I'm learning piano and spent a few days writing a goal setting doc back in September. The high level, far off goals still seem fine; even down to the 3 year horizon. But I made the same mistake you mentioned of setting BPM targets for the higher tempo pieces I'm learning in my 3 mth & 1 year goals. I felt a need for measurable milestones and that was an obvious but naive choice. (SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timed). I didn't know if they were achievable. Indeed my 3-6mth review was disappointing. Your vid suggests my near goals are the wrong ones. I should have focussed on setting technique improvement goals as you advise. My trouble now is working out what is wrong with my technique. Tension is a problem, but I doubt that's the whole story. I hope my piano teacher can see what it is. Great video. Thank you.
This has to be my favorite video so far. The first issue mentioned can change way more than your playing, cuz it could apply to anything and everything. Solid advise. Thanks!
Mike, the last few days I was working on improving relaxation at high speeds. I came across an interesting fact: speed scaling is NOT linear. I agree with the video and what Shawn Lane says BUT, just because you can pick clearly and steady at 160 it doesn't mean the same applies to 100. Let me explain: take a simple phrase (lest say 4 chromatic notes per string, Petrucci style) and do the whole drill, start around 80, then increase 5 bpm until you hit 160 (or whatever speed you feel comfortable at your top range). You'll notice that you start relaxed and very controlled, but around the middle (around 100 or so) you start to tense up. The technique for playing slow hit a break point and needs readjust (relaxation, less motion range) to overcome tension. Then you start getting comfortable again until you hit another similar break point, at around 160 more or less. Again your technique needs to readjust. Also you start having problems to pick mainly from your wrist and start adding a lot more elbow than before. So, the point: even thou you have to practice fast to address problems at high speed, if you don't play covering the whole range you'll also miss problems that arise by playing at medium speeds. The benefit of starting slow is revealing problems on the whole range instead only on the top speed, if that's your goal of course. On a side note, I don't think even Petrucci can play at 200 bpm exclusively from the wrist. It obvious to me that he readjusts at least 2 times on the whole range ¿What do you think?
Incredible video!! Thanks a bunch for those *way more than seven* advice. I do have a question on 2 points though: both on having the other fingers of the picking hand loose and on having a 30 degree angle, some other good guitarists have various advice. Picking at an angle produces a certain sound, and I feel way better with my fingers not in a fist. So, are these things I really have to change or can it also depend on your personal style?
Hey! I have a question regarding muting the strings with the heel of the palm. what you do when your licks goes to the thicker strings? should I just leave my right hand "hanging" entirely? (I mean, making my right hand not touch anything besides the pick). Thanks in advance man, great video!
Hey mike I want to play legatos but i can't a single 3 nt per string i used to play many legato solos and songs after 1.5year break I can't even play 1234 legato or any 3nt per string please help i am really inspired by you thats why asking for help waiting for your reply
@@HowToPracticeGuitar Big respect. So you've summerised perfectly how to turn the frustration a guitar player can have in his learning process. The way of thinking about mistakes and fixing them from their sources instead of ignoring and hoping that they'll get fixed by themselves. I appreciate that you underline everytime that we should use our brains for progress esp nowadays that everything just shown to be easy and not mentionning all the hardwork put on something to be mastered. What's interesting about thoses analysis, is that you can apply it for every domain in life once you have hindsight and maturity. Good job mike, you are a very good teacher. PS : it is allowed to roast your guitar tone ? :P
I’ll never get there. There’s something wrong with me everyone else can do it, but I can’t. I’m actually kind of starting to believe this about myself.
I believed that too for many years.. I played off and on for 25+years of my life and stayed the same pretty much.. same top speed anyway. I really didn't get any faster until the last few years when I stopped feeling inferior and started doing consistent focused work on my alternate picking.. you don't need to spend hours a day.. you just need consistency and focus on each aspect of playing fast and accurate. An hour or even half hour a day everyday focused is much more beneficial than hours a few days a week trying to learn something way above your skill level. Sometimes we have to go back to the basics to get anywhere. Hang in there though.. there is light at the end of the tunnel if you're willing to put in the time and work necessary to advance.. I'm a perfect example of it. Just my 2 cents.. stay metal and keep rockin y'all 🤘
The quality of this chanel is sky rocketing
I like the way you put together numerous common issues on a single precise subject. Good for reviewing technique at all levels.
This is very inspiring. I just took my guitar to practice and saw your video. Thank you!
I'm learning piano and spent a few days writing a goal setting doc back in September. The high level, far off goals still seem fine; even down to the 3 year horizon. But I made the same mistake you mentioned of setting BPM targets for the higher tempo pieces I'm learning in my 3 mth & 1 year goals. I felt a need for measurable milestones and that was an obvious but naive choice. (SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timed). I didn't know if they were achievable. Indeed my 3-6mth review was disappointing. Your vid suggests my near goals are the wrong ones.
I should have focussed on setting technique improvement goals as you advise. My trouble now is working out what is wrong with my technique. Tension is a problem, but I doubt that's the whole story. I hope my piano teacher can see what it is.
Great video. Thank you.
