It always seems to me that there are different practice routines for just about every person under the sun.
But what I notice often is that what works for one person doesn’t work for the next… not because the method is flawed. More often than not it’s because they are trying to accomplish 2 different things.
So I’ll try to explain the 2 types of practice, and about how much you need of each to accomplish your goals. The good news is… in many cases you’ll be surprised at how little you can get away with.
To me there are 2 kinds of memories and that goes with the 2 types of practice: finger memory, and brain memory.
Brain memory is concepts. I often describe this as the “what” to play. It’s in your mind that you decide you’re going to use a particular scale or chord voicing. But your brain isn’t what is actually going to execute the command…
For that we need finger memory. Your fingers need to just go do it when your brain tells them to. If the brain has to instruct the fingers on what to do, then it can’t concentrate on cool stuff to play anymore. If it concentrates on cool stuff to play, it can’t tell the fingers what to do.
This has nothing to do with age or experience… it’s a simple fact of the way we’re built and the way we work. It works this way for every student I’ve ever taught.
So now that you know you have “brain memory” and “finger memory,” what to do about each?
Fingers learn by one way and one way only – repetition. The more times you do it right, the more likely your fingers are going to be able to do it on their own later. Finger memory comes from time on the instrument.
The good news is that you don’t really have to pay attention too much during this time unless it really is some new scale or pattern that you don’t already know. This is the perfect sort of thing for TV Practice (practicing in front of the TV) or during just about anything else.
Any time you can mindlessly play scales, arpeggios, chords, strums, licks, whatever it may be… that’s going to improve finger memory.
Brain memory is a little trickier. The brain gets a new concept usually in a few minutes. But after that few minutes is up, the brain is done and it needs to go and work on it in the background for a while.
So let’s say you’ve just learned that you can improvise with the major blues scale over the I chord of a blues, and the minor blues scale over the IV and V of a blues. That’s a concept. It’s for your brain deciding what to play – not for your fingers.
But you’ll probably find that after a few minutes of working with it, you start to drift off and think about other things or you get frustrated or you lose your place. Basically you start to space out.
When that happens, your brain is done and it’s telling you so – listen to it! At that point it’s time to go back to finger memorizing that you can do on auto-pilot. Or you can take a break completely for a while. Of course, you can always just jam away on a few fun songs as well.
Ready for the fastest and easiest way to really learn Blues Guitar? Then it’s time for Blues Guitar Unleashed!
Good luck and happy practicing!
Griff
326 replies to "The 2 Kinds Of Practice"
Hi, i weigh up that i maxim you visited my situate in this manner i came to “return the favor”.I’m irritating to attain things to improve my website!I deduce its reasonable to manipulate a little of your ideas!!
Thanks Griff
Great insight. I Mainly work o n the BGU course, and don’t always respond to the E-mails you send, but I do eventually read and use them as well as going to the sites you send to us.’Down at the Station, etc.
Thanks for the Emails.Please keep them coming.
Griff: Your insight is beyond measure. I have progressed substantially with the use of BGU. It is difficult to put the guitar down. You have developed the best instructional course I have seen. dave
Thanks Griff, you hit the nail on the head. Just do it, find what works and do it. Thanks for the great perspective and reminders. Luv it. You remind me to JUST play. Scott
I saw a drill the other day surfing YouTube. The guy said to set your metronome and 120/min and just play one note on each beat: scales, notes, hammer-ons, pull-offs… just don’t stop, and play one one note per beat and when u feel comfortable speed up the metronome… this helps your fingers get more agile…. been trying this… works good for “tv practice”… and your subconscious can come up with se pretty interesting stuff….
magnificent issues altogether, you just won a brand
new reader. What would you recommend in regards
to your put up that you just made a few days in the past?
Any positive?
Griff,
I am Practicing the scales in Box 1,2 & 3, learning the notes on my guitar and blues scale 7 penitontic scales. I want to be able to improvise within the scales I learn. i like playing my own stuff
Thanks, Great Lessons and all the best to you and your family! Happy Holidays.
Jerry St.croix
Hey griff I am using your DVD program and I am also learning the five blues and pentatonic scales.how do you know when to use the scales and which one blues or pentatonic!
My trouble is my fingers know where to go one day I’m dead on the other days I miss like crazy thanks for the blog
I get it I’m always picking a song when I hear a note that triggers the song I never played before. Lets just say it’s fun to find all the notes until I have most of the song. I just hope someday The chords will do the same some day. I do find my fingers going right to the notes I want without thinking about them , ge does that mean I’m getting better at it lol? I know I am and your insite is so true. I just don’t have as much time as I would like to look at all your mail but winter is coming and I will look at them TY for them Jack
Wow! Guitar Philosophy 101!
I’m one of Griff’s “old-timer” fans – been playing (?) over 40 years, and I’m still never quite sure WHAT I want to practice. Theory? Scales? Site reading? Speed? More chords? New tunes? Different Styles (classical, jazz, rock, country, BLUES?) The two things mentioned above apply to ALL this!
I’m finding that if I don’t set a GOAL or purpose, I just keep repeating the same thing over and over and never get any better.
Bio Rhythm, Griff, sometimes I struggle over and over with a lick or line,and the harder I push the further away it gets,till I just lay it aside and go on to other points, But in my mind I keep mulling over what has just frustrated me, after awhile ,hrs or days,it comes to me in my mind
,I pick up the guitar and!!!!There it is, sometimes its a struggle to emulate the style of say BB,or Stevie, so I just say wait!! Iam 601!! and let my own Bio Rhythm take over, and take advantage of the Lick but let it come out in my own style,
“I could while away the hours, conferrin’ with the flowers
Consultin’ with the rain.
And my head I’d be scratchin’ while
my thoughts were busy hatchin’
If I only had a brain.”…
– by Harold Arlen (music) and E.Y. Harburg (lyrics) from “The Wizard of Oz”
😉
Really appreciated these auggestions for practice. Professor at OCU once suggested numbering different phrases so could start and stop at many different points of the piano music. Presently workinig again with Dino’s arrangements. Ppl still like these.
I have 3+ hours of daily commuting by train to and from work and look for ways to use this time in my endeavor to learn guitar. Playing guitar on a train isnt practical or advisable 8) so finger training is out. One thing I try to do is listen to a specific piece and pick out where/what the chord changes are, and where major/minor pentatonic scales occur. I take note of anything I cant identify and take another look once home and can get hands-on with my guitar.
I am a learning bass player but love Griff’s teaching, much of which applies to bass directly like this one, or less directly adding to my general musical education eg missing the last note on a strum sequence to get ready for the next chord/note. About finger memory my teacher says that the great guitar players say learn em’ and forget em’, meaning I think just what Griff says. Once you have the concept, the idea, the pattern, getting it into the fingers is the next job.
Griff’s ‘Strat’ is a SUHR not a Squier! Great sounding axe.
Griff: Sorry but I would like to change the subject. You are usually playing a Fender Squire in the videos. Would you please tell me what model it is and if there are changes made to it to suit your tastes.
Thanks,
William.
when you repeat an activity over and over,the reason why it becomes an unconscious habit is,it develops what’s call a neurosignature.
It actually burns a brain groove.
Every time you do something,it continues to reinforce this brain groove and we become what we practice the most.
Read “The compound effect” book .
Thank you for your suggestions. BTW….The 1st & main artist I’m practicing on 1st is Buddy Guy’s full solo “SKIN DEEP”. When I saw him live in concert he played this & it hit me strong on how the world should think. However tho a few lessons ago(haven’t had time to wrk on it)was the tab fret notes. Called something about know your notes.Forgot exact name.But you have just inspired me to start there 1st. Like you said Brain v.s. Finger memory. Then I’m hopeing to be able to improvise some what to play & sing the song & still sound right or somewhat close.Thank you again for your help.
Great advice Griff. What I find interesting is how often a brain memory thing will trigger a finger memory that I already have. A great example of this is the video on building a song you posted the other day. I watched the video and when I sat down to practice, I decided I would do a new arrangement of Crossroads as an exercise. My brain started cooking on what you’d been talking about and my finger memory went, “Hey, try this,” and finger memory provided the how for what I wanted to come out.
Great stuff,
JiB
hey Griff, youre so right, my particular nuance is, whilst practicing a piece- the current one being – how long blues ala monsieur Clapton, and hearing zorba’s dance,lol and heading off in that direction, or using another part/lick to weedle into a new song im writing. it can be very frustrating by ending not doing any of the well. thanks as usual for your unstinting output. H
The thing that amazes me griff is you tell us things I have never heard
From anybody else guitar teacher friend fellow guitarist (and certainly
Not the wife lol) you don’t miss a thing your obviously a gifted player
Play in a band I’d love to watch live but your true calling is teaching peace and love
Yeah, I think I know what you mean though I’ve never thought of it in those terms e.g. I decided to learn the intro for the Rolling Stone’s “Angie”. I played it multiple times making the same mistake each time with finger placement and timing. After 50 or so attempts I just started jamming with backing tracks and had some fun. When I eventually went back to the “Angie” intro I nailed it first time – finger memory and brain memory in unison? I think so.
Cheers
George
Excellent point, and it works that way with everything, I use the principle all the time in my art work to, without even thinking about it.
Thank you!
I do a little of both that you recommend. Your email lessons are great. I recently took the “arpeggio” lesson to an old song by Funkadelic called Maggot Brain. The arpeggio is the all chords barred : Em at 7th fret to a D on 5th fret to a Bm on 2nd fret to a C on third fret. Neither E string is played. Now the little 2 string lead lesson you sent out awhile ago come’s in to play. Starts off sweet and pure. Moves up to a bit of a growl and then goes psychedelic.. Now being 63 , I understand psychedelic ! In the garage band days in C. Tx we weren’t even aware there were pedals out there ! So we had to do the overdrive, feedback and such with our amps (not miked) and with our volume and tone on the guitar.The more important of the genre was how to use our fingers to mimic the sound of popular rock songs.That’s still important today ! It’s so important to use your hands in concert. Maybe you need to deaden a string, maybe you need to whack a string with your pick hand. That add’s to style and substance ! Been playing a long time ; but , this course is teaching me why I do what I do and made little songs like “Walking by Myself” (Jimmy Rogers) just roll off my fingers without a thought ! Thanks Griff ! 63 Blues
Love your course, love the little helpful lessons in the mail. If you can get me to get down the opening lick to “Life By The Drop” (SRV) , I’ll be a friend for life. Thanks
knowing a few basic chords practicing gets a bit boring i need something to really enjoy playing with some licks
Cool ! Many of us encouragement to keep going but also need little tricks to keep focused especially if your gets away from you
Griff –
I find when I practice I go through scales, then maybe some licks, then improvisation, then a particular song, then memorizing the fingerboard; you see where I’m going? I’m all over the place! Can you advise a weekly practice regimen so I actually LEARN from my practicing? I would appreciate any advice. I only wish you were in NY instead of the left coast!
