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What is “Playing” Guitar? (Or any instrument)?
Filed Under (Random Thought) by Frank on 04-07-2008
Tagged Under : Guitar, Music, Practice, Random Thought, Scale, Scales, Song
What is playing guitar? How do you define that? How should I define it? I believe that there are several ways to define “playing guitar.”
Should I define it as:
- Playing sheet music precisely?
- Playing pop-culture song as recorded?
- Playing a pop-culture song in my own way?
- Playing Scales?
- Making “noise” that I think sounds good? (or harmonic)
- [way more then I can list]
Truthfully, I’m not sure how I would define it. I do know that everyone might define it differently, and of course that is okay and even wonderful. Music is an art; playing music is an art.
I’ve only picked up a guitar in the last few days. As you can see from this blog, I was going hardcore with my guitar/music education and then it just stopped. What the heck happened? My work had to send me to St. Louis to take over a project from an employee that resigned. That is what happened.
Now, I live in Chicagoland (yes, it is like a theme park) so I actually had the ability to drive to St. Louis. [Map^]. Which I did end up doing (as opposed to fly, which is a royal pain in the ass.)
Even though driving gave me the ability to, I didn’t actually bring a guitar with because I didn’t think I’d have time to practice. Which for the most part I was right; I spent quite a bit of time socializing. Turned out the gentleman leaving the company was a lot like me…
Anyway, I spent two week in St. Louis and when I got back it was kind of hard to pick up a guitar because of how worried I was of how much my “skills” (I use the term loosely) might have declined. Finally about 3 weeks from when I got back, I started to pick up my guitar again. Yes skills have declined and fingers aren’t as “happy” as the used to be on the fret board. It’s okay, I will fix it.
But as I was tooling around trying to get my fingers to play scales like the used to and etc. I came up with the thought of “What is ‘playing’ guitar?” and I wanted to ask this question to the world!
Hopefully your efforts are proceeding better then mine at this point. 
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First of all - CONGRATULATIONS! 1 for a thoughtful post and 2 for learning to play a musical instrument.
I tell my students that they can go into a crowd with a guitar and ask how it’s played. I’ll almost guarantee that someone steps forward to show you a few chords and away you go - you’re playing music!! Not really…. and don’t try that with oboe.
‘Playing’ really means understanding musical concepts and being able to express yourself on any given instrument…and they should occur in that order.
Whether you’re teaching yourself or working with an educator, be sure you are presented musical concepts in a sequential order and following a curriculum. Learning your favorite three chord song or 15 seconds of a rock tune is not always beneficial toward your end goal and that kind of teaching goes on way too often, especially with guitar.
This is the approach we’ve taken with the software at MusickEd.com. It’s a sequential approach with lots of reinforcement. I hope you’ll check it out and continue to have fun on your musical journey!
Eugene Canteras last blog post..15 Years In the Business of Music Education
Hello Eugene,
I’m sorry I’ve not replied to you sooner. I read your post around when you first posted it and at the time I wasn’t quite sure how to respond.
Thank you for the kind words on the post. I wish all of them could be a thoughtful post, but alas I usually don’t have a computer when the thoughts come.
I think that I would subscribe to your definition of “Playing”
I think that best represents what I’ve always felt music was. And furthermore, I think that is why I enjoy Staind so much.
Ultimately, I think some people need music to express what they are feeling. I feel I do…
[hmm... This comment didn't go where I expected... But it is what it is...]
I think playing any kind of musical instrument, but perhaps the guitar more so, is about expressing emotion of some kind. Wether it be simple pleasure from the generated sound waves, or a more complex appreciation of the musical structure that you are producing it boils down to the same thing. Do you enjoy doing it!?
To be able to play well, I’m sure it helps that you understand your chosen instrument and some musical theory, but it might also be that you just need to develop your fretting ability, rhythm, timing, develop your ear and learn just enough theory to help you do these things. These are the basic principles that will make you a guitar player. Whether you are good or not is merely subjective
For me the social aspect of the guitar is very important. It’s why I chose it over the piano, which I also would love to be able to play. The ability to pick it up, take it anywhere, even away on work ;), and play with anyone and naturally it’s popularity (meaning you are always going to have someone to play with), has been the major atttraction for me.
Daniel Craigs last blog post..How to hold a Barre Chord