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Do you feel a distinct adrenaline rush every time your favorite song plays on the radio? Are you an air guitar god! Are you constantly telling yourself time and time again "music is what I was born to do"? Well is it? The truth is a large percentage of "new" musicians become "old" musicians before they even learn their first song. It's more complex then fingering through some classic rock on the easy level of guitar hero.

Dedication is the foundation to any good musician. From the time you pick up your first instrument to the time you pluck your last notes, you need to set goals. Accomplishing those goals will depend not only on the time you spend on them, but the reality behind them. Don't start too big, and start with what you know. Maybe an easy cover song (song written and played by someone else) would be the best start. First get the tabulate (number sequence) of your favorite song; this is the easiest way to read music. Then make sure you have the actual song on CD. Now everything is laid out for you and all you need is a little practice.

Cover songs are a great way to get down the fundamentals of music. They will enable you to match the coordination of your hands within the different timings music has to offer. Not only are that covers the beginning of your musical portfolio. The songs you learn will show you what genre of music you are interested in playing, why learn what you don't like. It will also show others your style and skill level.

After you pound out a few covers, it is time to find other players. Sure you can play what you learned by yourself, but it's a different ball game when you play with others. You have to find the right mix of people to play with. You want to find some people who are near your skill level. A group that grows together will find a good musical flow and progress as one. If someone is way beyond your level they may not wait for you, someone way below will only hold you back. When you do find the right group of players, make sure you work hard and stay dedicated, no one wants to be the weak link in the chain.

Now it's all about practice. Practice alone, with your new found band mates, and anyone willing to play with you. You are also going to want to practice different genres of music while learning covers. Each Genre has it's own unique style and tricks. The more you learn the more your individual style will grow. You might even be able to make an original style no one has heard yet. Another thing make sure you learn your scales and chords. Music is a language and you can't speak it properly with out being able to sound things out. The fundamentals will not "box" what you are able to do. Instead they will help you sharpen your skills and give you a wide range of note variations that you can use in your original music. You will not be able to properly write a song in its entirety with out learning proper scale structure. It all goes back to not being the weak link in the chain

Learn more about this author, Billy Dudley.
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