How to "Noodle" on guitar and use it as a way to practice. Guitar practice tips - VLog 3
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- In this video, I'll talk through some guitar practice tips and show you how I use "noodling" as a way of practicing.
To view my other guitar instructional videos, visit www.activemelo...
I’ve been following and subscribing to Brian’s lessons, for 2 years now ... Brian’s method solidifies the concrete so to speak. His approach took me from scrambling all over and remembering very little to becoming a melodic and in control player, with some theory under the belt. Thumbs up ...
I have been frustrated for SO long regarding "The Art Of Noodling" and your almost remedial post here created a huge breakthrough for me.
I play Jazz and love learning the songs. But I could never get how to just noodle and make it musical. Everyone I've tried to explain this to doesn't understand what I'm talking about! Very frustrating.
THEN you said something that tied it all together for me. "Land on the root note of the chord" (in a diatonic key)
Bingo! Now I can thread together my major scales, arpeggios and pentatonics and it sounds musical now.
It's so simple but somehow managed to elude me until now.
Thank you!
Scott
This is a topic we all struggle with. Whenever I first sit down with my guitar, half the time I think to myself-now what am I going to do? Play the same old? Learn some theory? Try to learn a new song or improve upon one I already know. As great and helpful Brian’s lessons are, I’ve come to realize that I need to step away from learning his lessons sometimes and take what I’ve learned in them and apply them to something else. Otherwise I feel like I’m just learning to play that lesson which is somewhat like just learning a song. Don’t get me wrong - I have learned more from Brian than probably anywhere else. Hope this makes sense. Thanks Brian! I do like these lessons though that don’t involve as much playing. It’s a nice change up.
Yep, the age old question. I look at it as how do I stay motivated. To put in the work. People say "I wish I could play like that". The answer is always the same. Do the work. Noodling is the best part of my DAILY practice. Keep up the good work Brian.
I'm a teacher, but I claim the status of student first. I get the feeling you agree, by teaching, we learn. You model that. Thank you.
Ok. This just gave me one of those moments that only comes around once and awhile in the guitar journey. The elusive light bulb that brings 4x the information
My memory stinks. I'll noodle, come up with something good, surprising myself then can't remember how I did it.
I have the same problem. Record it with your smart phone
Happens to me all the time.
I record myself as well. I probably have hundreds of 5 min videos of my guitar ideas / licks at this point. They come in handy once n a while or even just to review what I want to remember from last week etc
invest in a cheap digital recorder! Or even an APP on your phone. Get in the habit of saving something you think sounds good!
The beauty is that if you do it again later it sounds new and you get the same cool feeling you had the first time!!!
Hi, today you have answered a very important aspect which troubles most of the beginner guitar players. Thanks a lot.
Always enjoy Brian's remarks without a guitar. Thx!
My 2 cents... I knew a lot of theory before I found Brian's online lessons. But, I couldn't play guitar worth a damn. Brian's lessons have essentially taught me how to actually play (well, way better than before, relatively speaking). I'm able to apply that theory only because I now understand the context for its application, thanks to Brian's lessons. The biggest lesson that I've learned is that trying to play an instrument by first studying music theory is putting the cart before the horse. One needs to learn to walk before one can run. Just play. Have fun. Don't put pressure on yourself. And, when you're ready, make the effort to understand the theory behind what it is you're doing on the guitar. It'll be much easier to assimilate within that context. In other words, learn the theory as you go along.
IggyPelman exactly how I feel about it!
This is hands down the best, most authentic, real world, FUN (yes, fun!) practice advice you'll find on RUclips.
Sometimes I think like that where I feel like I'm really lacking something because I can't shred on guitar but when I think about it I don't even like shred style guitar. That's one thing I really love about your channel is that you teach very practical and useful stuff in all different kinds of genres. Been watching for years Brian and I really appreciate what you do. Cheers.
Guys and gals, I have been playing at guitar for 40+ years and have learned more in the last three months using these lessons than the entire time. I became a premium member and it is the best money I have spent in a long time. Brain does a great job, has a great site with anything at any level you could ask for. Spend money on this and not gear......:-)
this guy is great! everything is explained in Layman's terms!
my hat is off to you sir.