Griff-years ago I heard Eric Clapton being inter viewed and he said he saw himself as a good golfer would e do-he’s always thinking about and setting up his next “shot” or in this case his next note or riff.I always remembered this and try to employ it even if I’m just practicing .I found having a backing track when practicing will keep your brain in this mode..I always try to hear my next fif f before I get there.Regards……………………..Pete Travis
hay Griff
my frends call me Nick. I watch many of your videos and have learned
from some of them and they have helped me alot. I had three fingers cut off my left
hand nine years ago becouse of that I tryed a dobro and now is what i play
so i dont get alot out of most of your blogs becouse of only having two fingers
on my left hand. However i have learned alot about the blues and how to try to present
it. and have a long way to go.just wanted to say thanks. and God bless
great message griff, it does seem that when you practice the thought of where placing your fingers seem to go on automatic after some time and when you try to think about finger placing your mind does seem to drift onto another plane. Sometimes when I practice i will run through some familiar riffs and then on some pull offs and hammer on’s and then some chords that I have familiarity with but you are right practice makes perfect but on has to stay away from boredom because after boredom comes laying down of the guitar and loss of interest. Never forget why you started playing the guitar and making it fun not torture.!!!!
That is a great lesson Griff and i like it very much and also i enjoy everyone of your videos and keep up the good work . Thank you so much
Great blog!! I think it was spot-on. Would you consider doing a short video on playing Joe Bonnamassas acoustic version of “high water everywhere” ? I’m sure it would be well received.
Thanks, Dan in Rancho Mirage
this is good, thanks. I have a question. I am an older (65) gal and I’ve been writing and performing my own songs for years just with rhythm guitar playing. Some of the songs have a blues feel. I play an acoustic plug in Yamaha that I like because it’s skinny and I’m small and my arm goes to sleep with a fat guitar. But I am wanting an electric guitar to get a better blues rhythm sound. I don’t do any leads or fills yet and I think an electric guitar will also help with that. What kind of guitar would be good to look for? It can’t be heavy either and I don’t want to pay a lot of money. Any suggestions?
GOOD OLE GRIFF ALWAYS TELLING IT LIKE IT IS AND TELLING THE TRUTH LIKE IT IS. THIS COMES FROM LIVING HIS LIFE LIKE IT IS AND LETTING THINGS EVOLVE NATURALLY LIKE IT IS SHOULD BE AND ALSO IS ALSO.
YA LEARN A LOT FROM THIS OLE BOOGER!
GIVE EM HELL GRIFF…!!!
Thxs so much on practicing and memory,of the brain and fingers.I was syaryng 2 get really frustrated.
Practicing Flemenco and rock.
I agree completely with the 2 types or practice concept and it has helped me over the years to do just that.
The brain has the conept and sends the signals to the fingers. The finger have to execute.
That’s where it all happens.
Hi its always a pleasure to listen to other guitar players about the pitfalls of practice. I go through these kinds of pauses where the brain seems misdirected. You have many good comments I appreciate. I wish I had this information when I was 30.
Bye
VERY inspirational & supportive, Griff! You are a Top-Notch instructor because you tap in to our/my truest limitations & alleviate the feeling of failure w/ constructive messages like this one.
Thank YOU!
I am glad you said this. I thought I was the only one who spaced out. Speaking only for myself. I found a third way for learning. Thinking/concentrating on the subject. Seeing it in my mind. Mental rep’s are also a good way for ME to learn. Thanks JJ
Good thoughts! I often find that for myself what I struggle to lean now sometimes comes back to memory after quite some time has passed. Thanks’
Hi Giff, learning some new llicks , Johnny be good, then I will go back to scales, what can I say, I am hooked, it takes my mind off of my troubles, God Bless, every one.
Hey Griff,
I have three types of practicing: the first is warm up, which is similar to muscle memory as you mentioned. I start on C and go through all the C, s on the neck and next proceed through the circle of fifths. After that come the scales slowly at first and as my old fingers warm up, I pick up the pace. Then I take out one of your courses and work briefly where I left off to make sure I have understood and can execute what I have learned. I do that with all three books, BGU, AB and Strumming. Next I take one small brand new section from each course and learn something fresh. Then I take a break. Later, I have what I call free play, I pick out songs that I can just play along with usually something close to what I have learned in the book, and I jam for the sheer fun of it, for about two to three hours using both acoustic and electric. I try to employ what I have learned in the material to a “real world music experience.” Another break and then back to mindless muscle memory I watch movies on my computer and play every scale I know. Whenever there are theme music or brief bits of songs in the film, I try to play along. I played bass for fifty years and one of the first lessons I learned in the studio was ‘it is not how fast you play but how fast you listen.’ Ron
Thanks Griff–This is what I would call a must know concept!
I’m glad to hear that what you described is normal, and i’m not alone in that. Funny how I can grind away half frustrated one day and take a break and have it all come so much smoother the next. i have two of your dvd courses. I enjoy them and your email lessons and tips. It’s all made me go from making myself practice to craving practice.Hitting one of your live shows is in my ‘bucket list’. Thanks again. Ed
Hello Griff,
Thanks for that. I have found my mind dose drift some times.
I will try your method. As they say nothing ventured,
nothing gained. Cheers. Rob
VERY TRUE FOR ME..IF I GET DRIFTING , I LET MY FINGERS FIND THE BOX I’M IN OR GO TO 1 BOX—– FIVE BOXES THAT I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY REMIND MY FINGERS ABOUT… I WAS JUST USING WHAT I’VE LEARNED A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO TO DO ‘ROBBIE ROBERTSONS’ INTRO TO THE ”WEIGHT”—-OR SHOULD I SAY MY INTERPRETATION USING THE TWO AND ONE BOX IN ‘A’—–”THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE….
This sounds about right. I can practise a tune until my fingers are raw, and get really annoyed with myself because nothing is going right. So, I have a go at something else that wasn’t sounding right a few days before and all of a sudden it is starting to sound ok……………..so then a few days later I will have another go at the previously mentioned tune and “bingo” it’s there, well sort of, but a damn sight better than it had been when my fingers were going raw and I wasn’t getting anywhere. It seems my brain has to have a few days to de-fragment the information it is receiving a bit like a computer, the only thing is that at the age of 51 it takes longer than if I was still in my teens 🙂 A bit of a tip for the unwary, don’t practise directly before bed time as you won’t get any sleep. Shut your eyes and that tune is in your head and it won’t go away, so next morning (or in the early hours) you pick up the guitar and it still sounds pants………and then you are tired and frustrated, not a good recipe for progression………..your brain needs rest to perform well !!!
Griff,thank for the advice. You are right on as far as “drifting off”sometimes,and I do get frustrated. I set the guitar down for a while,then come back to it. That seems to help me.Thanks for pointing this out. Mike
As usual, good info that shows how to get the most out of the time we have to practice. Especially those of us how have trouble with life getting in the way of practice!
Thanks.
wow! thanks man! that is so helpful. I been trying to do it all with the brain!
As always, good info.
Once again your right Griff. Great Course BGU..just got the Strumming one and looking forward to getting into it.
MAgic wee bit of logic,yet another little pearl of wisdom ,your some man ,sometimes when you don’t have the mental energy ,when your trying to learn something new, it’s good to hear that , hey it happens to us all .
Nice one bigman .
Thanks for the insight…..I try to practice every day and it makes sense….at least now I know why my brain starts drifting on me. My finger practice is easier…
Thanks for all the great lessons and tricks I bought your Acoustic Blues Course and love it….although I mix it up with other things it has taught me what I’ve been doing wrong over the past 20 year of self taught, frustrating playing.
Keep those tricks and such coming…I need my daily Griff fix.
Big Fan
BigRic
Thank you Griff ,
Nice advice i will folow it…..
Griff,
You’re the greatest! For years I have been doing what you say about brain memory and finger memory and you are absolutely right. For example and disbarring the fact that I have been playing guitar for over 50 years I never knew every note fret by fret on every string until I followed one of your practice blogs in that regard. I did as you said by starting off at just five minutes a day and in no time I knew immediately where to go for example on the “G” string to play a high “B.” Sure I could do it before, but it required a little thought and now it’s immediate.
Thanks Griff for everything you do to help those of us who play guitar – play a little better!
Old School and Still Rockin’ …Gary
Thanks Griff , it’s all making a little more sense each time as I practice and use methods and advice passed on by you … Good day Sir
It’s all go
Many thanks Griff, this information is very helpful – repetition!
When I play with the TV on my wife gets a bit upset though!
Thanks,
Ken
Man, that is so true. Right now i’m in the finger memory situation and didn’t know it untill i got this tip from you. These are great tips, Thank you for the great help.
ed.
very interesting way of looking at that. thanks griff.
I have been (trying) to learn how to play guitar for around 2 years now, I can not play one song yet. is this common? I had just bought my first electric guitar (gio Ibanez) with don’t have good tone. and I am left handed with those I am losing well I am working on strumming right now and just can not get it, and tricks in your bag. thanks from one tone junky to another
Its taking time but Im going to win in the end,I have no musical bone in my body,my family had no
piano or any thing in the house music.I have only one claim to fame,I was in the same class at school as James Page {Jimmy}Led Zepplin} at the time I could only wonder how he managed to play the music from Buddy Holly @ the Criickets at that time at my 15th and 16th birthday in the front room of my parents house he managed to play within 1 or 2 times of hearing the music It blew us all away.We drifted away taking a diferant path in life and it wasnt until about the 70s I realised who the Lead guitarist of Led Zepplin was ,I allways knew him as James.I will never ever catch him up,guitar playing that is,but in retierment at 69,it is a new challenge.I will win over in the end.THANK YOU FOR THE THE VERY INFORMATIVE VIDEOS.If you(being in the industry)can get me in touch with James some how I have old school photos I can send on to you.Thanks again John Maxwell.
Your post on “finger” or “brain” memory is right-on! Research on ADHD support clinically what you espouse from personal experience. Those of us with ADHD can relate to the “spaced-out” issues you describe. When confronted with my brain telling me “that’s enough”, I put what I’m struggling with on the “back burner” and turn to something unrelated. Later, when I return to the initial project, I very often find it much easier (almost automatic) to play the part without the mental struggle. Science has a term for this. It’s called Scatoma, or task blindness. The only way to deal with the issue is exactly as you suggest. Set it aside. Do something routine or automatic for a while. Then when you return to the task it will be much less troublesome. Brain scientists call the region of the brain that is involved the Reticular Activating System or RAS. Once you understand the principals, you go a long way toward using your RAS to your advantage.
Griff,
Thanks for all your lessons and encouragement. Love what you’re bringin’ to the table.
Brian
Fountain Valley
Thank you Griff for your continued support. I’ve started the Strumming and Rhythm Mastery program and I am very impressed with your one on one teaching method. I’m also starting on the Beginning Blues Guitar. Exactly five days ago notes, measures, bars, and rests didn’t mean a whole lot to me but having spent two hours a day for the past five days and using your teaching method has opened up a whole new learning experience for me. Please keep giving YOUR GIFT of music.
ps. COUNTING OUT LOUD is the only way to go.
Thank you for posting this. What you just described is what I go through every time I practice, which is every day. I always thought I just lacked the focus that’s needed to reach that next level, but now I understand that it’s all part of the learning process.
Thanks Griff
It’s nice to hear the process put that way. I have been doing similar but different tricks to keep motivated. I take all of what you offer and use it to keep playing. Resting and playing mindlessly
Is the first thing I do and the second is to put the guitar away and pick it up later or the next day fresh and ready to get it down.
I’ve learned a lot from your teachings.
Thank You
I like your stuff it helps I also take lessons about 2/month, instructor says outside learning is good also WHat do u think of this concept also when u play the chords for memory are u sounding them out or just moving the fret hand??
thx
To: Grill Hamlin Thanks for the information. I’ll put it to good use.
I always knew there was a scientific explanation for my my not wanting to practice or just not improving with my playing. I just thought I was useless. Now i can explain this thesis to everybody.
