Is this just me or is this a common phenomenon? I'm currently working on a Piazzolla piece (Verano Porteño) and the first few times I was playing it through haltingly but recognisably. Now I've started breaking it down slowly but I swear I am getting worse the more effort I put in!
Because I have been working in small chunks, I can play some individual 2 bar phrases OK, but when I try to play them in sequence it all goes to pot.
And now the knock on effect is that my playing on other pieces has gone downhill too. Stuff I could play well a few months ago are now a mess. My rasguedo was going well but now I can't do it at all. It's like my right hand is completely seizing up!
Comments
Slow down for a week and then start to ramp it up at 5-10bpm a week.
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unlearn I need to
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IMHO guitar is no different. If you must play a piece 100% accurately, for a show or similar, then get the sheet music for the piece. Otherwise think of the overall desired result which might well be that 'close enough' is good enough. Always ask yourself why do you play guitar. If it is for enjoyment combined with a degree of challenge, enjoy your playing. Try not to get bogged down attempting to nail some piece. If playing it is a struggle, the audience will sense your discomfort. So nobody will enjoy listening to you playing it. Being reasonably good and enjoying playing beats being very good and losing whatever the musical message of the piece is.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Many guitarists can move their fingers fast, but few have well trained ears and hear exactly what they play.
For me, progress sometimes feels like two steps forwards then one step back. Occasionally, when I start to think about the finer details of something I'm working on, it seems to get worse. But then I get through it and ultimately it leads to a more robust (i.e. less error prone) technique.
Although it is a bit painfull, i find it has a two fold advantage
1) you can spot visually/audibly where you are cocking up
2) you may find that in actuality, you are improving... but you are more aware of how much further you have to go.
It dawned on me after bloody ages (should have taped myself) I was playing the right stuff, in the right tempo, but not with the correct "swing"/rhythm/whatever it's called.
So back to the couch and slowed the xxxk down. It's already a lot better.
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)