There is nothing worse as a guitar player than to feel
uninspired, bored and stale with your own playing. If you have played
guitar for a little while now, you will no doubt have felt this way
before. While this is common, it shouldn't be. There are so many cool
and unique approaches to playing your acoustic guitar, and the great
news is that these are readily available to you right now. You just need
to be open to them and have the burning desire to want to become a
better guitar player. Either this, or you can think along these lines:
"I'm happy to remain at the same level of creativity with my acoustic guitar playing for the rest of my life. I'm OK with feeling bored, stale, and uninspired when I pick up my guitar. It's just how it is"
I'm assuming that this is certainly not how you want to think or feel about your guitar playing.
Part 1 of this article will present to you two unique ways you can play your acoustic guitar with a further three possibilities to follow in part 2 shortly. Exploring and integrating some if not all of these into your acoustic guitar playing will leave you feeling more inspired and motivated than ever.
If there is one thing I have learned over the years of playing guitar, it is to be open to all styles of music and to continually discover and study different guitar players and musicians of all kinds. This particularly helped me at times when I was feeling bored, stale, or frustrated with my own guitar playing. I'd be playing the same old stuff, the same old way, all the time. Discovering new ways to do things helped my motivation, inspiration, and creativity no end.
Of course, I'm not saying to forget everything you have ever learned on guitar and begin again but rather, integrate some elements and techniques of other styles into what you can already do on your acoustic guitar. This will reignite your creativity big time not to mention your motivation!
I see my own acoustic guitar playing as something that continually evolves and is why I am always looking to include elements and techniques of other styles into it. It's very exciting to find new approaches to your playing that resonates with you. Even though I have been playing for 25 years now, the guitar can still feel like a totally new instrument to me, in a good way, when I do this.
To continue along the path of simply playing the same old stuff all the time on your guitar will most likely lead to you quitting your playing altogether. If you are reading this article then surely that is the last thing you want.
The key is to stay engaged with your instrument at all times. As I said before, view your guitar playing as something that is continually evolving, improving everyday in small ways, and your creativity and motivation will go through the roof!
Before we move on let me make one thing clear, I'm not meaning at all to go and surf the net for new tabs, songs, or riffs to play on your guitar. This kind of thing is OK to do, but will only satisfy you in the short term and have little to no effect on your creativity and motivation in the long run. Rather, I want to provide you with ways you can approach your acoustic guitar playing that will have a long lasting effect in regard to your creativity, motivation, and inspiration.
I could write many many pages on any one of the approaches to playing your acoustic guitar presented in both parts 1 and 2 of this article, and is why we are just barely touching the surface with them here. I want to introduce you to them, if you aren't aware of them already, and encourage you to explore further the ones you like.
So let's get into some creative ways to approach playing your acoustic guitar that will see your motivation and creativity reignite big time, for good!
The Wonderful World Of Harmonics
Harmonics can open up a whole new world of sound when it comes to your acoustic guitar playing. Harmonics alone will see your creativity sky rocket! They sound absolutely amazing when you truly experiment and tap into their potential. Check out some players who have used these a lot, such as Lenny Breau and Chet Atkins, and you'll hear what I mean.
Let's have a look at the octave harmonic. There are others, but this is the most useful one for creating with on your acoustic guitar. To sound an octave harmonic you simply touch the string, with your picking hand as it is vibrating, exactly 12 frets above from where you are sounding the note. Be sure to touch the string directly above the fret, not in between as you do with regular notes.
As your index finger touches the string, your thumb plucks it from behind to sound the harmonic.
Always remember to maintain a 12 fret distance between your fretting and picking hands when sounding harmonics. (eg. If you are wanting to play the harmonic of the 5th fretted note on the 6th string, then be sure the index finger of your picking hand is touching directly above the 17th fret of the 6th string)
Things You Can Do Right Now To Start Creating With Harmonics On Your Guitar
- Get a backing track in the key of G major, there are plenty on YouTube, and sound out a G major scale using harmonics. You will instantly have a cool and unique sound to start creating with.
- Learn a melody in the key of G major, or use one you already know, and play it with harmonics. This is a great way to get this technique into your playing.
- Do the above, only change key.
Harmonics are a whole new sound to start exploring and creating with on your acoustic guitar. They will increase your creativity levels dramatically as you play around with them and integrate them into the things you can already do.
