Do Less, Play More

If you're not  getting better, it might be because you're working on too many songs, in too many styles, at too-fast tempos, in too-long practice sessions.

If that sounds familar, the thought of doing less probably sounds like a terrible idea – won't that mean you just progress at an even slower pace?

Everyone's learning process is a little different, but it's a pretty safe bet that if you narrow your focus and work on doing a few things with more care and deliberation, you'll get better at those few things a lot quicker than when you were scattering your time and attention every which way.

The question is, what are those few things, and how should you work on them? That's what I'll be covering in this three-part workshop.

We'll start with how you learn tunes. Instead of tackling endless pages of "just like the record" tab, you'll break a classic eight-bar blues down to its bass, melody and chords, then put those pieces back together, creating a foundation that can support an entire arrangement.

Next, we'll get your thumb and fingers sorted out with some ultra-efficient right-hand exercises. When you find yourself  stumbling over a tricky section, stripping out the left-hand fingerings altogether lets you focus  on nailing those syncopated blues rhythms over a quarter-note bass. If dropping beats is your issue, these exercises are the answer!

Finally, I'll show you how to use your new rhythmic skills to start building a vocabulary of blues licks and soloing ideas. Whether your goal is to take complete solos or just add a few licks to your playing, we'll demystify the process so you can practice improvising just like you'd practice anything else.

Throughout the workshop, the emphasis will be on learning a few things well, understanding the ideas involved, and applying them right away to your own practicing and playing. All of the examples and exercises presented on screen will be tabbed out in a downloadable PDF.