Uncanny getting this message this morning as yesterday I set myself to commit to learning Sweet Home Chicago, I’m a beginner, and I found that after a period of about an hour i would need to just stray and play some licks, then I’d go back. Over the afternoon and evening I drifted between learning the piece, playing licks to master finger memory and having cups of tea. So your definitely right.
Thanks Griff this blog has just helped me to get a handle on something that I have just recently started to ponder.
Good explanation Griff, to the point and very useful.
Your brain decides what to play but it is the finger memory gained through repetition that carries out the action.
When checking out a new chord shape my brain can see where the fingers should go but it cannot put them into the correct position in one go. It is only through slow repetition that I can manage the chord change.
It’s the difference between your brain telling you what to do and you just thinking it, after numerous repetitions.
A while back I decided to walk fast. So my brain told my leg muscles to really push into the floor to move quickly. Then I just thought about walking fast instead. End result I just moved quicker with shorter steps.
Fascinating concept, just like when you drop a cup and you go to catch it before it hits the floor. If you waited for your brain to tell your muscles to catch it, well goodbye cup.
At the moment I am struggling with Lesson 5 in the Blues Guitar Unleashed program. I have just realised why, it is because I am trying to change chords too quickly. I know this but I have been ignoring the fact. Probably why I am still a bad player after quite a few years. Back to slow repetition!
Apologies to all if this post seems long winded.
Derek Budd, England
Hi Grif,
a couple of days ago I injured my thumb and will be out of action for about 2 weeks, I am right handed and injured thumb is left hand. Have been trying to practice picking but it’s no fun without being able to play chords. Any suggestions on how I keep in touch with my lessons during this time?
Txs,
George
Good stuff dude!
Nice breakdown of a complex process.
Griff,
I am unsure if I had responded to this email. It was very helpful to have this phenomenon that we all seem to experience actually expressed and how to work w/ it and use the concepts to best use our limited practice time.
Vicki
You’d think that at my advanced age I would have got the gist of this. Now I know that when I sort of drift off and start watching TV when I should be practicing I know exactly why and therefore I should be letting my fingers do the walking. Thanks Griff, its never too late and you’re never too old.
Hi Griff,
I am a banjo player but have remained on your email list becz of all the great advice you give that is gat fri any music student can benefit from. This email especially is something that I liked a lot in regards to the two different practices.
Thank you.
I know exactly what you are saying. I’m 63 and have been playing off and on for 40+ years. I’ve really gotten into lead blues on a Strat AND learning to play Flamenco guitar (which have some very unusual cords. At times I tend to combine the two, with good results when it comes to scales and arpeggios. But there is always a song in there somewhere. Fingers seem like they know they are going before I do.
Yes i do end up playing a song when i am practiceing
Ya that makes alot of sense. I have never really tried to separate thet before. It happens when I play live. The perverbial Zone.
sounds like a good idear ill try it because i tend to get board easy with nowon to practise with thank you griff. les
So very true. At 60 I’ve been a hacker for 40 years. I’m still working on the acoustic blues set but also taking Classical guitar to work on my reading. Repetition, repetition, repetition is what makes my fingers get to the right notes when I see them, I just need to stop questioning them when they get there……. Thanks, Griff
That answers a question I asked earlier about the brain’s immediate involvement and the added comment about spacing out after long practice or highly concentrational practice is a gem.
Thanks for posting this.
I walk a golf course that is 7000 yards, up hill and down hill, that, but for the tee boxes, doesn’t have many level spots to swing the second and third (4th, 5th 6th, 7th (i’m not very good) shots from.
I consider this Constant Practice with an occasional good shot that keeps me coming back to see if I can repeat it. This has been going for 10 years. I’m never going to be any better than a hacker, I know this, but the similarities to how poorly I play the game, my ‘learning disabilities’ (which I once offered as the reason why I couldn’t improve) seem to extend to my guitar playing or vice versa, since I played 15 years ago with many many hours of no improvement.
Any expertise is fleeting and inconsistent. This may be my scourge, and why I once sold all my guitars only to start once again last month, to try and climb the mountain again, like Sisyphus with a rock.
Hopefully this practice tip will help get me a few inches closer to the top.
Thanks for that. Practising can be problematic and of couse you always want to get the best results for your time put in. As I progress I’ve noticed that I am able to play better now when I’M TIRED THAN I used to. I have my good and bad day I usually do best in the morning. Which is good causee I play in church mostly. On my good days it seems even my mistakes can sound good. I’m finally getting to the point where I can switch betwwen open chords and barre chords and I play my acoustic mostly and then when I switch to the electric it seems easier.
I am on the beginners course, do two hours a day,have to hurry, dont have much time left ( 92 yrs old.)
I love ever min. This course is great. Thanks for all the extra help.
JOHN
Griff I take my hat off to you,you keep sending me stuff & I`ve downloaded a heap of it.I`ve just got to find the time to really get right into it all,with a mortgage & bills cumming out of the woodwork,work unfortunately dictates when I can practice & play the guitar or when I have to do all those household things that just seem to accumulate,anyway your the most generous person I`ve never met. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time out to help myself & everyone else try to understand the fundamentals of playing the guitar.Thank you I owe.
hey griff, just wanted to thank you for your caring. your a good teacher, and i learn something every time our paths cross(via email). i try to practice every day, but well you know how it goes. i do see my self improving, which gives me a real boost. i understand a bit more how music works, thanks to you and others. thanks for sharing…………jerry
thanks so much griff. I’ve been playing since i first saw the beatles on tv. you keep tagging my favorite stuff. wah wah and littlewing, i named my oldest girl littlewing…i am amazed at how much i can get out of your videos its like pay attention to the basics and play it well, i’d gotten away from electric and into bluegrass and this a great slight return for me. i guess to say thanks and get deeper into this i need to buy a video, littlewing. thanks again
I like the labels. I always saw it as “working on my guitar” (brain) vs “Jamming” (finger memory).
When i use the brain I have a note pad, cold beer and a purpose while I jam 95% of the time just letting my fingers and ears do the work.
Another thought about practice – I was terrified of using the metronome – until I tried using it to learn at a slow pace one eighth note per beat) and then gradually increased the speed in the same practice session. Works wonders at building the finger memory, and, even more important for me, self-confidence. Thanks for letting me share. This is as much fun as my AA meeting!
Aha – now I get it. What a relief – like other folks who responded, I was beating myself up. Many thanks Griff. All the best. N.
I experienced what you referred to as “Brain Memory” and “Finger Memory” when I began taking lessons on drumming and sax years ago but didn’t figure out what was going on until reading your overview. I guess it’s like learning to drive, the same process is taking place. Once you learn and gain experience, you often don’t recall driving from A to B. You get there but your mind was engaged on another matter and you may not consciously recall the drive.
brain memory is my problem, or more to the point brain memory endurance.
i guess endurance is only increased by training. the old 99% perspiration.
i am digging the course though.
WOW! Some of the best information I’ve ever read. I do get frustrated with new brain concepts rather quickly and blame myself for being stupid when I just need to move on to the finger memory! Thanks again, Griff!!
This is a very useful info for me as a beginner guitar player, please give us more of this, thanks Griff.
that cool man~
Griff, I just bought your CDs because I only want to learn to play 12 bar blues music ie: “I woke up this mornin” No Hank Marvin, Chet Atkins or Burt Weedon for me.
Problem is I can’t play anything yet so I am starting from pretty much from ground zero. One problem I have is short fingers. I know they won’t grow now (i am 62) so can you suggest some realistic styles or exercises to help?
I have wondered IF one could take 2 strings off and restring it down on the bottom 4, making the reach shorter. I know it would limit solos but could it work for 12 bar chords across a few keys?
Bob
Practice is a problem at moment as I have had an operation on a damaged middle finger of my left hand
Thanks Griff!! I still remember when my fingers started doing things on thier own–I was amazed!
great! Sometimes, trying to learn guitar wears me out. I see these great guitar players and I know it took a lot of hard work to get to that level.
Thanks for the lessons. Please keep it simple for us beginners, and we need tabs. Thanks again. Sam
Thanks!
Jamin’ with friends!!!!!
I like that you emphasize “right” in terms of finger memory. Your fingers can also memorize the “wrong” thing as well. I find that if I’m working on a difficult fingerpicking lick or progression that playing it over and over slowly making sure to minimize any mistakes is the fastest way to eventually burn it into my fingers. Generally I go slow as the speed will come.
I once heard a saying which goes “practice something until you can’t play it wrong…” then you know you have it down.
This will totally change the way I practice. I have been working on a new practice routine for about a week and you just blew it out of the water (for the better).
Thanks Griff
good stuff G. puts practice in perspective.
has happened to me plenty. now maybe I can help my fingers understand where my brain went………… love your info. thanks looking for more.
I am fairly new to playing the guitar, lesst han 2 years serious learning. Using BluesGuitar Unleashed there is loads of usful stuff to learn and its great fun working with Griff. I have found on every occassion when trying to learn a new module, chord progresion or rif etc benifits from taking breaks. I some times give it 2 or 3 days then I return to what I was learning, and my competency has greatly improved. This agrees with Griff’s point abut te brain getting tired and needing a rest. The brain needs time to digest all this complex information – I have proven to myself that taking a break hugely helps your learning power
Thanks Griff
I have been plucking a way each night for the past couple of weeks and thanks to you I have begun to learn all the notes on the fret. That “How to find notes on your guitar”, lesson is great, and to my wife,s horror, I have covered my desk in printouts of tab & notes from your lessons, Like I have told you before, I have only taken up the guitar in the last 5 months, and at 50, I really thought I would never play any thing on a musical instrument,,, well that sounded OK any way.
Thanks for all your help mate.
as soon as I can afford them I intend to invest in your Lesson DVDs, I will. Thanks once again.
Form the happy bloke from down under.
Michael.
Definately so true, I find myself drifting when I focus for too long on what I call head stuff. So it’s off for a coffee or play some songs and then it comes easier.
I tend to practice what music I have discovered at the time,or something totally new to keep things fresh and none repetitive.
Thanks for all your hard work Griff
Phill at the Srumalong Guitar school
Make,s sense. Thanks.
Outstanding clarity Griff, thanks!
thanks griff, still plucking away, one thing id like to mention that threw me back a bit, when i started your lessons from dvd i was sitting, when i stand up and try to play . bam! like learning all over again, is this commaon? thanks joe
Thanks Griff, Good stuff
Thanks Griff, every little helps a tryer, and I can be trying!
Really good information because sometimes it feels like the connection between the hand and brain has gone away! Thanks Griff!
How true that is. I thought at first when It started happening to me that I had to press on. The more I pressed the more my brain refused to comply. Then I just started to walk away for a bit and I realized that when I came back to it later I could do it.
Thanks for that helpful hint.
I find that i definately agree with the finger memory idea . I usually have my guitar in my hand , whenever i am watching tv . I have been working on message in a bottle ( the rythym is a lead pattern ) and its pretty strange to play it corerectly , but anyway , i have been mindlessly playing it for about two weeks . I went to play it last night , and , amazingly , my fingers know wherer to go , which leaves my brain free to absorb . it really works great for me . thanks tony
I find that the best way for me to be able to play slide well is I practice with using my fingers only doing all off my major/minor pentatonic scales,I started doing it that way about 3 years ago it makes were it is automatic putting my hands in the right position to mute the strings correctley
Excellent observation, Griff, as usual you got it goin’ yes you do. So, when I alternate finger and brain memory, plus “drift time”, that’s not so weird, it may even be effective. Who Knew (besides you of course). Thanks, Griff.
