For Musicians: Using Polyphasic Sleep in Order to Gain Time in the Practice Room

[tylersch]

hey OccamsPhaser,

I'm really interested in how this will work out for you, I play guitar too and it would be cool to see your progress during all this, are you planning on posting videos, or at least audio of you playing?

[toasterwater]

I second tylersch's post!

Both concepts (polyphasic sleeping and becoming an expert at the guitar) are very intriguing to me. I effectively started playing the guitar about 6 weeks ago, and would love to talk to you about getting better. I'm currently taking lessons once a week, and I'm a full time college student.

I would love to discuss this stuff with you. Let me know your preferred forum and I'll get started right away!

[OccamsPhaser]

In order to not threadjack the Polyphasic thread, I'm starting a new one here to talk about guitar playing and music study. I myself have been playing guitar for around three years, and although I can't say that I'm the best around I've had good experience. I currently play with a local band and have taken lessons from a few musicians, including the eminent Joe Stump.

What instruments do you all play? What kind of music are you into? And if anyone has any questions about guitar playing, feel free to ask.

[tylersch]

awesome, would you care to share the links/info on the internet that you refered to earlier? I've been trying to find some decent help, I've been playing rythm for awhile now, im starting to get into playing lead, in doing so i'm learning more theory now, i'm actually starting to understand it

is there a way to check out music your band already plays?

[The Big D]

Originally Posted by OccamsPhaser

In order to not threadjack the Polyphasic thread, I'm starting a new one here to talk about guitar playing and music study. I myself have been playing guitar for around three years, and although I can't say that I'm the best around I've had good experience. I currently play with a local band and have taken lessons from a few musicians, including the eminent Joe Stump.

What instruments do you all play? What kind of music are you into? And if anyone has any questions about guitar playing, feel free to ask.

I play guitar in bar bands for fun, although I'm currently taking a break from gigging. I'm thinking about putting together an originals project in the near future.

[OccamsPhaser]

Originally Posted by The Big D

I play guitar in bar bands for fun, although I'm currently taking a break from gigging. I'm thinking about putting together an originals project in the near future.

Nice. What styles are you attracted to? And what kind of rig do you have?

[bman]

Electric guitar

1. Ibanez RGR321EX
2. Squier California strat (SSS)
3. Greg Bennett (samick) Avion AV3 les paul copy.


Amps

1. Roland Microcube.
2. Vox VT-30 valvetronix
3. Marshall MS-4 microamp.
4. Orange Microcrush.
5. Vox Amplug Lead.


FX

1. Boss DS-1 (Stock unmodded)
2. Digitech Bad Monkey tube overdrive.
3. Behringer EQ700 equalizer pedal.
4. Behringer UM300 Ultra Metal pedal.



Recording gear.

1. Line 6 Toneport GX with gearbox.



Music style.

1. Classic rock. Mostly rock.


Songs I've learned.

1. Eugene's Trickbag (Crossroads 1986)
2. Saber Rider and the Star Sherriffs.
3. 'God Knows' (Anime) full version with vocal transcribed to guitars.
4. Neil Zaza's I'm Alright live version (Work in progress)
5. ACDC Back in Black (Work in progress).


I've never got to learn much songs, too lazy and I took my sweet time learning them.

I need to really work on improvising/solos in the blues or minor pentatonic.

I am up to speed but stagnated in improvisation/soloing.

More of a technical player at the moment.

[The Big D]

Originally Posted by OccamsPhaser

Nice. What styles are you attracted to? And what kind of rig do you have?

Most bar bands in the area are more or less classic rock and early metal, so I'm probably strongest at that. I'm trying to teach myself to chicken pick at the moment, and working on jazz standards.

Rigwise I tend to use a Les Paul and some sort of superstrat into a big tube head (like a Mesa Tremoverb) and 4x12. Effects are usually a wah, the Eventide echo pedal, a tubescreamer-type overdrive, and a volume pedal in the loop.

[tylersch]

I've been trying to find some decent help, I've been playing rythm for awhile now, ive decided to start learning/playing lead, in doing so i'm learning more theory now, i'm actually starting to understand it.

would you care to share the links/info on the internet that you refered to earlier?
is there a way to check out music your band already plays?

as for likes and influences- recently its been..
(rockesque) closure in moscow, dredg, four year strong (MASS), monty are i
(jazz/bigband) chase, charles mingus,

mainly i like certain elements that people put in there music, not neccessarily them as a whole or all of there songs, the groups/bands i listed use alot of the elements i like, namely syncopation, harmonic and rythmic variety, and a raw - somewhat live quality to their sound, to name a few.

[tylersch]

Originally Posted by bman

Electric
3. Greg Bennett (samick) Avion AV3 les paul copy.
.

hey ive got the same guitar ^^ i love that sucker

[bman]

Originally Posted by tylersch

hey ive got the same guitar ^^ i love that sucker

Yep, for some reason, my fret just won't wear down at all.... I like the way they fretted it, not totally crowned but a slightly bevelled finish which made bending easy and minimal fret wear. I string mine with 10s instead. Fatter sound.

[joelr]

Originally Posted by OccamsPhaser

In order to not threadjack the Polyphasic thread, I'm starting a new one here to talk about guitar playing and music study. I myself have been playing guitar for around three years, and although I can't say that I'm the best around I've had good experience. I currently play with a local band and have taken lessons from a few musicians, including the eminent Joe Stump.

What instruments do you all play? What kind of music are you into? And if anyone has any questions about guitar playing, feel free to ask.

You must be in the Boston area. I see Joe Stump here and there in the Berklee area walking around with the rock star look
I play jazz/rock fusion.

