Specific Guitar Practise Techniques

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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Musician »

Specific Guitar Practise Techniques

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philjudd Joined: Dec 05, 2016 Posts: 151 Queensland	Posted on Jan 15 2017 04:28 PM I am interested if anyone cares to share specific practise techniques they have used or are using for their guitar or bass playing? Mainly things that help build up straight ahead guitar technique eg picking accuracy etc or specific guitar/amp techniques useful for Surf guitar. We all do stuff alongside learning tunes and performing. What's worked for you? Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 854	Posted on Jan 16 2017 01:55 AM This may not be exactly what you're looking for but it is still helpful across the board. I picked this tip up from Carol Kaye in on of her videos. If you aren't familiar with her, check her out. Very old school musician. She advocates thinking of everything you play in terms of chords rather than scales. In practice, that means learn how to pare your scale run up the neck down to just the 1,3,5, and 7 of each chordal position so that you can jump around them as effortlessly as playing scales. As she says, these are the base of the music and the other notes in the scale are just passing notes. It really does help build solos or bass lines or whatever. I came up with a nice little tune while I was practicing playing them. That's the difference: you play a scale and it isn't musical but you play the arpeggiated chords and it IS music. Top
philjudd Joined: Dec 05, 2016 Posts: 151 Queensland	Posted on Jan 16 2017 03:55 PM Redfeather wrote: This may not be exactly what you're looking for but it is still helpful across the board. I picked this tip up from Carol Kaye in on of her videos. If you aren't familiar with her, check her out. Very old school musician. She advocates thinking of everything you play in terms of chords rather than scales. In practice, that means learn how to pare your scale run up the neck down to just the 1,3,5, and 7 of each chordal position so that you can jump around them as effortlessly as playing scales. As she says, these are the base of the music and the other notes in the scale are just passing notes. It really does help build solos or bass lines or whatever. I came up with a nice little tune while I was practicing playing them. That's the difference: you play a scale and it isn't musical but you play the arpeggiated chords and it IS music. Hi Red. Too true. Most jazz training is built off chord triads and extensions to start with. Funny thing is if you use the extensions of a chord you end up playing the scales. But more musically sounding. Alot of tunes are actually built on notes directly out of the chords underneath. I found that out trying to work out melodies and realizing if I checked the chord tones first often the note I was searching for was there! Top
revmike Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3742 North Atlantic	Posted on Jan 16 2017 05:39 PM Practicing with a metronome at a variety of tempos is very important. Rev — Canadian Surf http://www.urbansurfkings.com/ Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 854	Posted on Jan 17 2017 02:59 AM Yes! That's a good one too. I recently bought a pedal from a guy who is a studio player and when I asked him what the most important elements for someone in that field to have are he said the ability to play in time. I figured he would say something like being able to come up with interesting licks, phrases, melodies or whatever on the spot but no--it was something as seemingly elemental as playing in time. He cited playing to a metronome as crucial. Last edited: Jan 17, 2017 14:53:44 Top
da-ron Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1299 The original Plymouth, UK.	Posted on Jan 17 2017 10:14 AM Playing to a metronome was the best advice I ever had, Fully endorse that one. There's theres Dave Arnsons (Insect Surfers) advice for any budding surf guitarist: "Learn how to jump around. Anyone can play guitar!" — http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Top
h3dg3h0g Joined: Jun 27, 2015 Posts: 223 San Francisco East Bay Area	Posted on Jan 17 2017 03:40 PM Metronome, metronome, metronome! YES! Or drum loops on your mobile phone. Also, surf guitar is very physical - I got this book and I am finding it very helpful for ideas around building stamina. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1910403717/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I split my practice time between exercises like these, perfecting repertoire (and especially difficult passages of tunes in my repertoire) and learning new tunes. And.... I play Margaya like 5 times a day - my band graciously added it to our set list as incentive for me to drive improvement of my tremolo picking! I too would love to hear other ideas! — Jonathan the Reverbivore The Reverbivores Please check out our latest album The Reverbivores Watch TV! www.thereverbivores.com Facebook YouTube Top
