8 Music Tips You Should Apply Immediately! (Part 1)
All are applicable to any instrument!
Learning an instrument can prove to be quite challenging and frustrating at the start, but gradually, you begin to enjoy playing along to your favorite songs, then you begin writing your own songs, and soon you may become quite the confident performer. It may be slightly easier to grasp for those who are endowed with natural musical talent and ability, but nonetheless, everyone can find joy in it.
By no means do I claim to be a music expert, but I feel that I have some valuable advice to offer since I have the combined experience of being self-taught as well as receiving professional lessons, depending on the instrument.
The important thing to know here is that these tips are applicable to any instrument, any skill set, and any progression level, whether you are learning techniques to play an instrument or learning to play your favorite song. I will also include supportive evidence to supplement the points I bring out. This is not professional advice, these are just general tips that I personally apply and I hope that they can be of some use to you!
This is part 1 of a 2-part article series; I decided to split it up so that it’s not too much information crammed into 1 article.
1. Relax.
One of the most common things we do when attempting a difficult task is put forth an excessive amount of effort, thinking that is what is needed to push through the challenge to completion. But the truth is, you’re able to play more fluidly and easily and less likely to get frustrated and anxious when you relax.
Think about playing guitar; if you’re struggling to learn a song or form a chord on the fretboard, your natural inclination is to apply more pressure onto the fretboard. However, putting more force causes you to play slower and makes it harder to switch between chords and frets as needed, not to mention it also hurts the fingers! Instead, learn to relax all the muscles in your arm and your hand and only apply as much pressure as is needed to play the note. The same goes for the picking hand; loosen up those arm and hand muscles.
I guarantee you will find it becomes much easier to play fluidly and comfortably. And again, this applies to any instrument! Drummers, those arm and leg muscles can tighten up, which makes it harder to play fluidly and you begin losing control, which causes you to fall out of rhythm or tire out more easily. Loosen up, relax, and focus on the groove (more on this in tip 7). No one has to play at full volume all the time. The fluidity will definitely show in your performance as well.
Being relaxed and comfortable at your instrument will allow you to play better technically. Over time if you develop good habits while playing, you will be able to perform longer and at a higher level while avoiding injury. Playing with tension over a long period of time can eventually lead to damage. More than that, you will have a more beautiful tone when you approach your instrument in a relaxed manner. — Robert Estrin: livingpianos.com
2. Don’t over-practice.
Another frequent mistake we may make is over-practicing, thinking that the more practice we accomplish in one sitting, the faster we advance our skill to the next level. This may work for some but likely not for the majority, and I personally do not recommend it.
It’s likely to lead to more frustration and difficulty playing the longer you force your brain to keep working. Just like during a gym workout when your muscles become exasperated and need rest before continuing, your brain muscle also needs time to rest.
As a general rule of thumb, I usually will stop practicing at the first sign of feeling frustrated or tired. I’ll get up and grab a snack, or lay back and listen to some other music or watch TV; doing some mindless activity for a while will help my brain rest and reset. Once I return to my practice session, I feel fresh again and everything is easier to play.
It is possible to practice guitar too much. The longer your guitar practice session, the less benefit you get out of each extra minute. There is a point where any extra practice time brings no extra benefit. — Aaron Matthies: guitargearfinder.com
3. Learn a song 1 section at a time.
This may seem redundant to say but I’m certain there are plenty of other people out there that will stay up for hours at night trying to master an entire song, just like I have. Tip 4 will build on this.
While it’s not a bad thing to feel motivated enough to take on the challenge, it is definitely not recommended.
First of all, unless you’re being asked to learn an entire song quickly because you have a gig coming up, no one is putting pressure on you but yourself. Go easy on your brain and your body and just take it 1 section at a time. Second of all, don’t give in to impatience; once you’ve got the chords or tabs to the song figured out, take it slow. Start by playing at a slow enough tempo that allows you to play through it without making mistakes. Then gradually build up your tempo to match the song.
Here’s how I personally target the challenge of learning a song: I listen to the song and break down its structure into sections; if I need to I’ll write the sections down. I learn 1 section and play it through for an hour or so until I feel comfortable with it. Afterward, I take the next section and repeat; and then, if the song is rather complex, I work on the transition between those 2 sections that link together. Once I’ve got a couple of sections down, I’ll play along to the song because it helps me get a feel of the song’s style and the way it was composed and performed, so I’m able to somewhat match it and add my own style at the same time, rather than just playing notes in a dry fashion.
I’m interested to hear what your personal approach is to learning a song, so please let me know!
Familiarity will help you learn the song more quickly and efficiently. You can break it down into its component part so, if you have trouble with one part, you can easily switch to another. Basically, flexibility. It is easier to join bits together at the end when you have learned all the components thoroughly. It will also help you remember the song in the future as you will be able to recall the structured way in which you learned it….piece by piece. This will prove useful when playing in front of people. — guitarcoachmag.com
4. Get plenty of sleep.
I’m sure you have heard this before but you might be due for a friendly reminder. Our brains retain much more information and much more easily the sooner we are able to sleep after learning something. This rule applies to anything that requires brain power, really. I can personally attest to the efficacy of sleep when it comes to learning. Rather than pushing yourself to stay up for hours trying to learn a song, put the instrument down and allow yourself plenty of sleep in between practice sessions.
Personally, I have allowed myself to get too immersed in my music-playing and I have suffered a lack of sleep because of it. But crunching hours of practice into one sitting does not make it any easier to learn nor does it make you play any better. Take my advice along with a professional and allow yourself that much-needed slumber!
Sleep affects learning and memory in two main ways: sleep promotes memory consolidation, a key factor in understanding new information. Sleep deprivation can have a negative effect on concentration and focus, making it tough to learn new things. — healthline.com
Well, folks, there you go, 4 tips for learning an instrument or learning a song. I hope at least some of this information can be of some use, and I look forward to hearing some feedback or personal experience you may have. I look forward to covering 4 more tips in my next article.
Happy learning!