{"id":195804,"date":"2021-04-09T06:00:52","date_gmt":"2021-04-09T13:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/?p=195804"},"modified":"2025-01-28T01:49:13","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T09:49:13","slug":"eliminate-confusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/eliminate-confusion\/","title":{"rendered":"Eliminate Confusion and Reduce Random Guitar Mistakes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Most folks studying classical guitar aim to play pieces through with no mistakes. This is a popular and noble goal.<\/p>\n<p>But often, little mistakes pop up. These can be random, or they can be consistent (every time we play a certain passage).<\/p>\n<p>Either way, there is often a common cause. And when we get rid of this cause, we play cleaner, with fewer mistakes. Below you\u2019ll find a simple way to practice so you play with fewer mistakes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"centerc\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kboSyaDJmV8?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;autohide=1\" width=\"700\" height=\"393\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Blind Spots: A Common Root of Guitar Mistakes and Fumbles<\/h2>\n<p>Often when we mess up in a piece of music, it\u2019s because of a \u201cblind spot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A blind spot is an area that is just out of our visual field. We can see around it, but not within it. In driving, this is the spot our mirrors miss.<\/p>\n<p>In music, this is an area where we don\u2019t know <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/how-to-avoid-mistakes-playing-guitar-pieces\/\">exactly what needs to happen<\/a>. Some aspect, large or small, is invisible to us.<\/p>\n<p>We can think of these areas in music as patches of fog. They are not as clear as other areas. We are slightly confused, whether we know it or not. And this confusion leads us to stumble and falter.<\/p>\n<p>The confusion could be about a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/consistent-fingerings\/\">fingering<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/fix-rhythm-problems-in-classical-guitar-pieces\/\">rhythm<\/a>, or anything else.<\/p>\n<p>When we reduce this confusion (you\u2019ll learn how below), we experience myriad benefits.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Benefits of Reduced Confusion<\/h2>\n<p>As we become clear about exactly what needs to happen in our music, a few positive effects follow. Once we explore a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/clean-guitar-polish-reverse-engineer\/\">problem-spot<\/a> closely, we feel better and are more likely to play it beautifully.<\/p>\n<h3>Less Excess Physical Tension<\/h3>\n<p>The \u201cchoreography\u201d of a passage is the dance our fingers need to perform. When we understand the precise demands we can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/fluid-guitar\/\">maintain appropriate tension throughout<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When we have a moment of confusion, we often tense our muscles. This extra contraction tells our nervous system that something is wrong. This creates stress. Stress lowers our mental faculties and distracts us from our work.<\/p>\n<p>One of the goals of learning to play guitar at a high level is to use appropriate tension. And <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/7steps\/\">eliminating confusion<\/a> is one way to do this.<\/p>\n<h3>Confidence<\/h3>\n<p>When we understand what needs to happen, we feel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/guitar-anchor\/\">more confident<\/a>. Instead of hoping for the best, we take each step as it comes.<\/p>\n<p>Then, after we have played through a previously difficult spot a few times well, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/polish-performance-level\/\">we feel more capable<\/a>. We\u2019re self-assured that we can execute the moves as they come, in time and with the desired expression.<\/p>\n<h3>More Awareness = Faster Learning<\/h3>\n<p>When we become clear about all facets of a musical passage, we learn it faster.<\/p>\n<p>Having explored it from various angles, we memorize it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/recall-memory\/\">more easily<\/a>. We have richer context for the notes.<\/p>\n<p>And not only do we learn the piece faster, but we also improve faster on guitar in general. We become more aware. And awareness leads to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/add-a-note\/\">cleaner execution<\/a>, better listening, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/longline\/\">more beautiful playing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Fewer Mistakes<\/h3>\n<p>Perhaps the biggest benefit of reduced confusion is that we make fewer mistakes. This allows us to play through our pieces, moving from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/decide-musical-phrasing\/\">one phrase<\/a> to the next.<\/p>\n<p>And the fewer mistakes we make when first learning a piece of music, the fewer mistakes we\u2019ll make when playing it for friends and loved ones.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">How to Eliminate Confusion in Classical Guitar Music<\/h2>\n<p>Okay, so how do we eliminate confusion in our pieces? What is the process by which we form clear, direct mental instructions for each note?