9 Secrets To Playing Great Lead Guitar
If you really want to know the secrets to successfully learning to play guitar, a strong musical foundation is important. By building a strong foundation you lay the groundwork for all of your future success.
The 9 Secrets To Playing Great Lead Guitar
- Clean Technique
If you have a good teacher you will learn a clean technique. As you become proficient in your current technique you can always look for ways to improve it. While the foundation is important, by developing an individual technique you will set yourself apart from other musicians. Many of the most successful musicians never stop reaching for new methods and techniques to improve their skills and ultimately their sound.
- Body Basics
In your head the lead guitarist is standing on stage, but when you are learning you have far better control over your guitar if you practice while sitting. This way you can concentrate on your music. By sitting up straight with your feet flatly planted on the floor, you will save your back from feeling strained. Then as you master your technique and know your music inside and out, that is when you may want to take the stage and try it standing up.
- The Hands Have It
By developing good habits early in your practice, you set yourself up to succeed later on. Pay attention to what your hands are doing and how they are placed on your guitar. Practice good hand position, because it will allow you to transition between chords faster. You will be much more adept at reacting to unplanned problems that may occur when you are performing if your hand position is naturally correct. So practice correct hand positions so that they are second nature.
- Cop a 'Tude
Remember that attitude is key and it affects everything. When you play lead guitar, you are front and center. Act like it. The way you stand, the way you move, and how you hold your head all project your attitude. So make a presence and establish your place center stage. Watch successful bands and notice how the lead guitarist commands the entire stage with simply his attitude.
- Dedication
Talent without discipline is wasted. When you are first learning the guitar it may be easier to stay disciplined, because everything is still new. However, as time goes by, and you get better at playing you may get comfortable and not challenge yourself as you once did. It is important to always be improving your skills as well as to have the discipline to keep your skills polished. Discipline elevates you from ordinary to extraordinary.
- Leader of the Pack
The lead guitarist is basically the leader of the pack, so if what you want is to be the lead guitarist, then you better be ready to lead. Your group will look to you for advice and guidance, so be ready to provide it. Set a good example, and listen to how the collective group sounds. It is up to you to set the tone for your group. You should be versatile enough to weave any mistakes seamlessly into your routine. You must be ready to think on your feet, and while you may not be the perfect leader when you start, you will develop these skills over time and grow into a really great lead guitarist.
- Learn to Listen
It is essential that you train your ear to hear your music. If you cannot hear what you are playing, then you will never know if you are playing it correctly.
While training your ear may seem like a boring undertaking, it can be quite delightful, and it is also necessary. There are a couple of good ear training sites on the Internet that offer software. They improve skills for listening, and they make the experience more like a game than like a lesson. Invest the time in learning to listen, and you will be happy that you did.
- Practice Daily
It is better to practice for a short time (20 minutes or so) every day rather than a marathon practice once per week. Remember to practice your ears as well as your fingers. Warm up your fingers using the five tone pentatonic scales. By having a structure to your practice it will build a habit, and the habit will develop into a skill.
- Find a Skilled Teacher
By finding a good, private teacher that you resonate with or even finding lessons on the Internet that work for you will help you to structure your lessons and your regular practices. Learning on the Internet can work well because it is so convenient and flexible.
Follow these 9 tips and you will be well on you're way to being a great lead guitarist. And remember, the most important thing is to enjoy it and don't take it too seriously. Do it for love and fun. Don't do it for fame and fortune.
If you're really serious about becoming a great lead guitarist, I would highly recommend Learn & Master Guitar. Click on the image below to read more about it.
