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GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH Your Personal Guitar Lesson |
Photo by Robin Gentile, NYC
| BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT" It contains many of Doug's Previous Guitar Technique Tips of the Month |
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It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
Doug's Rule of Life #17
By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
RULE #17
You've been doing "something" a certain way for a while. Someone comes along and shows
you a new way to do that "something."
Why is this rule in a guitar technique article?
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
We are constantly trying to improve our guitar playing, our technique. To improve, we often
have to try new or different ways of playing. It could be an adjustment to our sitting or hand
position, a new fingering, a change of tempo or dynamics, a new way to memorize—all kinds of
things. But we tend to get comfortable with the way we do things. We get a little too set in our
ways. I see it in my students and I see it in myself. It's part of being human.
But to improve, we have to be willing to accept change. That's where Rule #17 comes in. I find it
to be true 100% of the time and not just in playing the guitar.
For example, when you have played a certain left-hand fingering for months, it becomes part of
your neuromuscular memory—it becomes "natural". When you introduce a new fingering
(possibly because the old one isn't reliable or maybe doesn't sound good for some reason) and
it falls into Rule #17 (feels almost as good or better than the old), you have to look at your
perspective.
Your brain, muscles, and nerves have all accepted and are used to the old way. For the new
way to come anywhere close to the old means that it is powerful enough to overcome months of
habit and internal programming. That is very significant.
A new way of doing something usually has to have some tremendous benefit to overcome an
old habit enough for the brain to say, "You know, this new way feels pretty good."
Again, looking at habit and perspective, for a new way to triumph over months of programming
and habitual practice of the old way, it has to be very powerful and far superior to be perceived
as even almost as good by the neuromuscular system.
So when someone suggests a new way of playing a piece, or you think you have a better way
to execute a phrase, follow Rule #17 and you will know right away if you should pursue the new
path. It will help you see clearly and keep you on a continuous track of improvement.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
RULE #17
You've been doing "something" a certain way for a while. Someone comes along and shows
you a new way to do that "something."
If the new way seems as good or even almost as good as the old way, the new
way is superior.
If the new way seems to be definitely or even slightly better than the old way, it
is absolutely positively far superior to the old way.
Why is this rule in a guitar technique article?
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
We are constantly trying to improve our guitar playing, our technique. To improve, we often
have to try new or different ways of playing. It could be an adjustment to our sitting or hand
position, a new fingering, a change of tempo or dynamics, a new way to memorize—all kinds of
things. But we tend to get comfortable with the way we do things. We get a little too set in our
ways. I see it in my students and I see it in myself. It's part of being human.
But to improve, we have to be willing to accept change. That's where Rule #17 comes in. I find it
to be true 100% of the time and not just in playing the guitar.
For example, when you have played a certain left-hand fingering for months, it becomes part of
your neuromuscular memory—it becomes "natural". When you introduce a new fingering
(possibly because the old one isn't reliable or maybe doesn't sound good for some reason) and
it falls into Rule #17 (feels almost as good or better than the old), you have to look at your
perspective.
Your brain, muscles, and nerves have all accepted and are used to the old way. For the new
way to come anywhere close to the old means that it is powerful enough to overcome months of
habit and internal programming. That is very significant.
A new way of doing something usually has to have some tremendous benefit to overcome an
old habit enough for the brain to say, "You know, this new way feels pretty good."
Again, looking at habit and perspective, for a new way to triumph over months of programming
and habitual practice of the old way, it has to be very powerful and far superior to be perceived
as even almost as good by the neuromuscular system.
So when someone suggests a new way of playing a piece, or you think you have a better way
to execute a phrase, follow Rule #17 and you will know right away if you should pursue the new
path. It will help you see clearly and keep you on a continuous track of improvement.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT"
It contains many of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
It contains many of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
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| These are my very detailed, in-depth articles and high-def videos on how to play the classical guitar. It's like getting your own private guitar lesson every month. Need info on classical guitar right hand technique? Guitar scales? How to play bar chords? Harmonics? Looking for a classical guitar practicing routine? Tips on performing onstage? How to tune a guitar? Looking for easy Christmas guitar arrangements? Chances are, I have covered it, or will soon. The tips are by subscription only. |
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Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Be a better guitar player or teacher. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.