TIP #8-TRY GOING “DEEP” INSTEAD OF “WIDE”

Viewing 4 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • #7316
      Rob Ickes
      Participant
      Up
      2
      Down
      ::

      Try going “deep” instead of “wide.”  What I mean by this is focus on ONE SONG, or piece of a song, or technique, and stay with that until you get it perfect. This as opposed to DRIFTING AROUND from song to song, trying different things. Just focus on ONE THING and get it as perfect as you can. I think you learn a lot from digging in deep like this… And you’ll take this perfection and apply it to other songs that you’re doing.
      In other words, this perfect technique that you’ve nailed down for one song will always be there for you, even when you move on to other songs. If you don’t have something down very well, and then you move on to something else, you’re BUILDING A WEAK FOUNDATION for the rest of your music.
      I’ve noticed that while practicing, I’ll often be working on something for a little bit, and then I move on to something else for a while, then something else after that. Just kind of drifting around. Recently I’ve tried to stop the drifting and instead of that I’ll stay focused on one thing until I get it right. It’s made a big difference in my playing. Give it a try and lmk if it works for you!

    • #7503
      Bill Holden
      Participant
      Up
      0
      Down
      ::

      Rob great advice. I’ve often found myself focusing on playing through an entire song, or maybe the A or B part instead of drilling into the trouble spots at a much slower tempo to get it right. For some time now I’ve tried to structure my practice time by consciously focusing on slowing the tempo and at least trying to make progress on the trouble spots, whether that trouble spot is in a song or it’s a specific technique trouble spot. Quite honestly what I think I’m doing is trying to unlearn bad habits and bad technique. Tough to do but just admitting that to myself has helped. It’s as if I’m in a therapy session with just me!!

    • #7802
      Bill Frey
      Participant
      Up
      0
      Down
      ::

      Thank you Rob. This has been my #1 problem. I tend to work on 20 different things simultaneously – and at the same time!

    • #8542
      Chris Kamen
      Participant
      Up
      0
      Down
      ::

      So hard but so important.

    • #9054
      Jake Keegan
      Participant
      Up
      0
      Down
      ::

      This really hits home! Thanks for the advice! I’ve tried to take this approach for the courses– this makes me feel better about being currently chipping away at “Cherokee Shuffle”

Viewing 4 reply threads
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Contacts

Do you have any questions or suggestions about new songs and features? Let us know!