The School of Feedback Guitar Blog

Flow. I like to describe it as the feeling I get when time disappears. When I am not focused on anything except playing music and I am so drawn into it that someone new could walk into the room and I wouldn't know it, I am in the flow state. In my opinion, everyone who picks up the guitar has different reasons to, but flow is possible regardless. Flow, to me, is the reason everyone slowly gets pulled into playing, and all the better.

The following is a comparison between two types of guitar styles, namely classical guitar and pop guitar, and how long and dedicated a person must be to get into that flow state with either.

Pop Guitar

Usually, all it takes for a person to learn pop guitar from scratch is to learn chords comfortably, learn to strum, and learn how to change chords within a strumming pattern. Then comes the songs and learning how to play along and listen. That's about it. Getting to the point where time can absolutely disappear isn't really that difficult or far off. It's merely being comfortable enough with the instrument and those three skills. This is not very hard to do. I would guess that it can take anywhere from about one to six months of work.

Classical Guitar

It takes a minimum of at least two years of study with classical guitar to get to a flow state. A minimum, and it's not guaranteed! The skills? Well, learning the Andres Segovia or the Aaron Shear scales, finishing up the 120 exercises for the right hand by Giuliani, practicing Scott Tennant's Pumping Nylon, learning a lot of etudes by Sor, Carcassi, and listening. Then come the actual pieces. Choros or Preludes by Villa Lobos, Julia Florida by Barrios, or Capriccio Arabe by Tarrega.

So what are the implications?

First, classical guitar is not just something we can up and decide to do. Most people who do want to learn classical guitar already have a love of that music. Second, if anyone wants to teach classical guitar and wants to teach only classical guitar, they will have an uphill battle. Look at the hoops a person has to jump through! Instead, why not learn how to teach pop guitar and gradually introduce the student to the wonders of classical guitar? Third, flow state, the place we go when we are on stage or playing with friends, having a blast, etc, is the only reason we play. Flow is important, and it takes far less time playing pop guitar to achieve this state than it does classical guitar.

Finally, which sounds most fun? Perhaps there is an iconoclast out there who is working to soften the educational tradition of classical guitar so that flow is easier to achieve, faster? I hope to meet you if you are reading.

If one reason why you want to learn to play guitar better but hesitate is because you don't want the love of it to disappear, then know you are not alone. Recently, a very creative pair of students posed a question that knocked me speechless:

"How do you learn a song and still love it just as much when you get done learning it?"

I still don't know quite how to do this! Perhaps this question is more of a philosophic one:

"Does the end justify the means?"

In other words, in order to learn a song, do I have to give up my love of it? Do I have to give up the mystery I feel when I listen to it? In order to attain mastery of the song, must I drain it of it's vitality? From what I can see as a teacher, this might lead to a nice simple re-arranging of priorities, and that is not an easy accomplishment.

Which is more important to you: The Mystery or the Mastery?

Most people don't understand that there are musicians out there who never knew a single lick of music theory. It seems odd, but most people consider knowing music theory as the barometer of a musician's mastery. Yet the most famous example of a master musician who had no music theory knowledge was Jimi Hendrix. He knew not a shred of music theory! I think Jimi must have found the guitar mysterious, something to explore, bat around, set fire to, play with his teeth. From the looks of it, it seems he was out to push the guitar and it's capabilities, and that to me speaks of mastery more than anything.

Attaining mastery over the guitar is something quite a few people are after, but does mystery have to be sacrificed in order to get it?  From my standpoint, from a guy who has spent years playing guitar, mystery is far more important. To me, a good song is worth letting go and not learning so I can feel good when I listen to it later. Perhaps losing the love of songs is part of attaining more mastery on the guitar. I don't know. If that's the case, then keep me in the dark please. Music is all I have, and if it's gone then I have nothing left to give.

Expect more blogging on this topic.

The following is from a new book from J. Ayen Green entitled Drupal 6 Attachment Views. The Drupal Views module is quite complex, yet highly worth learning it as the benefits are tenfold. Thus it comes as no surprise to read this nice little quote from the author that also applies to learning anything (like guitar).

"Looking at just about anything worth doing, a question will arise beginning with the words, "How do I." Often the challenge can seem daunting. Then, one finally intuits, discovers, or otherwise stumbles upon the answer and simultaneously is offered several alternative opinions, each being offered as the best way to accomplish the same goal. This is the case whether planning a vacation route, taking a photograph, or creating part or all of an application."