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#197803 by brendan61
Fri Dec 14, 2012 12:57 am
Hello to all. I am new here and I’m looking to get into or start a band in Binghamton, NY. I have never been in one. My screen name is brendan61. I play guitar. I would appreciate it if a few people would listen to some of my tunes and offer their opinions as to what genre I should be looking to play. I like a lot of different types of music but I’m not sure where I could fit in. I really like putting on a SRV or Johnny Winters dvd and jam along. I know I don’t play like those guys but that’s what I do for fun. I started learning the scales and keys about 3 years ago. Five months ago I started doing these improvised pieces. I know my playing is still a bit one dimensional but I’m working on it. Well anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this. This looks like a great site and forum to communicate with other musicians.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all!

Brendan61

#197804 by J-HALEY
Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:22 am
Brendan, welcome to bandmix brother! It sounds like you have been bitten by the music bug! Good for you! I listened to your playing and it sounds like you are learning the neck! Music is a journey and a passion once its in your soul you can't do anything but let it out. I would like to hear you put more emphasis on chords! When noodling around try to let the scale breath a little. Good luck to you and above all BE PATIENT! :wink:
#197805 by brendan61
Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:32 am
Thanks for the critique. I do appreciate it and I know you are right about my lack of chords and over playing. I will be working on those two things next. You are right about the music bug, I always have loved music but only listened. Now I must play.
Felize Navidad,
Brendan61

#197808 by fisherman bob
Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:05 am
Don't worry about the genres. Play whatever song you want. Let other people decide what genre it is. Just enjoy each song.

#197810 by Slacker G
Fri Dec 14, 2012 3:18 am
Brendan61,

Welcome to the zoo. There are many levels of musicianship on this site so you shouldn't have any problems fitting in. This is a ranting community and the threads get rather verbally violent at times, but so far we have had very few casualties. But that is what makes this a great place to let it all hang out. Good luck with the pickin.

There are some very good musicians on here and you should be able to steal some really fine chops from some of the guys. If you listen to the various musicians pages and you will find musicians that produce stuff that sounds quite professional. So whether you just want to play or if you want to get into recording your music, you will find people here that are more than willing to help out. Have fun.

#197819 by gbheil
Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:26 am
Slacker G wrote:Brendan61,

Welcome to the zoo. There are many levels of musicianship on this site so you shouldn't have any problems fitting in. This is a ranting community and the threads get rather verbally violent at times, but so far we have had very few casualties. But that is what makes this a great place to let it all hang out. Good luck with the pickin.

There are some very good musicians on here and you should be able to steal some really fine chops from some of the guys. If you listen to the various musicians pages and you will find musicians that produce stuff that sounds quite professional. So whether you just want to play or if you want to get into recording your music, you will find people here that are more than willing to help out. Have fun.


Could not have said it better.
The ladies and gentlemen here have been a marvelous resource for my personal journey.

Welcome!

#197843 by GuitarMikeB
Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:05 pm
The best way to improve your musicianship is to play with others. I'd suggest looking for a local music school that has a program for adult learners, this will start you out finding others at your level.

#197846 by jimmydanger
Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:17 pm
Take lessons. Play along with the CD after you learn the correct chords. Play with a metronome. Practice at least two hours per day, you have a lot of catching up to do.

#197848 by Kramerguy
Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:41 pm
Hi Brendan! Welcome aboard-

I'm a pretty blunt person, so don't take anything personally! here's my critique.

It's clear that you are somewhere between beginner and intermediate. I'd guess you've been playing guitar roughly 3, maybe 4-5 years depending on your learning curve. It sounds like you are leaning into jam-band style of playing.

I heard some mistakes, finger flubs, etc.. which isn't a concern, you will get better with that over time. What else I noticed though is that your chording and timing are both pretty off. There's tons of free online metronomes, you can hop on a number of websites and play them directly, control the bpm, etc.. and you should start practicing with one.

They say playing with others is the best way to get better, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should go join a band.. it means exactly what it says- find another guitarist or even a bassist, and learn how to play with them.. there are shortfalls to that as well, for instance, if that person also has timing issues, you will inherit them, which is why playing with a metronome (and also play along with recorded songs) is so important.

When you do join a band, you will find that even if you personally have perfect timing, the band will not. You read/hear a lot of musicians talking about this magic "groove" they fall into when playing with others, and how important that is, but what it more or less comes down to is how well your timing and his/their timing synchronize together. This is something that can and will always improve as you get to know each other musically.

Regarding your chording.. you need help. Learn all the major and minor chords, learn bar chords, and work on strumming.. stick with 4/4 timing to start with, there's literally dozens if not hundreds of strumming patterns in that timing, and using a metronome while working out strumming will go miles in helping you pass the audition process when trying to get into a band. Once you get decent timing with strumming, then work on picking indicidual strings within chords.

As others mention, stop with the busywork, lets chords ring and breathe. Learn some ballad songs and how to use vibrato and enunciation using your fingers. Start small, learn easy stuff. Play along (and record yourself playing along) with backing tracks. listen for how stiff you sound, or how off your timing is when you listen back.

Post stuff here and ask for advice. A lot of times you will get some scathing feedback. It's a fact of life, don't ever let it get to you, other than to motivate you to do better.

There's a lot more to coach you on, but understand you aren't ready to be writing music (based on your demos), so take a step back, post 2-3 songs at a time, take down all the fluff. You may have some good licks or ideas in there, but you need to learn to walk before you can run.

#197849 by brendan61
Fri Dec 14, 2012 3:00 pm
Thank you guys for your input. I really do appreciate it. I know it took some time to listen to my stuff and to reply. This is what I needed to hear. This is the first time I have been able to accurate and concise critiques of my playing. What I have been doing and posted is picking fast and hammering on and pulling off with most of my fretting fingers. It’s fun to do, but it’s only one part of playing and I better move on from that and become a more rounded player.

Thanks again,
Brendan61

#197863 by MikeTalbot
Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:00 pm
Brendan

Welcome.

A couple tips I've given to people I've been teaching: remember your power chords - real life savers. (i.e. two or three finger chords based upon the 1st, 3rd and 5th.) Leave out the 3rd and they work with minor or major scales.

Besides - sometimes a full five or six string chord just muddies it up.

Some will disagree but I always suggest learning to play as fast as you absolutely can. If you can play just barely at 50 miles an hour you will sound great at 25.

Here are a couple sites I use for the 'boring' part of a prac session:
gosk.com (great scales, modes and chords), http://www.zentao.com/guitar/theory/ (music theory for intermediate)

Merry Christmas
Talbot

#197988 by brendan61
Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:56 pm
Hi Talbot, Thanks for the info and the link. I glanced over one of the lessons. This StoneDragon guy looks like he know how to teach. Thanks again,
Brendan61

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