We have barely touched the surface on what you can do with harmonics on your guitar in this article. If you are keen to explore them further, you will discover just how amazing they really are and what they can do for your guitar playing.
Open And Alternate Tunings For Your Guitar Playing
There are many different ways you can tune your guitar besides the standard tuning that we all use. These are known as open and altered tunings and will make your guitar feel totally new to you again, in a good way of course.
Your guitar won't feel like it did the first time you ever picked it up, which is good, however open and alternate tunings will give you a new approach to playing your acoustic guitar. They can make what would otherwise be very difficult and awkward for you to play in a standard tuning, very possible and easy to do.
Below are some common tunings for your acoustic guitar playing. It's a good idea to spend a little time in one tuning first before moving to another. This way you get a chance to get use to the characteristics and logistics of that tuning. Swapping back and forth too frequently will probably confuse you if you are new to the tuning.
Open G Tuning (D G D G B D): This tuning should still be a little familiar to you as the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings are unchanged. It is often used in a lot of slide playing, amongst other things, and sounds a G chord when you strum the open strings together, hence it's name.
Csus2 Tuning (C G C G C D): This is a very symmetrical tuning that allows you to play in different octaves across the strings without having to really change position. Strumming the open strings of your guitar gives you a Csus2 sound with this tuning.
DADGAD Tuning (D A D G A D): Strumming your open strings together in this tuning produces a Dsus4 sound and is conducive to open and moveable chord shapes on your guitar. It is often referred to as "DADGAD".
Things You Can Do Right Now To Start Creating With Open And Alternate Tunings
- Become familiar with an alternate or open tuning by taking something you already know how to play in a standard tuning and learn how to play it in another tuning such as open G or DADGAD.
- Learn some existing songs that are in open and alternate tunings. This is a great way to introduce yourself to a new tuning and gain some cool insights into how to use it.
- Write an original composition in something other than standard tuning.
Start Creating NOW On Your Guitar
The key is to jump in and start experimenting and creating with both open/alternate tunings and harmonics now with your playing. While it can be challenging at first, there are many victories to be had along the way to mastering these concepts.
To get your creativity kick started right now, download this free guide and audio on 5 creative ways to play your acoustic guitar with a capo.
"I'm happy to remain at the same level of creativity with my acoustic guitar playing for the rest of my life. I'm OK with feeling bored, stale, and uninspired when I pick up my guitar. It's just how it is"
I'm assuming that this is certainly not how you want to think or feel about your guitar playing.
Part 1 of this article will present to you two unique ways you can play your acoustic guitar with a further three possibilities to follow in part 2 shortly. Exploring and integrating some if not all of these into your acoustic guitar playing will leave you feeling more inspired and motivated than ever.
If there is one thing I have learned over the years of playing guitar, it is to be open to all styles of music and to continually discover and study different guitar players and musicians of all kinds. This particularly helped me at times when I was feeling bored, stale, or frustrated with my own guitar playing. I'd be playing the same old stuff, the same old way, all the time. Discovering new ways to do things helped my motivation, inspiration, and creativity no end.
Of course, I'm not saying to forget everything you have ever learned on guitar and begin again but rather, integrate some elements and techniques of other styles into what you can already do on your acoustic guitar. This will reignite your creativity big time not to mention your motivation!
I see my own acoustic guitar playing as something that continually evolves and is why I am always looking to include elements and techniques of other styles into it. It's very exciting to find new approaches to your playing that resonates with you. Even though I have been playing for 25 years now, the guitar can still feel like a totally new instrument to me, in a good way, when I do this.
To continue along the path of simply playing the same old stuff all the time on your guitar will most likely lead to you quitting your playing altogether. If you are reading this article then surely that is the last thing you want.
The key is to stay engaged with your instrument at all times. As I said before, view your guitar playing as something that is continually evolving, improving everyday in small ways, and your creativity and motivation will go through the roof!
Before we move on let me make one thing clear, I'm not meaning at all to go and surf the net for new tabs, songs, or riffs to play on your guitar. This kind of thing is OK to do, but will only satisfy you in the short term and have little to no effect on your creativity and motivation in the long run. Rather, I want to provide you with ways you can approach your acoustic guitar playing that will have a long lasting effect in regard to your creativity, motivation, and inspiration.
