Putting It Together
Every guitar player goes through challenges with some songs. You probably know that the best way to handle songs that don’t seem to come together is to break them down and practice the components separately. But even when you work that way, things don’t always go as you’d like. Consider the following three common errors that keep the process from working well.
Trying to Put it All Together at Once
The first common error is trying to go too far too fast. Once you’re comfortable with each part of the song, don’t expect to throw them all together and be done with it. Instead, build the song back gradually, putting two parts together, then another and another, until you have a complete piece.
If you’re only doing two parts and still having trouble, simplify one of them. For example, if you’re struggling to synchronize your singing and guitar accompaniment, reduce the guitar part to a simple strum on the beat. If that’s still too difficult, put your guitar down and clap the rhythm while you sing. Then, bit by bit, add in the skills you’ve practiced.
Getting Stuck in Practicing the Parts
Keep your goal in mind when you work on the individual parts of a song. That may seem like an obvious thing to do, but I frequently see students get stuck in this part of the process. It can feel safe to continue practicing one part or another and risky to move on. Once you have a reasonable command of each element, start the rebuilding process. If one or more areas still need work, you can go back and give them more attention, but you won’t know what needs more until you try it all together.
Not Having the Sound in Your Head
Always remember to listen. Listen to the recording of the song, but also listen to the finished product in your head. Don’t try playing it on your guitar until it sounds the way you want it to in your mind’s ear. And be sure your rendition includes the feel!
I hope these tips help you. Like most learning wisdom, it applies to pretty much anything you want to learn or teach, so take it out into your world. And as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
