While having tabs printed out along with the guidance of Power Tab are surely handy, it is important to remember that playing guitar is not all about reading notes off a piece of paper or a computer screen.
Once you’ve learnt and are able to confidently play a solo, it’s a good idea to play it on your own. However, this time keep your eyes on how your fretting hand moves. If you make a mistake just continue, trying to figure it out from ear.
This week, my homework task was to learn the first guitar solo from the Red Hot Chili Peppers tune, “I Could Have Lied”.
I’ve noticed it is easier to remember the solo (without forgetting it the next day) when using the two techniques above than when just learning it through reading tabs alone. It might be frustrating at first but it pays off in the long run. Keeping an eye on where the fretting hand moves allows you to think ahead about where your fingers are going next which leads to smoother playing.
Remember, most guitar legends did not have the internet and widely available tabs in the their day – but they certainly have something to show for it.
Shine Music 