10 Tips for the Guitar Player
So everyone wants to become the next Jimi Hendrix, or Eric Clapton. You will be glad to know, that with loads of practice that is possible! But before reaching for the stars, it would be wise to get some of the basics of being a good guitar player right first.
Below you will find 10 tips that will help you become a better guitar player. You should see them as the very foundation of being a great player, just like Hendrix or Clapton!
Tip1:
The first thing you need to get into the habit of doing, is tuning your guitar each time before you play. For many beginners, manual tuning may be too tedious. This is fine, just get yourself an electronic guitar tuner and use it before each session.
This tip is extremely important, because even if just a SINGLE string is flat or sharp, your chords are not going to sound like they should. This is especially embarrassing when wanting to play for a group of friends or family.
Tip2:
Staying with the topic of a tuned guitar…you need to be in the habit of changing your guitar strings regularly. You should change your strings when your guitar starts having problems staying in tune.
Some guitar players change their strings as often as every three months! So don’t be shy to change those strings! You should also take the opportunity to clean your guitar body and neck thoroughly while there are no strings on it – before the new strings are put on.
Tip3:
The third tip is also very basic, but very important. Before you pick up a guitar to play, you need to make sure your finger nails are trimmed nice and short. This goes for both hands!
Not only can long finger nails get in the way of getting to your notes, they very easily make the chords sound very different when you strum, or when a string rattles against a long nail. Neatly trimmed finger nails are absolutely essential if you want to become a better guitar player.
Tip4:
Here is another fairly basic tip, aimed more at the beginner guitar player. When doing lessons, or learning a new piece, never ever move onto the next lesson or part of the song until you have absolutely mastered the current one.
Moving ahead when you have not mastered the current lesson/part will greatly hamper your growth as a guitar player. And if you are learning a new song, it’s almost guaranteed that you will be unable to successfully learn the entire song, if you do not master the all parts.
Tip5:
Another very misleading trend is the idea that playing while intoxicated or high on drugs helps you play better. This way of thinking stems from the fact that many famous rock stars sometimes seem like they are drunk or high when they perform on stage.
While being intoxicated on a lot of drugs or alcohol may make it feel as if you are playing better (to the player), the sad reality is that no amount of drugs or alcohol will make you a better guitar player. In fact, it can only make you worse as it lowers your reaction time and messes with your timing.
Have a clear mind when playing.
Tip6:
Another great tip for any player is to pay attention to your notes. Be sure not to underplay or overplay them. You need to be especially aware of overplaying your notes. A discerning audience will immediately notice this, and you will seem like an amateur player…even when you can play the song like a pro.
This simple mistake can also greatly hamper your growth, as it affects your overall timing…
Tip7:
This one is especially for those players that have been playing for a while. You need to learn to get rid of bad habits. It might be worth asking an experienced guitar player or even a teacher if you taking lessons, to observe your posture, techniques etc…
You will be surprised how many bad habits you pick up over time. That is normal, but to grow as a player you need to be aware of these bad habits and learn them off. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will become to get rid of them.
Tip8:
This one is important and stems from the previous tip. You need to develop your own style of playing the guitar. It is always good to be inspired by your favorite artists, but don’t try and let their style become your style.
Every guitar player has his or her own unique way of playing, and if you go against your natural style to try and play in the same style as your role model, then you hamper your own growth as a player. Be natural, and overtime you will automatically have developed your very own unique style – you just need to allow yourself to.
Tip9:
When learning a new piece, you need to take time and plan what you are going to play long before even picking up a guitar. After choosing a song, you need to first go study the music theory behind what you want to play. Go find out why the chords fit in the way they do. Only once you have this foundation, can you pick up the guitar and learn and practice the actual finger positions etc.
If you miss this step, what will happen is you will learn to play the guitar like a parrot. You will simply memorize all the chords and fingerings of each song, without any real understanding of why it works. Your guitar playing knowledge will be hollow.
It is also worth mentioning, that this way of learning the guitar is also absolutely essential if you ever want to write your own songs. There is no way you will be able to compile any kind of music successfully if you do not understand the fundamentals of what you are doing.
For many, the easiest way of doing this to take lessons from a accredited college or teacher.
Tip10:
The one last thing I want to leave you with is this: You need to always remember that your guitar does NOT lead the song, ever. The song will always precede your playing. Bare this in mind and you should be able to synchronize perfectly with any song.
That’s it for our 10 tips. Incorporate these simple tips into your playing routine and you will no doubt grow as a guitar player. And who knows, maybe it’s your poster up on teenager’s wall in the future!
For a free online guitar course, check out http://www.learnhowtoplayguitarforbeginners.com/