Why can't I play songs perfectly every single time?

[johmica]

This is a recurring point of frustration for me. I'm a complete novice at jazz, but I'm trying to dip my toes into the water. My primary resource has been TrueFire, and specifically, Frank Vignola's courses.

I've been working on his Solo Fakebook, and I have six or so songs under my fingers. My frustration is that I can rarely (and I mean RARELY) play one of his solo compositions without fudging something up.

It's not an issue of not knowing the solos or not having the technical ability. At any given point, I can play any given portion of the solo easily. But when I sit, focus, and try to play through a piece in its entirety, I inevitably screw something up. And it's always something different. I can practice a solo five times in a row, and on the fifth cycle, I'll screw up something that I played perfectly the first four times.

It's not a problem with rhythms. I can play the different iterations of his rhythmic renditions perfectly every single time. I come from a blues/rock background, and I've never had any reason to worry about perfect recitation. But in a context like this, mistakes stand out like a sore thumb.

I know that other players can play the same thing every single time; studio players and classical guitarists come to mind. How do I get there?

 

[ABetterTelePlayer]

"Why can't I play songs perfectly every single time?"

Ummm... Because you are human? And nobody can play the song perfectly every single time. Session guitarists and professionals mess up more than you think.

 

[klasaine]

"Perfectly" is a matter of degree relative to the skill (and awareness) of the player. Played perfectly to you may be different than played perfectly to Pat Metheny or George Benson.

Jazz is not supposed to be played perfectly. At it's core, it's improvised music. Frank Vignola would not want you to play his exact solo over A-Train or Autumn Leaves or whatever. He'll be flattered that you stole some of his licks, but the idea is that you tweak what you learn and make it your own. This is what all good improvisers do.

"Imitate, assimilate, innovate" - Clark Terry

 

[klasaine]

But having said all that, if you want or need to play something perfectly every time, there are methods. But it's hard work and you have to be consistent ...

You have to practice until you can't get it wrong.
Everybody has a number (of repetitions), mine's 20.
I have to play something 20 times in a row w/o making a mistake. This ensures that I will not get it wrong on the gig. I also have this thing where I will grab a guitar first thing in the morning (even before coffee) and play what I was working on yesterday. If I play it right, I know I got it. If not, well, back to work. Sometimes I'll do that right before I go to bed too.

*This is why young kids can nail the super technical stuff and memorize really complicated stuff seemingly effortlessly. They got nothing but time. No job, no family, no 'real' obligations. Obviously, their brains are also more open and malleable but it's really just about putting in consistent and focused time.

 

[tomasz]

Ken has some good pointers!

I personally find, that trying to reproduce something perfectly just requires learning and repetition . But for me also, it takes the joy away from feeling and making music. Once I understand the solo, I'd rather build my own ways around it and have fun "talking" with the music, building phrases, emotions, tension and resolutions. Trying to say something, for lack of better words. But then again, I'm no pro musician, so I don't have to have my chops perfect every time.

Don't be to hard in yourself, have fun!

 

[Wrong-Note Rod]

Why would you want to do that?

OK the classical masters, they are all following a score.

But you mentioned jazz, and those guys dont EVER play the same thing twice.

 

[Killing Floor]

Perfect is unobtainable but you could use your phone to stream a recording instead of trying to perform it. You’ll never exactly meet the mechanics and the emotions and the other environmental stressors that someone else, somewhere else played through.

You could practice a measure at a time and don’t advance until it meets your definition of perfect. That’s what an athlete like Steph Curry or Kaori Sakamoto does.

 

[The Angle]

I hear ya'. In my case, it's often about maintaining focus and concentration on what I'm doing. While playing, my mind starts to wander - just enjoying the music, really - instead of focusing on what I'm doing in the moment and on what's coming up in the next measure. All it takes is a moment, and bluurp, there it goes down the drain. Having an actual musical score in front of you and following it measure by measure can be a big help, if only because it forces you to maintain focus.

