What You Should Consider
Choosing the right guitar sheet music can sometimes be a very complicated affair, especially for beginners. There is a tendency to pick things that are way too advanced. Now don't get me wrong, getting some pieces that are a bit more advanced in order to keep you challenged is good.
The problem happens when money is spent on buying these pieces first, instead of getting methods and technique book, and sheet music that's on the level of the student before moving on to the more advanced stuff.
This results in a lack of enjoyment on the instrument, lack of progress and a great deal of frustration.
Investing in your education as a guitarist should be your number one aim. Too many students I've seen just don't invest enough in themselves in order to see results. To put it into plain english, they are cheap. The problem is that they don't realize they're cheap with themselves.
Often I encounter students that nitpick how much money they should spend on books, lessons and other things to get them ahead. Just remember that you are investing in YOURSELF. And if you don't think that you are worth investing into, then don't expect results to come to you either.
Pick the pieces you like, but also consider and buy method books. Get books for your level of playing so that you can keep occupied with material. The wider the variety and the more material you go through the better you will become.
Let me break it down by comparing 2 situations:
1.You get a piece or two that you like and you work on it like a madman for a whole year. That's one year, just two pieces.
2.You get a method book that takes you from your level and build technique. You get material that is on your level (usually a book of pieces that are for a beginner, or whatever your level is). You then also get the two pieces you love. You go through all this material in one year.
One year later, which of the two methods do you think will give you better results at playing your favorite pieces?
It might seem like focusing just on those two pieces you love will give you the best results. After all, for one whole year you worked your ass off on just those two pieces... right? WRONG!
I've actually seen the first situation happen many times with students that came to me. They focused for a whole year on a piece or two.
The result was that they played like a wet sock. Their interpretation stinked worse than a skunk and they sucked more than a Dyson vacuum. Get the point?
It's like being a huge bodybuilder fan and going to the gym and working out for one year ONLY with the 300 pound weights. The results is a pulled back, a hernia and a visit to the hospital... And you're no closer to being Arnold Schwarzenegger than the day you started.
Same goes for your guitar playing. Buying a favorite piece that's difficult is like trying to get to the tenth floor by jumping up instead of climbing the stairs. You may have the right intentions and motivation, but you'll be no closer to the tenth floor on your 100th jump than you would be on your first.
So remember:
1.INVEST IN YOURSELF (Being cheap with yourself is like stealing money from your own wallet)
2.Get A Method – Build Technique
3.Get Material That Starts On Your Level And Builds A Bridge To Where You Want To Go
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This way you make much, much more progress... and also have a lot more fun along the way.
Ben Dressen
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