techniQue

couple of questions for players:

some of us really have to work on technique to improve it. I find that getting my riffs consistently and exactly the way I want them to sound takes a great deal of work -- so much so that I don't know if I will ever be satisfied that I'm "there."

Comments?

soloing/improvising:

how do you really get good at this? I mean, so you can walk into a club, pick up your axe, and say something in any context?

related: am I the only person who seems to forget his way around the neck when the pressure's on? How do I get over that?

thx. Rock on! Twang on!

I can't comment much on advice to get better. im pretty noob. only 2 years under my belt. self taught. just practice I guess? haha.

But commenting on being satisfied on getting "there"
my basketball coach in high school said. "the moment you feel like you've reached your potential is the moment you stop progressing"

I ai'nt that good either, but as Bill Murray said at Crossroads "practice, there's alot of practicing going on here". EVH, SRV, probably all the guy's who fall right in on any song have played alot. Either at practice or in clubs.

So, practice is my advise and watch out for tedinitis and stuff. Take your vitamins and stay healthy.

Just practice, listening, and time on the axe.. There is no substitute.

There's no "there" to get to. It's a lifelong pursuit. To me, that's a lot of the appeal of being a musician. Always something to learn. If you feel like you're there, it's time to hang it up.

As far as being able to play in different styles and contexts, uh...practice. Also, get out there and swing away. Get out of your comfort zone with better players. Experience what I call improvisational shame. Sure you'll get your butt handed to you once in a while, but if you can take something positive with you, it's a win for you and your playing. Listen a lot to the styles you want to learn and go for the feel first, then work on particulars.

Same thing with improvising. Listen. Learn yer scales and modes. Know where the chord tones are. Practice with backing tracks. Play with more experienced players.

Forgetting the fretboard when the pressure's on isn't that uncommon. The fix for that is...you guessed it...more practice. The more stuff gets ingrained in your mind and fingers, the easier it is to make it happen when the chips are down.

Practice is #1, #2 and #3.
Then, what to practice? The internet is full of tips, teachers, friends that will show you what to practice. Start in the key, that then show, practice in an other key also. Go to next
video you'll find and pratice. Buy some DVD's and practice, practice
Simply said: the more licks and tricks you have in your hands, the easier it will be to sit down in that club, grab an axe and fire it.

The only wayt to get over problems when the pressure's on is to put yourself in more situationw where the pressure's on.

these are my humble tips

time and proper practice will go a long way

both will vary from player to player, we all struggle in different areas
don't rush and take your time, don't stress and relax, nothing comes over night and we all make mistakes

find a good teacher or multiple good teachers if possible
if not research good theory related books and websites
or even better, use a good teacher and work with your own studies

play with anyone and everyone you can

things to try:

learn the fretboard and understand the relations of octaves and note placement
learn string by string, then in pairs, before you know it,
you will be able to name a note by finger placement
you can write them on paper as well to help with visualization and memory

pick one note, let it ring, an e for example, close your eyes, try the same note but in a different place, listen to it closely
choose another note, notice the difference

over time, you will be able to know the note's name by sound along with sight

transcribing helps in this area too i believe

music theory helps:

start with basic major/minor chord construction and deriving chords from scales
7ths etc will fall into place and make sense once the basic formulas are learned

practice soloing along with another player or recorded chord vamps
keep it simple at first by using one scale and two or three chord changes
with time you will learn the note selection you prefer over specific chords and changes
as you progress you can use one or more scales per chord during changes if you like

learn the major scale, the notes and its construction. the other scales will make more sense when you learn them afterwards

with practice, you will know if it's a half step or whole step etc to reach that next note

you can also record various chord vamps and play them at random to simulate soloing "on the spot"

it's also fun to practice technique's such as legato, double stops etc related to your playing style while working on soloing - it gives you a groove/feel to play along with that doesn't seem as repetitious as a metronome

i think it is important to understand the core basics before getting heavily advanced to avoid confusion and becoming overwhelmed with technical jargon - otherwise you may be like what the heck is an interval or a tetrachord

most importantly, have fun, enjoy music and your instrument

i am sure the more knowledgeable and experienced will chime in to help you on your journey