Don't stop until you get over the 3-song-hurdle. At that point you'll know if its for you.
1st song - great difficulty devoloping right/left hand coordination, callouses, clean fingering, timing, hand/pick coordination.
2nd song easier but still difficult. 3rd song we're on a roll and with what's built so far, and next song will be much quicker.
Most songs are 1,4,5 for chords. (1234567 ABCDEFGABCDEFG) If key of C: C,F,G. If key of A: A,D,E
Key of G: G,C,D.
A capo lets you play chords in another key. For Instance Capo 2nd fret then playing G,C,D would actually be in key of A (A,D,E).
As soon as one has the techinical ability they should regularly play with others to keep motivation. With bluegrass here in the states, there are generaly weekly jams, and great festivals to go to in most places. Easy enough for beginners and as complicated as you want.
Here's an example of some campground picking last summer at Bluegrass on the River in Pueblo CO, by freind Ken & Stray Cats
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpN7YOb3CnEIn hindsight; I regret that I'd not had been so into flatpicking solos and didn't put equal effort into accompaning rythm, especially not associating chords with whats going on in solos. Has hampered my improv. I know many patterns and runs, but wish I would quickly know where to go with solo based on chord change.
PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT:
-Good playing is economy of motion, both right and left hands.
- Control flying fingers on frets. You only have to take your fingers off the string a little, not throw fingers way up.
- Solos: Settle on pick hand anchor pivot; palm on saddle OR pinkie-ring finger on guitar-top,Don't stop until you get over the 3-song-hurdle. At that point you'll know if its for you.
1st song - great difficulty devoloping right/left hand coordination, callouses, clean fingering, timing, hand/pick coordination. 2nd song easier but still difficult. 3rd song we're on a roll and with what's built so far, the next song will be much quicker.
Most songs are 1,4,5 for chords. (1234567 ABCDEFGABCDEFG) If key of C: C,F,G. If key of A: A,D,E
Key of G: G,C,D.
A capo lets you play chords in another key. For Instance Capo 2nd fret then playing G,C,D would actually be in key of A (A,D,E).
As soon as one has the techinical ability they should regularly play with others to keep motivation. One thing great about bluegrass here in the states, is there are generaly weekly jams, and great festivals to go to in most places. Easy enough for beginners and as complicated as you want.
Here's an example of some campground picking last summer at Bluegrass on the River in Pueblo CO, by freind Ken & Stray Cats
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpN7YOb3CnEIn hindsight; I regret that I'd not had been so into flatpicking solos and didn't put equal effort into accompaning rythm, especially not associating chords with whats going on in solos. Has hampered my improv I know many patterns and runs, but wish I would quickly know where to go with solo based on chord change.
PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT:
-Good playing is economy of motion, both right and left hands.
- Control flying fingers on frets. You only have to take your fingers off the string a little, not throw fingers way up.
- Solos: Settle on pick hand anchor pivot; palm on saddle OR pinkie-ring finger on guitar-top, not both. Doing both fights economy of motion. I've come to prefer ring/pinky on guitar-top as pivot. When picking fat low strings (6,5) you can even slide/pull p/r into the thin strings (1,2) for leverage and positional sense.
- Solos usually played around chord form, and moving around finger(s) for notes not in the chord. Also learn where same chords are up the neck, so can jump around in octaves. Learn scales and theory to advance.
- Don't lift finger(s) off until you need to, strive for flatpicking sustain.
- Play only as fast as you can well.
- Close the door so you don't annoy others, then pick like you mean it - loud.
- Timing, use a metronome, recording, or software.
- Learn segments of songs equally well then peice them together. Not great beginning, poor ending.
- Voice is an instrument too, develop it. Even tougher while playing guitar too.
- Solos usually played around chord form, and moving around finger(s) for notes not in the chord. Also learn where same chords are up the neck, so can jump around in octaves. Learn scales and theory to advance.
- Don't lift finger(s) off until you need to, strive for flatpicking sustain.
- Play only as fast as you can well.
- Close the door so you don't annoy others, then pick like you mean it - loud.
- Timing, use a metronome, recording, or software.
- Learn segments of songs equally well then peice them together. Not great beginning, poor ending.
- Voice is an instrument too, develop it. Even tougher while playing guitar too.
