Learning a skill by repeatedly rehearsing it.
0
votes
0answers
32 views
Where to download music covers for songs (without lyrics)? [duplicate]
I don't know if the title of my question is correct, feel free to edit it.
This video: a guy plays if tomorrow never comes on harmonica, while a musical cover for the song is playing in the ...
3
votes
4answers
100 views
Practicing Trills
The slowness of my trills is getting annoying. I am able to play Blue by Yngwie Malmsteen but yet fail at doing the trill in the intro. How can one practice to make them faster? Endurance is not an ...
0
votes
3answers
113 views
Amplifier has no aux in, what alternatives can I use?
As stated my amplifier has no Aux in jack. It's hindering me from practicing with an otherwise (imo) great amp (a Vox Pathfinder 15r).
Been thinking of using this to interface between the music ...
5
votes
2answers
84 views
How to practice endurance to be able to play boogie woogie pieces?
I'm practicing boogie woogie pieces like Pete Johnson's Dive Bomber. After some time my hands are getting stiff and tired while practicing. Especially the left hand. I can mitigate this by limiting ...
4
votes
3answers
159 views
Drum set made from towels/pillows
I'm a drummer who lives in an apartment. I have an electric set, but it is too noisy and I am receiving complaints. I'm sure this has to do with the pads and the kick pedal. I'd still like to practice ...
0
votes
2answers
75 views
When following a lesson should I make it perfect before going to the next lession
I am following the lessons from a finger-style blues book. I have completed practice lessons "A" "B" and currently at "C". When I was practicing "A" I could be able to play it perfectly most of the ...
2
votes
2answers
83 views
How are method books for instruments created and why do they work?
This is an odd question. But I think I can use some wisdom from teachers and other experienced individuals.
Now, most of the instruments have method books, and many teachers follow them as well. My ...
6
votes
3answers
85 views
Learning drum parts by components (each hand and each foot) versus by timeslices
I would like to take drum lessons but unfortunately my schedule doesn't permit it. I know there are many resources online but I'm not sure how long it'd take me to find an answer to my specific ...
3
votes
3answers
121 views
Any ways to physically improve hand and finger speed?
My question is general and is instrument agnostic (it's actually even music acoustic).
I'm looking for ways to improve my hand and finger speed, whether it's finger drumming on the kitchen table, ...
4
votes
2answers
83 views
Bars 32-37 in Moonlight sonata first movement
I am having trouble playing and memorizing the broken chords sequence:
Should I try and practice on each triplet individually? because when I try to think on it as a broken chord I often can not ...
1
vote
4answers
121 views
Is a digital or acoustic piano a better option for a beginner (sound and feel)?
I just started learning piano, and I want to buy a piano for recreational purposes and practicing. I am torn between digital and acoustic. I love the feel and sound of an acoustic, but I cannot afford ...
10
votes
4answers
197 views
Stage volume levels in rehearsal and performance
Two questions in one here. Often when rehearsing or at gigs, I'm asked to turn up my volume "'Cos we can't hear you!" when the band is already quite loud. Very rarely will the others turn down to ...
5
votes
4answers
224 views
Can't feel meter when playing
I can't feel the meter when playing along very well, sometimes not at all.
Note I can feel the "pulse" just fine. I have no problem tapping my foot to the beat in time but I can't feel where the one ...
2
votes
3answers
100 views
Plateau in speed increases
a while ago I posted this question about my ideas for guitar practise: Guitar practice - general techniques
Since then I've been using the little app I put together, ranked up about 40 hours or so in ...
5
votes
1answer
75 views
Learning standard notation without succombing to simply remembering songs?
I'm in a tricky position. I've been playing guitar for around ten years and am fairly good at improvising and tinkering around on a piano, too. I understand sheet music, I can decipher it, but I can't ...
2
votes
2answers
76 views
Effectively using singing games for vocal training
What are productive ways to use the "Rock Band" video game as part of a vocal training regimen?
Are there any bad habits/practices that singing along with this type of game tends to promote?
