Tone Report Weekly Issue 160 | Page 33

It ’ s that time of year again — time to focus on the arbitrary “ end ” of a year and think about all of your good ideas and intentions that went unfulfilled . This means it ’ s time to make hollow promises about how much harder you ’ ll try and better you will be in the next year ( never mind the fact that you can decide to change at any minute , on any day , of any week or month of the year ). Editorial calendars demand resolution lists and I ’ m here to deliver . I ’ ll leave you to your own devices for the major life goals , but I ’ m happy to help on your guitar-related resolutions .
The first thing you can do to improve your playing and break out of ruts is to play spontaneously . The easiest way to do this is to leave a guitar out and ready to play at all times . Sure this might annoy your spouse and isn ’ t the safest option if you have toddlers or wild pets , but picking up a guitar as you are crossing the room can lead to some really fun discoveries .
I try to leave an acoustic out on our main living level and I keep an electric out in my “ guitar room .” I ’ ll pick them up randomly and strum a chord or play a riff . Usually , it ’ s something I ’ ve played or heard a million times , but sometimes , the spark of creativity will strike and I ’ ll be graced with a new song idea . At worst , I played guitar for a few minutes and as a result , my day was better .

It ’ s that time of year again — time to focus on the arbitrary “ end ” of a year and think about all of your good ideas and intentions that went unfulfilled . This means it ’ s time to make hollow promises about how much harder you ’ ll try and better you will be in the next year ( never mind the fact that you can decide to change at any minute , on any day , of any week or month of the year ). Editorial calendars demand resolution lists and I ’ m here to deliver . I ’ ll leave you to your own devices for the major life goals , but I ’ m happy to help on your guitar-related resolutions .

BE SPONTANEOUS

The first thing you can do to improve your playing and break out of ruts is to play spontaneously . The easiest way to do this is to leave a guitar out and ready to play at all times . Sure this might annoy your spouse and isn ’ t the safest option if you have toddlers or wild pets , but picking up a guitar as you are crossing the room can lead to some really fun discoveries .

“... leave a guitar out and ready to play at all times .”

I try to leave an acoustic out on our main living level and I keep an electric out in my “ guitar room .” I ’ ll pick them up randomly and strum a chord or play a riff . Usually , it ’ s something I ’ ve played or heard a million times , but sometimes , the spark of creativity will strike and I ’ ll be graced with a new song idea . At worst , I played guitar for a few minutes and as a result , my day was better .
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