One thing guitarists, and especially Principled Players know, is that "it don't come easy". We really have to put out a maximum effort to get what we want, and then keep on getting more! Excellence does not come cheap; it exacts a very heavy price. Most people don't even know what that price is; they don't even understand the "currency" involved, which is, essentially, your whole self, your complete commitment of intelligence, attention, and intention during practice. Many, after beginning to find out the price, don't want to pay it. Many others, fortunately, become willing to pay it, or at least make an adequate "down payment", and get better as they go along.

Sometimes the price required for our next step of growth, our next achievement, is of a different nature. Sometimes, it is not the usual price, it is not just the "sit down and do lots of great practice". Sometimes, the thing we need next can only be gotten by acting as if we already had it! When this happens, we are in a situation I call "Do, then get"! You see, you really want to know when you are in the position of "do, then get". If you don't know this, you will be waiting to "get", before you "do", and so, you will never get! The only thing you will get is very frustrated!

Guitar students are very prone to this. Guitar students are very prone to waiting until they reach some kind of "perfection" before they will play for somebody, or even just PLAY! They can flounder around for years and never "take the plunge". They say, "I will wait until I feel confident about playing for others, and then I will do it". Well, guess what!?? You GET confident by DOING it, you don't DO it because you GET confident! Improvising players will wait until they reach some stage of exalted technique and inspiration before they will try to improvise. In both these cases, it needs to be understood that you don't "get" these things without DOING them first!

Ah, but of course, that begs the question, why, why don't we "do"? Why do we keep waiting until we "get"? Because we are chicken, that's why! We are afraid of making idiots out of ourselves; a natural fear. All I can tell you is that when you are MORE afraid of NOT developing as a musician, you will face your fears, you will do it anyway. And then, you will begin to get! You see, one thing the Universe doesn't like is "chickens", unless you are a chicken of course, in which case the Universe has no problem with you. But if you are a human being, and especially that highest form of human being called "a guitar player", you're not supposed to be chicken! You are supposed to know what you want, and go after it.

If you have been a guitar player for a while, and have never, or rarely, played for anyone, there are probably things you are not getting because there are things you are not doing. If you are a purveyor of scales, frantically racing your fingers over the fretboard and wondering "are we having fun yet"?, then, there are probably some things you need to do before you "get" what is beyond what you have now.

So examine yourself. If you seem to be in a holding pattern concerning getting certain things you want, perhaps you need to take out your "to do lists", figure out the correct "do", and DO IT! Then, you will GET!

Copyright 2003 Jamey Andreas.

Jamey Andreas

Jamey’s provocative writings examine all aspects of becoming a true musician…the technical/physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. Guitar virtuoso, recording artist, composer, and teacher of 30 years, Jamey is recognized by music experts around the globe for his major contribution to the advancement of guitar education.

His method book, “The Principles Of Correct Practice For Guitar” (1999) continues to bring the highest acclaim, world renowned as “The International Bible For Guitarists”, and the “Holy Grail Of Guitar Books.” With a straight forward writing style, his tried and true, result-oriented guitar book powerfully reveals the correct practice methods that no other book has revealed…taking the student from the beginning stages all the way to the highest levels of virtuosity.

Jamey is already familiar to aspiring guitar players, as his wisdom is present throughout the Web on all major guitar sites, including his own. Visit: www.guitarprinciples.com