Hi Griff, I have played bass for the last 50 years. I have taken lessons from many great bassists, but few great teachers. Now that I am retired, I want to learn to play guitar. I searched the internet; there were “instructors” who claim to have you playing like Freddy King in three weeks. Others try to impress you with blazing licks.
Luckily, I found your site. You never tried to make impossible claims or bowl us over with super chops. You did what I did with my students. You went slowly and gave us just enough challenge so we would not get bored or discouraged. Also, you arranged you lesson plan to build from the previous one. I never heard you play in a band but I get the feeling that you would be song sensitive. That is why Steve Cropper is one of my favorite guitarists.
In an interview with Jeff Berlin, they asked him why Will Lee got all the work and Berlin did not. He said That Will Lee plays what the client wants and I do what I want.
Sincerely, in friendship and music.
Ron
Hi Griff,
I have been getting your Email lessons for awhile now and like the way you are doing things. I have hopes of getting the basic Blues course sometime soon if the IRS will finally send me a refund! I appreciate what you say about how to practice and what are you practicing. From past ancient experience when I was very young (about 5-6) and my aunt was teaching me to play the violin, there were books of scales to be played repetitively that advanced the finger memory and also, I think, developed the tone recognition of the ear and the feeling of timing and rythem. So far I haven’t seemed to find quite the same thing for the guitar and I feel frustrated that I can’t seem to make much progress in getting my fingers moving through chord changes and dealing with barre chords and developing the strength to handle the chords for more than just a few moves, and being dissatisfied with the sounds I am getting! I am 77 now, but have been trying sporadically for several years to learn to play the guitar. I have finally found a good instructor who got me started the right way (I think) with reading music from the beginning Alfred book. The reading and playing notes came back fairly quickly once I started practicing, but I have not found the scales or whatever exercises that I think I need or that would most expeditiously develop the finger memory. Any suggestions, Or am I looking for something that isn’t there? Thanks much!! Bob
thanks for the information i work pretty much every day but i try to practice at least 30 minutes or more on saturday and my mind do wonder after a while so thank for that i feel like i’m still in the beginers stage but i’m not giving up thanks again
@ mike baugus
“I wish I could adjust the playalong speed from the video. I find myself playing some parts too slow or miss notes then lose my place, other parts I play faster than they should be.” – Mike Baugus
Mike, there is a way you can slow down (and speed up) the playback of video and audio clips. The program is called the Amazing Slow Downer and it is available for both PC and Mac. Just Google Amazing Slow Downer and you’ll find it. I don’t own it so I am not terribly familiar with it but people I have spoken to about it swear by it.
The speed of the video can be changed BUT the pitch of the music does not change. This could be the answer to some of your difficulties. I have just purchased Griff’s Acoustic Blues Unleashed and I am considering getting the Slow Downer program to help me with the lessons and also to be able to slow down other clips I find on the Internet in order to understand what’s going on and to give myself a fighting chance to keep up and play along.
Mike, I also have been playing around 6 months or so and I feel like I’ve hit a plateau where I really don’t know quite how to proceed which is why I have jumped on the opportunity to purchase Griff’s Acoustic lessons while he is also throwing in acoustic slide guitar blues DVDs and a book as a limited time offer….. and no, I’m not shilling for Griff here, I have been doing the free email lessons like everybody else, I have seen what else is out there in the way of guitar playing education and I really have a lot of respect for Griff, I think he’s the real deal.
So, don’t give up man. I am 60 years old and while I do feel impatient about just not “getting it” right away like my teen-age step-son who has been playing now for several years does. I’m chugging along at my own speed and it feels great. Every day I get better.
Regards,
Jim
Thank you thank you the best advice to why I was having problems so just let your fingers do the walking
This makes a lot of sense. Thanks.
Well said. This helps me make more sense of it. Thanks, Griff
This makes SO much sense, but something you would never know unless someone said it. Thank you for saying it!…and thanks for doing such a great job with all of your communications.
your right on every thing you said!! I all ways wanted to play! I got board did not take you time to make my self do more ! But now I got time first the finger my ears a injoy work those blues scales as much as you can! But have a good time! Thanks for what i got from you! I’ll learn a lot ! I’LL CALL YOU IF I CANGE ONE OF YOU SO!!Hve a good day!!
To Mile Bagaus-
Don’t give up! You are amazing that your doing !
Rock on!
Thanks Griff! A little validation goes a long way!
I’ve been playing a year, and there are times I thought
My brain was giving up when all a long it just
Needed a break!
Griff, I’ve learned a lot from your beginner blues course, practice everyday. Progress is painfully slow though. I wish I could adjust the playalong speed from the video. I find myself playing some parts too slow or miss notes then lose my place, other parts I play faster than they should be. I may be trying to practice too many things everyday. 6 months ago I never tried to play a guitar, now I’m taking on barre chords and attemting to learn the notes on the fret board, sure is slow.
Very helpful. Many thanks.
This is great and very helpful information.
Thank you for sharing this and helping make us aware of why every practice
doesn’t just “click” automatically every time.
Thank you for all your lessons and courses.
You were excellent at the Blues Guitar Center!!
Hi Griff,
Awesum mate,you are right about that,when i start 2 feel that way,of late i have been trying to sing as i pick,quite challenging in it selve,
Thanks Griff. Now I am motivated to practice. I get bored with chords and try to go on to something else that I am not ready for yet, then I just get frustrated and put my guitar back in its case.
Griff,
It’s strange how the human brain works but this concept works for lots of things. I remember as a high school wrestler our couch telling us that we have to be able to just move on the mat without thinking about it … you’ve done the moves so many times in practice it just comes naturally. The same is true with guitar playing. When I’ve played something enough times my fingers just move to the right place without even thinking about it. I have also found that sometimes I’ll struggle with a new concept and then the next time I pick up my guitar that new thing I’m learning comes easier. BTW … I’m taking your blues guitar unleasehd course. My wife actually purchased it for me for my birthday last year … funny thing is I get a lot of your stuff twice now (once through my wife) … but I find it so helpful that I would rather get it twice than not at all. I’m really moving through the course way to slow though … If I didn’t have to work I could really focus on it … LOL
hey griff this makes sense , i would like to learn more of this i need to find out why i have so much trouble putting it all together all the time . thanx again
phrasing, listen to pre 1983 Larry Carlton. Phrasing was his genuis. Along with technical genius, composing genius, musical theory genius.
the trickiest part fo me is to get the phrasing right – getting what I’m playing to sound like what’s being played in the song or lesson. that part seems to take the bulk of the time i spend learning something. any suggestions?
Recovering 6 mos into: a stroke effecting right side and hand coordination severly disrupted. Easily frustrated, this article helped immensely! Thanks for the spirit. Won’t give up and will get it working again! thanks so much! Yours Truly.
I’m a retired guy who played guitar in high school & left his guitar at home when I went to college…..wish I hadn’t done that. I’m back at it (learning) & having a great time!!! Interesting tip, brain & finger memory… I identify with what UR saying , helps me understand…..thanks.
Play On, Bob
Excellent articulation on this topic. Music/guitar playing is still very mechanical for me (i.e. finger memory), and I’d like to get to the intuitive place (i.e. brain memory). I need less mechanics now, and more “why” and “feel”. I’d be interested in more rhythms and examples solos to expand this reluctant side of my brain. (BTW, I’m still working on Solo#3 of BGU, just to level set where I’m at). I like your solos because you clearly have the “feel” for blues. I can play the notes, but I’m struggling on the feel. It is coming…slowly, but it is coming. Thanks for all that you do.
Good advice Griff. Part of that is or course in the old saying “Practice makes perfect”, however that is not the real full statement. It should always be states “Perfect practice makes perfect”, and even in that there is a supposition. For example ir you practice it ‘perfectly wrong’ that is the way your ‘subconscious’ will continue to play it thereafter. Practice ‘slowly’ at first and be sure you have both the correct notes (or chords) and in the correct tempo, or phrasing. ONLY, after that should you increase the tempo. AND on your first error, SLOW down again, and replay it properly, until you have it correct, at any speed you are playing. What you are really looking for is what is called ‘subconscious competency’ so that you don’t have to think about how to do it anymore, you only think ‘what’ and it happens. You want it to happen line a stack of dominoes, tip the first one and they all go down in the right order. That only happens when you play slowly, correctly, in time (rhythm), so that your ‘subconscious’ can acertain the nerve patterns and functions required to perform it correctly. How long does it take? That is somewhat indiividual! But no matter how long it takes, it is really worth it!
Good stuff as always Griff! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes
Thanks, that very helpfull.
How long do you repeat an exercise before the feel and memory works! I am sure it depends on the individual! However, it would be helpful to know how long it takes, in repetitions, for a pro to learn the feel! Just an estimate!
Thanks
This is one of those things I instantly know is true. I was working on right hand stuff and after about 2 hours my hand got in a position that produced the awsome tone this old martin classic can produce. thanks I will put this to good use.
Thanks a lot Griff.
effective suggestion!
Great performance: http://bluesguitarunleashed.com/battle-of-the-blues-round-1-winner/#
Giuseppe
After I posted, I was reading the other comments and some of them made me think of an interview I once saw with B.B. King. He said “Anybody can play the blues: the thing is. does anyone want to listen?” (hope I didn’t see that interview on here)
This is one of those things that it seems ike “I should have known that” but I had never thought of it in that way. I believe that this will change my practice pattern substantually. Thanks.
My wife calls the guitar ” the other woman “, when I’m picking the electric(unplugged of course) and watching TV . Watching the tube and picking is great , just be careful of the jealous wife syndrome !!!
thanks alot ! i forgot that concept for awhile . i was a drumming instructor for many yrs.and used that same plan !. good catch!. besides,—-I like watching tv or just spacing out for a while when i practice!!! thanks again,
Thanks. This is some very useful info.
And all along I thought I was the only one who drove my wife crazy playing during TV commercials. Thanks for restoring sanity to my marriage.
Hey Griff:
I agree with you assesment of practicing while watching TV. My main instrument is pedal steel and I wear my finger picks and have the bar in my hand constantly while watching the tube. The picks and bar are an extension of your hands.
I also have six string guitars all over the house and pick one up and play for a few minutes many times a day. The only place my wife won’t let me put a guitar is in the bathroom but I am working on that. Great lessons and you are an inspiration even for an old geezer like me.
Regards,
Lenny
You really have a gift of explaining things in a clear way. Thanks all the tips and advice.
Thanks Griff. Very helpful!
As in sports, finger (muscle) memory is important. As golfers hit the range for hours their muscles are learning to swing, but on the course it is a matter of using those skills through their brain. I find myself playing scales and songs come to mind, and before I know it time has passed and my fingers are doing all the work, and I’m along for the ride! PS I don’t do drugs! 🙂
Really, really Great tips there, Griff!! Thanks Bunches for this. Exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. Helped get me out of a funk. Hope you and yours have a safe, and fun summer. 🙂
Hey Griff, a timely reminder thanks, I was feeling a bit lost, this has put me back on track, thanks again..
Griff , I lost Muddy Waters created electcity somehow wil you resend it to me please I love that lesson it was my favorite of all
Hi Griff i came across a websight playing ragtime guitar and i am hooked! I have been practicing simple chord prgressions— C E7 A7 D7 G G7 C perhaps you could feature this style at this time and some tips thanks GUS
Thank you Griff, I do always appreciate all your help.
