Learning a skill by repeatedly rehearsing it.
7
votes
5answers
889 views
Fingering for octaves on the piano
Another question about playing octaves (as in Schubert's Erlkonig, Chopin's A-flat Polonaise, etc.):
I practice Hanon exercises, and Hanon recommends using the first and fifth finger on white keys ...
8
votes
3answers
865 views
What can I do to minimize damage to my picking hand wrist as I practice guitar?
My right hand (picking hand) is showing signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, and is slowly, but surely, degrading. I continue to practice guitar, but it's beginning to be difficult to do so.
What can I ...
12
votes
6answers
218 views
Varying rhythms on bass
I've gotten into something of a bad habit in which I either play things in a steady rhythm, in triplets, or galloping, but without much variation, and I feel like I'm stagnating. What are some good ...
24
votes
6answers
1k views
How do I use a metronome?
I am currently a beginner at the piano. I know using the metronome is important, but I I'm feeling reluctant to use it often, as it is difficult for me to get the music coordinated with the clicks.
...
3
votes
4answers
340 views
What should I practice to develop the skills needed to play rock solos?
I know music theory, basic guitar chords and basic scales. What should I be focusing on practicing in order to compose or improvise rock guitar solos, and just play famous solos by ear? I am talking ...
10
votes
6answers
207 views
Criteria for speeding up when practicing with a metronome
When I'm practicing with a metronome, how hard should I be on myself before saying "OK, I got it down at this speed, let's increase the tempo."?
I'm going with "after playing 'a while' and getting ...
3
votes
1answer
997 views
Exercises for Tuvan Throat-Singing (Overtone-Singing)?
I've been fascinated for many years with Tuvan Throat-Singing, particularly the group Huun-Huur-Tu. A few years ago I happened upon a Scientific American article (which I have since misplaced) that ...
6
votes
1answer
308 views
On being a musician and doing weightlifting
I've had no shortage of music and health professionals tell me how strength training (hypertrophy) is bad for anything that warrants muscle relaxation (singing and drumming being two that I do). And I ...
3
votes
2answers
163 views
One hand and then the other
I'm a beginner at piano. When practising is it best to learn how to play each hand separately at first and then put them together, or to practice the whole thing? Or does it not matter?
33
votes
11answers
793 views
I need help getting out of my scalar rut.
I'm a well versed and experienced guitarist. I have a decent sense for rhythm and melody, but I have a VERY hard time with soloing. I know you've heard it all before.. I'm one of those guys that got ...
7
votes
4answers
346 views
Singing notes while playing scales
I've heard, that singing or humming notes while playing scales or arpeggios is good for you. Is that so? In what way? If I am not a singer, why should I be singing the notes?
10
votes
2answers
889 views
How to begin learning the CAGED Method
What is the best way of approaching the CAGED Method. What are some good resources for beginning to learn this method.
5
votes
4answers
196 views
Is visualization a useful method of practice?
Sometimes when I am not at practice, I will visualize playing scales or a particular piece on my instrument.
I know that visualization is often used by athletes, but is it often used among ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
Logical way to learn movable scales on guitar?
After learning the CAGED 'open string' scales, what scales to do next? In what order or what way? When I learn a new scale, it seems to have the effect of displacing my ability to play other scales ...
9
votes
6answers
1k views
My fingers ache after practice. What can I do about it?
I have played the guitar since 2006 and I had no trouble all that time. Recently I noticed that my fingers ache after practice. What can I do with that?
8
votes
7answers
106 views
Are there some classical pieces that lend themselves well to guitar?
I would like to practice reading music on something other than notation written for guitar. Are there other pieces written for violin, for instance-or other instruments, that can be transposed easily ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
What is the foundational book of Czerny finger exercises for piano?
I've recently started teaching myself piano (via Bartok's Mikrokosmos) and feel it would be helpful to supplement the pieces with some standard exercises. Everyone I speak with suggests Czerny, but ...
3
votes
1answer
204 views
How well does mental practice work for you on different instruments?
Multi-instrumentalists: this is about personal experience (instead of literature review) of mentally practicing your instruments away from them. Do you find it to be more or less effective for one ...
10
votes
2answers
196 views
Beginning Slap Bass
Back when I was taking lessons, I had an instructor who did a great job teaching me how to work tapping into my bass lines, but when we tried to expand it into developing slap bass I ended up getting ...
25
votes
7answers
443 views
Guitar practice: more often but less time or once in a few days but for a few hours?
As many people, who have lots of every day responsibilities, like going to work, family and etc. I find myself struggling for the time to practice. Some days I just feel to tired to pick up a guitar ...
7
votes
7answers
214 views
Are there any books or videos out there that teach you SLOWLY and do not focus on learning TABS?
Are there any books or videos courses that just teach you how to practice acoustic guitar and its not complicated either? I know that there are lots of video course, books, youtube videos out there ...
12
votes
2answers
3k views
Ways to warm up vocal cords?
What are some safe ways to get my vocal cords without over using them before a practice or performance?
3
votes
1answer
93 views
How much time do we need to pick up our skills again if we do not sing for a long period of time?
How much time do we need to pick up our skills again if we do not sing for a long period of time?
Sorry if this question is very vague but I've done drum and piano before and for some reason--even if ...
3
votes
1answer
288 views
Piano technique: Repetitions and oscillations
Not sure if I am using the right expression, so allow me to cite examples.
There are some piano movements that cause my hands (wrists) to cramp when I play it for too long. One are repeated chords. ...
6
votes
3answers
277 views
What to do? Programming, bass playing and RSI
I am a full time programmer, part time bass player and have recently started suffering from serious repetitive stress injury in my left wrist.
I've adjusted the ergonomics at my work place (and use ...