I have to be honest, my noodling used to be awful. I would move around the fretboard playing notes and chords but they were quite often out of key and sounded terrible. I was trying to convince myself at the time that it even though it sounded bad, I was exercising my fingers. Since I found Active Melody three years ago, I have managed to improve this a lot. Brian's lessons have helped me focus on smaller and more manageable shapes and boxes. I do occasionally make mistakes and sound like I've shifted into the Locrian mode but this does not happen very often now. For me, the musicality of my noodling is a great way for me to see how much I am improving because it is pure unplanned improvisation. I've always been drawn to improvisation instead of learning songs as I seem to forget songs far too easily.
And ALWAYS record your noodling sessions! I learned a long time ago to get a cassette player and leave it and a sleeve of cassette tapes in my practice room! I told you it was a long time ago!😉
Today I use a pocket sized Tascam practice recorder which is insanely jam packed with features. Slow down riffs without changing the pitch so you can follow along; layer tracks so you can make demos of just you sounding like a guitar army. Those are 2 I use all the time besides just turning it on to record a practice session incase I happen to hit upon a gem!
It's a lot like athletes "watching the films" to correct mistakes and identify weaknesses to correct or just polish up what you thought sounded great in the moment but in reality wasn't as good as you thought!
Our memories and perceptions fail us regularly but the tape never lies!
patrick farley if I don’t record it, even on my stupid phone, I’ll totally forget it
Another great topic Brian. Good advise on the noodling as it is important to build that skill. I just finished working on your last lesson on modes. You have a knack for making complicated theory accessible and that is what I really value in your lessons. One thing that has really helped me and may help others is that I watch your lessons while I ride my exercise bike. The point being I DO NOT have a guitar in my hand. I find that when I have my guitar I wander from the lesson at hand or jump ahead or back in a lesson. When I listen to the lesson first and then work on it with your guitar later I am better able to absorb the lesson on the whole and not just memorize the lesson. Anyway, this works for me. It may not work for others.
Always love to hear advice from people with experience and knowledge, thanks Brian👍🎸🇨🇦
I always find your lessons so helpful. This is so obvious and yet, I have not done this. Just started doing this and find it is so easy, helpful and fun. Thanks again. Much appreciated.
I've been looping two or three chords, then going back over that progression with chords, arpeggios, licks, etc, up n down the neck. Its really helping me a lot.
Thanks for the video and ideas...
Without a doubt, one of the best teachers online....
Everything you do helps. I've written this before but you are nothing short of being a genius.
Get the songbooks of your favorites and practice , practice...............it worked fine for me for years , and it is worth it , it will pay off ! It worked for me , all this positive advice is golden,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,have fun !
You have a true gift to teach and understand the struggles of a student. Thank you so much for your lessons.
Brian, I love these types of videos. Just like sitting in front of you in a lesson session.
Brian, I understand discovery. I understand expanding your knowledge through finding combinations, maybe pieces of chords that leads to chords and how they fit together. That is important. But I'm certain you understand scales in a repetitive nature in practice builds speed. Not meaning shredding. But the dexterity and muscle memory where you can play with songs and keep up. Not just playing chords but individual notes. Because those notes also work on your comfort level of changing chords in progressions. Just a thought.
Brian - brilliant - thank you! Nothing beats learning in the real world. I teach as well, although something totally different. My philosophy is if you can make learning fun people will learn. Making music the way you describe is so much more rewarding and fun than simply practicing scales etc. You mention pulling the various pieces together. I flounder a little sometimes with too many pieces but this simple VLog (what you can do with just two chords) has helped me realise that with even a few pieces of the jigsaw we can make music, have fun, learn and progress. I will continue with my basic Active Melody course, look forward to my Blues course and aspire to play your weekly offerings. In the meantime, please carry on with these fabulous VLogs!
Landing on a note in the chord; nice tip, thanks Brian
John, and I have a similar issue. I've been playing on and off for over 26 years. I've been away from it for almost 6 years, recently picking it up again. Guitar tends to attract a lot of technicians, and not so many musicians. Guitar Tab is a HUGE enabler of that. That's why there's so much mysticism in the "guitar community" online regarding Theory. Some people are daft enough to claim knowing theory "hurts your playing". That's like telling an author learning English, proper spelling, and grammar skills hurts his novels. No one I know of was ever booed offstage because their chords were to complex and rich, or because they hit too many target notes and chord tones. Allan Holdsworth, for example. Theory is the language of music. Necessary for playing with other trained people, also.