John
What is the best way to practice scales? Should I hit each note once, down and up the scale, and then twice, and try to increase the speed? I keep getting very frustrated.
Griff, This all makes sense to me. I have the BluesGuitar Unleashed DVD set and am enjoying it very much. I’ve learned quite a bit in just a couple of months. You may have covered the Major Scales in your beginner DVD set. However, the I chord of a blues, and the minor blues scale over the IV and V of a blues, I still need to learn. Do you have some E-mails that include these scales so I can pick them up and start practicing?
Hi Griff,
I just want to say thanks.I have been rockin for years.Love the blues but never really played them.
Have tried but never really got to grips with it.
You have changed that i am really enjoying you lessons/tips etc.
Griff thank you for expanding my playing it is invaluable.
Explained simply and clearly,thank you
top tip as usual
Hi Griff,
Thank you for the practicing tip , good advice, you explained it very well.
I find I can jam along with almost anything and get the meat of it, but the syncopation was not there for a while until I really dedicated a few minutes every day to it. Tonight I jammed along with Zack Wylde’s Book of Shadows, and got so much of it I am so excited I don’t think I will be able to sleep! Two months ago I would not have been able to grab onto this.
It has been exciting to be able to catch on to all these different styles. My favorite thing to practice to is random music. I don’t get a lot of that brain memory, but my finger memory is expanding exponentially with the daily playing. I can much better play by feel now than I could even a couple of months ago.
I started 16 months ago dedicating one minute a day to fitness lol and started doing pushups every day. I had been doing them a year when I decided to pick up another positive habit every day and decided on my guitar for an outlet. Now a yr and a half later, I have been invited to play with people who make real music, and suvived to be invited back again 🙂
It has been more fun than I can tell you to grow in these directions. 🙂 I always played some guitar, but now I am playing along with almost anything that comes along, and those blues riffs I sought after for so long are almost painfully slow now 🙂 Starting to jam on some faster stuff now indeed, and doing well enough to have the wife up beatin the tambourine and dancing!
Early in these lessons I caught one that said play it like you already know it and let your fingers catch up. Some of the best advice I ever got as a guitar student.
As my fingers are catching up, it has gotten exciting to the point I want to come home every night and jam.
Also make sure you have a tuner so you can play in key. That helps exponentially in finding the proper finger position. I tuned by ear for 25 yrs before I got a tuner and Griff here (and my own teacher) told me how to find the key to a song and opened up the whole world of music for me.
Thanks brudda 🙂
Memorize the twelve notes on the top two strings (The lowest ones) and then you will be able to find the key to any song.
Also remember that those 7 basic campfire chords have barchords that match them. Once you got that you can move on to majors and minors and open up even more cool stuff to play with and side notes to grab.
Didn’t mean to run on, but this is what I practice and it has done wonders for my playing in under 6 months.
Ya’ll hang in there and remember, playing guitar is like a learning a new language, first you pick up the letters, then the words, then the phrases, and suddenly you are puttin it together and running off at the mouth like I am now, cuz I am excited! Peace….
Make sure you have a good guitar, it will be more easy!
Practice, pratice and pratice…(I like it)
Hit the nail on the head.
Pratice. A little each day is a good recipe
Very interesting,thank you
Great insight Griff and applies to much of what we do in life. Keep up the good work you are a genius. Sending you all God’s blessings
God’s Cowboy, Rodger Coale
Griff this so true and the muscle memory really can kick in …..regardless of the song/tune. It’s the muscle tone and the soul tone as well.
Hey,
This is a great insight, thanks! I have been kind of approaching this realization for awhile, but this nails it! I’m impressed w/ your level of thought on teaching. Keep it up!
Also, I love your readers’ responses. This is a real sweet forum. Yay. Love your instrument–you betcha! That’s what it’s all about. Also, what can you do w/ one note–that’s the exercise of heart.
The only thing I’d add is, listen to some Bach sometime — it’s all there, the geometry of music. There’s nothing we do that he didn’t do already, almost 400 years ago!
This comment is for Scott the hard rocker. In the blues its not HOW MANY notes you play, its more like WHAT CAN YOU SAY WITH JUST ONE NOTE. Feel the progression, yup most times it’s still the same old I-IV-V 12 bar thang and some turnarounds, but place yourself and your innermost thoughts and feelings into the progression and remember the blues is really happy music, not that cryin’ in your beer thing that country does so well, or that pent up anxiety go balls to the walls thing hard rock does!!! Try going back to some Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley or Led Zeppelin and re-learn some blues rock. That might be easier for you ( u can still rock out). Try Bo Diddley’s song Roadrunner from the 60’s slow down and let it flow. Find a blues station on the car radio and leave it there until its imbedded in your bones. I got faith in you,You’ll get there! After all the more blues players we can get… the more fun we all have!
I concur Griff. It’s funny how the brain works. I can fumble fu*k around with something till it sucks so bad nobody could stand it, at that point I know its useless to try any more cuz my fingers aint gonna do what my brain is tellin’ em to do!!! But, somehow after sleepin’ on it, when I come back to it the next day, like magic my brain somehow has completed the circuit and my fingers have takin’ on a life of their own producing the exact ideas I was stumbling with yesterday. Sometimes I hate the way this works, and I can’t explain why it works, it just does.
This might sound a little wierd but love your instrument. Give it a hug. Whisper some sweet nothings to it. You might even want to kiss it. The point is – especially if you are a beginner – don’t be afraid of your guitar, it’s your best friend. Well, it works for me anyway! It helps me to relax I guess. ( Thats my excuse anyway ). Enjoy!
I have been playing hard rock, heavy metal for over 30 years…. why is it so hard for me to grasp the blues…..I thought it would be easy…. yet I feel retarted…. (let me explain) I am used to rifleing through chordial progressions… arpeggioes…. & so forth……. When I try to play blues… it is like a brain cramp….., how can I play like Garymore, or eric, C.
Thanks, this is really helping me to not be so hard on myself. I started learning at a late age and if it didn’t love guitar for many, many reasons, would have given up. I am so glad to have come this far, and am happy to have discovered your helpful Website. Wishing you good days.
Well Griff,again a jolly goog show,easy to understand and so right.
Griff………You have helped me so much. Just wish I could pick it up faster.
I think that your ideas are clarifying, meaningful and conducive to more creative playing. I have definitely experienced finger memory–I think that finger memory is also enhanced by our internal hearing which is important for melodic direction.
Thanks a lot. your advice for me has been been vere helpful.
JBJr.
All excllent points Griff ! and soo true…Thank’s for all the advice,tips and such!!
THANK YOU GRIFF AND THAT IS A GOOD PRACTICE SESSION CHEERS
Good advice and well explained, thanks Griff.
Hi Griff,
I have a similar experience when playing a song with one chord, I have to pinch myself to see if I”m awake ‘cos I’m somewhere else. I just seem to drift away. Maybe I get bored because it’s only one chord.
glad to keep hearing from you. It’s one of the good things.
Hi Griff, Just a note of thanks for all the lessons and insights you send us out here. Also, the videos from your field trips are great. Footnote question: Is that a Taylor acoustic in the background in some of your lesson videos?
Griff, Your 2 Kinds of Practice note is excellent insight into how the brain and nervous system work…I believe that kind of understanding is rare on a conscious level, though I guess many people learn things this way all the time without realizing it. Kudos to you for such insight!!
I have bin practicing E7, A7, and B7 I think I almost got it down my big truble is my 3rd and 4th fingers I keep holding my 4th way away from the strings so when its time to put them down its to slow or I miss the strings but I keep doing it over and over and its getting better. The more my fingers hurt the better the seem to work lol. My strumming sucks and what angle to hold the pick is now trouble ing. Could you do a closeup video of your pick hand angle while strumming
seems im always one step ahead of your ideas Griff . I was just thinking this last nite while praticing some old stuff that i needed to upgrade the way i was playing it .this is because ive been learning alot from you. Thus having better ways of playing stuff. I startied to drift to a better stage of playing and noticed my breathing was slowed and the brain said it needed more oxygen. point is dont forget to breath its very important otherwise you will drift off sooner and not making it thru the piece your playing very well.this is just my opinion and not to be taken to seriously folks . thanks to Griff for all that you have passed onto us all . later man. p.s. thoes guitar tab sites are not all cracked up to what it should sound like.
After 50 years of playing electric blues guitar I no longer “practice” per se. I guess my finger memory and brain memory work together somehow, because I am allways more or less free forming a “feeling” that comes from my emotional center. So most of the time, I get that “feeling” to come out regardless of what the notes appear. Bends, hammers, slides, swells, pulls, trills, muting, attack, sustain, bare fingers, pick, etc,. all are as important as the notes. Even silence to let the stuff breath is good.Metaphysics maybe? Very interesting, thank you.
You really have teaching down like no other instructor I’ve ever heard.
I often struggle to play unless I make a conscious effort to stop my brain ‘thinking’ too much and just let my fingers do the talking. If I think about it my fingers often stop playing!!!!
Its a bit like driving a car – you dont need to think about steering, shifting gear etc…. but you do need to remain conscious of the fact you are driving!!!
Maybe the trick is to learn how much brain attention is needed to keep your finger on the right track?
To All, This is perfectly correct its the exact same way that works for me and its slowly but surely.
I am just hoping that I become a good Guitarist before its too late?
Good stuff Griff. I have to attest to what your saying as being true even thought I didn’t realize what was happening when it was happening. (LOL)
I like your thinking, makes sense. I will relax my brain some and allow my fingers to learn by repetition without the pressure. Playing with the TV on will be on my list today. Thanks for your help, Griff
Hi Griff,
These practice tips help. It seems I am doing exactly that and didn’t know. I’m in the mindless stage at the moment. I’m doing scales, improvising over chords and then just playing a few songs in an old book. I have a few thing things going on in my life at the moment. Thats a distraction. Nothing new goes into my head. I need that mindless practice. No thinking . Just Playing. It was good to read these few words of advice.
Thanks Griff
Robbie
So true. Being a novice that plays by ear. I can listen to a song and pick out the notes, bars etc. I want to play. Dont ask me what they are cause I wouldnt have a clue. Thats when the memory kicks in and I listen and practice till I can simulate the same sound. I still dont know what chords or notes Im playing (if any) which may sound strange but Im usually pleased with results after trying several attempts.
One day Griff, your going to teach me true chords, notes, scales etc. so I can pull all this talent together. I still find your teaching methods the best for me to learn and practice from. Keep those email and videos and any suggestions coming.
Leo (alias “Determined”)
thanks Griff. You are an amazing professor. I bought 2 other courses just so i can pick-up and feed my brain more, but i have to laugh for reasons i can’t disclose. However; one i feel should be shipped to the moon and i’ll leave it there. I and many others alike pay our money for the purpose to learn, read and play music the right way. Anyway, i’ve learned more with you than all combined. I started playing electric guitar in 1968, and even played in a couple of bands. Just never learrned to read music, most of us poor back in the days and no computers we learned by ear. Anyway, you’re the best and i’m sticking with you. I’m serious about learning this right and i have little time for games. Now retired, i’m going to do this if it’s the last psssion i do on earth. thanks, ron! disabled veteran. Serious about my Rock music.
