Guitar Lesson Focus: 7 Points To Playing: Part 2
It’s Not About You / Play To Your Strength
Many young players achieve a fairly competent level of playing in a relatively short time. This can be a result of proper and effective guitar lessons, some native talent, and a fanatical work ethic. However, when playing in a group it is often difficult for many players to leave their ego behind and to focus on the overall dynamic of the group. These are the players who are always showing off and drawing attention to themselves at the expense of the performance of the band. They try too hard to impress the audience, and the result is often a disjointed and sloppy presentation.
As a performer in a group it is imperative to play within your strengths when on stage. It is better to play a simple well-articulated solo than a sloppy mess of notes. The point is to make the band sound good regardless of the individual’s level of ability. Players who always try to show the audience everything they know in every solo become boorish in a very short time. It’s not about you – it’s a band thang.
The Drummer Is Always Right
Sometimes when performing the drummer might inadvertently turn the beat around. It happens to best of players and it’s important for the rest of the band to react and get with the time as soon as possible. The middle of a song is not the time to be hard-headed about being right. You’ve got to keep the audience dancing and grooving so just get with the drummer, finish the tune, and have a laugh on the break.
As a professional music instructor, I feel very responsible to translate my stage experience into understandable bites in order to help my students be prepared for their performances. My students and I are always talking of the ways and means for them to bring it to the stage and send it to the crowd in the private guitar lessons I offer at Arcadia Music Studio in Concord, CA. Tune in next week for the next article in this series.
