I’m often awed by the amount of poor playing that I hear around me. Some of it technically perfect but not musical and lacking feel, some of it intonation is out or the guitar is not even in tune.
Sometimes though you hear something wonderful, like the other evening when travelling back home on the London Tube I heard a classical guitarist busking and he was producing the most wonderful version of Francisco Tarrega's Recuerdos del la Alhambra. He was being completely ignored by the passers by rushing home. I missed two trains just listening.
It was an amazing thing listening to him losing himself with the music, ignoring the interruptions and the flow of people around him.Yes I did tip him, and next time I see him, I will buy one of his CD’s.
That’s a challenge – could you play like that with all those interruptions going on, people walking past constantly?
Are you going to improve? Absolutely YES! If you use and practice even half the techniques presented your playing will be much better than before you started reading this book – in a much shorter time than ever before!!
I can’t be there to look over your shoulder and force you to practice – every day. I can however give you some of the best ‘self-help’ (i.e. the ones that are proven to work) techniques to help you get better and better. The mental techniques will also allow you to practice even though you are away from your guitar for a few days.