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Guitar: Learn Guitar By Not Playing Guitar
Peter Edvinsson
I suppose you think that you learn guitar by playing guitar.
Well, do you learn to say the right things by talking all the
time? Let's take a look at the art of not playing guitar...
How can you learn to play guitar by not playing? Is it really
possible to develop as a guitarist without touching the
instrument?
In weight training it is an established fact that muscle growth
takes place during rest, for example when you sleep. It doesn't
mean that you will become a famous muscle builder by sleeping.
Sleeping is just a part of the overall picture called muscle
growth.
Don't ever think that you will become a good guitarist by not
playing guitar at all!
But I define a good guitarist as a good musician. A good
musician can convey his musical emotions to somebody else and
this ability takes more than just practicing moving the fingers
among all those guitar strings.
What can you do to become a better guitarist and a musician when
you don't play? Let me give you a few suggestions:
1. If you play classical guitar, get into the habit of often
reading guitar sheet music without your guitar. This practice
gives you training in the art of hearing the sheet music in your
head and also gives you a better chance to really learn
notational symbols in the music and rhythmic subtleties.
2. Take a week off from your guitar playing every now and then
and use all your musical energy listening to good music or just
being a good citizen. Learn to spot musical and artistic heights
in the music. Listen to all types of instrumentalists. With
concentration. My best listening position is laying flat on my
bed with headphones on forgetting the rest of the world. Maybe
you have another approach.
If you feel and enjoy musical and artistic expressions in the
music these will probably be implemented in your own guitar
playing sooner or later.
3. Be a good musical friend by helping somebody else to play. It
will help you become more unselfish and like people more. Well,
maybe you already like people sufficiently but to learn to like
people is part of our development as musicians as we are
supposed to give of ourselves to others when we play.
4. Prepare your body and mind for playing guitar by learning the
art of relaxation and stretching your muscles. You can of course
find articles on these subjects on the net. Performing in a
relaxed manner will help you enjoy your own music more and will
help your public to relax and enjoy your music too.
5. Take time to sit down, or stand up if you like, and ponder
about what guitar playing means to you. Is there something that
you would like to develop in your guitar playing that will give
you more joy and happiness. Set a realistic goal and write down
what you can do every week to accomplish that goal.
I believe in practicing on my guitar of course but I hope that
these pieces of advice concerning not playing guitar will
increase your love for your guitar and the art of playing and
giving musical joy to others!
About the author:
Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music teacher. Visit
his site Capotasto
Music and download your free sheet music and learn to play
resources at http://www.capotastomusic.co
m
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