Hi Friend!
This week is all about learning. More specifically how to to decide what you should learn. The internet has granted us access to the entirety of human knowledge, which is pretty handy if you want to learn guitar. Simultaneously it leaves us the with problem of option paralysis and the curse of knowing how much there is too learn. How can you know if you’re learning the right think and spending your time in the right place? Let’s explore that.
Something To Think About
Am i going to use this?
This question is how you decide whether you should learn something. I think asking yourself whether you’re actually going to use it is a great way to litmus test the utility of a topic. There’s no point spending the time mastering a skill if you’re never going to use it again. Therefore you should be certain that the thing your contemplating learning will serve you as a guitar player in the immediate future, before putting the time and effort into it.
To give you some examples, I don’t believe there’s much point in memorising all the notes on the fretboard when you’re a beginner guitarist. You’re not going to use them yet and you’d be better off learning some Oasis riffs. The time for this will come later when you learn barre chords (and even then you probably only need the lowest two strings to do what you need to). Likewise if you’re into metal there’s little reason to learn how to improvise bebop lines unless you really like the sound of bebop, you’ll have more fun learning a Pantera solo.
Whilst this might seem obvious I am frequently asked by students whether they should be learning x, y or z. Often this will be some theory or technical exercise. I always respond to these questions the same way.
Are you going to use it?
If the answer is no then don’t worry about it. If you aren’t going to use it, you simply don’t need it yet. As such you’ll be better off practicing something you’ll get practical utility from.
Learning an instrument is a life long endeavour. Just because you’re putting something on the shelf for the time being doesn’t mean it has to stay there forever. You’ll know when it’s time to learn the thing because one day you’ll encounter a problem you can’t solve with your existing tools. Then you’ll that thing you put on the shelf will be exactly tool you need.
Something To Practice
Figure out what you want to learn
Sit down and think about what you want to learn. Write it out using pen and paper or a word processor. Start with a broad goal in mind (eg. Learn blues guitar). Then get more specific. What skills do you think you need in order to do this. Do you possess any already. What things about this topic do you know that you don’t know.
The point of this process is to start putting together a plan that will help work out what you should be learning. Once you have a plan you just start with the first thing and get practicing. If you get part way in a feel out of your depth try to figure out what part of the subject you don’t understand, then go and learn that thing by a making a plan in the way i’ve outlined above. Rinse and repeat this process and you’ll reach your main goal via all the necessary skills that are required to do it.
This process doesn’t just work for guitar, it’s applicable to learning any skill. Personally I use the process for everything I learn because I find it to be so potent.
If you’re struggling to come up with a broad goal then just start simple. Learn a song or a bitesized trick for your instrument like this. Do this enough and you’ll find that a broader goal starts to emerge as a result (so long as you’re actually looking for it!)
Something To Enjoy
The results speak for themselves
Whilst it’s immediately related to music this video by Scott Young shows what’s possible when you make and use a plan for learning. The methods he applies to improving his drawing can be applied to improving at a musical instrument. If you haven’t read his books Ultralearning and Get Better At Anything you should because they are a masterclass in how to learn effectively!
That’s it for this one. Let me know what you’re going to learn by replying to this email, i’d love to hear from you!
See you in two weeks!
Alasdair 🤘