I've always wanted to know Theory, but never had the will/energy/time to deal with the bulk of it. I know broad strokes. It's best learned when you're young, in school, with plenty of free time for practicing the RIGHT things. Of course, formal lessons are a big part if they can be afforded.
I've put lots of time in over the years. I've learned the entire catalog of several big bands with BIG catalogs (DMB, A7X, Green Day, Metallica). A lot of random stuff too. Of course, I've forgotten 95% of it now. Now I'm back and I want to really learn Jazz (mostly thanks to Rick Beato, Jens Larsen, and this channel).
I'm trying to drill as much as I can, scales/arps/keys/notation/learning the neck. Trick is navigating all of the info out there and finding a suitable order in which to compile knowledge and build a practice routine. The technical drills are the easy part. It's a shame there is no free syllabus and practice order out there to inform DIYers, like myself.
It's also a shame there isn't an easier way to find trustworthy people to get together and jam with. (CV19 complicating that even further)
Amen
Very glad I've found this channel. It's covering the stuff I need at where I am with my playing.
Hello Brian. This is undoubtedly the most important piece of advice you have given me (us) to help me move forward. Thank you so much. I am a proud premium member. Best bang for the buck I've ever invested. one chord to the five chord is the way to go!
I feel I’m on the right learning track . It seems everyday I have a question that gets answered . Telepathy? Anyhoo. My goal is to solo and this definitely helps greatly. 👍
Thanks for sharing this. I see that for any style you need some technique first. Songs can help you to learn how to use scales, how they are usually used, cliches, etc. Some kinds of music require even more technique as well. So, you have to be aware of the techniques, but with music in mind. "I've found" that maybe the most important things are the ears, and learning to listen to the music, pitches and all other things, rythm, instruments, etc. And I am learning that as well.
I watch this as a yearly membership guy and after a year of being a member and practicing daily making music out of my practicing and noodling. I have advanced much my girls say I don't sound like the same person.
I gotta say thank you and if you are not a member which is cheap for today's standards. You are missing out ✌️💜🎸🎶
Great lesson! Can't wait to get home from work and start 'noodling'.
Yes it is simple and it's awesome ! I'm already having fun with this ! I just so happen to find this video off to the side and checked it out, Great Lesson!
Great practice tips, Brian! "... land on the chord note" Ah! 💡👍
you hit the mark on this lesson well done....been playing for 50+ and still learning ....This made perfect sense Thanks
Great simple thing but its actually what it is all about. You will progress week after week and in the end you will be knowing the neck and can play what you want and hear in your head.
Noodling is discovery , what sounds good what doesn't, I always liked Richie Blackmore description of Hendrix as always searching for notes, that sticks with me, I have only been playing the guitar for just over 2 years but in my practice i just have a noodle hearing different notes it also help with your ear training, and memory, you know right away what sounds good and what doesn't, then it goes into the memory bank, there is no theory here, it's discovery, that's why Hendrix was brilliant he searched for those notes , and we hear it in his music
I've been working on your chuck berry lick 1 for over a week. That along with scales, and metronome, and some freestyle is alot of practice, but I have the time. Thank you for the vids. Love y'all.
Great video Brian. I agree with a lot of what you said. Personally I feel I have to have something to learn consistantly just to keep my fingers moving. But if I don't spend time trying to craft my own material, I feel those connections from a different part of my brain start to fade. It seems like "noodling" works on different part of my brain than when I'm trying to learn one of your songs.
Your material gives us more tools for the toolbox when you do try to craft original material and for that I thank you!
I've learned more in 2 hours from this channel than I have the last like 2 months
Granted I'm no star student ya no
My practice routine....scales, chords (including chords that I don't usually play), scales over chords, 2 songs I know, and 1 song I don't like- I learn new things learning a song I don't like, because it has different things in it from songs that I do like.
Thanks Brian, I struggle with practicing and this is a much more pleasurable and useful way which will hopefully encourage me to do more.
Glasses are good - I immediately think you as a better teacher compared to earlier videos without them
i play scales every day to improve my speed. I'm playing pretty steady close to 200 BPM now. I also think you're right. I have picked one of my favorite albums with varying difficulty of songs, and I set a goal to be able to play the entire album. When I get done with that album then I'll chose another album with new challenges. Learning new songs and leads gives me a bigger tool box of licks to base my originals on.
