Maybe it’s just me. I seem to have picked up some odd notions about things over the years. Particularly when it comes to music, and specifically even when it comes to playing guitar.
Metronomes!
I’ll start with the metronome. This wasn’t really a case of having an odd notion. This was more a case of pure lazy and bullheadedness. I would not practice with one. No matter what my father or instructor said, I just would not do it. Until, I decided I wanted to get better at playing.
I think Bryan suggested to play with the recordings and play with a metronome. He said it sort of off-handed. Sort of like he’s said it to a million people and none of them ever listen. So finally I gave it a go. And dang if I can’t tell where I get off beat and even start rushing things. It’s hard to play slow. And yes, I know I almost always end up with my vocal and guitar, mostly guitar, a beat off on ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’. I’m still working on it. And I play with a metronome every time I practice it.
Tuners! Even more important than metronomes.
So here’s one of my odd notions. Somewhere along the way I picked up the notion that you shouldn’t brace or rest your picking hand on another part of the guitar. That’s a challenge. It might be why I do a lot of strumming, and sometimes finger-style playing. They don’t lend themselves to wanting to rest your hand on the bridge. I hadn’t given this too much thought until I started trying to play this one picking pattern. It’s a down, down, up, up pattern and I can do it finger-style just fine. Except. It’s not right. It sound’s best with a pick and there’s an extra little twang on the last up stroke that’s like a little wrist flick. The first time I saw it played I was caught up in watching the picking pattern. But when I tried to play it, I could just get a few bars and then it would fall apart. So I got to see it again after having tried so hard to do it ‘the proper way’. And what I finally noticed was that the person playing was resting or bracing his hand at the bridge. So I tried it and it made a big difference. I’m not near having mastered the technique. But now I have hope.
And I have learned that sometimes you do have to rest the heel of your hand or brace with your little finger to make something happen. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t try not to rest or brace your hand. Absolutely, if I remember correctly, that’s considered “proper” technique and it’s supposed to allow for better picking mobility. However, sometimes, theory and proper technique, don’t jive with reality and practicality and you just do what gets the job done.
Capos
Which brings me to the capo. This poor little guy. I’ve treated him so bad. I’ve shunned him. I’ve thought bad of him. All because I was foolish. I was silly. I was ill-informed. I first encountered a capo as a kid. And I thought that the only reason you used a capo was because your hands weren’t strong enough to actually play bar chords. I know. I know.
I have small hands for my instrument of choice. It means there are somethings that are more than a stretch for my fingers. It means if I can reach it, I can’t always play it cleanly. I would have been well served to become a close friend of the capo years ago. What can I say? I tend to do things the hard way. However. Recently, in my search for tips and tricks for some different blues rhythms, I encountered someone demonstrating using a capo. This person had good size hands and hardly seemed like he would need one. But, he used it and it was fun and easy to watch what he was doing. Ok. I get it. Let me try that. Yep. Sure enough. There are reasons to use a capo. And they have nothing to do with your hand strength. Not only can they bring some things more in reach for me, they let me not have to over stretch so that I can get to other notes faster. Hey! That’s cool.
It does take a little practice to learn all these things, and to use them. I’m still getting used to using the capo. But it makes such a difference that you can bet I’ll be playing with it regularly pretty quick. I’ve got to learn how to handle scales and not to over shoot that fifth chord. So, practice, practice. As for the metronome. I will always need to use it more than I do. In fact. Like the capo. I should probably get another one. Just so I can leave one at a particular beat and have one to mess around with. The resting my hand thing comes a little more naturally when it’s needed. At least I’m not fighting it. And as I’ve worked on my alternate picking technique it’s come in pretty handy.
Yes. They are small things. But they are a few things that I have gotten tripped up by over the years. And, as I’ve really been trying to get better recently, I’ve come to see where my old notions, beliefs, prejudices, and what have you, have been holding me back. It’s not about not being good enough. It’s not about not being great. Or even how good or great you already are. It’s about can you be better? So I’m going to start there. Getting better.
More small tools and gear. Mostly picks.
There are a couple more weeks before the next Blues Jam. I’ve posted the first set I played in at the most recent jam. I’ll get the second set up sometime this week. I don’t think it’s my best work. But the rest of the band was pretty tight and it’s worth seeing.