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axslinger · 07-02-2008, 08:33 PM

My guitar teacher has made some key points with me. One being that knowledge and skill are not the same thing. You can have all the knowledge (theory) in the world, but that doesn't give you the skill to play well. His point: Nothing replaces practice, practice and more practice. (FYI, I'm 47 and have been playing off and on for 25+ years and only 3 months ago decided I wanted to get past the same stage).

Another point he made; if you can't make the the pentatonic scale sound good in the #3 position (5-8, 5-7, 5-7, 5-7, 5-8, 5-8), then it won't sound good in any other position because they're the same notes. He will have me improvise just on the 3rd and 4th strings, so all I have are 5 notes if you count a bend on the 3rd string.

Also, when I practice, besides the regular exercises and scales, I try to write a new lick to a jam track I have. But, I write the lick in my head, then I find it on the neck. I'll start the song and sort of hum or sing what I think would be a fresh sounding run or lick. Then I find it on the fretboard. Once I find it, I tab it out so I don't forget it.

In all honesty, the best sounding licks I can play are licks that I wrote that way. I have plenty of licks I got from tabs but they just don't have the same feel as one I wrote and refined myself.

I have also found that many times we avoid note combinations that don't feel natural. Such as notes on the same fret on adjacent strings. We just keep playing the combinations of notes that feel right, or feel natural. Try playing some unnatural note combinations until it feels natural, then you have something to add to your arsenal.

These are just a few tips of what I have picked up after repeating the same redundant licks for too many years. Having a good teacher really opens up the door to infinite discoveries.

Good Luck!

07-02-2008, 08:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
axslinger Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 323 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: Improvisation My guitar teacher has made some key points with me. One being that knowledge and skill are not the same thing. You can have all the knowledge (theory) in the world, but that doesn't give you the skill to play well. His point: Nothing replaces practice, practice and more practice. (FYI, I'm 47 and have been playing off and on for 25+ years and only 3 months ago decided I wanted to get past the same stage). Another point he made; if you can't make the the pentatonic scale sound good in the #3 position (5-8, 5-7, 5-7, 5-7, 5-8, 5-8), then it won't sound good in any other position because they're the same notes. He will have me improvise just on the 3rd and 4th strings, so all I have are 5 notes if you count a bend on the 3rd string. Also, when I practice, besides the regular exercises and scales, I try to write a new lick to a jam track I have. But, I write the lick in my head, then I find it on the neck. I'll start the song and sort of hum or sing what I think would be a fresh sounding run or lick. Then I find it on the fretboard. Once I find it, I tab it out so I don't forget it. In all honesty, the best sounding licks I can play are licks that I wrote that way. I have plenty of licks I got from tabs but they just don't have the same feel as one I wrote and refined myself. I have also found that many times we avoid note combinations that don't feel natural. Such as notes on the same fret on adjacent strings. We just keep playing the combinations of notes that feel right, or feel natural. Try playing some unnatural note combinations until it feels natural, then you have something to add to your arsenal. These are just a few tips of what I have picked up after repeating the same redundant licks for too many years. Having a good teacher really opens up the door to infinite discoveries. Good Luck!