Since I receive so many individual questions ranging on such various topics, I realized that some of these questions may be on everyone else's mind too and it would be beneficial to publish them here.

So here are some "questions and answers", "inputs and outputs" that I've compiled for your guitar playing edification. The first of these were covered in last weeks article:
http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/010402/16.shtml

QUESTION:
I taught myself everything I know. I am pretty good I guess, but when I try to learn something new like a Malmsteen riff or something I can never get it, and I always quit. I don't know where to go, I just wanna get better.

Got any advice? Thanks.

ANSWER:
I've actually addressed this type of question before in a previous article called "Recipe For Success". Here are the highlights.

There are several principles you must adhere to if you are to ever get to a level of great playing. Some of these principles are not just for guitar players. They apply to anything in life that you're trying to accomplish that's worth accomplishing.

1) DEDICATION
You MUST devote yourself to the task at hand. This can be difficult if you "don't seem to have the time" to play or practice. You will have to sacrifice some things in order to make time for your music. For example, Friday nights may be reserved as your weekly night to go to the movies with your friends. It may be a good idea to forget that for a while and use the time more constructively to develop your chops.

2) PRACTICE
Now that you've set aside time for your guitar playing, make sure you use it for what it was intended! You've brushed off your movie friends (who want you to be a famous guitarist anyway, right?) and now you're at home free and clear to practice. BUT, you see that the season finale of Star Trek is on tonight! DON"T GIVE IN! TAPE IT! GO PLAY YOUR GUITAR! Write out a practice schedule for yourself. Work on specific techniques or moves.

Here's an example:
6:00 - 6:15
Practice changing from Dm to C7 because it gives you trouble.
6:15 - 6:30
Practice G Ionian scale at different tempos.
6:30 - 6:45
Practice right hand tapping.
6:45 - 7:00
Practice 2nd inversion Em arpeggio at different tempos.

Do you know how many times you can play a G major scale in 15 minutes? Somewhere around 90! That's 90 repetitions closer toward you becoming an expert!

You could even break this hour into six 10 minute intervals if you want. You will be surprised at how much you can accomplish in an hour of structured practice.

3) PERSERVERENCE
Now that you have dedicated the time, and are using that time to practice, make sure you STICK WITH IT! If Fridays at 6pm is your time to practice, don't let other things interfere with that time.

Now, as everyone knows..."Life Happens". If you see your time being violated, make it up Saturday or Sunday. Try not to skip your practice time completely because it will "open the door" to letting it happen again and again.

4) FOCUS
Now that you are devoting the time to practice, you need to really concentrate on what you are doing. For example, if you're learning to sweep pick that Em arpeggio, <http://www.willlandrum.com/arpeggios.shtml> you may notice that at a certain point in the sweep, you have a problem moving your fingers. Isolate your "problem spot" and just repeat that spot over and over. Pay attention to every move your hands are making. Also pay attention to your nerves. Are you relaxed or tense when trying to do this? You need to stay relaxed of course. I have actually helped students play better by just having them concentrate on relaxing!

5) PATIENCE
This is a BIGGIE! You can't be a guitar hero overnight or even after one year. There is so much involved with being a really good musician. Just because you see someone play real fast, does not make them a good musician.

- Can they compose a good tune?
- Can they improvise with others?
- Do they know how to bridal that speed and mix it up with tasteful slow playing as well?
- Do they have any sense of melody?
- Can they harmonize their leads?

Your playing and musicianship will mature with time. Heck, I went to dinner last week with Michael Fath and he was telling me how he was studying with some guy who was a master at a particular style because "there is always something else to learn". "The more you know, the more you realize what you don't know".

Oh yeah...patience..."if you practice, it will come". Give yourself credit for being ahead of yesterday's trials.

6) BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING
Stay positive. Don't let others tell you that it can't be done or "your song sounds like two cats in a fight". You have to go through it to get to it. You may have to write ten lousy songs before you begin to write good songs. Don't let those ten lousy songs stop you! Learn from them! 9 times out of 10, a genius is just a person who refused to give up!

++++++++++

QUESTION:
Hi Will: I receive your emails on a regular basis, and I have to say that they are very good and inspiring.

I have been playing guitar for about a year now, just as a hobby and I just love it. I don't have time to practice everyday because I am constantly on the road, but when I get a chance I go for it.

I was wondering if there any books that you can recommend about scales, modes, arpeggios, chords, soloing, etc. especially those that show you for example the minor scales and their extensions, how to identify them on the fretboard. How to identify which key are you playing, how to solo over chords, that kind of stuff.

Most of the books I have seen they will for example concentrate only on the pentatonic, and only on one position. Thanks.

ANSWER:
I share your thoughts on that too. We actually have an incredible book available by my friend Mike Overly called the "Guitar EncycloMedia". I'm not exaggerating when I say that this book has it all! I've said before that if I'm carrying a product on my site, you can rest assured that it's high quality. You can check it out here. <http://www.willlandrum.com/gem.html>

I'm also writing my own "book" (though it will be software) on the very things you're asking about that will be more specific and personal in nature such as approaches to soloing and composition.

I have pieces of it free at my web site now if you want to take a look. I hope this helps...

Modal Theory
http://www.willlandrum.com/modaltheory.shtml

Modal Scales
http://www.willlandrum.com/modalscales.shtml

Arpeggios Video Software
http://www.willlandrum.com/arpeggios.shtml

Chord Construction
http://www.willlandrum.com/chordconstruction.shtml

All Pentatonic Minor Scale Patterns
http://www.willlandrum.com/pentatonic.shtml

Copyright (C)(P) 2001 Will Landrum and InterFocus Music

Article by Will Landrum of http://www.willlandrum.com

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Other articles by Will Landrum @ GuitarSite.com:

YOUR GUITAR QUESTIONS ANSWERED - part one
http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/010402/16.shtml

POWERFUL HOME RECORDING
http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/010319/8.shtml

Other articles by Will Landrum @ GuitarSite.com:
http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/010101/10.shtml

*******

Will is helping thousands of on-line guitarists with his all original content web site, free guitar teaching ezine and growing line of instructional software and products.

=Master=The=6= is my FREE guitar oriented ezine delivered right to your email inbox on the 15th and 30th of every month. This ezine will help you be the guitarist you want to be. I respond to my subscriber's questions with informative and challenging articles ranging from how to change your strings to mastering the fretboard to recording your own CD! You'll discover new ideas and techniques that will change the way you play guitar forever. FREE! Get it here:
http://www.willlandrum.com/masterthe6.shtml

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http://www.willlandrum.com/praxax.shtml

Handy Chord/Scale Cross-Reference Book
http://www.willlandrum.com/toolbook.shtml

Will is helping thousands of on-line guitarists with his all original content web site, free guitar teaching ezine and growing line of instructional software and products.
http://www.willlandrum.com/