1
vote
4answers
148 views
Self learning and tips for a middle aged parent
I have played guitar as a hobby on-and-off for 18 years now. I am not an accomplished player. I took lessons when I started out. I have bought books, and early-on I learned a lot from Fretboard ...
9
votes
11answers
310 views
What are good warm-up exercises for guitarists?
I do not generally warm up, but then I don't really stretch my playing as much as my ear when I practice. But I know I should.
What are some good exercises to do before I start getting into the ...
2
votes
4answers
156 views
Guitar practice - general techniques
I was delighted to come across this site. I'm a self-taught guitarist (largely electric guitar) and am continually looking to improve my playing and practice techniques. The change of running my ...
1
vote
1answer
61 views
Making a Soundproof Room
I started playing sax. I need to find me place to practice before being killed by my neighbors. I am thinking to soundproof my small room. It does not need to be 100% soundproof, but it's enough if it ...
2
votes
4answers
82 views
Karaoke Software for practicing sax
In my sax classes, my teacher accompanies me with his piano. He corrects my timing mistakes. Also, it sounds better than playing alone.
I just came up with a software which can help me to do it at ...
1
vote
2answers
91 views
Best process to learn a new song
I have been wondering about the best way to learn playing a new song on guitar. For example, a lot of people try to pick a small part, practice and perfect it and then repeat the procedure for the ...
3
votes
3answers
75 views
What to look for in beginner etudes for a second instrument?
I've already learned the theory, technique and notation as it applies to my primary instrument (guitar). I'd like to pick up a second instrument (viola), but I need to find exercises and etudes that ...
-2
votes
3answers
103 views
Drum machine with an API (Ruby would be awesome!) [closed]
I'm looking for a software drum machine that's easy to work with programatically. My goal is to use this as an intelligent metronome for creating drills to practice against.
Simplistically, I want ...
2
votes
2answers
112 views
What should I be trying my hand at to practice composing?
I don't really know how to play any instrument, but I do have some USB keys that I have plinked with in Garageband.
I'm not interested so much in learning to perform my works. I enjoy and am inspired ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
Indian Bamboo Flute: Practice
I am learning a 8 hole bamboo flute. I am having difficulties in practicing it because I am getting different sounds for different lip positions. Are there any tricks or ways to get the right sound ...
4
votes
3answers
177 views
Do the hands' sizes affect piano learning/performance?
I don't really know anything about pianos, but since I just got a digital one I guess I should give it a go.
The first thing I noticed is that it is difficult for me to press multiple keys that are a ...
11
votes
2answers
146 views
What value does practicing without paying attention to what you do have?
I've recently come across an interesting way to practice. I was asking a very accomplished guitarist on how he practiced technique, since his was amazingly effortless.
What he told me surprised me. ...
3
votes
2answers
224 views
Flatpicking: how can I make my floating-pick-hand less bouncy?
Can anyone suggest how I might improve my "floating fist" style flatpicking? I'm trying to clean up my pick technique for the sake of accuracy, feel, speed, and general ease-of-playing. I use the ...
0
votes
3answers
189 views
What are the most common barriers to becoming proficient at playing an instrument?
What are the most common barriers to becoming proficient at playing an instrument, and how does one overcome them?
Multiple answers welcome :)
This question does not apply to a particular instrument ...
2
votes
2answers
94 views
Finding the right rhythm for a tune
I have bought a CASIO CTK-4200 keyboard which has some 180 rhythms stored. I am new to such keyboards, and a beginner when it comes to playing music. I know some tunes which I can play on this ...
7
votes
3answers
348 views
What are “nodules” and how do you avoid them?
I've heard from singers (I'm primarily a guitarist) that it can be dangerous to try to make your voice deeper because you might develop "nodules". Is it true? What are they? How can you avoid them?
2
votes
2answers
151 views
Guitar overdubbing with headphones problem
I practise guitar at home with my headphones and using Boss micro BR 80 amp modeling device and its effects.
It works ok with one guitar but when I use a looper/delay to harmonize my solos or record ...
3
votes
1answer
92 views
Guitar Action for practicing and learning
I know for certain that a lower action on a guitar makes playing easier, but does having a high action makes you more skilled by overcoming the extra difficulty or is it just an inconvenience?