Thanks for the information. I find with music you really can’t ever stop learning and you will never know it all. I have the blues guitar unleashed videos and they are great. I am advancing through it at a slooow pace. I pick up the guitar and turn on the video and then think of something I need to learn for the next gig. My field is country music but when I’m just picking around I’m playing the blues and I enjoy that very much. I always look forward to your e-mails and always learn something from them. Thanks again
Everyday I work spider drills for finger memory. I work with a metronome. my goal is to get to 200 beats a minute. I work up and down the neck. THen I practice the riffs I know and work on chord combos. then I work on learning something new.
The last paragraph sums up what I have always believed and gone with, the brain has sponged up for that time frame all it’s going to just like when I eat too much, it’s time to put the fork down and digest what I’ve eaten. Same for learning guitar, digest what I’ve learned, then come back when I feel the hunger pangs kicking up again.
Thanks Griff for this informative reminder! Have a great day!
Thanks Griff for the input. I am a drummer having played for for over 40 years (yikes!) and I know this to be true. It is the same as approaching drumming skills. You practice playing rudiments (scales,licks) untill you are able to play them without total concentration because at a certian point you can just use them to make music. It is like developing muscle memory to the point that you now no longer need to think about the mechanics of what your playing you just play it and your brain is at a point where you are thinking about the music, dynamics, feel, groove , and listening to the other players in order to blend. I use this same concept in developing my guitar skills. I was not aware that others had the same approach so this is a nice bit of confirmation that I am on the right track. Thanks again Griff.
thanks Griff I just learned something new Love your tips and triks very helpful already have the blues package and its great
Rohn
I memorized a few licks from a Keith Wyatt cassette tape more than 15 years ago. Even though I can’t really “play guitar”, as soon as I pick one up those riffs just come out as if I knew what I was doing.
Mark
This is what I’m finding in my learning process. In fact I find that once my fingers have learned something, if I watch what they are doing I muck it up. So it might take a lot longer but my fingers are now in control of the fret board and my brain (what’s left of it) creates the music. I suppose it’s a bit like a ship, the captain knows where the ship is going but without the engine room, the mechanical bit, it’s go nowhere,
Hmm maybe not, who heard of a ship playing the blues?
Thanks griff,Now I know why Im having so much trouble,I need a new brain ha. and possibly think of a way to get old man artherities to take a one way trip. Len.p.s. I can’t decide which guitar I like to play more the j-160 or the 339..
Good stuff Griff ! I didn’t know it but thats how I already practice, I can chill out and noodle around without my brain in gear, next time I pick up my fingers seem to have a mind of their own ! Then I engage the brain and pick out a new lick or chord to practice. I’m too old to be a rock star! But since I invested in BGU, my ability and inspiration has increased no end ! Thanks and keep the tips coming… Robert. Gold Coast Australia
Hi Griff:
Excellent explanation of the two kinds memory. Some people call “finger” memory “muscle” memory. But in either case – you hit the nail on the head. There are times when frustration will come with both types of learning. Being able to recognize when that is and to change up at that point is definitely key.
Thanks for all the groovy material and your continued support!!
John
I have been playing for some time but it is not structured. What do you suggest to get structure yet still have fun learning?
Thanks for the practicing tips.I find myself starting out practicing bar chords and when I can’t get them to sound right,I find myself going to things I find easier to play.
Hi Griff,,,
Just to say thanks for your help,,,!
Stay Well
trying to learn basic blues solo sounds but on your own and with limited time its not easy.
great stuff
Oh sooooo true thanks griff
I’ve played for many year and you’re right Griff. It happens to all of us. Love your emails by the way. Very helpful.
Very useful info.
Thanks.
ANDREW.
Griff,
Never thought of it that way.
Your so right.
Thanks ,
Larry
It’s totally true, and great to think about it in these terms. As Edward De Bono describes, our brains are self-organising systems which only work by making certain tasks automated in order to free up space for us to learn new things and be creative. So the finger learning is about forming a habit so we no longer need to think about what our hand is doing, then you have the space and capacity to work on the next concept, idea, or pattern.
Thank you for the information. I really enjoy your e-mails. Again thank you.
Thanks Griff, you always come up with the great licks and were we should be playing on the neck
of the Guitar can’t wait to see more.
Hello Griff,
This is a first time for comments. I never look at it the way you just presented
finger and brain memory. I did what your saying but did not realize that others had this
same situation. Thank you for making it clear.
Moha
I try to practice with a metronome and running a linux distro I plug in to a usb port with an Edirol UA-25 and plug my axe into an input on the Edirol and monitor the output with headphones. It’s nice cause only I can hear how bad I am. FYI, I have to convert the mp3’s to wav files for the Ardour/Harrison Mixbus project but then import the wav files and then I can set marks to queue up my timing and even record when I’m getting close to getting it. I posted a question in the article on blues tricks, slurs, tweedlies, etc., on what timing to use with the metronome to subdivide beats for practicing triplets, sextuplets and other faster riff’s to get it right technically and check my brains interpretation of what the fingers are doing and my ears are hearing. Any tips on subdividing a 12/8 to practice the faster triplets, sextuplets, or any faster slurs, phrases, etc. Most metronomes allow you to set an emphasis on the beat and if I knew the timing, tempo, bpm, of a faster riff with triplets, sextuplets, slur, tweedlie, etc., it would help the technical part, which helps the fingers learn I would think… I can get close by ear and maybe the blues doesn’t lend itself well to metronome practice given it’s inclination to start/stop a bar on other than beat 1 or even on a typical upstroke…Any advice or pointer to resources, Murnahan’s lesson on metronome deals mostly with speed but it’s helped.
Keep it coming, your work is simply awesome. Starting on the supplement course now, I think I get the Major/Minor sound for box 1, box 2 and can’t wait to find out how to use boxes 3-5 and stop ‘thinking in the box’ as the course describes.
-bc
Thanks for the great tip Griff. I’ve always found it easier to learn two new songs at a time… Now I know why… 😉
Griff,
I am having a big problem with listening to the backing track(s) and trying to be in time with the chord changes during my practices. I’m an advanced beginner and having a ball with guitar but this is bumming me out. Any suggestions on how to improve that skill set. I’m willing to start from scratch if that is what it takes…
A-Gee
That’s so right Griff. Same thing in learning a sport – i coach tennis ; muscle memory is such a big factor in honing a players technique. Perfect repetition of a stroke produces good technique which the body employs automatically in a match without the brain having to think about how to perform it. Great tuition by the way. Thanks alot.
Great concept, never thought of it that way before but it does work.
Thanks again,
Hi Griff,
a couple years ago, I bought your coarse before BGU when it was playing through the blues. It completely re-invented the way I play blues. I knew all the pent patterns but now I know how to use them and it just sounds great. I used to wish I could play like this and now I do. Just wanted to say THANK YOU and keep the great tips and tricks coming.
Shawn.
Griff;
I just ordered your course and hope it will help with the brain part. Being in my 50’s, the brain just doesn’t retain like it used to. I already know the 5 minor pentatonic positions w/”blue notes” inside out, upside down and backward. My fingers are defiantly fast enough so that’s not an issue. My biggest problem is, when improvising, EVERYTHING I play sounds like I’m only playing scales.. (OK- Almost everything)((hehehe)) After a while I just get bored listening to myself and just play rhythm and some nice open chord songs from the old days.
From your introduction I can say, I like your straight forward no bull teaching style. At my age, I’m not looking to “wow the crowds”. I just want my ole tele to make me smile like it did 40 years ago when I learned the open “G” chord… (yup, I still have the same guitar I got for Christmas when I was 12.) I wish I had the Teisco Del Ray I got when I was 10 but that’s long gone…..
-Paul
Hi Griff, i had a stroke two years ago. I can’t strum anymore but I can play if i let my fingers do the walking. a grate tip and one that is so true. I can’t remember lyrics and play full chords but picking single strings just plain defeats me so i stick to down strums and whatever comes out that’s it for me. funny thing, still sounds like music. must be the guitar. jf
Makes sense, and takes some pressure off trying force the brain.
I just had this happen to me on a solo where I got frustrated keeping my strumming hand going and doing a syncopated solo. You are so right, I just said “I’ll come back to this later”. To try to keep going would of only made it worse.
Brain and fingers..fingers and brains..for sure it takes lots of concentrated practice to remember necessary fingerings …muscle memory kicks in once the brain breaks it all down…I find it best to work on small pieces at first without tempo just to get the notes down. Repeated movements are the key with “watching the fingers”..my brain goes into cruise mode once the saturation point is reached . That’s when I go back to familiar classical licks otherwise any more time spent is just wasted time. A prime example is working on the major and pentatonic scales….work on memorizing the patterns instead of the frets to play for each scale…it seems to work for me until I get a brain freeze!
Yeh Griff, that sure enough is true, if only I had enough brain memory to remember the lyrics of the songs that I play ain’t that sayin’ it. The hands and fingers know where to go and do their stuff but if I have to sing along, I get as far as half way through the first verse than it’s hummin’ all the rest of the way. Keep up with the basics, too many are forgotten along the way.
Great article as usual Griff. People always complain they dont have enough time to practice but then you find them staring at the tv watching the same commercials over and over. Time efficiency!
it’s a long time I’m just coming into my own
This made me feel better about practicing in front of the TV….now if I can only get my wife to buy in…later.
cowboy
Griff
Thanks for the reminder.
Roger
I already knew this from a book i studied a long time ago but had forgotten the concept. Thanks for the reminder.
Intresting way of breaking it down although I find technique is very useful You can play notes all day its where you bend them and give some vibratoe with a few pull offs that gives the feel. I am just a harmonica player, but I picked up the guitar a few years back and found you can integrate memory you can practice technique I can’t wait to finally put the two together. Thanks for all the tips
Thanks griff, I have been having a hard time finding ways to improve. I will try it and let you know. Thanks again
Cool. To is good to know that the exact things I am experiencing is what others do as well. Yes, I have mindlessly sat if front of the TV running scales and wondered if I was doing any good. Thanks for the encouragement to continue to do so. Now, if I could figure out a way to read a book and run the scales, I would be in fat city. It is the turning of the pages that get in the way. I have a big issue with time and it appears no amount of practice carries until the next practice. Is it possible that I just can’t count and strum at the same time, much like walking and chewing gum ? Am I missing something here?
I was moving smartly through the “unleashed” course when I realized I was just not getting the time thing. So I stopped and began trying to play everything I’ve learned (all the back to Hideaway Blues, Little Mary’s Lamband some strum accompanyments for stuff like Sitting on the Eyed gDock of the Bay, Political Science, Brown Girl and the like) perfectly against the metronome. This seems to be the hardes thing for me and I am not there yet. I have some ideas for a set time etudes that I’ll share with you later.
I was movig smartly through the “unleashed” course when I realized I was just not getting the time thing. So I stopped and began trying to play everything I’ve learned (all the back to Hideaway Blues, Little Mary’s Lamband some strum accompanyments for stuff like Sitting on the Eyed gDock of the Bay, Political Science, Brown Girl and the like) perfectly against the metronome. This seems to be the hardes thing for me and I am not there yet. I have some ideas for a set time etudes that I’ll share with you later.
Griff,
Replied the other day and thanks again. How about showing us a little Memphis Train kind of lick.
