Experiential Learning
The Four Stages Of Learning
When I play a C chord, in Open Position, I immediately see the notes in that chord.
The C chord shape, or “fingering”, is my anchor as it helps me see, and understand, the notes in the chord itself as well the different keys that chord is found.
All of the notes now take on new meaning.
It then gives me the freedom to do what I want with the chord I am playing.
It gives me the opportunity to make all sorts of choices when it comes time to solo, throw in a guitar fill or turn that ordinary C chord into something WAY more interesting.
It’s a beautiful thing.
It’s freedom.
Active Learning
You must be actively involved in the experience.
Your body and your mind are experiencing things that can only be experienced through actually playing baseball.
Those experiences will directly influence how you play baseball the next time.
What Are You Doing Wrong?
You probably stopped playing and sat there…
…staring at the guitar neck…
…sometimes even looking away, thinking, “okay, I know A is on the 6th string, 5th fret…”
…hoping that the notes are just going to magically appear.
Did you get any better?
Was there any noticeable improvement the next time you tried to find another note?
The Biggest Mistake
You are not actively involved when you do this.
But how is that supposed to help things?
CONTEXT IS THE QUEEN, AND BEING ACTIVE IS THE KING
It’s like Bonnie and Clyde, they go hand in hand.
It’s the beauty of practicing this way.
There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this.
Not a single one.
Just Five More Miles
You’re driving down the Interstate when you notice a sign that says your Exit is coming up in 5 miles.
That same Sign also states the next three Exits, all coming up before your exit.
That sign is an anchor, and it provides you with context.
It provides you with the context for where you are now, and how far you have to go to get to your exit.
The Signs that follow it are also anchors, and they also provide context (feedback about your location).
They are the anchors that will allow you to know how much closer you are to your exit and how far you have come.
Here’s another question for you: When you see the first exit sign do you immediately pull your car off to the side of the road and stop to think about how far away your exit is?
No Note Is An Island
It can only exist in relation to all other notes.
West only exists because there’s an East.
The key to being able to find the notes on the guitar quickly is being able to recognize their location based on their relationship to each other.
Music Is Contextual and So Is Learning The Guitar
Every sound relates to another sound in a unique way.
A melody note has a certain relationship to the chord that is being played.
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