This has to be my favorite video so far. The first issue mentioned can change way more than your playing, cuz it could apply to anything and everything. Solid advise. Thanks!
Mike, the last few days I was working on improving relaxation at high speeds. I came across an interesting fact: speed scaling is NOT linear. I agree with the video and what Shawn Lane says BUT, just because you can pick clearly and steady at 160 it doesn't mean the same applies to 100. Let me explain: take a simple phrase (lest say 4 chromatic notes per string, Petrucci style) and do the whole drill, start around 80, then increase 5 bpm until you hit 160 (or whatever speed you feel comfortable at your top range). You'll notice that you start relaxed and very controlled, but around the middle (around 100 or so) you start to tense up. The technique for playing slow hit a break point and needs readjust (relaxation, less motion range) to overcome tension. Then you start getting comfortable again until you hit another similar break point, at around 160 more or less. Again your technique needs to readjust. Also you start having problems to pick mainly from your wrist and start adding a lot more elbow than before.
So, the point: even thou you have to practice fast to address problems at high speed, if you don't play covering the whole range you'll also miss problems that arise by playing at medium speeds.
The benefit of starting slow is revealing problems on the whole range instead only on the top speed, if that's your goal of course.
On a side note, I don't think even Petrucci can play at 200 bpm exclusively from the wrist. It obvious to me that he readjusts at least 2 times on the whole range ¿What do you think?
Ive been trying to picture you with long hair and now I know...
Love your videos Mike.
Really great video ! Will definitely be trying these concepts. Thanks!
I just realized I’ve made all of these mistakes 😂 thanks for the video, Mike!
This was like watching a sitcom. Great work, dude.
Perfect video. Exactly what I did wrong to for so many years.
Incredible video!! Thanks a bunch for those *way more than seven* advice. I do have a question on 2 points though: both on having the other fingers of the picking hand loose and on having a 30 degree angle, some other good guitarists have various advice. Picking at an angle produces a certain sound, and I feel way better with my fingers not in a fist. So, are these things I really have to change or can it also depend on your personal style?
You have to find what is comfortable for you and then apply the advice from the video. Open or closed hand is a personal preference. Good luck!
Damn i love the new format
Hey! I have a question regarding muting the strings with the heel of the palm. what you do when your licks goes to the thicker strings? should I just leave my right hand "hanging" entirely? (I mean, making my right hand not touch anything besides the pick). Thanks in advance man, great video!
Great playing 💪🏻🎸
editing is amazing
Wow, like a fun mandatory HR video... lol! Very engaging and thought provoking! Thank you!
WATCH THIS NEXT: Genius Guitar Hacks You've Never Heard Of >>> th-cam.com/video/Roc7A-6BeBg/w-d-xo.html
I think this can be used based of the songs your learning like a fast, medium to slow the match it to the metronome
Hey mike I want to play legatos but i can't a single 3 nt per string i used to play many legato solos and songs after 1.5year break I can't even play 1234 legato or any 3nt per string please help i am really inspired by you thats why asking for help waiting for your reply
Great video man!
Great video
Entertaining video.
what was he playing in 2:50?
Guitar.
I know you read comments, how much fo you bench? If you respond i can give you back a feedback about the video itself
335 lbs
@@HowToPracticeGuitar
Big respect.
So you've summerised perfectly how to turn the frustration a guitar player can have in his learning process. The way of thinking about mistakes and fixing them from their sources instead of ignoring and hoping that they'll get fixed by themselves. I appreciate that you underline everytime that we should use our brains for progress esp nowadays that everything just shown to be easy and not mentionning all the hardwork put on something to be mastered.
What's interesting about thoses analysis, is that you can apply it for every domain in life once you have hindsight and maturity. Good job mike, you are a very good teacher.
PS : it is allowed to roast your guitar tone ? :P
I’ll never get there. There’s something wrong with me everyone else can do it, but I can’t. I’m actually kind of starting to believe this about myself.
I believed that too for many years..
I played off and on for 25+years of my life and stayed the same pretty much.. same top speed anyway.
I really didn't get any faster until the last few years when I stopped feeling inferior and started doing consistent focused work on my alternate picking.. you don't need to spend hours a day.. you just need consistency and focus on each aspect of playing fast and accurate. An hour or even half hour a day everyday focused is much more beneficial than hours a few days a week trying to learn something way above your skill level.
Sometimes we have to go back to the basics to get anywhere.
Hang in there though.. there is light at the end of the tunnel if you're willing to put in the time and work necessary to advance.. I'm a perfect example of it.
Just my 2 cents.. stay metal and keep rockin y'all 🤘
Speed jumped, but guitar sound dropped...
Like ✝️🔔🇱🇰
Hey - Is that Joe Pesci's son?
speed shreeding is impressive to watch but I hate listening to it and women hate it.
My wife loves it as it gives her an excuse to leave the house and go visit friends. :)
I don’t hate it wdym 💀💀💀 I play the guitar myself and trying to play faster
Dawg who gives a shit if women hate it 💀 if you’re only playing guitar to impress women stop playing guitar and pick up piano lmao