Guitar Technique Question
1.How to practice chords? I have already memorize many chords shape but i can't switch chords fluently.
It is a very tricky question because different strategy work on different people. Some are posture problem, some are using wrong practice technique, etc. i have to see your playing live then only I can give you the effective strategy to deal with the problem. What I can say now is practice your hands individually, don't practice 2 hands together. You have to switch chords at a very slow speed and ONLY playing with your left hand. You don't need the sound at this stage if your left hand can't switch chords fluently alone. You can't focus on 2 hands synchronization yet if you can't do it alone. After you get this down in a slow speed then try to play it with both hands equal tempo. Check out Effective Practice Strategy .
2.How to practice to get big results and how much time I need to practice everyday in order to become a great guitar player?
There are many ways, I will show you 1 of it. Whenever students ask this question, usually they are focusing on things in the wrong order. Practicing guitar involves 3 primary areas: An efficient practice strategy, an effective practice habits, and (finally) the amount of time you practice. As you can see, the practice time is important but it's not the most important practice factor. Think of it, you want to drive from point A to point B. Point B is your musical goal. Efficient practice schedule is like a map, only those who been there before can give you the map. In order word, if you are a self taught guitarist. You don't have a map but you hope you can reach your musical goal. It's very difficult and it takes a lot of time. Which professional guitarist in the world don't take any guitar lessons before. The answer is zero. Self-taught guitarist can only become a intermediate guitar player and it takes at least 10 times more afford. So, ask your current guitar teacher to create a strategy for you based on what your musical goals are. The second key is effective practice habits. It's your car, if you have a slow car, you reach point B slower, if you have a great car then you reach point B earlier which mean you reach your goals earlier. It's too much to answer here. When you take lessons with me, I will give you this practice habits seminar in softcopy form. How long you practice is like how long you drive your car. Without Point B, you are driving nowhere. Without map, you are coun on luck. Without a great car, you car may spoil in the middle of the road and most of the time you are going to give up at this point or find a good mechanic(great guitar teacher) to modify your car. If cause, if you have a map and a good car, you still have to drive your car. I hope you an see that, the difference is you spend at least 10 times faster and easier to reach your musical goal if you have efficient practice strategy and effective practice habits instead of only focus on how much time your spend on driving. In fact, some people are driving to a opposite direction.(Practice the wrong things). Check out Effective Practice Strategy .
3. what are the things i need to be aware of when I'm practicing?
I can't tell you before i know your unique goal, there is a difference things to aware between a beginner and advance player but there are some common things that you can check out are:
- Are all the notes smoothly connected?
- Is the rhythm in tempo and correct?
- Am I using proper fingering and/or picking motions?
- Are my fretting hand fingers tense?
- Is there any excess tension in my hands, wrist, arm, elbow,
shoulder, neck, head or face?
- Is there any excess string noise present as I play?
- Is my articulation correct/ideal?
- Am I playing with feeling? Or just going thru the motions?
( all this question must be think about every practice )
It is a very tricky question because different strategy work on different people. Some are posture problem, some are using wrong practice technique, etc. i have to see your playing live then only I can give you the effective strategy to deal with the problem. What I can say now is practice your hands individually, don't practice 2 hands together. You have to switch chords at a very slow speed and ONLY playing with your left hand. You don't need the sound at this stage if your left hand can't switch chords fluently alone. You can't focus on 2 hands synchronization yet if you can't do it alone. After you get this down in a slow speed then try to play it with both hands equal tempo. Check out Effective Practice Strategy .
2.How to practice to get big results and how much time I need to practice everyday in order to become a great guitar player?
There are many ways, I will show you 1 of it. Whenever students ask this question, usually they are focusing on things in the wrong order. Practicing guitar involves 3 primary areas: An efficient practice strategy, an effective practice habits, and (finally) the amount of time you practice. As you can see, the practice time is important but it's not the most important practice factor. Think of it, you want to drive from point A to point B. Point B is your musical goal. Efficient practice schedule is like a map, only those who been there before can give you the map. In order word, if you are a self taught guitarist. You don't have a map but you hope you can reach your musical goal. It's very difficult and it takes a lot of time. Which professional guitarist in the world don't take any guitar lessons before. The answer is zero. Self-taught guitarist can only become a intermediate guitar player and it takes at least 10 times more afford. So, ask your current guitar teacher to create a strategy for you based on what your musical goals are. The second key is effective practice habits. It's your car, if you have a slow car, you reach point B slower, if you have a great car then you reach point B earlier which mean you reach your goals earlier. It's too much to answer here. When you take lessons with me, I will give you this practice habits seminar in softcopy form. How long you practice is like how long you drive your car. Without Point B, you are driving nowhere. Without map, you are coun on luck. Without a great car, you car may spoil in the middle of the road and most of the time you are going to give up at this point or find a good mechanic(great guitar teacher) to modify your car. If cause, if you have a map and a good car, you still have to drive your car. I hope you an see that, the difference is you spend at least 10 times faster and easier to reach your musical goal if you have efficient practice strategy and effective practice habits instead of only focus on how much time your spend on driving. In fact, some people are driving to a opposite direction.(Practice the wrong things). Check out Effective Practice Strategy .
3. what are the things i need to be aware of when I'm practicing?
