Milpitas Guitar Lessons with Phil Johnson

Got a very nice note from my new client, Paul this morning...

"Super happy that I signed up with you. I had hit a slump and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t snap myself out of it. I’m out of it now, and can’t keep my hands off of my guitar."

Want to get out of your own guitar slump? Schedule your FREE Strategy Session at MilpitasGuitarLessons.com and we'll create a custom plan to reach your guitar goals!

I'm often asked about how to go from "thinking about a bunch of stuff" while playing to "just play". That's a flow state you're looking for.

Drexel University new study about flow states studied jazz musicians and how they do exactly that. https://neurosciencenews.com/creativity-zone-neuroscience-25697/

Essentially it boils down to two parts: Know the tools so well you don't have to think about them anymore AND having trust in your skills to turn off the executive functions of your brain while you're playing.

Unlocking Creative Flow: How the Brain Enters the Zone - Neuroscience News A new study unveils how the brain enters the creative flow state, famously known as being "in the zone."

Hey, I'm starting some new programs here at my studio and we're in growth mode right now.

And I'm not asking you to join the studio. I just want to know what you would love to know about taking guitar lessons.

If you can help me out by filling out this short survey, I'd super appreciate it!

https://forms.gle/Ch7uQ7NPQCDwQm4j9

Danger lurks around every turn of the tuning peg...

"There are no wrong notes" - Victor Wooten

He's right. Any note at any time over any chord can be made to work. But since this is a tiny clip, there's some stuff missing. Playing "out" add complexity. And different songs require different levels of complexity. The game is to play what's right for the song.

Of course the comments on this video are full of misconceptions, ignorance, and trolls. Plus a few people who's ear just isn't seasoned enough yet to hear what he's talking about. Which is fine. The longer you play, the more of a taste you get for chromaticism.

One guy posted a quote from Miles Davis that I think adds a lot of clarity to this concept. "Miles Davis once said, It’s not the note you play that’s the wrong note, it’s the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong."

Exactly. Every note sets an expectation in the listener's ear. How you pay off that expectation makes the difference between "right" and "wrong".

“There are no wrong note” @victorwooten 🙌🏽 #oneminutebass

Let me tell you a story. 👂 Awhile back my girlfriend and I were taking a walk in our neighborhood and we heard someone practicing piano in their house.

They were running scales up and down in that sort of plodding way that happens when it's not fun to practice. 🥱

My girlfriend said to me "That's why I stopped playing. It was just scales and arpeggios all the time. No fun."

My heart 💔 broke when she told me that.

You see, I was lucky. My music teachers showed me how to BE a musician. Not just run scales.

No doubt, there's work involved in learning to play guitar. Scales and arpeggios are necessary EVENTUALLY.

But if you learn that kind of stuff too early in the process, you don't have any context for it. You don't know what to do with it. You don't know how to be creative with it! 🎸

Here's the process that I take my clients through with every new tool we add to their musician's toolkit:

🕰️1. Wait until it makes sense to learn that skill - There's a specific order to learn guitar concepts in that will make it easier to skill-stack and keep you excited about the process of learning guitar.

💪2. Learning the skill - You'll learn how the skill works, the insider tips and tricks to make it easier, and how you'll use it combined with all your other tools.

💪💪3. Improving the skill - You'll wrap your hands around the new skill in a variety of ways to hone your unique touch on the strings.

💪💪💪4. Integrate the skill - I'll guide you though integrating your new skill with all the previous ones you've learned so you can see how they're connected and used together. And then you'll get creative and create music using your full set of tools.

Then we learn the next thing!

See, my girlfriend hated playing scales as a kid because only parts of steps 2 and 3 were there. It was all the work with none of the creative payoff. We do things differently here at Milpitas Guitar Lessons. 😊

Now it's your turn to tell me a story. 👉Click the Send Message button below and tell me about your guitar journey. Where are you now? Where would you like to be? And we'll create a custom guitar learning plan for you to reach those goals!

Click the Send Message button and let's talk!

(PS... My girlfriend did become a wicked bass player later on. So even a bad childhood musical experience can be overcome!)

What kind of guitar did Slash play on Guns n' Roses first album "Appetite For Destruction"?

You might assume it was a Gibson Les Paul since Slash is so closely connected with that type of guitar. But it was actually a REPLICA of a Gibson Les Paul made by California luthier Kris Derrig.

There is plenty of lore, myths, and stories about the guitars that Slash played on that first album. But Slash still uses that replica to this day. He mixes it in with a couple other replicas from the same luthier as well as actual Gibsons, including the Slash Appetite signature models that came out a couple years ago. Those are actually a replica of the replica. ;)

Our fingertips always look like chewed up gum.

How do you make time to play guitar when life is so busy?😣

Trust me, I get it. Between training students, performing shows, writing and recording new tracks, and running the businesses of both Milpitas Guitar Lessons and my artist career, I too struggle to find time to actually sit down and practice guitar.

So here are some tips on how I do it and I think they'll help you make time too:

🙌1. Know that you're doing this for you. You play guitar because you enjoy it, find it fulfilling, and learn new things about music and yourself. It's valuable, so think of it that way.

🎸2. Keep your guitar accessible. Leave your guitar out of the case and within easy reach. Having it readily available means you can grab it whenever you have a spare moment. It's amazing how those short bursts of practice can add up over time.

⌚3. Establish a Consistent Practice Time: Choose a specific time each day for your guitar practice. Consistency brings numerous benefits:

- No decision-making required; it becomes a natural part of your routine.

- Your mind prepares itself a few minutes in advance, helping you get into the groove faster.

- Morning practice frees up your evenings, alleviating any guilt about not getting to play later.

- Evening practice allows your brain to process the information overnight, reinforcing your learning.

- Consider splitting your practice into two shorter sessions, morning and night, if that suits you.

🪴3. Create a Dedicated Practice Space: Designate a consistent place for your guitar practice. This helps your mind transition into practice mode more quickly. Maybe it's your cozy corner in the living room or a spot with great acoustics in the kitchen—find what works best for you. it doesn't have to be fancy, just consistent.

📆4. Set Reminders: Use reminders on your phone or place your guitar where you can see it in the morning. These cues will prompt you to pick up your guitar and dive into your practice session.

🍦5. Reward Yourself: After a productive practice session, give yourself a small reward. Whether it's some free playtime, a sweet treat, or enjoying your favorite TV show, indulge in something you love as a reward for your dedication.

👉6. Embrace Consistency: Consistency is key to forming a habit. Stick to a regular practice routine, maintaining consistency in your practice time, place, reminders, and rewards. Soon, it will become a natural part of your daily life.

😃7. Stay Accountable with Personalized Support: We all benefit from accountability on our musical journey. That's where I come in as your personal guitar coach. I'm here to guide you, provide feedback, and keep you motivated along the way. Together, we'll overcome challenges and celebrate milestones as you progress towards your guitar goals.

Right now is a great opportunity to 👉schedule a FREE Strategy Session👈 with me to create your Custom Guitar Learning Plan based on your most important guitar goals. Click the Send Message button below and let's talk!

What's the most expensive guitar to ever be sold?

Kurt Cobain's 1959 Martin D-18 that he played in their MTv Unplugged performance in 1993. It was sold for $6,000,000 at auction in June 2020.