6
votes
3answers
230 views
What is the best way to work on my fret hand finger independence?
As a beginner, I find my fingers going everywhere but the places I want them! This is especially true when I'm attempting scales/licks that use my 4th finger a lot or requires quick interchanging ...
8
votes
4answers
128 views
Is it better to practice a single lick / part exclusively until you master it, or to practice a number of things at once?
As the title states...
I am currently working at least one hour a day (which is my total practice time) on a single lick, and am determined to continue doing this to the exclusion of all other ...
5
votes
5answers
204 views
How to keep practicing to compose music when you're too picky to listen to yourself playing
I'm a pianist, and I also compose songs in DAWs. My main spare time occupation is to improvise on the piano, and I've been doing it for several years now.
Even before I learned any instruments (when ...
3
votes
2answers
462 views
Is it dangerous to sing an entire song in falsetto?
Be it short-term or long-term. Is it true that if you use your falsetto on songs for more than those typical "uuhhhhs" and "oohhhhs" to give it a more sentimental/breathy touch, you could damage your ...
6
votes
5answers
411 views
What are the Five Most Important Things to Learn?
I'm reading "Practice Perfect" and the author recommends using the 80/20 approach in planning one's practice. For example, if 20% of "techniques" yield 80% of the results, what would be the 20% of ...
4
votes
3answers
113 views
Finding bandmates in a new city
I'm a young drummer that moved to Los Angeles. How do I find bandmates?
I've tried posting and replying to ads on Craigslist and am going in circles. Most, not all, have been flaky or are into a very ...
4
votes
6answers
198 views
How to build up to playing an F chord? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can I best learn to play barre chords?
I recently just got back into trying to learn to play guitar. I'm going through and learning all of the major chords in the ...
4
votes
2answers
824 views
Do weighted keys on a keyboard lead to more expressive playing?
I use an acoustic piano to learn/play classical music. I use a midi keyboard to record/produce own music. My piano has weighted keys while my midi keyboard has a very light touch. I find that I am ...
3
votes
2answers
125 views
One at a time or all at once?
I'm relearning guitar after several years -- well, several decades -- away. I'm actually finding that not only is it coming back to me easily, but I'm learning more than I ever knew before due to all ...
9
votes
6answers
294 views
What kind of effect does practicing on difficult to play instruments have?
To clarify the title, I'm not asking if it helps your mandolin skills to play violin (or vice versa, whichever you feel is "more difficult").
Let's say you are a guitarist: Does it help or hurt to ...
6
votes
2answers
251 views
How do I improve the rate at which I learn arpeggios?
I'm referring specifically to this sort of structure, where the notes cascade upwards or downwards but most often up and then back down. Many of the pieces I play (on piano) involve this rather ...
2
votes
2answers
325 views
How can I avoid making unpleasant facial expressions when playing difficult chords?
When I'm playing (learning) difficult chords on guitar (ex: F,B7) my facial muscles (basically lips) form a weird action (I felt it and I saw it in the mirror).
I feel I'll get used to it as I go and ...
4
votes
1answer
113 views
How to keep from tensing up when I click the metronome faster?
I've been trying to build up speed with my tremolo exercises, and the demon I keep fighting is a sort of negative feedback loop fed by worrying about deviations from the tempo, increasing attention on ...
8
votes
3answers
125 views
How do you keep your mental accuity up during an extended practice session?
When you want to practice for, say, 2 solid hours a day, how do you stay productive throughout the practice session? I find myself going off and noodling after a while of practicing something ...
11
votes
3answers
288 views
How can I move beyond learning songs?
I can competently learn and play chord progressions and simple runs on the guitar but I do not feel like I understand the instrument. My playing progresses by memorizing songs.
However, I know that ...
11
votes
5answers
195 views
When practicing a song with frequently changing time signatures, what is the best way to count in?
My percussion ensemble is working on a song with different time signatures, i.e. it is constantly changing between 4/4, 7/8, 5/16 and so on. During the rehearsals, we sometimes want to start somewhere ...
