The Unrevealed “Secret” To Developing Your Own Style

One of the biggest mistakes I see folks make, especially when they’re just starting out, is NOT playing copy-cat. What do I mean by “Copy Cat?” Well…Let me explain.

As you may or may not know, I graduated top of my class with a bachelor’s degree in Music History, with a minor in classical piano and operatic voice. (Go here if you’d like to see all the courses I took in college,including the the grades I got, http://www.amazingguitarsecrets.com/transcript.htm)

Anyway, I don’t say that to brag or boast. That’s not it at all. I just mention it, so you’ll understand where I’m coming from.

Anyway, when I was in music school, one glaring fact hit me straight between the eyeslike I had been shot with a diamond…

Brahms wouldn’t have become Brahms, without Beethoven.

Beethoven wouldn’t have become Beethoven, without Mozart.

Mozart wouldn’t have become Mozart, without Haydn.

Haydn wouldn’t have become Haydn, without Bach.

Bach wouldn’t have become Bach, without Palestrina.

Palestrina wouldn’t have become Palestrina, without Gregorian Chant.

And so endlessly goes the parade.

So, what’s all this got to do with playing guitar?

Well, a lot, actually.

See, I know a lot of guitarists who, to put it bluntly, are just too dang lazy to get up off their butts and learn a few songs (or even a few licks) from someone who’s gone ahead of them.

They say things like, “Ah… I just want to play my own stuff, man. I don’t want to be playing other people’s songs. I want to write my own.”

Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.

Here’s the whole point.You CAN’T play “your own stuff” until you’ve learned the styles, tricks, sounds,and methods of other players. You just can’t. Let me put it another way.

If Beethoven had to learn how to play Mozart’s sonatas to be ableto develop HIS unique style, do you REALLY think you’re going to develop yours by just “playing your own stuff?” Come on…

So, go ahead. Break out that Clapton recording you’ve got. Blow the dust off. And play “copy cat” all afternoon. I guarantee you, you’ll wake up tomorrow with all kinds ofendless variations floating around in your head. And THEN you’ll be ready to start experimenting with your own style.

Cheers,

Dan Denley

About the Author: Dan Denley began playing guitar in 1989 at the age of 14. Mr. Denley is a self-taught guitarist and classically trained musician. After graduating with honors from the Scheidt School of Music (University of Memphis)with a bachelors degree in Music History, he created the “Amazing Guitar Secrets”course for learning guitar, which is considered by many to be complete and authoritative. You can learn more about how YOU can become one of his successful studentsat http://www.amazingguitarsecrets.com/special/1

This entry was posted on Friday, January 27th, 2006 at 4:12 pm and is filed under AmazingGuitarSecrets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.