Learningsongaphobia 2.0 (sort of)

[Gandalv]

I have another variant of this problem. Background information first: I have a guitar with Floyd Rose tremolo, impossible to change tuning on. Been playing for two years. Top speed 100 BPM sixteenth notes. I mostly listen to progressive metal, and the vast majority (95%+) of the music on my shelf is either (from most common to least common)

A) Too difficult technically
B) Arranged for more than one guitar (or a 7-string guitar, or a downtuned one)
C) Boring and stupid, or too easy

Any ideas of what to do? I just can't find enough interesting stuff to practice.

[Axe-aholic]

First off, learning songs isn't a must, imo. It's a fun way to learn, but try to keep it balenced with other important things.

I'd suggest learning some transcribed classical etudes, Flight of the Bumblebee, Paganinni's Caprices, or similar things.

As far as your first objection goes, nothing is too difficult if you slow it down enough.

[Matze]

Find a band. Make real music.

I don't agree with the above post about learning etudes. This can help your technical ability to play the instrument. It is also a very good way to waste your time. Remember: if you only play etudes and excerpts from your favourite prog-rock pieces all you will be able to to eventually is sitting at home playing etudes and prog rock solos. Is this what you want?

[CaptainCarma]

just go out and play!

[Maarten]

or too easy


So it would take little time to add another song to your repertoire, why not learn it? Also, easy stuff you can do perfect. Perfectioning a song is an invaluable exercise. The crowd rather hears a simple song being played flawless than see you struggle through something you can almost play.

First off, learning songs isn't a must, imo

It is, it think. Play only etudes and you'll be like a marathon runner who's doing al kind of exercises but never runs (lame comparison, I know). You can never know too many songs.

Play music because it's fun, not because you have to be the best guitarplayer there is. When you do, it'll show either way.

[Axe-aholic]

Etudes are just as much real music as anything else, they just tend to focus more on one particular technical skill.

I have no problem with learning 'real' music. I play classical guitar, which is almost primarily focused on increasing your repertoire.

However, I know many people who get lost in that and nothing else. They just practice song after song, memorizing licks and tabs and all, but not working with anything else. There's so much more to music to work on. So if you can't find anything songs want to learn, don't worry about it. Wait till you hear a song thats like "Wow, I gotta be able to play that". In the meantime there's a heckuva lot of other things to occupy your time with.

You could always write your own ;)

[forgottenking2]

I had classical guitar training for 2 years and here's what I learned about this subject: Classical Etudes ARE real music, some of them are very complex harmonically (try "Estudio Sin Luz" by Francisco Tarrega <I think>) and lots of them are beautiful. Here's the problem: What a lot of us call "etude" in a rock environment would be something like this:

e-------------------------------------------------------------------------
b--------------------2-----3-----2------------------------------------2--
g-1-----2------4----------------------4-----2-------1-----2----4---------
D----4------4------4----4----4-----4-----4------4------2----2-----2----2
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ETC

You get the point, something technically challenging (inside picking while skipping strings can be hard) and somewhat musical (this one falls in the key of F minor and uses pedal note phrases) but fails to create interest or developing at all and that's ok it's an EXERCISE.

In my opinion you SHOULD create a repertoire (your own compositions, some standards, covers, whatever) if you want to get out of your bedroom at all. The guys in a band won't care how many technical exercises you know, they'll want to hear some songs and if you can play 16th notes at 300 bpm and there's this guy who comes along and plays some cool songs, he'll get the gig not you. (That happened to me once when I was younger :( )

If a song is "too easy" cool, learn it. Who cares if I don't like Nirvana? My younger brother does and I was asked to play the guitar parts at a party (don't ask me how I ended up in a party with a whole bunch of 15 year olds :p ) I knew them so I played and it was fun. Just learn as many songs as you can, even if it means strumming a few chords. My parents stopped thinking all I did was noise when I played a couple of very old songs for them while they sung, I mean there's tons of things you can do with the guitar. You PLAY the guitar you don't WORK it (I know I'm quoting somebody I just don't know who) so have fun with it. Get out there and learn some songs.

Regards,

[Gandalv]

Thanks a lot for the replies. The part about "etudes" for electric guitar hits me right in the eye. A bunch of fast notes does not interest me, I want to make harmonies that sound nice. Something that fits into a musical context of some sort. I am just unable to stick with most ordinary exercises because they sound boring. Is this a problem any of you have had? I can imagine it will really slow down my technical progress. One of my friends plays classical guitar, and he has lots of nice etudes I'd love to play, because they sound good by themselves. I'll play Dream Theater's Beyond This Life for a while (-solos) and see if I can get anywhere with that. This morning I brought Satriani's Tears in the Rain up to speed. It was a great technical exercise for me, since I have just learned the basics of sweeping.

[Axe-aholic]

Many of Paganini's Caprices have been transcribed for electric guitar. They are incredible sounding even when played dog slow (and you'll need to start them dog slow). You may want to check them out.

[Gandalv]

Ok, thanks, I'll try :)(powertabs.net?)

[wild_child]

don't get me wrong, but isn't the whole point of practacing etudes a way of using certain techniques within a musical context, as opposed to boring, un-musical excercises...? Or as a way of keeping yourself interested and focused on the task?

Everyone's posts seem to state the opposite :confused:

Also, why does an etude need to be fast?

[ashc]

One other point, on top of all the others, is that often a song sounds easy and even looks easy when transcribed, but quite often to nail it end to end is something else. Even a completely mundane looking chord change can give you an unexpected headache. I think it's essential, as already pointed out, how else can you play with others if you have no repetoire?

Did you pick up the guitar in the first place to play exercises and etudes? I picked up it to learn others songs, as well play my own music. The excercises for technique are just wings to fly with, I think I'm quoting Mr Vai here :-). Not trying to be critical I'm just amazed theres no music you like that isn't overly technical for your level.

Don't forget if everything you play is on your limit you probably don't give yourself much of a chance to hone your touch, vibrato, intonation etc. - the things that make you sound good. Take a simple song, with an easy solo and make it sound great.

[forgottenking2]

In that same line. I still can remember the shock of learning an "easy" song like "All Along the Watchtower" by Jimmi Hendrix. I thought: "His leads aren't lighting fast and he's just playing B C#m B A the whole time" Well, it's a classic, so everyone knows (or seems to know) the song inside out so they were absolutely unforgiven to the smallest mistake or inconsistency to the original song, so I spent two or three weeks (!!!!) learning every single accent, and vibrato thing and stuff... and I still didn't even had a feeling remotely close to the way Jimi played it (it was close enough to fool people at the gig though). That my friend was when I realized that even "easy" songs present challenges, and a lot of times even if you don't like the song, when it comes to playing it live you can get some satisfaction out of it (unless you TRULY hate the song). So stop reading this for a while and go learn a song... still here? I said go learn a song... come on. lol

I hope this conviced you.

[Buebo]

The reason why you practise etudes/excercises is that when you're going to learn a new song (or write one yourself) you pick it up more easily and quickly (and ofcourse are able tot get it up to speed).
This reminds me, my parents told me they went crazy with my picking exercises (well they tried to emulate the sound of them they didn't what the hell they were). Then I sat on the coach strumming some bob marley and they immediately enjoyed it.

ps: my dog really doesnt like it when I play the PG-lick at somewhat fast speeds :D