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/practice-technique-clean-guitar-playing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">In practice<\/a>, we can first be on high alert for moments where we experience confusion. Any \u201cfoggy patches\u201d can raise the red flag and signal that we need to give special attention.<\/p>\n<p>Then we can pull out the sheet music, and ask one simple question\u2026<\/p>\n<h3>Ask The Big Question: \u201cWhat\u2019s Going On Here?\u201d<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/questions\/\">Perhaps the most important question<\/a> we can ask in our guitar practice is \u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This encourages us to look closer at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/fine-details-classical-guitar-polish-perfect\/\">fine details<\/a>. We can look at each spot of ink on the page.<\/p>\n<h3>Look at every element of the music<\/h3>\n<p>We can first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/four-elements-of-music\/\">check the notes and rhythm<\/a>. We can look for any patterns or shapes in the left and right hands.<\/p>\n<p>In the left hand, we may have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/chord-shift-formula\/\">shift<\/a>. A finger may need to hop quickly to another note. We may have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/guitar-stretch-reach\/\">stretch<\/a> that needs preparation. Or we may have a slur (hammer-on or pull-off) that needs special attention.<\/p>\n<p>In the right hand, we may have an inconvenient fingering. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/m-string-crossing\/\">We may have a string-crossing<\/a> with the potential to trip us. Or a pattern we haven\u2019t seen before.<\/p>\n<p>If we know <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/music-theory-guitar\/\">music theory<\/a>, we can look at the harmony (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/chords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">chords<\/a>). We can notice the different parts and voices of the music, such as the melody, bass, and accompaniment.<\/p>\n<p>We can note the musical expression. We can look for dynamics (swells and fades), accents, or changes in speed (tempo).<\/p>\n<p>Over and over, we can ask the question, \u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d Then play with the answer we find.<\/p>\n<p>With this work, we\u2019ll usually discover the solution to any problem with which we may be struggling.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Speed-Dependent Clarity: The Speed of Thought<\/h2>\n<p>Once we\u2019ve gained clarity, our job is nearly done. But there may be a speed at which we become confused again.<\/p>\n<p>We may be able to track all the nuances and details of a passage at one speed. But above that speed, we stumble and make mistakes.<\/p>\n<p>When this happens, we can ask our master question again, seeking the exact note at which we falter. We can find the technical or mental material that is tripping us at speed.<\/p>\n<p>Having found the exact note or place in the music where things go wrong, we can seek <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/make-guitar-easy\/\">more and more clarity<\/a>. We can define the precise physical and musical demands.<\/p>\n<p>We can \u201czoom in\u201d and become intimately aware of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/speed-precision-exercise\/\">every movement<\/a>, every velocity, every pressure.<\/p>\n<p>Then, as we play faster and faster, we can be alert to any feelings of confusion still arriving. We should find ourselves much more clear about what needs to happen.<\/p>\n<p>With practice, we can train ourselves to recognize confusion. Then, we can ask the question, \u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d and gain clarity of all the details involved.<\/p>\n<p>This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/constant-improvement\/\">makes practice a joy<\/a>. We become more effective and strategic. And this means we learn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/how-much-guitar-practice\/\">more music in less time<\/a>. We feel better playing guitar &#8211; alone or for others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most folks studying classical guitar aim to play pieces through with no mistakes. This is a popular and noble goal. But often, little mistakes pop up. These can be random, or they can be consistent (every time we play a certain passage). Either way, there is often a common cause. And when we get rid of this cause, we play &#8230; <\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/eliminate-confusion\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":195806,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61,434,20],"tags":[348,315,369,314],"class_list":["post-195804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-main-content-parent","category-practicing","tag-memory","tag-polishing","tag-practice-methods","tag-problem-solving"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.8 (Yoast SEO v25.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Play Clean &amp; Fluid Guitar with This Simple Practice Tip<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here&#039;s an easy way to remove random mistakes in your guitar pieces. 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