thearabianmage
September 2nd, 2008, 10:01 PM
Hey y'all, I thought I'd make a contribution to this portion of TheFret with a bit of unusual advice aimed at people who improvise or perform, or just want to try something different. Well, really, this is that kind of advice that, with the right mind, can be applied to anything. Not just guitar. But it's always good to learn stuff like this through familiar media before expanding.
This advice stems from the Chinese philosophies of Taoism (or Tao Teh Ching). And for the police: No, Taoism is not a religion. There are no central figure-heads, gods, or deities, nor is there dogma that must be followed. It's just 81 ancient Chinese poems about life, or 'Tao' (literally 'The Way').
Have you ever been asked to do something that you had no idea how to do? I'm sure everybody has at some point or another. How did it turn out? Sometimes, we actually do a good job. It's called 'beginner's luck'. Why is that? How does beginner's luck work?
When you did that task, you had no precedent. You would have had to take it one logical step by one logical step at a time. You would have had to react to your surroundings.
Once complete, you are proud you've done a good job and try to do it again, but this time, it's not so good. Why?
Probably because you tried to copy what you did the first time. You had a precedent for how to complete it. Instead of logical steps, it was 'what I did last time'. Instead of reacting to your surroundings, you tried to control them.
The problem with this is that you were a different person the first time you did it than you were the second time around. We are constantly changing as people. The Joe who started typing this sentence is a different Joe that finished typing this sentence, because the second Joe has the added experience of having typed the sentence and this affects the way he thinks which changes him as a person.
Another reason: If you are looking for it, you will not find it.
We, as humans, are very conscious of ourselves - thus our sentience. We think about what we say, what we wear, where we go, when we eat, how we look. In fact, we think about almost everything. But sometimes this type of thought, so familiar to us in our everyday lives, can hinder us, too.
How?
Sometimes, when an inexperienced player tries to improvise, they will find themselves struggling or 'lost for notes' so-to-say. This problem usually happens because the player is thinking about what to do instead of actually doing it. It's the same thing when an inexperienced performer gets on stage, and gets very nervous. They are thinking about not making mistakes so much to the point that they make even more mistakes. From there, it can go downhill, and fast.
What these people are doing when they thinking too much is inhibiting what should be naturally coming out. Or they are 'looking for it'. Most people would say that they just need to calm down. Even though that's right, I'll take it a step further. Empty your head. Clear your thoughts.
Here's a simple way to try this, even right now, if one so wishes. Relax. Listen. Listen to everything around you. Separate each noise from the next. Hear everything individually. Focus on each sound individually so you can only hear that sound, then move on to the next sound. Do this with all of the sounds you hear. Then hear them all as one.
Did you feel any calmer? Or did you feel any different at all? If you didn't, you might have been thinking about something. Anything. If you were thinking, then you weren't listening. Try again. Remember, if you are looking for it, you will not find it.
The last thing to remember, for now, is to learn how recognize this feeling of calm. When you feel it, you should know. But again, you can't think about it:
'It's like a finger pointing to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all that heavenly glory.'
Sound familiar? Yeah, he was a brilliant philosopher, 'Ol Brucey.
Summary: calm yourself, let it flow, don't cloud your mind with thoughts. Or, as Nike say: Just do it.
How does this help guitar playing? Well, that's what makes this unusual advice. I can't explain it, you have to discover it for yourself. If everybody could understand it at the snap of a finger, it wouldn't be so unusual. Anyways: 'Tao called Tao is not Tao'. If I could explain it simply, I'm probably not explaining it right.
I hope this wasn't too long or hippy-ish for everybody. And I hope it makes sense. If not, sorry I wasted your time :D It works for me, anyhow :beer: :rockon:
Cheers!
This advice stems from the Chinese philosophies of Taoism (or Tao Teh Ching). And for the police: No, Taoism is not a religion. There are no central figure-heads, gods, or deities, nor is there dogma that must be followed. It's just 81 ancient Chinese poems about life, or 'Tao' (literally 'The Way').
Have you ever been asked to do something that you had no idea how to do? I'm sure everybody has at some point or another. How did it turn out? Sometimes, we actually do a good job. It's called 'beginner's luck'. Why is that? How does beginner's luck work?
When you did that task, you had no precedent. You would have had to take it one logical step by one logical step at a time. You would have had to react to your surroundings.
Once complete, you are proud you've done a good job and try to do it again, but this time, it's not so good. Why?
Probably because you tried to copy what you did the first time. You had a precedent for how to complete it. Instead of logical steps, it was 'what I did last time'. Instead of reacting to your surroundings, you tried to control them.
The problem with this is that you were a different person the first time you did it than you were the second time around. We are constantly changing as people. The Joe who started typing this sentence is a different Joe that finished typing this sentence, because the second Joe has the added experience of having typed the sentence and this affects the way he thinks which changes him as a person.
Another reason: If you are looking for it, you will not find it.
We, as humans, are very conscious of ourselves - thus our sentience. We think about what we say, what we wear, where we go, when we eat, how we look. In fact, we think about almost everything. But sometimes this type of thought, so familiar to us in our everyday lives, can hinder us, too.
How?
Sometimes, when an inexperienced player tries to improvise, they will find themselves struggling or 'lost for notes' so-to-say. This problem usually happens because the player is thinking about what to do instead of actually doing it. It's the same thing when an inexperienced performer gets on stage, and gets very nervous. They are thinking about not making mistakes so much to the point that they make even more mistakes. From there, it can go downhill, and fast.
What these people are doing when they thinking too much is inhibiting what should be naturally coming out. Or they are 'looking for it'. Most people would say that they just need to calm down. Even though that's right, I'll take it a step further. Empty your head. Clear your thoughts.
Here's a simple way to try this, even right now, if one so wishes. Relax. Listen. Listen to everything around you. Separate each noise from the next. Hear everything individually. Focus on each sound individually so you can only hear that sound, then move on to the next sound. Do this with all of the sounds you hear. Then hear them all as one.
Did you feel any calmer? Or did you feel any different at all? If you didn't, you might have been thinking about something. Anything. If you were thinking, then you weren't listening. Try again. Remember, if you are looking for it, you will not find it.
The last thing to remember, for now, is to learn how recognize this feeling of calm. When you feel it, you should know. But again, you can't think about it:
'It's like a finger pointing to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all that heavenly glory.'
Sound familiar? Yeah, he was a brilliant philosopher, 'Ol Brucey.
Summary: calm yourself, let it flow, don't cloud your mind with thoughts. Or, as Nike say: Just do it.
How does this help guitar playing? Well, that's what makes this unusual advice. I can't explain it, you have to discover it for yourself. If everybody could understand it at the snap of a finger, it wouldn't be so unusual. Anyways: 'Tao called Tao is not Tao'. If I could explain it simply, I'm probably not explaining it right.
I hope this wasn't too long or hippy-ish for everybody. And I hope it makes sense. If not, sorry I wasted your time :D It works for me, anyhow :beer: :rockon:
Cheers!