I often speak and write about the pros and cons of the modern internet age.
On the one hand, we have access to a wealth of material and information that only a few years ago would have been nonexistent to most people.
On the other hand, this easy access makes “Guitar ADD” (jumping from little tidbit to little tidbit… never really learning anything) a huge problem for most adults (oddly enough, kids don’t seem to suffer from this as much in my experience.)
There have been many discussions on the Blues Guitar Unleashed member’s forum about this. And I received a great email from a student, Darryl, where he describes his experience with this “Guitar ADD” and the system he uses to combat it.So today I’m going to turn it over to Darryl and put his email here. I’ve modified the formatting slightly to fit this platform…
I’m sure you are going to come up with basically the same thing here Griff, but I have just recognized and formulated a plan for this myself.
You know sadly, I set down my guitar about 15 years ago. I was so frustrated. I sing and play, and could never break into true solos.
I did some Chuck Berry type chord solos, but that was it. I spent so much time learning to sing my guitar playing had gone backwards, and the effort needed to bring it back and move it forward was just too daunting.
Over the years I got down to only being able to play one song, Troubles by Little Feat. And I loved to play guitar before. It was my heart and soul. The worst possible day and you could pick it up and vent it, the best possible day you could pick it up and celebrate.
Fortunately, a sat down with some guys in the neighbourhood, and got playing again. I had figured out how to play solos over the 15 year hiatus, without picking up the guitar.
I never got a chance to prove that I had it all figured out, as I stumbled across your 4 note solo before I really tried to break out playing leads. And recently I have started teaching beginner guitar again.
And while doing this I figured some things out. My method of teaching beginner guitar has always been to teach them the very most basic blues rythm, in A where it is easiest to play, and G, C and D.
I teach them absolutely no more then they need to know so they can play songs. We all remember how hard it was to push down those strings the first time, and if these people are gonna put in the effort, let’s get them playing “music” as fast as possible so they get a payoff.
And that’s when i realized, I don’t do this myself. I bounce around from song to song, lick to lick, this cool thing and that cool thing.
That is why I never broke the lead guitar barrier 15 years ago(although the 4 note solo would have done that for me back then) and it stops me from learning things now.
So I have started making lists. This is what I’m working on “Now”. This is my main focus to learn, “Now”. I keep it short, I try to get the time to play it every day.
Right now it is 6 bluesy tunes. The list prior was 6 new lead licks. (and I mean short 1 bar fragments).
I keep the list short, and I try and practice it everyday of course. And i keep on it until they are a permanent part of my repetoire.
When I get distracted, and start to learn something not on this current list, it goes on a second list, “things I want to learn.”
So as I make room on my “Now” list, I can look through the “Things I want to learn” list for what want to learn most, or what will give me the greatest payoff, and move them over to the “Now” list.
And one more thing. I keep that “Now” list in my grasp. I have set a special song to learn “Rude Mood” that is just more then i have time to learn right now. So it is kinda my special song after i practice my “Now” list.
I have it broken down into 16 parts, and have been up 2 playing 7 of those parts, and am currently back down to 3. I know I’m capable of playing it all, but i really don’t have enough time to learn it right now.
16 parts at such speed is just a little more then I can learn quickly. So putting it in my “Now” list would only frustrate me.
Instead I have 6 new cool licks I am playing, and 5 of 6 new songs I can now play in about 6 weeks. And I’m about to add some new stuff to the “Now” list.
When I finally get Rude Mood down, I will replace it with another song or equa difficulty to me.
So my method is really keeping short list of “Now” songs that are going to be acheiveable for me to learn, and make them my first thing to practice.
Outside of that list, I can still be learning how 50 other songs are played, and drift around, and I even keep them on a list so my favourites can make it onto my “Now” list.
And if you want to work on something outside of your skill level, pick one, and work on it after your “Now” list.
Personally I really like this idea and I’m going to try it out for myself. I like lists already and use them a lot, so it makes good sense to me. Your results may vary, of course, and this may not necessarily be the best way for you.
But whether or not Darryl’s way works for you, it’s important to focus on a single thing or a small group of things at a time. The things you focus on are the things that will improve.
If you have some practicing or focus tips of your own, please leave them in the comments section.
9 replies to "Information Overload"
At one time I used a system that worked great for me. It involved 3 lists…
1. Songs I was trying to learn… and commit to memory
2. Songs I had learned and committed to memory but still needed a bit of polishing and practice
3. Songs I knew but didn’t want to forget…
An organized practice plan is really important to consistent and steady growth…
Can I do more payments for your course?
I am retired and I am on a fixed income.
Thank you!
I too have been thru it all.good days bad days,what to practice,what’s important,surf the net take lessons and all that stuff. I still suck after 2 yrs. but oddly enough I still enjoy time with my guitar. Maybe cause i am retired and have the time.i don’t mention age because that is not my problem. At least it’s the easiest one to come to terms with and just play to my ability. I don’t want to be a shredder anyway.
My solution…………… Whatever I see, like a Griff email for example or something in a learning guitar book or a riff on you tube.WHATEVER it is that strikes my interest I run with it Til I’m bored
Or whatever then I’m on to the next thing that peaks my interest. Learning consciously on the way and subconsciously also.
No rhyme or reason to what I’m doing no order or anything. I’ve taken lessons, bought courses etcetera,nothing really worked for me. I’m hesitant to purchase anything else. However my approach seems to be doing me good. I’m interested,happy, unhurriedandand there is no pressure to lo learn. If I’m fed up I move on. Maybe not the best approach but it works for me. Would love to know what Griff thinks about it.
Griff,
I have been practicing pretty diligently,sometimes spending more time on a lesson than I probably should but I’m having trouble learning the names of the chords. If I know the fret the chord is played on and the lesson then I have no problem playing without your assistance but to see a chord name and go to the correct configuration seems tough. I even go through lessons 1-5 again for a warm-up but the names just don’t stick. The only other thing is to keep going through the lessons and eventually the names will stick. All of the chords sound fine deadening the strings comes easy with my jazz background. Any chance that you might have a trick or some sage advice to remember the names? Thanks in advance for your assistance. I really have no one to play with besides your CD’s,that might be an answer. Russ Kirby
Really sage advice… As a beginner I have had information overload and of course I want to do everything. This killed my drive in high school and was starting to win again now that I restarted in my 50’s. Thanks for describing your solution Darryl and thanks Griff for supporting us with your timely advice and passing on things like this from your students. As an aside I’m about 60% done with the BBG so BGU should be coming up soon in my future.
David
My desk is scattered with notes and lists among the rest of the organized chaos. Darryl does a good job of describing my past years of playing at learning the guitar. A little of this song, a few parts of another, always moving on before anything was completely mastered. My method at present is simply keeping the page open to my current lesson and trying to keep my drills/scales/lesson/noodle routine intact.
Great read, and I whole heartedly agree. It is easy to get get distracted and I’m trying hard not to look at all the temptations while I work at your latest course. I am trying to stay focused on the task at hand and not get distracted.
I will have to try the List approach!
Thanks.
Sounds like a great way of dealing with the tidal wave of information. I too like to make lists but unfortunately I rarely get round to ever looking at them again!
I try hard to focus on the BBG and BGU courses. I spend a little time reviewing all the tempting videos, download anything that looks interesting and file them away in RealPlayer together with tabs where appropriate and tell myself they are there for me in the future when I have finished BGU.
That said, I do allow myself a couple of hours a week for naughty time when I just……….what’s the word?………Ah yes, Noodle! Now that’s a great word!
i love it i’m going to try it i’ve been struggleing with the add pick a little of this a little of that lists and small parts at a time i hope it helps