Learning Guitar: On beginning and Reflection

Now I know what you're thinking:

The Guitar Theory Hour manifesto is completely without substance and specifics.

It’s common sense that learning an instrument contains specific places of where to place your fingers, anyone could tell you that. I will most certainly get to the actual places you can put your hand sausages [read: fingers] but my intention is not to give a man a fish. You may be hungry for chord shapes and scale patterns but there are underlying concepts which upon reflection will provide you with rod and bait.

Full credit goes to http://powderedwigcouture.com/ for the image

All you need to bring is a willingness to learn and an understanding that almost anyone can pick this stuff up.

In the next hour we will reflect on the notion that when learning an instrument, reflection itself is a vast slice of the pie. 

In reflection, your openness and willingness to see things as patterns and frameworks rather than unique occurrences will allow you to progress. Nothing exists in a vacuum.

What happens when I start?

When you first begin your musical education for guitar, you will notice that songs you learn are made of repeated chords grouped together in what is known as a chord progression.

As you continue to learn more pieces, similarities between progressions and songs will prompt you with the revelation that some songs aren’t unique in quite the way you thought.

Chords, notes, intervals and rhythms are building blocks regurgitated through time. We play them in orders devised by people we call composers and songwriters, named for the song or piece we are attempting to recreate. Learning other people’s compositions is a valid way of furthering your ability.

You can never accurately repeat something.

At least, not on an analogue instrument such as the guitar. You are always approximating, at most; a part and at least, a sound that you wish to express with your ability. In playing the guitar you enter into a dialogue with yourself, a feedback loop of listening and adjusting to the sounds you make and the feel of making the sounds. Part of being able to express the sound you want is a notion of preparedness.

On beginning to make a sound

If you are not sure of where the notes you need to play are, the sound will be unsure. Conversely, if you are overly aware and conscious of playing only the appropriate places, the sound may take on a mechanical texture. To “learn” or “know” a piece of music as a beginning guitarist you must pay attention to the feedback loop between what you play, expect and hear. Do not let how you want it to sound pollute your ear’s comprehension of how it does sound. It is never going to be perfect, no; you aren’t looking for perfection, only purposeful expression.

                                  

Are you fully in control of how you sound? Do you sound fully in control, is control a facet of sound you even wish to achieve? Nothing is set in stone and you can do what you like, but don’t.

Here are some chords it will come in handy to know.