7
votes
2answers
425 views
Will taking a long break from singing affect our vocal range (for the average singer)?
I want to know if we do not sing at all, or minimal for, say, 12 months, will our vocal range remain the same or will it actually be reduced?
I'm aware that since different people have different ...
2
votes
1answer
169 views
Any way to practice using the very tip of your pinky?
I'm practicing a lot of scales as mentioned in my earlier question. When I stretch my pinky to reach for a distant fret, I almost always "land" on the side of my pinky. Is this ok? If not are there ...
9
votes
4answers
360 views
What to play instead of chords with an informal group?
I typically play guitar with an informal group and we mostly play traditional and old-timey songs. When I am not soloing I usually just play the chord progression of the song. Recently however I ...
10
votes
4answers
115 views
How can I develop a regular rehearsal programme?
I've been learning scales and chords, and tried a few songs. It sounds nice and by practising, I'm becoming faster and more comfortable. I also use the things I learn to improvise and jam. But I get ...
11
votes
5answers
726 views
How do you determine if you're ready to join a band?
I've been pondering joining a band for some time now, but I usually get stalled at deciding whether or not I should spend more time learning to play first. I don't want to go through potential ...
5
votes
1answer
148 views
Non-fixed-frequency instruments playing by themselves versus with fixed-frequency instruments
[I don't know a better term than "non-fixed frequency instruments" but I mean things like string instruments, voice, trombone as opposed to things like a piano which has a fixed (typically 12-et) ...
2
votes
4answers
333 views
Do you count mental practice when counting total practice time for the day?
My guitar instructor insists that, as part of my training, I set a fixed minimum amount of time each day for practice and make sure that I practice at least that much, with a fixed upper limit of 4x45 ...
9
votes
3answers
680 views
Is it harmful to use an electronic tuner to check intonation while practicing ?
Is it a bad habit to use an electronic tuner while practicing an instrument in which the notes are not fixed after tuning (e.g. violin, trombone)?
I'm asking because I've heard a lot of people say ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Soundproofing a room for drum set practice
When I practice my drums in the house, it tends to be a little too loud for people in other rooms. While I know I could trade-in my drums for an electronic kit as an alternative, I'd really rather ...
5
votes
2answers
100 views
Links and tips for Learning and using scales
Tips and links on learning and using different types of scales will be helpful.
If possible List of scales with songs in which they are used and (artists/types of bands) who uses certain scales to a ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Right hand accuracy
I've realized, that I have a big problem with right hand accuracy, when using a pick, especially, when I play arpeggios and have to skip a string or a couple of stings. Sometimes, I hit the wrong ...
16
votes
5answers
4k views
Improving fretting hand strength
I've been playing for years now as a hobby guitarist, but my fretting hand strength plateaued - it never really improved much beyond what I could do 2 months after I started playing.
Since then, I'm ...
5
votes
2answers
159 views
Bach's Bourree BWV 996 timing issue
I'm currently learning Bach's Bourree, although I'm into second part of it, I have troubles getting the timing correct. Usually it follows a 3 bar flow (except few places, where it really speeds up), ...
5
votes
1answer
228 views
Are there exercises similar to the 'Buddha rope' for endurance on bass guitar?
The "Buddha rope" technique described by Bill 'The Buddha' Dickens in his training DVD basically entails putting a rope between strings and then using the increased tension for building muscles in ...
4
votes
1answer
212 views
Can vocal range extrema be reached by a lot of practice?
Wikipedia lists the world records and extremes of the vocal range,
can extrema be reached by a lot of practice or were they born with that?
4
votes
2answers
663 views
Are tools to help improve finger dexterity, strength and speed really useful?
I don't have access to a piano every day of the week, but want to keep my flexibility. Searching on the Internet, I found many kinds of contraptions and devices that claim that they help keep and ...
5
votes
2answers
469 views
How can I develop a high register on a brass instrument without creating tension?
Lately I've been reading about how trombonists (or any other brass instrumentalists) tend to develop tention in their neck or torso when playing in the higher register. In working to decrease ...
4
votes
2answers
314 views
Causes of piano finger strain and ways to relieve it
After I practice for a few hours on the piano, I feel a strain in my hands (I don't know if strain is the right word, It doesn't hurt or anything. It actually feels good because I feel like I have ...
8
votes
1answer
155 views
How can I get the most out of my practice time?
When I practice, I often spend half the time on technique (scales, exercises), and half of the time on preparing a piece of music for performance.
The amount of benefit that I get out of any given ...
1
vote
0answers
74 views
Which tools should I look for, that might help me analyze digitally recorded music, so I can better learn how to play it? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Software that slows down music to help in transcribing.
I'm looking to study specific soloes and improvisations from recordings of live performances - my ear, however, ...
0
votes
2answers
77 views
I've heard of advanced performers taking Dalcrose Eurhythmics classes- would such classes be appropriate for a beginner too?
Should a musician which is just starting to learn how to play his instrument specifically look for classes which call out Dalcrose Eurhythmics concepts as part of their curriculum?
16
votes
13answers
4k views
How can I practice in an apartment without annoying the neighbours?
I live in an apartment and I find my current amp (a 15W solid-state) to be poorly suited to that. I can't turn it up without upsetting the neighbours, but at low volume it sounds horrible with any ...
5
votes
3answers
82 views
Permuations or scales for building up speed
I'm currently trying to build up some speed and accuracy in my technique, and I was told a while back that a great way to do this was to play fingering permutations to a metrenome. Has anyone had any ...
7
votes
5answers
533 views
We got together with another guitarist. What can we play together?
Recently I met a great guy who also plays guitar. We became friends and decided to get together once in a while to jam. When the time came, we realized that we do not know what to do musically at our ...
