finished with my Chemo & radiation & i have once again find nothing but time on my hands( no pun for the song).
I’ve been working on this for a long time my guitar practicing ,Not as long as some others but the pure basics which i need to get down pat so i can improvise some .thanks for all your help .
Tom K
how ’bout posting a reply to Doc Eli? I think he deserves one, thanks Griff.
Hi again Griff, I am, I guess, a beginning intermediate player, kinda,I am 78 years young, started playing 2 yrs ago about 1-1/2 hrs every evening on an accoustic electric gitfiddle, but have several problems one being the ends of my fingers are shaped like the girl genders fingers so, in my case, that leaves my finger nails above my finger pads.
This makes grabbin a string sometimes very difficult cause I have to get em with my finger nails & they slip off at times, slow me down, N’ cause many errors. I have a difficult time growing callouses, let alone pads that will be longer than my filed to the bone nails so I have trouble gettin on the string properly.
I been buzzing myself nutz or killin strings to long & it effects my concentration, learning speed, N’ gets me in a nasty mood cause the expected tone I was trying to play ends up in Zimbobway or who knows where? I never heard it or saw it or tasted it.
Is there anything I can do to get larger, firmer calouses so I can at least try to get this gitfiddle thing right, besides wraping my finger pads with duct tape? Any thing at all will hopefully help me, please,
I love the guitar even tho I am not well wit it YET! I intend to play for many yrs yet and only quit if they pry it outa my cold, stiff fingers.
Long live guitarists,
Thanks Griff,
Doc
If you’re playing on an acoustic/electric you are probably using acoustic gauge strings which are quite a bit heavier than electric strings and, at least until you get the hang of it, that could be a real drag.
My first suggestion is to get Extra Light gauge strings on that guitar and work with those for a while. It will improve your finger strength and callouses more gently. I see it all the time.
Griff:
I haven’t picked up my Telecaster Highway One in a couple years. I learn and practice exclusively on one of my Taylor acoustics. I use Elixir Medium strings, which makes bending and such harder. But I think, as Keith Richards does, that you need to master something on the acoustic before taking it to the electric. If I want a little duration, I plug the Taylor into my amp. Works fine.
Try slide?
we used to use somethng called “tuff-Skin” on the back of our heels to prevent blisters from football cleats. Possibly this could wpork on fingertips as well? careful though,might woirk too good,,lol
Griff I want ya to know I sure enjoy your info & have learned a lot from it so don’t ever stop, ever!
I just perused the latest email about 5 easy blues songs & was wondering if you have a list of a few real good, real moody, real mornful, slow songs, ya know songs like Frankie & Johnnie, St James Infirmiry Blues, that kinda style.
Would you please get me a list or just post it on yer email for all to enjoy?
Again many thanks, love ya bud,
Doc
I have been playing guitar since 1967 and was stuck in a 1967 – 1968 level and stayed there until I saw your videos. Now I am playing the blues and doing some improvising and am so happy with your lessons and what they have done. I can’t believe these old fingers still have some guitar life in them. Griff, a million thanks. You’re the best.
Thanks Griff, that’s right where I’ve taken your acoustic blues course and loved it on my Taylor GA Ltd 414. But then I took your 5 easy blues course when I picked up an Epiphone Les Paul and I’m working on the slow blues in A. I’m also working on the Allman Bros. version of “Stormy Monday” and there’s a riff that Isn’t on the tabs or the anthology book but I’m committed to figuring it out by using the appropriate key and box.
Am I doing it right?
Thanks for all the email lessons too, at 68 your keep me going.
Ric
Everyone who is learning guitar music needs to learn timing and rhythm. Some people may get these musical skills naturally. Others, like myself, have to work on it. Also doing a little music reading will greatly help. Griff has a course on strumming, which could help. However, I would highly recommend this book: “Music Reading for Guitar, The Complete Method”, by David Oakes, and published by Hal Leonard. This book has been helpful to me. I learned a lot from it and I keep it as reference. When a guitar player masters timing/rhythm, most playing issues will go away.
Ken:
I have found that singing the lyrics helps you master timing of a song. It’s hard at first, but once you have the chords down, the rhythm, it helps you a lot. Plus you can go alone to open mics alone to play your stuff.
griff comes up with a sensible, no nonsense answer yet again.his approach to the simple but annoying bits we all struggle with will bring results.i have played guitar for more than fifty years, and some of the hard stuff i have suffered (mostly between the ears) has been rectified by GRIFF’s words of wisdom. more great stuff!!
Musicians Psych 101 !!! We could all use Dr. Griff’s help!
A whole bunch of words popped into my head when reading this – Mimic, knowledge, understanding, practice, practice, practice, CONFIDENCE.
Just can’t get the hang of that metronome or just timing period.
Try slowing it way down and counting with it. No guitar at first. Just count 1, 2, 3, 4. Then try clapping with it. You have to learn to feel the timing in your whole body before channeling that feeling into your fingers.
You dont need a metronome do it in your head or tap your foot to the beat
everyone has built in Rhythm otherwise you couldnt walk. if you cant do that go talk to a Jazz Muso listen and talk u soon get the hang of it.
I had the same problem. I could learn and memorize all the notes and chords. But when I put it all together it sounded bad because my timing was all off. I bought Griff’s Strumming & Rhythm Mastery course and by the end of the course I completely understood. Without the timing and being able to count it out and feel it you just can’t seem to make anything sound the way it should. I highly recommend it.
For counting,I found that taking 1 drum lesson or a couple if you so choose helped me a great deal.
It opened the door to what should happen on beats 1 to 4.
So when you stick a jam track on you hear it clearly just as a lick for the guitar I will listen to a blues song and think I’m learning that on Griffs lessons.
I’m now starting to take my exams on the guitar and drums.
And Griff is my only guitar teacher.
I found that not only are you learning Blues but griff is teaching how to pull a song apart and read tab
Which means you can do it on all other songs.
finding Griffs lessons as opened up a whole new life for me.
Probably a more practical way of doing this is to have practiced some of these leads, and improvisations with a drummer already, so you have a clue as to timing, emphasis, and feeling in your playing. Even doing it with another guitarist who would be willing to play rhythm as you start collecting these little riffs or practicing ones you know. At the very least playing your guitar with a metronome would be a help.