Facing/dealing with your weaknesses

[Garygtr]

I am mostly a self taught player save for a few lessons early on and some classical guitar in college, I've been playing for....geez, 32 years!
I am coming to grips with the fact that there are some holes in my foundation. I think I need to:

1) Get a better knowledge of the fretboard. I am mostly a pentatonic rock/country player, and will probably never be a jazz guy, but I feel like I need a better understanding of the fretboard. I tend to think in physical shapes as that is how I learned (the "box system"). I want to be able to think melodically and not just go for the patterns that I know.

2) Become a better rhythm player-a lot better. I need a better understanding of the basics of rhythm, to be able to identify the subdivisions by ear (e.g "that was a dotted eigth note"), and better timing overall. I need to understand playing behind the beat, syncopation, etc a LOT more completely than I do.

It's tough to admit these weaknesses to myself, since they are very basic, rudimentary things. But I know I need to address them and do something about it or I have probably gone as far as I can go as a player.

So-any suggestions for some materials? I have heard about this CAGED thing, sounds like that would be helpful. I do have a rhythm machine for working on timing, but as I said I think I need some re-visiting of the rudiments of rhythm. Don't be afraid to suggest very basic or beginner oriented material if you think it will help!

[gennation]

Check out the lessons at my site: http://lessons.mikedodge.com

You'll definitely pick up some new things, from stuff you "Should know" to stuff you "Want to know". It's broken into two sections. The Beginner to Advanced Series will show you theory information. The On Topic section will show you a ton of new things and different ways to look at that fretboard.

I've been playing seriously for over 30 years, the last 20 I spent forgetting everything I'd learned and use my time writing originals. Well I just took all last year off from that to go back to the woodshed and work on everything I'd been blowing off. It was well worth the time.

"Time spent now" is ALWAYS worth it.

Good luck.

[dkaplowitz]

I'd say the best way is to just transcribe stuff that's outside your normal skill level. You can nail two birds with one stone by transcribing good rhythm players. A) You'll learn new material, B) Your ears will improve, C) Your technique will rise to match the playing of the transcribed material. It's a win all around. If it seems daunting, get a slowdowner like Transcribe! from seventhstring.com. It's really a great looper/slowdowner.

Good luck!

[brad347]

it's going to be fun!

People talk abotu addressing fundamental weaknesses like it's a terrible chore and a terrible bore.

But much like in a building, the closer a weakness is to the foundation the more structural weakness that results.

Using the reflexive property of logic, it would then follow that any shoring-up or strengthening close to the foundation would likewise have a magnified strengthening effect.

Simply put, if you're the type of person who likes to see "results" from practicing, then there is no faster way to see 'results' than to spend time on the basics, no matter how good you are!

[dorfmeister]

Tomo's Accelerate Your Guitar Playing DVD would touch on all the things you want to learn.

Really great for developing rhythm playing and timing.

Barrett Tagliarino's Guitar Fretboard Workbook

Great for learning the neck.

[Garygtr]

Great responses, thanks guys!

[catag]

Thank goodness i am not the only guitarist in the world that feels like this!!! I have been playing 20 years on and off an very recently have gone through a confidence crisis....went to jam with some really good players and BAM! it hit me how little i really know. I have got so much to catch up on its over whelming. Thanks for tips!!

[fenderpro]

one thing that helps learning the fingerboard is to do a scale you already know, but play it on one string, and say the note names out loud. also, if you're used to playing a pentatonic scale 2 notes per string, make it 3 notes a string and again, say the notes out loud. if you dont live alone, explain to the people you live with what you're doing so they dont think you're weird...hope this helps.

[JRenn]

About thinking more melodically, try pulling some of your favorite tunes, maybe even from before you started playing guitar, and figuring out the singer's part on guitar.
It is important that you DON'T try to get a tab, try to use your ear. This way, you'll begin to piece together the roles of each note in the scale.
After doing this and being comfortable with it, you'll find something cool will begin to happen.

Because you've gotten so comfortable with playing those melodies, you'll be able to pull them out in your solos, and then ultimately create your own spontaneously. Give it a try, though it will take some time and effort.

Blessings!

[greggorypeccary]

Originally Posted by gennation

Check out the lessons at my site: http://lessons.mikedodge.com
I've been playing seriously for over 30 years, the last 20 I spent forgetting everything I'd learned and use my time writing originals. Well I just took all last year off from that to go back to the woodshed and work on everything I'd been blowing off. It was well worth the time.

I spent a weekend at a guitar workshop last fall. The class was mostly beginners which was a little frustrating at first, then I realized that no matter how much you know (or have forgotten) it's always good to brush up on the fundamentals once in a while. It actually helped me break out of a rut and got me back into actually practicing more so I might be able to actually improve.

[brad347]

Originally Posted by greggorypeccary

I spent a weekend at a guitar workshop last fall. The class was mostly beginners which was a little frustrating at first, then I realized that no matter how much you know (or have forgotten) it's always good to brush up on the fundamentals once in a while. It actually helped me break out of a rut and got me back into actually practicing more so I might be able to actually improve.

So true.

If someone feels like they are "in a rut," one of the best things they can do is "start all over." Pretend you are learning guitar all over again from the beginning.