I can't tell you before i know your unique goal, there is a difference things to aware between a beginner and advance player but there are some common things that you can check out are:
- Are all the notes smoothly connected?
- Is the rhythm in tempo and correct?
- Am I using proper fingering and/or picking motions?
- Are my fretting hand fingers tense?
- Is there any excess tension in my hands, wrist, arm, elbow,
shoulder, neck, head or face?
- Is there any excess string noise present as I play?
- Is my articulation correct/ideal?
- Am I playing with feeling? Or just going thru the motions?
( all this question must be think about every practice )
Multi-Strategy Approach Guitar Lessons Question
1.What can you teach me and how you will teach me?
I can teach you a huge amount, but it's quality is what I'm aiming. I have to know student's musical details before I build the strategy and lesson plan for him or her. Not much of local private teacher will ask you what your goals are, and 99% of the average teachers don’t create a proven strategy plan for your goal. I want you to learn to play guitar independently so you can play guitar consistently well. The vast majority of new students that come to me fall into one of 3 groups:
2.How well have you taught other students?
Take a look on my student performance page
3.Can you please tell me about your teaching experience and any musical certificate? Do you have well training to be a great guitar teacher instead of a great performer?
I started teaching my friend for free when I’m still studying in secondary school. Then I teach my church members afterward. Later on I start teaching in local music school, home based private individual class and private group class. I'm teaching electric guitar, acoustic guitar and composition at my school (NGA), local music school and at students home now. I have already started my teaching career in year 2004. Yes, I have enrolled in a guitar teacher training ongoing program at Tom Hess Music Corporation . I am a Trinity Guitar Grade 8 holder and Contemporary Music Bachelor(Hons.) holder of UCSI University.
4.What musical styles do you teach?
I don't teach finger style, country style or classical. I only teach music style in Rock, Pop, fusion Jazz and funk.
5. What is the cost of lessons?
Depends which Format you take from me, I have to know your musical level, your goals, musical knowledge, etc to assign you into the format I created. Different cost on different program and package.
6. Can you come over to my house to teach guitar?
I can go to your home. But come to my studio is more valuable for you. It's not only cheaper rate at my studio but I have many important teaching tools at my studio such as computer, recording machine, band instrument, music books, music software, music practice tools, and many other important factors to support my students. My students can get at least 10times more benefits having the class at my studio than at their home. I only teach at students home when they lacking of transportation.
7. Do you teach in group or individual 1on1 lesson?
I teach both depends on students needs. Both kind of lessons have different advantages. I trained to become a group based guitar teacher and a private individual 1on1 lesson guitar teacher as well. I recommend you to join the class that suitable for you based on your musical goal, musical interest and musical skills. You have to ask the correct question so that you know which type of class is more suitable for you. Other than that, you should think of choosing a great and suitable teacher for yourself. It's a very critical factor you have to think of. Click How To Choose Great Guitar teacher to find out.
I can teach you a huge amount, but it's quality is what I'm aiming. I have to know student's musical details before I build the strategy and lesson plan for him or her. Not much of local private teacher will ask you what your goals are, and 99% of the average teachers don’t create a proven strategy plan for your goal. I want you to learn to play guitar independently so you can play guitar consistently well. The vast majority of new students that come to me fall into one of 3 groups:
- People who have had guitar teachers in the past, but didn't get the results they wanted from their teachers.
- Beginners who have no idea about guitar.
- Self taught guitar players who have too little improvement even they practice hard.
2.How well have you taught other students?
Take a look on my student performance page
3.Can you please tell me about your teaching experience and any musical certificate? Do you have well training to be a great guitar teacher instead of a great performer?
I started teaching my friend for free when I’m still studying in secondary school. Then I teach my church members afterward. Later on I start teaching in local music school, home based private individual class and private group class. I'm teaching electric guitar, acoustic guitar and composition at my school (NGA), local music school and at students home now. I have already started my teaching career in year 2004. Yes, I have enrolled in a guitar teacher training ongoing program at Tom Hess Music Corporation . I am a Trinity Guitar Grade 8 holder and Contemporary Music Bachelor(Hons.) holder of UCSI University.
4.What musical styles do you teach?
I don't teach finger style, country style or classical. I only teach music style in Rock, Pop, fusion Jazz and funk.
5. What is the cost of lessons?
Depends which Format you take from me, I have to know your musical level, your goals, musical knowledge, etc to assign you into the format I created. Different cost on different program and package.
6. Can you come over to my house to teach guitar?
I can go to your home. But come to my studio is more valuable for you. It's not only cheaper rate at my studio but I have many important teaching tools at my studio such as computer, recording machine, band instrument, music books, music software, music practice tools, and many other important factors to support my students. My students can get at least 10times more benefits having the class at my studio than at their home. I only teach at students home when they lacking of transportation.
7. Do you teach in group or individual 1on1 lesson?
I teach both depends on students needs. Both kind of lessons have different advantages. I trained to become a group based guitar teacher and a private individual 1on1 lesson guitar teacher as well. I recommend you to join the class that suitable for you based on your musical goal, musical interest and musical skills. You have to ask the correct question so that you know which type of class is more suitable for you. Other than that, you should think of choosing a great and suitable teacher for yourself. It's a very critical factor you have to think of. Click How To Choose Great Guitar teacher to find out.
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