There's one thing that is extremely difficult to do on guitar.
All guitarists have to deal with it and we often fail. But the ones who can regularly do this go on to be master musicians, whether they're famous or not. They become the most confident and intuitive players, free to play their best for anybody and everybody.
What's that one thing that most guitarists can’t do? Well, here it is...
Slow down.
The Hidden Obstacle
Now you might think, "Wait a minute! I thought this was gonna be a cool hack.” But you know it’s true; slowing down is often the hardest thing for a guitarist to do.
The reason is simple: most of us don't want to slow down. It feels like a regression, a return to the beginner's stage. It's not as exciting as ripping through a fast-paced solo, right?
But the players who are willing to do this go deeper than the rest of us and develop a comfort with the guitar, a true feel for playing that’s very personal. And they get reeeealy good!
You Already Have The Tools
The truth is your mind has the ability to become aware of itself, to notice what it's doing. It does that all on its own, a magical freebie.
The problem is you're usually so caught up that you're afraid that if you loosen just a little bit everything will fall apart. You keep grinding in that loop, trying to get it right, and then you'll have solved it for good. It's easy to mistake the energy of rushing for the energy of the music, but that's not it. It's the energy of obsession.
Two-Step Exercise
There is a way to break free from this. All you need to do is mix in a little bit of speed & obsession’s opposite; some space, some good ol’ fashioned nothin’. When you notice that you're rushing try this simple two-step technique (not a hack, because you know that there are no real shortcuts in music).
Part 1: Pause
- Stop playing. Releaser the guitar but don’t put it away
- Sit up (because you're probably hunched over)
- Notice the space in the room, the light, the temperature
- Take a few breaths. Exhale. Just sigh a couple of times.
Part 2: Listen
- Play one note or one chord and listen to it until the note or chord is completely and utterly gone. Don’t do anything to correct or improve the chord or note, just be there while it fades.
- Repeat the previous step two more times
The whole thing takes a little over a minute. Go back to your what you're playing and start again with that sense of space in there, a sense of nothing mixed in. See if you can notice when you’re pushing the music and yourself instead of allowing the music to come through.
The Main Practice Point
The main thing you’re practicing is having the will to step out of the cycle. This is a simple practice that I’ve developed after many years of meditation and I’m afraid it may be too subtle for a blog post! But, honestly, I’m sure you’ve experienced it because you practice guitar.
I've been teaching guitar for more than 25 years, and I have seen this over and over again. The folks who can do this get really good at guitar, and quick!
What if you could do those two things, what would practicing be like? What keeps you from going at a pace that let’s you learn while you play?
Drop a line in the chat. I’d love to hear from you.
Cheers!
Bryan
Excellent advice. Tough, but excellent advice!