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Interesting guitar games to play when you don’t have your guitar with you
In: Rocking in the free world Friday Jul 25,2008
There is this little game I like to play when I have idle moments (like when waiting in the car, waiting for food at the restaurant, you get the point). I like to listen the song that is on the radio, CD, etc and figure out the tonality, chords, etc.
It is a game of ear training and of course it doesn’t work all the time, but if you start paying attention you will see that you start recognizing particular phrases, particular chord progressions that you have previously heard in other songs that you have already played.
It is a fun and useful game to play and I found myself “playing it” a lot of times and I can not tell you the satisfaction when you figure out a sequence.
I had the idea of this post after listening this morning a song that had a pretty straight forward chorus that I instantly recognize, helped also by the chord at the end which makes an unmistakable mark: Dm, Am , E, Am A7. Now I can’t be sure it was Am as tonality, maybe they played it in Gm or in Bm, or in Em, who knows, but the sequence was unmistakable.
An other interesting game to play is to think of you playing particular note sequences on the guitar and try to “hear” those notes, or the other way around, to take a slow(stick to slow!) sequence and try to think of those notes on the guitar neck; you will see that if you have let’s say a D, C, Bb (note) sequence and you “see” it on the guitar neck as a D, C, B, you will instantly fell something it is not right there, your musical sense will let you know you are not right.
These are two interesting games to play for the moments you don’t have the guitar with you!
Try them and you will see how fun they are, especially the first one with figuring out the chords. OK, and another one: stay away from jazz if you are not very good at it 
Anybody else playing such “games”?
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14 Responses to “Interesting guitar games to play when you don’t have your guitar with you”
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Ovidiu OprescuRomania, 33 years
Playing the guitar since 17 and enjoying every moment of it!
Come meet me also on Mixx, StumbleUpon, Technorati, Digg, MySpace, MyBlogLog, Twitter, BlogCatalog
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Dr. J
July 26th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I teach my students (all students, –their instrument doesn’t matter) a hand exercise based on the Theodur Leschetizky method (famous pianist who happened to be my piano teacher’s teacher’s teacher). Anyone can benefit, so try this:
Using a relaxed hand position (curved fingers, like typing or fingerpicking), place you hand(s) on a surface (could be almost anything) so that each finger is contacting the surface. If I were teaching this on piano, I’d say “put your hands in C position” so that each finger has its own key, ( C, D, E, F, and G). It helps to think of the fingers as numbers for this next part; thumbs = 1, pointy finger = 2, etc… At this point, I would say the objective is finger control, but with relaxation. Students have the hardest time with the relaxed part.
“Why won’t my fingers do this?”
“–Because you’ve never asked them to do it before!”
Keep all fingers in constant contact with the surface EXCEPT for the one you’re exercising. Exercise finger #1 by lifting it up from the surface and tapping it 8 times. Again, keep all the other fingers touching the surface. Then lift #2, and so on until every finger has been exercised. Notice which fingers are difficult to control; –these are the ones which must be tamed. And relaxed.
Got that? Good.
Now exercise your fingers in combinations (pairs and groups of 3 or more) within the same hand. Tap fingers #1 & #2, then #1 and #3, then #1 and #4, then #1 and #5. Did you have any difficulty with #1 and #4? Most people do. Now keep going and try #2 and #3, #2 and #4, #2 and #5, #3 and #4, and so on. Remember the goal? Keep the fingers you’re NOT exercising in contact with the surface and keep the hand as relaxed as possible. Over time, your coordination will improve and you will be able to do this exercise at a quick speed.
This exercise can be performed anywhere. Just don’t try to lift the fingers you’re exercising extremely far from the surface. And don’t straighten your fingers as you lift them. Keep them curved and relaxed.
Think of it as strength training for your fingers!
If you’ve never asked your fingers to work this way, it’s because you have never encountered the need for this coordination. You can still build the capability and perhaps your new-found ability will spark new creative possibilities.
Good luck!
-J
Playing it like it’s easy | ControlRoom - Mixin' it with Dr. J
July 26th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
[...] early morning here and I just got through sharing a finger exercise on Ovidiu’s Guitarflame site. It got me thinking about how my teaching is often at odds with my [...]
Danny Lehrman
July 26th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Hey, Whats up? I was taught and still use similar exercises. I use some of them to this day. I’ve been in Maryland seeing my parents. Be back blogging Monday. Take it easy bro, talk to you later.
Danny
Pribek
July 27th, 2008 at 2:34 am
Good exercise J. I forgot all about that.
Ovidiu, I like the idea of visualizing and analyzing without having the instrument in your hands.
Sometime, while driving and listening, I will sing a solo over the changes and try to visualize how to play what I’m singing.
MG
July 27th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Ovidiu-I like to do that kind of thing too! It is fun! And then you can go home and listen to the song (if you have it) and “check your work”! This is good ear training!
Carol
July 27th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
These are great suggestions. Thanks!
Being a bassist, a game that helps me when away from my instrument is, rather than (mentally) singing along with the melody, I sing along with the bassline of the song. By having others’ lines stored up in my mental repertoire, it has helped my improvisational creativity tremendously.
Dr. J’s finger exercise challenged my 4th finger to the nth! Will work on that.
matt Stevens
July 27th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I count our odd timings as I walk along all day – keeps me sane – walking in 15/8
Ovidiu
July 28th, 2008 at 9:31 am
@Danny Lehrman: I will look forward to your comments here
@Pribek: I like to do other things from time to time, to make a song in my head, the voice part and try to figure out the chords without the guitar.
@MG: That’s the funniest part, when you realize you are not that close to guessing the chords, isn’t it?
@Dr J: That’s the coolest exercise I have heard of lately, thanks Dr J, now I am struggling to make my fingers work 2 at the same time, especially when the 4th finger is involved.
@Matt: That’s odd, man, I have never thought about doing this
Gary Fletcher - Write Scribe
July 28th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I carry a little fretboard picture around on a scrap of paper. When waiting around I take it out, point randomly and name notes, place chords, place notes, and so on.
Ovidiu
July 28th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Very interesting one, and good, indeed! Thanks for sharing, Gary! I think I will have another post where I will just organize a bit what you all said here! It’s going to be a great list, I think!
Anybody, other ideas? Other “games” you play without the guitar around?
Pat Darnell and Friends
July 29th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
15/8, cool! You know Mr Ovidiu, this time last year I didn’t even know you were alive? Now I don’t go through the day without checking to see what’s going on over here.
Music is an edifying implement, and playing music is a function of the spirit. These beliefs I have are not just little words I speak. They are hard fought lessons I struggled with until somewhat satisfied with their truth.
[If you ask Old Pribek about that he'll say: "Music is a violent game played with axes and blunt objects..." or something like that. You will have to ask him again.]
That is why I am drawn to the discussions of many counselors in the further education and building of my spirit. It will be handed down to my kiddy whompers as they too learn the hard lessons.
These exercises you all spell out are fundamental to the successful discovery of one’s own spiritual walk. Steps are taken, and footfalls are counted… and now I am pondering 15/8.
See it’s working! Congrats Ovidiu and crew, Pat aka MooPig.
Ovidiu
July 29th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Thanks, PD! It is great to know that what I write here is interesting, that somebody out there appreciates it, it keeps me connected and eager to write some more! Plus that I learn so much by speaking to all of you and I thank you for being part of this small community here!
Tim
August 14th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Ever since I learned to sight sing and identify intervals, I can’t hear ANYTHING without identifying the interval. A church bell, an ambulance siren, everything.
Ovidiu
August 14th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Probably this is the result of some long practice routines if it has really got to you!