el_camello Joined: Jul 04, 2010 Posts: 369 Ottawa	Posted on Jan 17 2017 06:10 PM I second the seeing things more as chords than scales (at the least "see" the chord of the moment arpeggio INSIDE the song's scale; at the most extreme, switch the entire mental focus per change to the new chord/scale). Once I learned that trick I was finally able to write music and improvise on fairly consistent level. It's hard but it was entirely worth the investment. I do a lot of slow practice with band in a box and try to follow the chords changes. I dedicate a regular amount of time to straight metronome/drum machine endurance practice. I alternate between 2min of fast endurance practice and a "rest" period of 'slower' nimblier left-hand exercises. It's almost more of a workout mentality. Example: -2min of whatever tempo is comfortable tremolo picking (usually a riff that is all trem pick to keep the brain engaged at least a little bit) -at a much slower tempo: 16th note "spider" 1234 style exercises -2min of slightly faster tremolo picking -faster tempo "spider" style exercises and so on until you can't do it anymore. When I get to really fast tempos I switch to playing songs that are mostly fast tremolo picking. I find practicing scales in "gallop" style lead rhythm (ie: two 16th notes followed by an 8th note; no duplicate note, each ascends the scales/pentatonic) is a great "cheat" to play fast exciting scales. I started doing that after accepting full on shredding was not in my hands. In the end I'm quite happy with the sound it produces! I was inspired by the song "Return of the Space Cossack" by Los Twang! Marvels... give it a listen and you will hear what I mean; all the fast lead licks are played with this "gallop" (two 16th notes followed by an 8th) rhythm! — -Pierre The Obsidians! (Ottawa surf) The Obsidians debut EP Top
SpaceTimC Joined: Apr 18, 2015 Posts: 189 Bay Area, CA	Posted on Jan 18 2017 04:22 PM h3dg3h0g wrote: Also, surf guitar is very physical - I got this book and I am finding it very helpful for ideas around building stamina. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1910403717/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 You've been holding out on us, man! I'm gonna ask about that book next practice! And... you've been doing great with "Marguaya" - I'm always impressed by your technique with that song, especially as I'm still wrestling with the trem picking in "Moment of Truth". — The Reverbivores - we're local favorites! Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4052 Nashville, TN.	Posted on Jan 18 2017 07:15 PM METRONOME! Plain and simple. It does me wonders, I should use it and practice more often. Cheers, Jeff — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top
Syndicateofsurf Joined: Oct 08, 2014 Posts: 1073 Northern Ohio	Posted on Jan 19 2017 07:01 AM CrazyAces wrote: METRONOME! Plain and simple. It does me wonders, I should use it and practice more often. Cheers, Jeff Hey, I've got a metronome. Used it for drumming...for a while. So if I used it with the guitar... that would be the improved practice technique? But... I could do that. — Da Vinci Flinglestein, The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/ http://sharawaji.com/ http://surfrockradio.com/ Top
Syndicateofsurf Joined: Oct 08, 2014 Posts: 1073 Northern Ohio	Posted on Jan 20 2017 09:07 AM Tried it this morning right affor work. Super easy- like having a little drummer who can actually keep the beat. Great for honing new songs in prep for recording. And you never have to leave the couch. — Da Vinci Flinglestein, The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/ http://sharawaji.com/ http://surfrockradio.com/ Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4052 Nashville, TN.	Posted on Jan 20 2017 09:25 AM One of the biggest lessons I've learned so far as a musician (and am still trying to get better at) is that timing, momentum, equilibrium, and sense of rhythm in general is one of if not the most important aspects of being an accomplished player. Guitar players often focus on speed, tone and notes but the truly great players that I've had the fortune of playing with or observing, first and foremost have great timing, groove and swing. It starts with truly playing in time and thus the metronome but it goes beyond that. I also find that if one is trying to develop technical aspects of playing that growth and success is experienced faster when using a metronome. Cheers, Jeff — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top
Syndicateofsurf Joined: Oct 08, 2014 Posts: 1073 Northern Ohio	Posted on Jan 20 2017 11:58 AM CrazyAces wrote: great timing, groove and swing. Cheers, Jeff It's not the meat it's the motion. — Da Vinci Flinglestein, The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/ http://sharawaji.com/ http://surfrockradio.com/ Top

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