• From: Ohio
  • Registered: 2007-09-10
  • Posts: 957

Topic: what to practice...

Hey all-

I'm going to be spending a lovely year in Iraq in 2011. I plan on taking a cheap guitar with me so that I can (hopefully) get better over there. But I dont really know what to practice, aside from scales. When i practice now, I usually just play over stuff, but I'm sort of lazy and I really even try to figure out exactly how they play it, I just play what I think sounds ok. But the problem is, it is all sounding the same, and im stuck! I want to get a list of things to work on for while im there, if that'd be possible.

Thanks!
Logan

Block inlay Gibson ES-335, 50th anniversary American Strat, '61 RI White SG, '62 RI Relic Strat, Replica Korina Flying V, Gold Tone Paul Beard Resonator,  '58 Les Paul RI, American Highway 1 Fender Strat, Breedlove Acoustic, Stonetree Joe Bonamassa Custom, HIWATT Lead 100R, Reeves Custom 30.
  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
  • Posts: 453

Re: what to practice...

the best I have come across so far is Robben Ford guide to blues rythm and David Grissoms guide to blues rock soloing. grissom throws up some interesting ideas and phrasing I would never think of.

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: what to practice...

How about this:

Take a favorite CD and learn it completely. Note-For-Note, start to finish. No skipping past anything. And, Memorize it. Be able to recreate it.

If you decide to do this, be sure to pick a real "Classic" album. One of the all-time favorites, with a great reputation.
Don't just pick your 'current favorite.

I did this years ago with the Allman Brothers Live At The Fillmore double album.
Went through (literally) 5 or 6 copies, before I got it all. (Albums got ruined with the slowing them down, and playing the same parts over and over, etc.!)

And this experience was/has been invaluable to me over the last 26 years or so.

Another tack:

Buy Doug Doppler's DVD "Diatonic Theory And Harmony" and learn all of it. It's a great workoout, and teaches (in a very hand's on way!) all the "Basics" of Music Theory.
Highly recommended.

I teach full time, and if you're going overseas as a soldier? I'll be glad/proud to help you in any way I can. So, PM me, if you want.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
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  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: what to practice...

Thanks for serving.  I was there '03-'04 1st AD out of Baumholder Germany.  You might want to have someone ship you a guitar, OR ship it to yourself.  I don't think you want to carry one with all the other crap you're going to have strapped to your person.

If all the things you already play sound the same then it probably is just your style of playing.  Thats what you ultimately want right?  Personally I don't care to learn things Exactly how someone else plays it, I play most things my own way too.  BUT, thats just me.  However, learning more and more licks NOTE for NOTE will def help you out.  After a while you will start to incorporate those same licks into different songs AND other places on the fretboard.  Soon you will begin to borrow from several licks creating one of your own.
-Seth

  • From: Ohio
  • Registered: 2007-09-10
  • Posts: 957

Re: what to practice...

Budda - Thanks for the info! Ill make sure to pickup that DVD before I take off, and I may take you up on some PM lessons haha!

helrazr- Thanks for your service as well. Something tells me that we'll have lots of down time. I was planning on getting probably the cheapest epiphone electric made, and have it shipped to me. Its not the fact that it all sounds the same, but its the fact that it is very basic minor blues, and thats about it. I don't neceissarily want to learn any one elses playing note for note (however the super fast runs that Joe does sound really awesome, and Id like to learn that), but I want to add more depth to my own playing.

Thanks,
Logan (SPC) Thompson

Block inlay Gibson ES-335, 50th anniversary American Strat, '61 RI White SG, '62 RI Relic Strat, Replica Korina Flying V, Gold Tone Paul Beard Resonator,  '58 Les Paul RI, American Highway 1 Fender Strat, Breedlove Acoustic, Stonetree Joe Bonamassa Custom, HIWATT Lead 100R, Reeves Custom 30.
  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: what to practice...

Logo33 wrote:

Budda - Thanks for the info! Ill make sure to pickup that DVD before I take off, and I may take you up on some PM lessons haha!

helrazr- Thanks for your service as well. Something tells me that we'll have lots of down time. I was planning on getting probably the cheapest epiphone electric made, and have it shipped to me. Its not the fact that it all sounds the same, but its the fact that it is very basic minor blues, and thats about it. I don't neceissarily want to learn any one elses playing note for note (however the super fast runs that Joe does sound really awesome, and Id like to learn that), but I want to add more depth to my own playing.

Thanks,
Logan (SPC) Thompson

Logo33, come back home safe bro.  Politics and BS aside, thank you for your service.  It gives everyone you are fighting for the chance to appreciate the simple things in life like playing guitar.  Anyways....  Some things that I would practice (if you get down time) are some 3 or 4 note per string runs.  It forces you to use the pinky finger more and adds a more fluid legato sound to your runs.  Also, perhaps trying your hand at some classical or country licks.  You know, anything outside the norm of typical blues rock.  Then weave that back into what you like to do....you'd be surprised with the results!  I've really wanted to dive into the more classical side of the guitar but have been too lazy!

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.