3rd year breakdown.


BluesAtSunrise
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Joined: 01/16/05
Posts: 2
BluesAtSunrise
Registered User
Joined: 01/16/05
Posts: 2
01/20/2005 4:58 am
Currently I have two major dilemas on my hands at the 3rd year mark of playing. 1. I have very boring improve lines. 2. I can't retain songs at all.

Problem 1.
I know atleast 7-8 scales in all the C-A-G-E-D patterns, also I know lots of modes etc, I can even write amazing lines for my current favorite styles, blues and rock if I sit down and work them out. However whenever I improvise solos, all my runs seem to have the exact same rythem patterns and I tend to use the same sequence runs alot and prehaps my worst fault is ending each run in the same manner ex. in the minor pentatonic key of E, G-pattern I almost always end my runs with 14 on the d string 12 on the d string 14 on the a string 12 on the d string. The more I practise the worst it gets.

Problem 2.
This is probably my worst problem. Learning a song and 2-3 days later hardly being able to remember the exact rythems and notes. At this point in my playing I have forgotten atleast 300+ songs which is really frustrating when I sink so much time into learning difficult songs with there solos. How can I ever expect to play a live show when I learn a song like dire straits sultans of swing, and 3 days later struggle to remember most of the licks.

So basically if you've bothered to read this far into the post Im asking for any opinions on how to correct these problems.
# 1
Hamberg
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Joined: 01/19/05
Posts: 343
Hamberg
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Joined: 01/19/05
Posts: 343
01/20/2005 5:23 am
heres how i learned songs back in the day; learn just one section of the song like the chorus, and then put the cd in a play the chorus along with the cd until you've got it down. a few days later learn the verse, and so on. Same with solos learn the solos in sections at a time. Rhythms are the hardest thing to remember for me, but playing with the cd of the band helped alot with that. Playing with a drum machine and playing what the drums play helps to remember other rhythms also.
Bass guitar is the answer to everything
# 2
Jimmi431
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Joined: 07/19/02
Posts: 185
Jimmi431
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Joined: 07/19/02
Posts: 185
01/20/2005 6:35 pm
okay with the song recall, just need to practice it more often, if ya learn a song but then don't play it for 3 days you wont remember it however if you play along to it at least once or twice a day you will be fine, then after a while your muscles will rememebr it for you so you don't have to think. which leads directly on to your next problem; playin the same soundin solo's. again muscle memory here, your fingers are just doin what your used to so either take a break from soloin, or listen to different styles completely for example if ya play rock solo's learn somethin like spanish style, as generally ive found playin a rock solo over a spanish backing sounds like crap so you are forced to approach it in different ways. or explore different solos without writing them out an go slow it never hurt anyone!
The sun is shining the weather is sweet
# 3
erroch
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Joined: 01/17/05
Posts: 10
erroch
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Joined: 01/17/05
Posts: 10
01/23/2005 12:37 am
Man..... i know the feeling and your not alone, i covered a good bit of slash solo sweet child o mine 3 months ago a bragged to a few mates that i was **** hot at it. Afer a few weeks of playing it i got fed up and moved on to something else only to have a few of my mates come over for a drinking session and when one smart ass asked me to play it... well i f**ked up really big time. Motto of the story is practece makes perfect. Only if i kept practecing what i preeched.
# 4
TheWizard
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Joined: 12/09/03
Posts: 314
TheWizard
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Joined: 12/09/03
Posts: 314
01/25/2005 4:39 am
I suck at remembering chords

but one thing ive noticed is I play/improv/jam/write alot better when I'm constantly learning new songs

seeing as I am now living in a dorm at college i have no time to practice/learn so ive gotten pretty bad these last few months
Alas Gandalf lives, Middle Earth is again safe...
# 5

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