JASON INTRODUCES...

When was the last time you played a scale really slowly? Say, a two-octave Major scale across all six strings? Every day? Once a week? Once in a while? Never? The reason I ask is we’re often so busy trying to push our abilities to the edges of what we can do, that we neglect the confirmational aspect of playing. In short, can we do what we do, really well and with comfort? Playing is physical and many top players that Neville and I have interviewed over the years have often talked about engaging with the instrument each day with meditative and slow playing. Scales, chord shapes, fretting-hand independence and stretching, evenness of tone with fingerpicking or alternate picking. Aiming for round, full notes and looking out for excessive stress in the hands and body. It is only through slow, contemplative playing that good foundations are formed, to provide consistency for all that we play. If you’ve not zoned into slow, analytical warm-ups and playing I’d heartily recommend it; you may well find the hiccups that thwart aspects of your technique, show up in technicolour detail. A perfect exposure to overcoming that which hinders your playing now, once corrected, will free you up for the future. That’s intelligent technique engagement.

This type of consideration is a part of what many of us at GT will show students that attend IGF this August - yes, a fully live IGF is happening in Bath, UK and the styles and genres are broad. Neville (Blues Songs), John Wheatcroft (Gypsy Jazz), Gianluca Corona (Jazz), Jon Bishop (Classic Rock), Chris Quinn (Acoustic), Chris Corcoran (Jump Blues) and myself (Top 40 & Funk) are lined up for a full-on and exciting week of diverse tuition, insights, tips, technique building, repertoire expanding and a great student concert at the end. Intrigued? Visit www.igf.org.uk for more info. We’d love to see you!

So, until next time, keep happy, keep listening, and keep playing!