Goals

“Playing the guitar well is easy. Playing it poorly is difficult.” – Andres Segovia

In other words, it is easier to walk than it is to crawl. This being said, we must all learn to crawl before we can walk. Once we understand what it is to walk, we eagerly practice over and over again despite its initial awkwardness and the mastery we have already achieved crawling. Thanks to this effort and dedication we soon find ourselves walking. We then find ourselves walking easily. Eventually walking becomes second nature, and thus we leave crawling far behind for it has become too difficult and awkward a means of motion in comparison. I am here to help you walk.

Technique – Initially students find “their” way of playing to be “easier” than proper technique. However, with dedication and discipline one will quickly work through the initial stages of awkwardness and discover the myriad advantages of proper guitar technique. In guitar as with anything in life, one gets better faster with proper technique. This training enables the student to apply basic universal principles to solve their own problems and avoid creating the same problems time and again. One will ultimately get better and better faster. Eventually, just as with walking, it will become natural and easy.

Literacy – The ability to read music from a score. This skill is two fold. First, a person must understand the music itself. That is, they must understand pitch, rhythm, meter, etc… Secondly, a person must be able to transfer this information from the score to the guitar. Without this ability most guitar literature lies beyond a guitarist’s reach. In addition, music theory is exceptionally difficult while illiterate. Without this ability only a basic understanding of music theory can be achieved. Think of musical literacy as reading out loud in a second language.

Theory – The knowledge of what is being played, read, or heard. This is the essential component of improvisation and composition.

Fingerboard Knowledge – The guitar is perhaps the most idiosyncratic instrument in existence. As such, it requires a special knowledge in order to master it. The secret to unlocking the mysteries of the guitar lays in what is commonly referred to as C-A-G-E-D. These five letters represent the five chord/scale shapes on the guitar. Every chord and scale is derived from one of these five shapes. Master them and one solves the puzzle.

Musicianship – This is the difference between mechanically reproducing notes on the guitar and making music. It requires an understanding of what one is playing as well as a cultured ear. Listen to as much music as you can, and always remember to listen to yourself!

Performance – The ultimate objective of playing guitar is, of course, to share with others the music that we love. It comes more naturally to some than others, but it is a skill we all must work on. There are many mental and physical training techniques that can be utilized to aid in developing this skill. However, performance itself is still the best practice. For this reason it is strongly encouraged to play in front of people whenever there is an opportunity.

Fun – The reason we all want to play. Never get frustrated with yourself. You really are getting better; you just don’t know it. Remember, playing guitar is fun, but playing guitar better is more fun.