This article introduces new PartTimeMusician.com writer JP Montgomery. JP is a guitarist/bassist who will be contributing from time to time on a variety of subjects. JP’s hobbies include playing music, listening to music, and hanging out with his girlfriend…but not necessarily in that order. :-)
Sitting alone in a room with the door closed and drilling all-too-familiar exercises is no fun for anyone. When I started playing guitar (and later, bass), I wanted to get rolling as quickly as possible. Who doesn’t?!? And once I got to a basic level of playing competence…well, I still didn’t want to waste a lot of time with boring exercises. Here’s what I do.
Warm Up with Scales
Well, that sounds boring, doesn’t it? You have to know the notes, but playing them doesn’t have to be a drudge! Add some pep to it, change up the rhythms, slur (winds), run patterns of notes, etc. Mix it up! This gets you warmed up, reinforces your scales in your head, and keeps things from getting lame. :-)
Play some Challenging Music
After you’re warmed up, grab some challenging music from your stack and get busy. Whether it’s new music (for sight-reading, technique development, etc.) or just a piece you’ve been working on that remains just outside of your reach, this is the time to tackle it. Push yourself, but have fun with it. Work on that new chord, practice the riff your favorite lead player or bassist throws in during the best part of your favorite song, or whatever. Imagine yourself playing it for your buddies next week – that always gets me going!
Grab some TABs, Plug in the Tunes, and PLAY!
This is the dessert portion of the practice session. Plug your iPod into your amp via Line In (Editor’s note: See earlier article Really USE your practice amp for tips on this, especially if your amp doesn’t have a dedicated Line In plug), grab some tablature or sheet music, and just kick it! If you know the music well, experiment (remember those grooves we were talking about earlier?). If it’s a new piece you’ve been dying to play, just work your way into it and live in the moment! There is just something about playing along with your favorite artist/group that really gets the juices going. In fact, you may have to make yourself put down the axe once you’ve gotten to this point!
Simple as it is, it keeps me driving forward. Give it a try! Life doesn’t always have to be hard, you know. :-)
Peace,
JP
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Tags: bass, enjoy, fun, Guitar, JP Montgomery, practice, practicing, scales, secrets, TAB, three
Bass Guitar, General, Guitar, Learning | JP January 22, 2011 | 
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As someone who loves both traditional music and technology, I’m excited to see something really bridge the gap…rather than replace active performing with MP3s. :-|
This video gives an example of what is already possible – and hints at what soon will be – with a 100% technology-based instrument. Interesting that it is accordion-like, using the left hand to “button-push” chords…while using strings (vs. piano keys) for the left. While the video doesn’t show it, I suspect you could also run the headphone output to an amp as well.
Something to think about, and maybe play. If I can find out more from the good folks at Amidio, developers of OMGuitar, I’ll pass it along. In the meantime, whatever you play, keep playing it. :-)
All the best,
Mark
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In yet another great example of a day job supporting a playing addiction, I ran across this newsworthy item about a Marine who lives to play. He’s done it all his life, and he intends to do it long after he retires. I’d like to introduce you to Gunnery Sergeant Clinton W. Walker.
In this linked article, Gunny Walker tells of a musical path of discovery that has lasted years and been an integral part of his life. While each of us finds our passion at different times, it’s an unmistakable event when we are actually “bitten by the bug”. It’s also very clear that we’ll never really be able to get over it, regardless of how many times we try to put down the instrument(s). Walker tried – twice – but returned to his playing addiction with a vengeance, at the insistence of his wife. He was driving everyone nuts. :-)
In all things, balance…but there should always be room for music. Play on, and SEMPER FI!
All the best,
Mark
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Tags: bass, Clinton W. Walker, Guitar, GySgt, Marine Forces Pacific, part time musician, United States Marine, USMC
Bass Guitar, General, Guitar, Inspiration, News | Mark January 5, 2011 |
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Transposition is a tough concept for those who haven’t done much of it. Learning music as it’s written often poses enough of a challenge! But learning to transpose, either “statically” before you begin to play or “on the fly”, can really take your musicianship up a notch. Let’s take one step at a time.
This article from our friends at CathysChords shows how to make a transposition wheel. Transposition is a handy skill for guitarists, as you’ll often want to play music in a key that differs from what is written on the music you have (for orchestral players, please see Transposing for Trumpet: A Handy Reference). Whether the chords are particularly nasty as written or the singer just needs to take it down a step or two, transposition can be used to carry the day. It’s a simple skill once you get your head around it, and the wheel can help getting started even easier.
The basic idea is that when you see a chord or key (for guitar) that you want to change to a more suitable one, you can just “dial it in”. Line up the original chord on the wheel with the one you want to use instead, and then use the matching chords instead of those written on the music. To try it, grab a pencil and a piece of music that you’ve always avoided playing due to the ugly chords and give it a try. Dial in the first chord, lining it up with an easier-to-play one (maybe A or C). Write in the “new” chord by the original one on the music, and then repeat for each subsequent one…maybe for a line or two. Then try playing it. Magic!
Have a transposing story to tell? Drop us a line! We’d love to hear from you.
Keep playing,
Mark
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Tags: change, chords, Guitar, how, key, make, to, transpose, transposing, wheel
Guitar, Learning | Mark November 14, 2010 |
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Some Part-Time Musicians (PTMs) have the goal to pick up a new instrument, or perhaps to learn new things with an instrument they already know and love. Some folks can’t stop at that. They must know how to build one. 
Neither obsession is the “right” obsession for everyone, and they certainly aren’t mutually exclusive. If you are “that kind of person”, this article may scratch an itch you didn’t even know you had. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Some time ago, our friends at Instructables posted an article showing how to make your own guitar pickups. We had intended to run this shortly after our feature on replacing your guitar’s pickups, but other topics pushed it aside. No longer! Even if you aren’t inclined to tinker, this is fascinating stuff.
The Bottom Line
You can make your own guitar pickups for less than $10 each, but the real benefits to doing so don’t start or end at price. If you want to design your own, learn about the inner workings of your axe, or just inspire awe and envy among your gearhead friends (!), this project is a great way to do it. Enjoy!
All the best,
Mark
Disclaimer: Any destruction or improvements you manage to cause are your responsibility. Take full credit or blame for them yourself! If you’d like to share a cautionary tale or words of encouragement, though, feel free to drop us a line. We’d love to hear from you!
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