[Brutha]

I agree with your general point but I disagree with the idea that the internet cannot provide him with feedback. I think if he's playing hours per day, he should be posting Youtube videos at least biweekly.

It's not immediate feedback and it's only possible to trace course and effects of successes intellectually.
It's difficult to get a feel for how a youtube video effects a viewer that you don't see.

[toasterwater]

I played a little bit over a couple years in high school (6-8 years ago). It was all self taught kinda, tab memorizing songs and the likes. I effectively just picked it up again 6 weeks or so ago. I'm currently taking a 30 minute lesson once a week, and practicing a couple hours a day on my own. The theory is coming pretty easily to me I think.

I'd like to formulate the art of getting better, so any advice you may have on maybe things to do or not do from your experience would be great help. I want it to be as efficient a process as possible.

[Scipio]

Originally Posted by Brutha

It's not immediate feedback and it's only possible to trace course and effects of successes intellectually.

Which is actually the same kind of feedback given when someone has a performance, and that feedback is very valuable.

It's difficult to get a feel for how a youtube video effects a viewer that you don't see.

It's difficult to read written feedback?

[Brutha]

I moved the posts from the polyphasic thread over here

Which is actually the same kind of feedback given when someone has a performance,

It isn't.

It's important to develop a connection with listeners and feel what increase and what decreases that connection.

There's a reason why people pay 100$ for tickets for some concerts when they could buy recordings of the same music for 20$ and the recordings are even edited out any mistakes.
The amount of connection that happens face to face is different and provides an experience to the listeners.

Of cause there's still value in intellectual feedback that comes from analyzing the music of a youtube video. It however isn't the same thing.

[Scipio]

Originally Posted by Brutha

I moved the posts from the polyphasic thread over here

It isn't.

It's important to develop a connection with listeners and feel what increase and what decreases that connection.

There's a reason why people pay 100$ for tickets for some concerts when they could buy recordings of the same music for 20$ and the recordings are even edited out any mistakes.
The amount of connection that happens face to face is different and provides an experience to the listeners.

Of cause there's still value in intellectual feedback that comes from analyzing the music of a youtube video. It however isn't the same thing.

Of course there is a difference. So what are you arguing with? My original statement was that he can get feedback from the internet, which you said he cannot. True or false, he can get feedback from the internet?

[OccamsPhaser]

Wow. I wasn't expecting such a huge response to this thread! I don't think I'll be able to go through everything everyone has said, so I'll just try to cover most of what you guys want to know.

My gear is as follows:

Ibanez RG1527 (I use strings from a bunch of different packs, due to the sparsity of seven string packs. I have 10s on the high strings and a set ranging up to 62 for the rest)

Epiphone LP Studio/Seymour Duncan Blackouts


I've got an old Marshall Valvestate from about ten years ago (2x12) and my pedals are as follows:

Crybaby Wah
Line 6 Uber Metal
Boss DD7 Delay


I'm currently unemployed, and trying to do the best with my savings, so I don't have a half stack yet. But I can't stop drooling over Engl and if I ever become a wage slave again it'll be for that.


As for my personal experience from playing, there's a whole lot under a broad range. The general rules that have got me to a semi-professional level are:

1. Never practice mindlessly. Guitar is just as much about your brain as it is about your fingers. Try to turn every exercise you do into a lick of some sort.

2. NEVER keep practicing if you experience any sort of pain.

3. Attempt to balance your practice between keeping good rhythm and working for speed. Without equilibrium you become a player that sounds lacking.

People will try to tell you that when you develop your own personal style, it's a difficult process. In reality it's just about what kinds of notes you prefer hearing. Everyone who plays a certain way does it because of personal preference, and not because they tried to "develop" their uniqueness. Just keep playing the things you like to hear.


And yes, I do live in Boston. My stylistic preference is death metal, but I'm a huge Satriani fan (part of the balance of rhythm and lead). And as for this thread, I think it should go back in the Health/Fitness area, since we're going to be talking a lot about muscle memory, technique, and wellness. The brass tacks of guitar is just as much about ergonomics as intonation.

[Michelle]

I've moved the thread here and changed it's title to something more in line with the intention of the participants. Next time choose your title more carefully.


As a musician my opinion on the topic is this:

More time spent practicing often results in creating socially disabled, virtuoso zombies and does nothing for actual musicianship. Finding a balance between cultivating the instrumental craft/technique, love for what one does, aligning with inspiration plus enjoying a rich life experience are the keys to becoming "world class".

[OccamsPhaser]

Originally Posted by Michelle

I've moved the thread here and changed it's title to something more in line with the intention of the participants. Next time choose your title more carefully.


As a musician my opinion on the topic is this:

More time spent practicing often results in creating socially disabled, virtuoso zombies and does nothing for actual musicianship. Finding a balance between cultivating the instrumental craft/technique, love for what one does, aligning with inspiration plus enjoying a rich life experience are the keys to becoming "world class".

My fault. I'm new to the forums, and I don't exactly know my way around yet.


I'm of the opinion that the virtuoso zombies are people that would have ended up that way anyway. It's possible to have a rich, fulfilling life and still spend hours and hours practicing; time coordination and effective practice are the keys. And when it comes to outside interaction, what really allows players to hone their new abilities is playing with other musicians. Personal teachers fill in for that somewhat, but playing with other people is what turns concepts into applicable ideas.

[tylersch]

Originally Posted by tylersch

would you care to share the links/info on the internet that you refered to earlier?
is there a way to check out music your band already plays?

so how bout those links OccamsPhaser?

[tylersch]

Hey OccamsPhaser, have you started your project now?