I could write many many pages on any one of the approaches to playing your acoustic guitar presented in both parts 1 and 2 of this article, and is why we are just barely touching the surface with them here. I want to introduce you to them, if you aren't aware of them already, and encourage you to explore further the ones you like.
So let's get into some creative ways to approach playing your acoustic guitar that will see your motivation and creativity reignite big time, for good!
The Wonderful World Of Harmonics
Harmonics can open up a whole new world of sound when it comes to your acoustic guitar playing. Harmonics alone will see your creativity sky rocket! They sound absolutely amazing when you truly experiment and tap into their potential. Check out some players who have used these a lot, such as Lenny Breau and Chet Atkins, and you'll hear what I mean.
Let's have a look at the octave harmonic. There are others, but this is the most useful one for creating with on your acoustic guitar. To sound an octave harmonic you simply touch the string, with your picking hand as it is vibrating, exactly 12 frets above from where you are sounding the note. Be sure to touch the string directly above the fret, not in between as you do with regular notes.
As your index finger touches the string, your thumb plucks it from behind to sound the harmonic.
Always remember to maintain a 12 fret distance between your fretting and picking hands when sounding harmonics. (eg. If you are wanting to play the harmonic of the 5th fretted note on the 6th string, then be sure the index finger of your picking hand is touching directly above the 17th fret of the 6th string)
Things You Can Do Right Now To Start Creating With Harmonics On Your Guitar
- Get a backing track in the key of G major, there are plenty on YouTube, and sound out a G major scale using harmonics. You will instantly have a cool and unique sound to start creating with.
- Learn a melody in the key of G major, or use one you already know, and play it with harmonics. This is a great way to get this technique into your playing.
- Do the above, only change key.
Harmonics are a whole new sound to start exploring and creating with on your acoustic guitar. They will increase your creativity levels dramatically as you play around with them and integrate them into the things you can already do.
We have barely touched the surface on what you can do with harmonics on your guitar in this article. If you are keen to explore them further, you will discover just how amazing they really are and what they can do for your guitar playing.
Open And Alternate Tunings For Your Guitar Playing
There are many different ways you can tune your guitar besides the standard tuning that we all use. These are known as open and altered tunings and will make your guitar feel totally new to you again, in a good way of course.
Your guitar won't feel like it did the first time you ever picked it up, which is good, however open and alternate tunings will give you a new approach to playing your acoustic guitar. They can make what would otherwise be very difficult and awkward for you to play in a standard tuning, very possible and easy to do.
Below are some common tunings for your acoustic guitar playing. It's a good idea to spend a little time in one tuning first before moving to another. This way you get a chance to get use to the characteristics and logistics of that tuning. Swapping back and forth too frequently will probably confuse you if you are new to the tuning.
Open G Tuning (D G D G B D): This tuning should still be a little familiar to you as the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings are unchanged. It is often used in a lot of slide playing, amongst other things, and sounds a G chord when you strum the open strings together, hence it's name.
Csus2 Tuning (C G C G C D): This is a very symmetrical tuning that allows you to play in different octaves across the strings without having to really change position. Strumming the open strings of your guitar gives you a Csus2 sound with this tuning.
DADGAD Tuning (D A D G A D): Strumming your open strings together in this tuning produces a Dsus4 sound and is conducive to open and moveable chord shapes on your guitar. It is often referred to as "DADGAD".
Things You Can Do Right Now To Start Creating With Open And Alternate Tunings
- Become familiar with an alternate or open tuning by taking something you already know how to play in a standard tuning and learn how to play it in another tuning such as open G or DADGAD.
- Learn some existing songs that are in open and alternate tunings. This is a great way to introduce yourself to a new tuning and gain some cool insights into how to use it.
- Write an original composition in something other than standard tuning.
Start Creating NOW On Your Guitar
The key is to jump in and start experimenting and creating with both open/alternate tunings and harmonics now with your playing. While it can be challenging at first, there are many victories to be had along the way to mastering these concepts.
To get your creativity kick started right now, download this free guide and audio on 5 creative ways to play your acoustic guitar with a capo.
Based in Melbourne Australia, Simon Candy teaches students of all
ages and levels on the very best ways to play guitar. He is founder of
Simon Candy School Of Guitar and specialises in the acoustic guitar.
Visit acousticguitarlessonsonline.net for online tuition for acoustic guitar.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Candy
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