 

[Boreas]

I have been playing the same 6 songs for 50 years. Still make mistakes every time even though they are simple and I know them by heart. I rely on 5 decades of muscle memory just to get me close whem my brainshuts down. I keep playing just to annoy myself. I suck, so can't really help you. Sorry.

 

[thunderbyrd]

i don't think jimi hendrix could play anything "perfect", time after time. but he did alright.

 

[NoTeleBob]

I'd redefine the test. Don't worry about perfect... worry about "close". When you make a "mistake", just blend it in like you meant it.

Note for note of a song is reproducing someone else's thought patterns and muscle preferences. It's not really a goal for me, speaking just for me.

 

[Robert H.]

Because you’re human. And still getting better. Don’t sweat it. Just keep playing.

 

[Harry Styron]

I’m worst playing in live performances—most of the time. I can feel pretty good practicing at home in a quiet room, but when the band is playing loud in a room with a lot of audience noise and other ambient noise and distraction, it is very easy for me to lose focus and get lost, unable to hear myself well enough to be confident.

Once in a while I’m lucky enough to be heard playing something that fits.

 

[SRHmusic]

As long as you're keeping it musical with decent feel, timing, etc. it doesn't matter. Those are the real goals IMHO. But it's certainly an admirable goal and worth some effort to play so intentionally you can reproduce another person's solo.

I find I have to know a solo far beyond/more deeply than what I used to think was necessary to do that. I have to take them apart, understand every section in relation to the chord progression at that point, the position and related inversions, etc. Then I can play something more freely. That's all good and important to figure out anyway: because by then you can play your own improvised solo(!).

 

[Dostradamas]

James Brown has either always or never sang a song perfectly.

He never sings a song the same way twice


Personally I find mental fatigue is real rough on my playing.

I agree with the practice until you can't make a mistake.

Some songs I have been playing so long muscle memory and groove just get me all the way through.

 

[LOSTVENTURE]

I can only think of ten reasons. And they can all be tamed with practice. patience, and perseverance.
Repeat as required.

 

[johmica]

But having said all that, if you want or need to play something perfectly every time, there are methods. But it's hard work and you have to be consistent ...

You have to practice until you can't get it wrong.
Everybody has a number (of repetitions), mine's 20.
I have to play something 20 times in a row w/o making a mistake. This ensures that I will not get it wrong on the gig. I also have this thing where I will grab a guitar first thing in the morning (even before coffee) and play what I was working on yesterday. If I play it right, I know I got it. If not, well, back to work. Sometimes I'll do that right before I go to bed too.

*This is why young kids can nail the super technical stuff and memorize really complicated stuff seemingly effortlessly. They got nothing but time. No job, no family, no 'real' obligations. Obviously, their brains are also more open and malleable but it's really just about putting in consistent and focused time.

This is good advice, and it's what I'm striving towards. The problem is, I seem incapable of playing them perfectly once, much less 20 times!

 

[ChicknPickn]

Gosh - - I'm still asking myself, "Why can't I play this perfectly ONCE" . . . . ..

 

[teletail]

It’s the difference between memorizing a piece and knowing a piece. When you have a piece memorized, you play notes, when you know a piece, you play music.

You’ve got it memorized; step back, let it sit for a day or two, come back at it. Record yourself playing. Does it sound like music, or a string of notes? Play it a half dozen times, recording and playing it back each time. Stop worrying about hitting all the notes perfectly and think about making music.

I‘ve been there, so I know what you’re going through. “Practice until you can’t get it wrong” doesn’t work. I’ve studied with some incredible players and they never claimed to play perfectly. That’s not to say you don’t do your best, but you’re human and no human is perfect.

 

[sax4blues]

……..I'm a complete novice at jazz,

I know that other players can play the same thing every single time; studio players….

Maybe studio players are not complete novice.
There is a reason the music performance we aspire to is what we aspire to, its special, far beyond novice, intermediate, advanced.
I saw video of Joe Satriani working with a very good player. The level of detail and nuance Joe was advising is amazing.