Good lesson thanks Jerry Garcia for coming back to help us. Your the best!
Really good advice. Here’s my practice routine. I try to practice for 30 minutes a day. I pick 5 of these a day, rotating so there’s no more than 2 days between each.
You play guitar? (Something you can play if someone asks you. Get good at it. Even if it’s only open chords for a beginner.)
Play with backing tracks
Play along with a song
Practice strumming patterns
Picking
Scales (say the notes out loud or have someone read them to you)
Chords (find a particular chord all over the neck, see CAGED)
Triads
Ear training
Singing
Play a song solo
Music Theory (Learn something and apply it.)
How's the routine going now?
@@palereaper it’s beneficial. It’s hard not to get sidetracked on one thing. I wish that I had listened to musician friends early on and played with a metronome more.
@@palereaper oh and triads!
Wow, great way to practice, thank you!
One of your best lessons ever Brian! Thanks.
Great ideas! I was super happy when I discovered 2 chord jams, made me wonder why I started (and struggled) with 12 bar blues first.
Perfect description and fun to do. Thanks for just a little more inspiration.
Thanks! great lesson
Great lesson, polished presentation
I don't really have a grasp on most scales nor do I practice them. (Which I should) thanks to you I know a bunch of licks connected to shapes. Every lesson is a take away.
Thank you, short and very useful information. Will be including this next time I sit with guitar!
You are the mellow Indiana Jones of guitar! Scholarship and adventure. Thank you 😊
Thank you… that was brilliant.
Great video, Brian. Loving these extra videos outside of the usual lesson material
I think al the old blues guitar players like Blind Blake, John Hurt, Robert Johnson etc where just noodling on there guitars and creating new songs. They didn't thought about harmonized 3rds of 6ths or diminished chords, scales, modes etc or any guitar theory! They all played by ear and that's why they are the greatest players of there time. Nowadays we think to much about playing.
For sure, and we just don't play to our own ear enough.
Good stuff Brian..thanks for sharing this..last week I became a premium member of active melody..and feel like I made a great decision in doing so🎸🤘
Good stuff Brian! I need these from time to time to remember to keep it simple and not get overwhelmed. :)
Gold at 4:20ish mark, thank you
Thanx for the video, you answered a question I’m always to embarrassed to ask. Helpful advice that I will start put in practice tonight
I think I will look at your lessons because your teaching really clicks for me great! video.
Always full of great ideas Brian.
Thanks for being!♥️
Thank you very helpful
Thanks Brian! Your a great inspiration. Keep it simple 👍👍
Really great breakdown! Thanks for the video!
Thanks a lot sir for that wonderful advise!
Way to stay humble and expandpeople'sminds. Kudos, homeslice.
very helpful, thank you
I imagine when one is somewhat proficient on guitar the next step is communicating through your playing. If people feel and connect with what you're doing you're well on your way.
Thank you Brian for these useful tips ! I also like the video "Friends asking you to play something" ! :)
Looks like jamming to me. Your presentation offered a really good perspective on a simple way to practice. If your not careful you may create a tune. Thank you for your video. Ain't it fun to pass it along.
How you doing Brian? Great video. I was just watching a Jack Black short and he said that he can play guitar but he's not a good noodler and I thought, does he even know what noodling means but with him you never know if he's joking or serious. Your site always has the best information and content which shows why you have done so well over the years. I wish you and your family happy holidays. Peace.
Wow. I’ve been doing this lately (poorly) in the am pentatonic using a7 and e7 all around 5th position. Just messing about. Am I getting this????? Can’t be. Brian you are the freakin best, man.
Something that I find is that while it’s great to know the notes to land on. Being able to feel it out is important. Playing the most simple riff/melody and harmonize through discovery is discovery.
I know the notes second and my experience drives me. Something I found on my own. Really glad this video expands on it in a contemporary voice. Something I couldn’t explain as well.
Thanks for the video!!
