How do I measure my guitar playing improvement over time?!
Question: I have been learning to play guitar (a year-and-a-half on my own, ten months with a teacher) and would like to know how to measure my playing ability from year to year. I know a lot about guitar playing, but I am not a good player...my ability, as expected, lags my knowledge (I suck). Any advice on measuring my ability and technique?
Answers: I have been learning to play guitar (a year-and-a-half on my own, ten months with a teacher) and would like to know how to measure my playing ability from year to year. I know a lot about guitar playing, but I am not a good player...my ability, as expected, lags my knowledge (I suck). Any advice on measuring my ability and technique?
RECORD YOURSELF AND LISTEN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. THE SAME PIECE. :)
By the number of chicks you get :)
Sorry, I couldn't resist. I've played 20 years, and I still suck, so I suppose I'm not the one with an answer.
**UPDATE**
Actually, that's a really good way! About 17 years ago, I made a home studio, and years later, I listened to what I recorded, and was absolutely horrified! Yes, record yourself!
if people are no longer booing when you play,that's probably a good indication that you're improving.
Don't worry, you're not as bad as you might think.
Sometimes it takes a YEAR for people to learn even one or two songs.
As for keeping track of your progress, just record yourself playing a certain song.
Well count how many mistakes you make and how fast you can play a beat and how long you can keep a beat going...
record yourself playing on more than one format.
Good for you, trying something new!
I play the piano... I was able to determine my progress because the pieces that I learned to play were graded. You start out Pre, then 1, 2, 3 etc.
So- you can ask your teacher to "grade" some different pieces of music for you, as you learn to play them and they become easy for you- that should tell you how you're doing.
Another idea is to videotape yourself. Watch and listen... how does it sound? Struggling, Better, Effortless, I COULD BE THE GUITARIST FROM THAT BAND?? ;-)
Keep practicing... the calluses will stop bleeding soon.
Go and get yourself a Alice IN Chains Book if you can play that you have learnt well my young apprentice and the force must be strong with you