Improve My Improv: Day 16
Added 2025-11-16 16:00:07 +0000 UTCComments
I practice maybe an hour a day(and not everyday either). I'm not much of a guitarist but I love the instrument's versatility for songcraft. Long story, but I finally started learning guitar at 59, and that was 8 years ago. When I think that Nick Drake played guitar for a total of 9 years I hang my head lol. I want to get better for sure, but I'm also an old dude and so my process has slowed down a bit from the youngin days. I am a pretty confident blues harp player, though it would take a week for me to get my chops back. Listening to you, Ben, is listening to someone gifted with guitar playing. The blues harp is always stuck in a key and a diatonic scale, but I know what it's like improvising. You are great at it! Watching you play gives me the drive to get back and work on my guitar picking some more. You're also a nice guy so you must be a great teacher too. Remember that ol' Twilight Zone episode where the guy dies and he thinks he's in heaven because everything he does is perfect? Then he finds out he's not in heaven? Yeah, who wants to be perfect? This way you'll always have something to shoot for. It's not the destination that matters, so much as the journey. Keep truckin', dude.
GLG
2025-11-26 03:54:29 +0000 UTCHey Ben, dare I say I'm a Deadhead on a shred channel? Well I AM! This is the smoothest and coolest IMI so far. You're note about getting in your own head is funny, it sounds like you let loose a little on this one and I like it. Shredhead?
Mark Bourne
2025-11-17 14:10:27 +0000 UTCI practice 3+ hours everyday and half of that is improvising. In the last year I have learned so much and at times, I am thrilled at what I can play and sound like. I know I'm literally just scratching the surface of skills but it's an awesome journey 😎. I enjoy all these improvising videos dude. Keep em coming!! They are very inspiring.
patrick
2025-11-17 08:43:48 +0000 UTCUncle Ben definitely thank you for being so open and honest with all of us It makes us feel better as players, knowing we’re not the only ones thinking the way you are
Philelley12
2025-11-17 04:55:07 +0000 UTCI am not a native english speaker and pretending has no positive conotation for me. But I can appreciate that a positive state of mind could forward something more cool and smooth in your playing.
Thom Marz
2025-11-16 23:18:35 +0000 UTCYou know what, kind of related to this pretending mindset....one of my buddies who is an awesome shredder, tends to look completely disinterested to the point of bored when he does stuff, and whenI teased him about it, he said it helps him relax! Until just now, I'd forgotten about it....but playing some challenging solos in a band with him, I tried it a couple of times, and it worked! So by pretending not to care....I didn't tense up as much. Of course, being me, I then overthought things, and wanted to always play the tough stuff perfectly every time.....and got consumed by that. But yeah, the power of the mind is intriguing. Another guitar teacher once mentioned that my playing 'changed' when things stopped going to plan....and then our conversation went onto something else....but I'm pretty sure it was the same thing......stress limits you!
Andy Gelband
2025-11-16 22:09:24 +0000 UTCGive Backing Tracks by Tim a try as well. Also, to switch it up, try a day playing with fingers only, no pick. You will use different note combos instantly.
Rutger
2025-11-16 16:44:27 +0000 UTCYou are human and everything isn’t perfect… that is not a bad thing for people to see. 100% of us are here because we want to improve. I think this allows us to relate on a deeper level and helps with our insecurities. It models an approach we all can use and encourages us to face our fears. Thank you uncle Ben! And stay away from my mama! Your homie from Mississippi….
Ronald Thies
2025-11-16 16:33:56 +0000 UTC
