The Songwriter Forum - songwriting reviews, tips and chat
Songwriter Forum => The Writing Process => Topic started by: habiTat on February 26, 2013, 12:10:53 AM
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Hi, I've been working on a new song now for about a week, lyrics are written and I've composed the melody on my guitar. Trouble is, the finger picking I've devised is a bitch to play. I can do the parts separately but can't string it all together for a single take. I'm sure with practice I'll get there, I just wondered if anyone else has faced this? Did you change the song to make it easier? Practice until it was nailed, or give up?
I realise I can record the separate parts and tack it all together, and may have to, but I like to record in one take for certain songs, this being one of them, ironically, because its so complicated.
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Hmmm...
First idea that comes to mind
CAPO!
Try a capo if possible, and see if moving the chord shapes enables simpler fingering. This has saved me before when I have written something that i would otherwise failed to play and sing live
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Hmmm...
First idea that comes to mind
CAPO!
Try a capo if possible, and see if moving the chord shapes enables simpler fingering. This has saved me before when I have written something that i would otherwise failed to play and sing live
Yeah, it's more the other hand that's the issue, switching picking patterns quickly and fluidly. I've tried it again this morning and I think it's sinking in, strange how the brain works, I might try recording again later :)
I can normally play what I've written straight off but this one's tricky :-\
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A capo is a good suggestion
Is it the "picking pattern" or the "chord shapes" that are giving you problems?
Can you find a different voicing for the chord shape? Perhaps including some open strings?
Unfortunately I think your best option is going to be practice, practice and more practice
I used to teach guitar for a few years so I would give this advice for your practicing:
Always play the whole piece at the speed of the most difficult part
What I mean by this is try to play at a CONSTANT speed for the whole piece
You do not want to practice in a way where you play the easier bits fast, slow down for the difficult bit, and then speed up again for the easier bits etc.
Slow EVERYTHING down and get a constant rhythm going where you play everything at a steady pace, THEN try to gradually speed everything up to the required tempo
This will help you learn the song and also maintain the rhythm, I have heard people play countless times where they speed up and slow down depending on difficulty and it is a habit that is difficult to shake if it becomes ingrained
It is fine to practice just the diffiult sections but make sure it is a constant speed
Good luck!
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Don't worry Hab, I do this ALL THE TIME. I'm always writing songs I can't play or can only play badly. It's a habit I can't seem to kick :D
Practice till you've nailed it. It's the only way to do it proper justice, and as a side-effect, you become a better player in the process :)
Good luck mate
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I nearly always capo acoustics. Even if one isn't, another will be. Tone is far sweeter with a high capo. (Not you Tone...) although you're probably a very nice guy. This has gone entirely the wrong way....
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In this instance the capos already on fret 3, I totally agree the tone is sweeter. It was the picking pattern I'm struggling with, pushing myself to play more complicated patterns. Gonna try again tonight, with a clear head and fresh hands :)
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Also, remember "practice makes PERMANENT, not perfect"
You need to be practicing the right things, which is why it is so important to be consistent in the rhythm/tempo
Start off nice and slow so that everything is right and then speed up from there
This is soooooooooo important for picking patterns and fingerstyle guitar playing
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Also, remember "practice makes PERMANENT, not perfect"
Ooo. I like this quote. Big up yoself Boydaaaaaa!
I nearly always capo acoustics. Even if one isn't, another will be. Tone is far sweeter with a high capo. (Not you Tone...) although you're probably a very nice guy. This has gone entirely the wrong way....
Nah... I recon he is a right Cu.... ::)
;D
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Ooo. I like this quote. Big up yoself Boydaaaaaa!
LOL - it was talking about teaching guitar that bought all of these "nuggets" back - I've got loads of them
I did consider writing a tuition book once - I have a few failsafe methods to remember the number and order of Sharps & Flats in a key signature and also a really simple way to remember the most popular Modes and how to apply them
Another project in the "when I get time" file!!!
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Nah... I recon he is a right Cu.... ::)
;D
Shiiiii... Busted :o
:D
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Hi, I've been working on a new song now for about a week, lyrics are written and I've composed the melody on my guitar. Trouble is, the finger picking I've devised is a bitch to play. I can do the parts separately but can't string it all together for a single take. I'm sure with practice I'll get there, I just wondered if anyone else has faced this? Did you change the song to make it easier? Practice until it was nailed, or give up?
I realise I can record the separate parts and tack it all together, and may have to, but I like to record in one take for certain songs, this being one of them, ironically, because its so complicated.
I'd do both -- "dumb it down" just for now so you can play it and get a feel for the melody, etc. In the meantime, keep learning/practicing the badass version so you'll have it for later on down the road...