Thank you ✌ 😊
thats how i noodle too....i call it structured noodling.
pick 2 or 3 chords...then try noodling between them with a variety of melodies and harmonies ..doing that i usually end up with a song.
just mindless twiddling achieves nothing as it has no structure or purpose.
blind alley noodling i call that.
during lockdown i was learning a song a day sometimes more.
then when we had outside time in summer i would take a walk out with 12 string acoustic and entertain.
a good exercise is to pick chords you dont often use when noodling...maj 7ths and 9ths are useful that way you can start to learn new styles that you might not otherwise bother to learn.
once you learn a few new tricks it opens up many possibilities musically.
so many people become tramlined musically...find a style they like and stick with that only ...but that is restrictive.
i learned to play in the early to mid 70s by playing along with whatever came on the radio....i was brought up by grandparents...the radio wasnt on for pop music...so i learned some odd old things early on and im glad i did ...it gave me a good start and thats what got me doing structured noodling and trying different styles.
my first real band i put together was punk...it was easy but fun...that was in 77 when i was 13.
at home i would rather play beatles or swing.or old rock n roll..but only played crashy chords when playing with band...unless i needed to learn a new song or 6
Great vídeo! I'm from Brazil. Thks.
Thanks Brian I appreciate that
I love you, man.
Thank you!!
Thank you Brian.
This video was really helpful ty
Practice man? We talkin 'bout PRACTICE?? Practice? PRACTICE???
I started too play guitar at 54 yrs. old about 5 yrs. ago, never played before thought it would be easy. Ha ha. I’m a lefty, electric never played an acoustic,Took me along time to be able to play c chord and switch chords. I know the basic chords and practice scales, power chords,working on bar chords,learned a few simple songs, try too keep rhythm, bought more gear than needed, jumped around too different sights. I would get as far as f chord and hit a brick wall. I was a member of active melody, but I thought I wasn’t getting enough out of it so I switched too guitar tricks, was I wrong. I practice everyday the same old stuff. I rush through things way to fast and then I get flustered, so I start over again, like someone else said theory and studying guitar is a bit much. I just want too play guitar (learn the fretboard) and have fun, play songs,really looking forward to re join active melody, love the blues
Thanks for that Brian great tip!
1 minute & 21 seconds in & you hit the nail on the head, Brian 😁😦 I've been writing songs for 40 years, my guitar playing started advancing maybe 20+ years ago ( playing 40 years ) the " comfort zone " is fun, I'm not one to slow down records to learn these intracity of licks, before youtube & tablature, I don't like tablature, I need the instructor to slow down & show me, like you. Discovery ? ya know F##@ it ! I'm the front man ! Singer songwriter guitar player, give me Jimi Hendrix types for the lead guitarist. Discipline in a musician is key, I'm bored to tears playing something I don't know & is way harder than your typical 4/4 strumming, hammer ons pull offs are great, and I'm as good as pros at that, but the real hard rag time separation of thumb and fingers ? I'm too old now, I practice some of that, like thumb on 5 6 4 and the other fingers fall into place ( the boxer, great song ) when I first started doing this practice, it felt weird, I'm better now but nowhere at repetitive practicing of tricks & leads along with the rag time pickers. I finally purchased a Mandalin, it's great, my first day off G C D I figured out numerous songs, rag doll 😁 down in the boondocks ! I've played that song for years and now on the Mandalin ? great & fun, I didn't play the guitar for a week, only the Mandalin & electric & acoustic Mandalin, when I went back to the guitar it felt like the width of the neck was a football field
Nice and amazing, as always
Very good advice !
Most books showing chord shapes assume your at the nut position or within the first 3 frets. The problem is there is an E chord, a C chord, a D chord etcetera in other positions up the neck. BUT they don't use the same finger placement as they do at the nut position. So if I place my fingers up the fret board like I would to play a C at the first fret position, it sounds like crap! I know the nut isn't there when I move up, but the finger position isn't the same either. So thats what I'm trying to learn.
How are you doing Brian,? It's funny but that's exactly how I start. Kinda like a warm up exercise. Sounds like I'm doing the right thing coming from the maestro, you. Thanks and peace Brian.
Thanks Doug
Hey Brian, How about this .I have made lot's of progress thank's to many years of practice and i can play a bunch of song's but they seem to be flat,meaning I can't hold attention of the people listening.So i fig. it's the way I present the song .how do you deal with that.
Loved it 🤓cheers buddy 👊🏻 🏴
Light Bulb! Thank you
Thank you....