Your friend…Gary
griff ive picked up some pretty cool tips from you my friend ,smiles god bless ya ,,,your definitly ,,the easiest person ,ive ,ever listened to and i appreciate the fact your really teaching and not showing every 1 how great you are ,smiles like most ppl do,,ive several bad habits ,never had a lesson ,,cant read music ,,but i feel it ,,and once in a while ,the lord smiles at me ,and allows me to let it fly ,,,smiles ,,,but to tell you the truth there are only a few licks i,m really interested in learning,,,and since i cant read music i guess its going to just have to show itself to me in time ,,,thanks for all you do ,,,i have every lesson you have ever sent me ,,and i appreciate it ,,alot ,,wonderful week to ya bro
Griff, you are one of the best blues players and instructors that I know of, keep up the good work, good luck with all of your endeavors.
soooo, true,, as I watch your lesson videos,, my fingers are already mimicking your play,, and my brain is focusing on what you are saying,,,, I usually hear while watching that the notes are matching what I am watching.. when I then watch my fingers,,, I screw up and have to start over, several times,,, after the practice,, I see the fretboard in my “mind’s eye” and see fingers playing the notes,,, everybody isssss different… the next day practice again starts with my left hand already going to position to play this again… cool !! Keep up the good work,, I have decided to buy your dvd package very soon,,, SOLD !!!
It struck me funny to playing in front of the TV, right up until I tried it. All that bad news on the tube and me playing scales, both major, and penetonic scales will the pres gave us bad news and my finders just gliding over the fret board.It is like playing with your eyes closed in a darkened room. As for the mental gymnastics I use the fried brain technic. When I am building a boat I pull back and STOP when I notice my fine cuts are not or when I need to walk a way and smell the flowers again. Same Same with Guitar Technic pull back breath and maybe walk away for a time of play songs that sooth by brain. I am a beginner student but the day of my first lesson I was told to breath it was like my first martial arts class. Thanks for reminding me of that the head and fingers are connected and moth have to be exercised.
I had kind of stumbled onto this brain fade thing already, and would finish my practice just playing something I already had down, but was new enough to still be interesting AND feeling lame about my perceived lack of commitment. Maybe this can be structured a bit, and more productive than I had thought.
great idea for a new course… how to target notes to nail chord changes, put me down to buy one now.
I understand the thought process…I just don’t agree with practicing while watching TV ! I mean really…when you’re playing a gig…is someone talking to you about the weather…or did that really happen?…No…if you pick up your instrument you should focus your energy there and not the TV
It should be the Tele or whatever your favorite slab of wood may be.
Interesting comments on the left/right brain thing and learning/playing sober or not. I’m sure you’ve all experienced trying to re-learn a song/part you used to play, but now just can’t remember. Then next time you try it, your fingers play it without you! Similarly, take a song/part you know quite well and play regularly. Try to sit down and write the Tab for it without having a guitar in your hands. Can’t do it, right? Amazing stuff. Thanks, Griff.
Griff, your lessons are very well designed.
However, when I get to your solos, I find that the
rhythm is very complex for me and as a result I
do not work on the solos. Can you provide
some solos which have an easier rhythm.
Thanks,
With me it take 3 days for the brain to get it and I’m always surprised when it happens-the magic moment. Here are some tips that I have discovered through the years.
I find some songs that I like and then find one that is within my ability (with some stretching). I will either find it on youtube or purchase the DVD lesson and tabs. Eventhough I have the tabs,(1) I find if I write out the tabs my brain absorbs quicker. I also learn the licks in (2) small sections, bar by bar and if I get stuck I just move on because no need to get frustrated–I call it the “give up point”. After I have gone through the entire piece I will go back and work on the licks that are the most difficult. I use to start at the beginning and play until I hit the roadblock lick and then go back to the beginning which meant I had an unbalance learning technique. (3) Nail the hard parts first and the others will come along at the same time. If you play the piece and it sounds messy, shelve it for awhile and work on something else but come back to it at regular intervals. You should be able to (4) play the same lick 10 times without a flaw (in front of the TV) and a complete song 3 times without a mistake–you are ready to perform. To be good at anything, it takes 10,000 hours or ten years of practice–you don’t have time to play computer games–play music.
I am an almost completely retired 70 y/o who works now and then when I feel like it. I am all self taught on the guitar and have been what I call, “playing at it” for many years now. I have finally decided to bite the bullet and take guitar lessons since I am now in an area where I can do so. I have all the books, CDs, DVDs, etc. for another lifetime, but still have not advanced much above the third fret until now. My teacher is a very knowledgeable 26 y/o who is willing to teach me what I want to learn, which is to play more above the third fret, chord/melody with bass lines, so I can play some of the old classic standards without using a capo. I believe that paying for lessons will motivate me to take practicing seriously, which I have not been doing, and allow me to learn and advance since I will have a lesson to complete every week, so I now have accountability. I do understand the two types of practices outlined here, and now find it fun to sit on the couch in front of the TV with my unamplified Tele and just finger practice what I’ve been given for my lesson. Altho I play primarily acoustic guitar, I believe that if I can learn on the Tele which is much easier to play, I should be able to transfer my finger knowledge to my acoustic with just a little more effort and/or finger pressure. I know everyone is different in how they learn and what works best for them, but I really think that having a teacher to help correct some of the bad habits I’ve made over the years, and having a weekly assignment which I am responsible for is the best way for me to learn and advance in my guitar playing…for whatever it’s worth……
I don’t know what to practice, or how to begin practice. Never paid any attention, until now when I’m tired of not knowing how to play. Your remarks have moved me to just begin – and to remember to include both types of practice.
Thanks Griff: That explains a lot for me because it is exactly what I have experienced…. my conclusion was that I had reached the “end of my learning ability” I am a senior but have never given up on being able to play the blues. I purchased your system and find it very helpful and relevant to my type of learning. My problem is I don’t always get consistent practise and play time. We are grandparents with four children grown and it seems I am always either with my grandchildren or helping a son build a shed or fix a plumbing problem LOL. Maybe winter will see more time. But this article has removed a lot of my frustration now that I know what is happening I can move on to something else without feeling I failed or lacked commitment.
Thanks
Wib
I could not agree more Griff! I am analytical, science-trained kinda guy for my “real” job – tooth carpentry! So when I try to apply my study habits to guitar, I sometimes get frustrated because, like you said, your brain says, “Hey you, enough already! I could use a beer!” That’s when I’ll do exactly what you said: Play a “friendly” lick/scale/idea over and over again to keep the fingers going! GOOD WORK as always Griff.
hi griff–yea good stuff eventhough some ot it is common sense.I lookin for good intro tab to Dylan s classic–Mr tambourine Man as done by the Byrds
Trying to be consistent when play the songs that I do
Trying to be consistent when Iolay the songs that I do
Seems funny to see it put in words like this…. since that’s the way it’s always worked for me. Nice to know it’s not just a cop-out to take a break & come back to the “brain-stuff” later. I too like to jam to a few backing tracks for a break….. puts the fun back into learning/practising & reminds me what it’s all about, especially when some of the newly learned stuff creeps into the improvisation & you think… “Wow that sounds a bit cool” :o). Thx.
as a dancer we refer to what you call finger memory as muscle memory
another way to think of it is when your driving you dont think when you go to change gear or to apply the brakes your brain says do it but your muscles actually store the knowledge of how to
Great comments! They help a lot!!!
Kind of agree Manhatten Mark, but, have you watched and listened to Gerry Reed on stage, shall we say “a bit worse for wear”on quite a few occasions, plays better “sober” but not as much fun!!!
I think that your all thinking to much. Just play and have a good time, because the more you play the better you get. the gonz
that is good info, i was doing good on guitar but my left shoulder got herting i laid it dound,but i have pick it back up i have your starter blues&blues unleashed.
my timing has never been good thank you
Good article Griff! I am a player returning to guitar and banjo after many years of barely picking one up. Reviewing techniques and theory I knew many years ago is definitely retraining the brain.
Now when I have been working on something for a while and begin to feel the “space out” you mention I switch up to simply picking a well known tune. I usually go for something very basic, a hymn, a campfire song, something my brain simply knows the melody of. I play it for a few rounds on the guitar, then switch over to the banjo or maybe mando for a few verses. I have been trying to let the brain simply hear the melody and try not to think about where the fingers go, just let them find their way. This seems to have really helped my progress, now when my mind thinks of simple adaptations of the basic melody my fingers seem to follow without having to construct specific steps. I should mention that I play folk, american roots, and folk rock primarily. I started claw-hammer banjo a little over a year back and just picked up a mando to noodle around on as well. Thanks for your articles, I have picked up much from them.
Chris Cooper, Comerce Michigan
Having just read through the other comments …. Here’s something to think about….
(Triggered by Anthony Ingoglia’s comments)
There may be rebutle comments following who knows BUT….
As long as we’re talking about the …Brain.. Something to ponder….
I had heard once that you learn things better and recall them better sober. If you learn something in a sober mode you will remember and recall it better in a sober mode. If you learn something in an intoxicated mode you will recall it better in an intoxicated mode. (BUT.. NOT AS WELL…) If you love music and play out you’ll already know it’s best to be intoxicated by the music it’s its own intoxicant. And.. although you may think it sounds better in an intoxicated mode… (Well just listen critically.. and sober… to a recording of something you’ve done live or on stage…) Everyone is different .. I understand that… but this bitty of information leaves us all with food for thought… Thanks Anthony .. Zzzzzzzz…..
Great info Griff, if you then add variations of an “idiots list” to you practice routines, it sometimes makes life easier on the brain memory.
Practice in my mind, practice on the fretboard. I find myself after a new ditty or progression that my brain after a while will “see” the notes” on one hand, and also my pick hand. Your’e right, give it a rest, and let your motor skills get in synch with your head. As for mindlessly exersizing while the tube is on, isn’t it cool how you can pick up all those little phrases and can work on your timing with those silly commercials?
Never thought of it broken apart that way Griff…. I have found the TV thing helpful though.. Thanks
Great idea… Thank’s, that helps to not get frustrated and less pressure on what to do when practicing.
Re: “Watching TV and practicing at the same time is NOT good advice”
This article refers to brain memory not the “finger” memory that Griff talks about in blog. Gonna give TV practicing a shot. Thanks Griff.
Those in their sixties feeling old or discouraged may recall the learning resources available when we were young: the radio; a chord book; sheet music if you could afford it, and when you got it you could understand only the basic chord symbols and the words to the song; guitar lessons – forget it.
Now we have best guitar tutor in the world virtually living at home. We’re in guitar heaven – stick at it and you’ll be playing better than ever.
“you can improvise with the major blues scale over the I chord of a blues, and the minor blues scale over the IV and V of a blues.” …… thanks…… I was just trying to work out what box to play in order to move from minor to major…… and I think it’s wrapped up in that quote from your article…… I’ll try it out and see….
Thanks Griff I was wondering if that was normal. because befor pratice or some times after pratice! I like to play some stuff I already know songs and some scales, Still learning every note on the neck some times I zone out normal Iguess so thanks for that info
Sure you right Griff! I find I can teach myself more than I can play, or put another way, learn more than I can execute. What you’re saying here helps me to recognize the bipolarization of learning almost ANY instrument. I plan to listen more to my hands and fingers from now on.
I think my fingers have alzheimer’s and another part of my anatomy is telling my brain what to do! Any advice?
Thanks Griff. Explains a lot. Time to work on that finger memory.
Davy
Hi Griff,
Just like everybody’s got their own way of practice. I close my eyes and picture a target I am shooting at and I just keep on doing that on each box until I learn the box. And then I will apply my fingers to the guitar. It’s working alright, but I seems to be a slow process. But it is coming along. In otherwise, my memory isn’t that good and this helps me. Maybe it will help someone else.
