Learning vs. Just playing...

matty42

I am what I would call an intermediate player. Not a beginner, but I know I still have lots to learn. When I just sit and play and mess around I have moments of playing and improv that sound pretty good. My problem is though that when I want to learn a written piece it is a longer, slower process and I feel like I'm going back to step one. It takes me forever. It seems as if my natural playing is better than my playing when I'm learning a specific piece.

Does anyone else have a problem like this? Any advice to get over my hump if you will?

AmundLauritzen

The more you do it the better you'll get. You are reverting to your comfort zone because playing what you know is less work than trying to play what you don't know. We're all guilty of that from time to time. Just soldier on with it, and you'll develop the skill of learning written pieces faster.

For each piece you learn, you will develop that ability further. When you've learned about 20 pieces or so, the process will be so natural to you that it'll no longer feel like work.

The resistance in your mind is natural. It is a response from your brain trying to tackle something you don't know, which is what you want to happen, because learning always occurrs outside your comfort zone.

Keep at it!

Jazzaferri

When one is absolutely free of any constraints if not completely fumble fingered one can usually play something ok

The moment there are constraints then the areas one is not relaxed in start to show up.

Have you learned a number of different stock phrases for II-V and V-I changes.

Are you completely comfortable with the chord changes, and I dont mean just bean able to play them can you play them in good time completely relaxed without looking. Thats a start, Now learn to hum sing or whatever the melody line. Once you can do that and keep good time.... up to speed ...and play through the changes without thinking then you will know you have that harmony pretty well mastered.

nOw if you have all your arpeggios down and can arpeggiate your way through the whole tune smoothly an have no finger fumbles playing the melody keeping time with the metronome , now you are ready to start to improvise on it. :shock:

Its a lifelong journey, try not to rush your fences.

jimvence

matty42 wrote:

I am what I would call an intermediate player. Not a beginner, but I know I still have lots to learn. When I just sit and play and mess around I have moments of playing and improv that sound pretty good. My problem is though that when I want to learn a written piece it is a longer, slower process and I feel like I'm going back to step one. It takes me forever. It seems as if my natural playing is better than my playing when I'm learning a specific piece.

Does anyone else have a problem like this? Any advice to get over my hump if you will?

That sounds pretty normal. Studying and learning a written piece does take longer, but you are hardly going back to square one. Messing around, or noodling is by its nature is comfortable to do, and it keeps your fingers limber. However, noodling alone will not help you advance your skill.

What comes to mind is solo fingerstyle blues piece for guitar which recently worked on. I am just about at the point where I can play it fairly naturally; but that was hardly the case when I started learning it. The syncopation of thumb and fingers on the piece required a good deal of study -- I remember spending a half-hour just to work out the timing on four measures.

Your natural playing is what you have internalized through practice. Once that piece you study is practiced, you will eventually internalize it to where you know it well enough to add to your "natural" catalog.

The video below supports my opinion ;0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIeAsOpavzE

matty42

Thanks for the input. I never really thought about the learning something new vs. what is already "internalized". Some good food for thought there.

And to jimvence, that video was hilarious! And Lemmy was in it!