One thing that is paramount in guitar musicianship is paying attention to technical details
during practice. Much of music’s subtle appeal comes from the performer's handling of these very
elements: accent, articulation, phrasing, and fingering. Without attention to these details, playing
the guitar will soon become a chore, rather than a satisfying pursuit. An awkward left-hand
change here, an unwanted bass note there, a missed note, an accent in the wrong place–all of
these details, when neglected, detract from your music and from your satisfaction as a player. Lack
of attention to such things marks your music as sloppy. You would not accept an instrument
from a guitar maker who put the bridge in the wrong place or who forgot to clean off excess glue
from the joints. Neither should you accept slipshod music from your own hands. Attention to
detail–good craftsmanship–is the key to avoid such carelessness.
You can improve your craftsmanship during practice by studying the finer points of good
musicianship such as tone quality, tone color, articulation, damping unwanted notes, natural
fingering, making left-hand connections, and hinge bars. Before practice, see to it that you keep
your nails well-trimmed and your hands well-groomed, for your hands are your connection to
your instrument. While listening to music, develop an ear that can discern subtle differences in
tone quality, color, and pitch. Strict attention to these details is the never-ending task that will
help you achieve a technique that will become second nature–nearly effortless–and thus get the
most out of your music.
Developing this near-effortless technique by paying attention to these elements will transform
your craftsmanship into the realm of artistry. When you produce a uniformly beautiful tone, when
your fingering flows effortlessly, when you damp unwanted notes, when you shape your melodic
line with fine-tuned elegance– only then will it be possible for the music to exhilarate you and
elevate your musicianship to a higher plane.
Feel free to visit LA Guitar Academy's website for professional guitar lessons in the Los Angeles area, or go to LAGA Online's home page to take online guitar lessons from the LAGA Faculty.
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