PS. I got that while I was in Service. Thanks for the lessons. I appreciate all that I get.
LARRY
re:TV Practice. I re-started my guitar work/playing, a couple years ago when I’d bought Dan Denley’s course, then found myself working of Griff’s freebees, I bought Griff’s Blues Guitar Unleashed. Both guys are very gifted, so I can’t say which one I prefer, tho I do get alot more use out of the BGU forums.
Not long after my guitar playing rebirth, I went and picked up a “banger guitar” that I have kept in a stand next to my TV lazy boy chair ever since. I just read Keith Richard’s autobiography, a real walk down memory lane, and after he talked about his Open G tuning being the secret to the Stone’s sound, I retuned that guitar and am working on some new stuff. I found the opening chord to “Sister Morphine”, a chord that has always eluded me. I have my Epi Special ll on the same rack, w/a small Fender practice amp. It comes as NO surprise, how much practice at scales, major and minor, one can get into a couple hours of commercial TV. The good thing is, I can watch a lesson on DVD, the spend many a commercial practicing it. The doget into my fingers. My brain? Ya gotta have one…
Funny you should send this out today,because just yesterday I discovered something about my guitar playing.I guess I’ve really known it all along,but this article got me thinking.While I’m playing I’m often thinking too much,trying too hard.My musical ear isn’t as good as I’d like it to be,so I use a lot of tab.I sweat and often get frustrated and give up.Later I’ll pick up the guitar and just start playing what I had learned from the tab without really even thinking about it.I guess this is my finger memory at work.Thanks for the heads up Griff!Yesterday I got a G-Dec to use for a while.I was alone in the house so all was quiet.I picked out a beat I liked and started playing some lead to it,without much success. I kept it up,and before long I was in my own little world,playing things I did not know I was capable of.I had spaced out,my fingers had taken over.Next time I’ll record it so I can hear what I played while I was in the zone.Thank you Griff for your E-mails,I’ve learned a lot from you.
yeah MY BRAIN IS ALWAYS TELLING MY FINGERS WHAT TO DO .BUT DO THEY LISTEN? SOME TIMES. HAHA . YES YOUNG GRASS HOPPER TOTAL CONCENTRATESION THANKS GRIFF GOOD BLOG IS THIS RIGHT?
Gee That makes a ton of sense. looking back two years ago when I started playing, way to much thinking with fingers on steriods,100 miles and hour on a long road to nowhere. Now every chord progression or juiced up scales I want to play at any given time, I will practice for ten minutes twice a day until I can do it in my sleep. Patience is my friend, lack of, is suffering. I learned everything from the internet, but most of that was from Griff. I feel like I have a secret imaginary friend always dropping a special something to learn or practice off on my door step. I did buy Griffs Beginning blues guitar DVD package when I first started, I was in over my head, but now I’m really enjoying the disks. First my fingers and brain had to learn to work out there differences without arguing. I know so many people that tried guitar for a month then it became a yard ornament or closet fixture. Thanks Griff Hamlin for the subtle encouragement you gave me when i was ready to through in the towel. At age 55 my grand boys age 9&4 are enjoying listening to grandpa belt it out, They each have a little learning guitar now. Your an incredible guitar teacher and inspiration to all that need the little missing parts of the puzzle. You have friends you don’t even know ~ Sincerely Mike
Don, I’m 67 and have had similar thoughts – I don’t think I’ll have the time to be a terrific guitar player but, I really enjoy learning to play. I do it for myself because I enjoy the doing of it. Griff makes it easy and fun since I’m learning things I want to play…not Twinkle Twinkle…
Makes sense to me. I have noticed alot when I am in deep thought that my fingers are playing on their own. And to be honest, it sounds more sweeter when I am not fully concentrating on what i am playing. Good article. Very good!
My basic problem is one that has to do with age. I am 60 years old and I feel that I have lost the best years for learning the guitar and the motivation. I started playing when I was 15 and this was before Many of the well known players in guitar history. At this age I am to old to join a rock band or all of those dreams of the road. I set the guitar aside for many years and decided at my retirement to start again because I have a very deep love for music and all things. In short at what age should you just admit that there is not enough time left to learn all that you need, when you see some kid in his twenties just blowing the roof off? In the end the heart of a blues man never dies.
It’s simple concept and I just never put it together.
I’m an old man and have been involved in music in one way or another for over 60 years. Memory, brain or finger, is a lot like building muscle or finishing cement. You can only take either to a certain point until a period of ‘leave-it-lone and let it be’ is necessary before damage is done. I can’t count the number of time I would work myself into a sweat trying to learn a piece from a sheet of music, memorize a long sonata or preparing for a gig. Most of the time I would quit out of fatique and desperation. Maybe not even try again til the next day or sometimes even a week later. When I would pick up my instrument again, things that had seemed almost impossible to me, just fell into place. Even the piece of sheet music that was hard to read suddenly had notes as large as nickles. Everything needs a rest or regeneration period before its ‘cured’ and ready to use. If we listen to griff we will all learn to play. Even tho he doesn’t emphasize theory, its in every explination and in every video he makes. I’m going to put a littlt plug in for the other guy I like, Marty Schwartz. Colleges do not have any more to offer than these two. Good on both of you. I have learned more in 9 month listening to you and taking your courses than I did in 40 years of “”structured music lessons””. The double quates are for emphasis. I never learned theory so if I was in the middle of a 15 page receital I had memorized, and lost my place, I was lost with nowhere to turn. I had never heard the word pentatonic in all my years. Trust me when I say what Griff is telling you in all things is the gospel truth and is meant for one thing, and thats to make a better guitar player out of you. But not just guitarists. I wish I had of had these things available to me when I was playing accordion and sousaphone.
Thanks! That makes sence. I can wait till this becomes easy.
Thanks Griff. We all need a reminder to organise and get the best out of our time. Cheers. Les.
I think even pros practice too, thats how they get that perfect sound theyre looking for, and If they are doing it for the money, well that seems to be a hinderance, you have to do it cause you love it and then you can love money, women and everything else the come with fame. I talk like I know but I dont know what its like to be famous but I always love when people dance and have a good time, to me thats a great reward.
Oh so true Jimmie Carroll: “In other words-Amatuers practice until they get it right-Professionals pratice until they can’t do it wrong.”
Im sorry I cant directly reply to someof you guys. If you dont mind a tip from a middle aged man with enough confidence to play in front of any crowd, I would get into a groove in E to A the throw in a G or B7, and make it sound like U2’s “Desire”, but it is difficult to sing to. Maybe E,A,D and sing, “What I like about you” you can always throw a nasty solo in either mimicing the harp, you know, Rock on Christian soldiers!!!
In other words-Amatuers practice until they get it right-Professionals pratice until they can’t do it wrong.
One more thing to add. Don’t ever tell anyone that you are a bad or mediocre player! Because you are really telling yourself and your mind and body are listening! Self talk should always be positive! If someone asks you if you’re any good just say “I’m working on it”. Never say “no I’m not very good!”. Positive thinking and self-talk is very helpful in building confidence and skill.
Good luck to all,
Walt
You see, I was close, if you got my 1st messege I guessed what the 2nd form of practice would be and i said rythme. (Brain memory) with a 1,4,5 progression. It is so neglected these days, you must have a groove the play a lead over, kids dont get it now a days. Peace,
PS not all kids of course, I see some real talent with song playing on some youngsters.
For me, I struggle with the what should I play thing? But Griff you are so right, the fingers learn something by doing it over and over and over again. Wish my brain worked as well as my fingers!
Great tip! I’m very glad to read it. I’ve often wondered about this very subject!
Thanks,
Walt
I think it may be something to do with left and right side of the brain. I am no expert. When we are consciously trying to learn something we are using the right side of the brain – eventually with repetition it will move to the left side of the brain and become automatic. Think of learning to ride a bicycle – at first it is difficult and all you conscious mind is aimed at trying to balance and get the thing moving. When the skill is learned – you don’t have to think about it at all – it becomes automatic.
One bad thing is that the brain sometimes substitutes the right notes and sounds when you are playing the wrong ones or playing badly. I find that recording and really critical listening is important to overcome this one. Thanks for you observations – they are useful and stimulating
To add to Griff’s accurate analysis of memory, it has been recently discovered that SLEEP helps memory (both brain and fingers). If one were to practice to the level of brain fatigue, rest and then re-practice then get tested. Then again practice to brain fatigue, get tested, sleep through the evening and get tested again, they do better after the sleep then before. It actually works with repetition activities also. They think the brain actually rehearses during sleep making the connections necessary to learn concepts and repetition activity. They actually do BETTER the next day. In other words, continuous practice has its limitation in effect. Wow, that’s why that “all-nighter” study methods I used in school stunk. I’m a retired biologist.
@ Avery T. Horton, Jr. aka TheRumpledOn I just read that study about multi-tasking. I think it is more about doing two mentally challenging tasks, NOT tasks involving finger memory. The fingers DON’T care what your mind is doing. What if you multi-task while smoking weed?};-,>
I just wanted to say ” Thanks “. The emails you have taken the time to send have given me life. I’m disabled, and can’t afford to buy the course, but all the tips and lessons you give for free have been a Godsend. They brought life back into my world! I used to just plink around and pick up once in a blue moon. Now I have something to look forward to every day. Thank you so very much! Peace
Today I had the same questions that you just answered! Inspiring new knowledge you just gave me. THX!
auto-pilot is where I spend most of my playing time , but when the brain decides to join in , well, you all know that feeling . exciting when you leard something new and go back to auto-pilot with a lick or chord or even a nice clean bend to add to your sound . You are a good teacher ,Griff . Thank you
When I played clarinet, I got to the point where I wasn’t naming the notes in my head–my fingers just knew what to do. That enabled me to play FAST. Now I’ve taken up guitar (at the ripe old age of 53), and my fingers don’t know what to do yet. This blog entry was helpful in that it reminded me that what is required for one’s fingers to just DO is lots and lots of (sometimes mindless) practice. I’m off now to practice scales in front of the TV. ;–)
I have been trying to play for the longest!! I just can’t seen to get it , had a instructor once but he wanted me to go to swift! I just need to know the simplist way to learn and yes I do practice.
Can anyone help me? I need to know how to play before march 2012.
Watching TV and practicing at the same time is NOT good advice
http://max.limpag.com/article/multi-tasking-worse-than-marijuana-intoxication/
Hey Griff,
Thanks for all the help. I have been at the guitar for a few years, pretty much chords/country. Always wanted to learn some blues. Your site has helped so much. I spent this past few months with Clapton’s Layla and you are so right… the fingers need repitition, slow and steady at first. I now have Layla and others pretty much nailed after tons of hours on those scales and incredible solos! Thanks again for the help here in eastern Canada.
Joseph
Thanks Griff,
The more I spaced out, the harder I tried to concentrate. Now I realize it’s better move on to something else and come back to it later. I always thought it was just me. Thanks for the help.
Makes sense to me…thanks!
Griff,
Getting ready to practice with my band at 6:30 p.m. EST. I agree with everything you say and let’s take it to another level. If I’m learning a new lead or chord progression I go to sleep at night going over it in my head note by note or chord by chord as if I were really playing and it amazes me how much better I remember it the next day. THANKS GRIFF!!!
Gary
wow very well spoken thanks
Mind- fingers, only one brain?
Sounds complicated.