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Uncharted territory!
Been trying to post less in here lately- but I just have to post these THREE small wins.
Maybe others will read them/ maybe they’ll help someone. Go figure.
1. Using printed lyrics, I recorded myself singing- (just on my laptop). I doubt I can blame the “sound quality” on the laptop🤔, but it actually sounded better than I thought it would- (wait-what?). It was a song I really like and have been working on lately- (“Someone” by Aaron Lewis).
Anyway- if you’ve never done this- wait till you have an empty house- and let ‘er rip!
Replay yourself and you can instantly HEAR the little points to give more or less of this or that- (volume, tone, nasally, super-clear pronunciation, etc). Even if it’s not great singing—— it’s INSTANT feedback. Who cares?😀I made 4 different run-throughs of the entire song- and could pick-out the things I did better- (and worse) with each. Feedback, baby.
2. For those who don’t do it or never have, try throwin’ a strap on your guitar- (mine was years old…. but brand new🙄), and play STANDING UP.
It is VERY different than sitting & playing….. Very.
I had tried it about a year ago for ~ 5 minutes- once….. ugh…..
Well, today I did it again. And I liked it! And I think I did pretty good, too. Well– fair.
Funny, I did OK just standing still, but it seemed easier walkin’ around the house while just-a-playin’-away– (it was a pretty easy song by memory). It must’ve been quite a sight!
Anyway, I had simplified the chord progressions……. it went WAY better than I thought it would! Pumped about that.
3. So…. just as TAC’s lessons sometimes build on each other…. you can maybe guess what happened next….. (this is my “edit”)– I stood- (or walked around)……… and played…… and sang!
Well, the first 20 mins or more weren’t pretty- except pretty fun!
But the next half hour or so was maybe a little better…. Not great by ANY means, but fun just the same.
I messed up a LOT, but I also “hit” a lot of it- (actually more than I thought I would). But that’s what was the most fun– miss a line, miss a chord, I didn’t care a bit. It was a pure, carefree, BLAST!
(Except for the ~5 mins of standing/playing a year ago)—– Everything I did today– the ENTIRE session- (probably like 2 and a half hours)- were just things I had NEVER experienced before. Never. As I said before, I must’ve been quite a sight…….. but……..
DAMN, it was fun!
Hope my silly runnings-on can maybe inspire others to try new stuff.
Remember– we are learning to PLAY guitar😎!
the old coach
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This discussion was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by
the-old-coach.
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This discussion was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by
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13 Replies
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TOC,of all the things you said in your great post the last sentence really came through, “we are here to PLAY The guitar” . I’ve always thought of it as a daunting challenge that I was not really worthy of. Guess that’s why I was a dabbler at most. Now I’m INTO it!😀😎🥸
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👍 Thanks for responding!
TOC
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Now…… I have been looking at guitar straps. But, walking around and playing? I think i would for sure break the neck off walking through a hallway. Glad you had some fun 😉
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Cadgirl-
New at this standing-thing.
I’ll keep working trying to find a comfortable “way” to stand.
A couple decades of climbing power poles- (the old-fashioned way)- it’s “easier” somehow to keep moving around instead of standing still.
But, sitting is the best way for me overall.
Thanks for responding!
the old coach
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I am finding there is a difference in playing guitar and performing a song. There is a place for both but one seems more focused on the instrument and proper execution and technique and the other in reaching out to a real or imaginary audience with the instrument in the background as accompaniment.
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Albert-
TOTALLY agree.
I read once somewhere one trick to improved guitar playing (only?) was to practice and play with the TV on- (or some other noise going on). Guess it’s supposed to help your brain be able to “see through” the distraction and focus on the execution and technique at hand- (playing).
I know it’s a bit of a stretch, but isn’t that kinda what’s going on when performing a song? The- (deliberate at this point)- distractions for me were– 1. Standing, 2. Remembering the lyrics and chords, and, 3. Actually singing.
This was all just really sort of a big, deliberate, experiment.
The goals?– Do new stuff, test myself, and get feedback……..
The result?– a new perspective– “performing” a song!!!
Your post is RIGHT ON, and I’ll of course keep guitar-improvement as a major part of the picture- (because I just LOVE the sounds that come from that inanimate wooden box with strings).
Thanks again for answering!- (means a LOT).
the old coach
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Thanks for posting @the-old-coach ! I am picturing you as a roaming minstrel! 😎
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Kitman–
Maybe you remember a group called “The New Christy Minstrels”?
Well, I guess I’d be “the old crusty minstrel”?😏……..
the old coach
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🤣😂. I do remember them!
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This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by Kitman.
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Guess I’m “aging” myself………
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This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by
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Keep on experimenting and playing guitar the-old-coach! 🎸👏 Sounds like you had a great time. 🎸😎
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Thanks Stevie. It was deep fun!
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Thanks for those. We all gain from the ideas other share with us, and each of those is important.
And, fwiiw, I use my strap to play at the same location sitting and standing, which has helped me with both since the guitar is right where I expect it to be.
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