Southern California Players

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Comment by Maric on April 18, 2010 at 10:57am

Michele,
It helps to have a goal or mission. Would you like to perform as an instrumentalist? Flatpick or fingerstyle? Do you sing? Do you want to do cover tunes, or write your own songs? Or maybe a little of everything?
Narrow your focus- pick a song that incorporates some of your familiar chords, and practice it until you are comfortable with it. Keep it simple. Then play it for a few friends.
After learning a few songs your goal will probably redefine itself- you may now want to play one or two tunes at an open mike at a coffeehouse, or master a more challenging fingerstyle arrangement of a favorite song.
You are not alone... some of us are just a little less lost than others.




Your dilemma is not unique... some of us are just a little less lost than others.

Comment by Michele on April 18, 2010 at 7:48am

Question for you all: I have learned quite a few chords...what now? I know that sounds very silly, but I honestly am still a bit lost

Comment by Michele on April 4, 2010 at 5:58pm

Hi Sandy, welcome to the group! Feel free to invite your friends...

Comment by Sandy Friedman on April 4, 2010 at 2:37pm

Hi everybody,

I live in the San Diego area. I'm a hobbyist and have been playing guitar for 40 years. I have 8 acoustic and electric guitars and like playing pretty much anything. My favorite styles are progressive rock and jazz.

Comment by Michele on April 3, 2010 at 11:02pm

John! Thank you for joining us and welcome. I'm looking forward to more people joining, let's put SoCal on the map!

Comment by John Buttrey on April 3, 2010 at 9:50pm

Saw this So Cal Guitarist group so I thought I would join. I am in O.C. A serious hobbyist playing fingerstyle. Right now I am focusing on Beatle arrangements. Looking forward to the expansion of the group.

Comment by Maric on April 1, 2010 at 7:55pm

Roy,
What's unique about the approach of The Principles book is that it teaches you technique from the logic of your body, not from the logic of the instrument. For example, nearly all other instructional methods will say something like "This is a C chord... place your fingers here..."
Jamie's approach in The Principles is to familiarize you with how your hands and fingers work, how they are placed on the strings, the subtle (and not-so-subtle) stresses in your body that are produced by holding the instrument and touching the strings. Without a kinesthetic awareness of these stresses (and how to minimize or eliminate them) your progress on the instrument will be limited. Great players may be unconsciously aware of this aspect of playing, but may not know how to explain "how they do it" or "exactly what they are doing". So not all great players are automatically great teachers.
So look through the book again. Sign up of Jamie's free newsletter. And don't be in a hurry to "make progress" or play a song at the expense of creating a strong technique foundation. Ultimately it is that proper foundation that will propel your progress to the level that you desire.

Comment by Roy Turner on April 1, 2010 at 2:01pm

May I make a suggestion to novices (and experienced players)? Jamie Andreas, author of The Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar, is a phenomenal player and teacher.

I have that book, although I must admit I haven't read it all yet. I have been doing a few of the exercises though.

Comment by Michele on April 1, 2010 at 6:50am

Thanks for joining us Roy! I live down in San Fernando and just recently picked up the guitar. If you have any friends from our area please invite them to this group :)

Comment by Maric on April 1, 2010 at 12:41am

May I make a suggestion to novices (and experienced players)? Jamie Andreas, author of The Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar, is a phenomenal player and teacher.
If anyone is interested in acquiring and developing superior guitar technique, this is the probably most intelligent and enlightening treatise you will ever read.
I have no financial interest in promoting this book- just a fervent desire to become a better artist myself, and share with others what I've learned.

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