🔥7 Rock Guitar Lessons I Learned from Prof Jon Finn🔥

1. Pentatonics are more than just the standard shapes

Don't be stuck using only the same patterns everyone uses 2. Practice in creative ways

A lot of people do things in a boring way. Don't. Do. That.

[THREAD]

You're jamming with your friends

It's your turn to solo

you start nicely

then you mess up so bad

you panic

you panic badly

coz

+ you're lost
+ you have no idea what to play
+ you wish you knew what to do

how do you solve this? do you really want to google

and look for random stuff

some magical solution

some secret "TRICK"

to help you play better?

you did all that and

you're still in the same spot

lost
confused
stagnant

how can you level up?

HOW TO GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Most people think it's like this:

Go study
⬇️
Get a diploma/degree/masters/PhD
⬇️
Apply for a job or do whatever
⬇️
Get your dream job
⬇️
Happiness

(THREAD) It can be like that.

For some work, it is like that & has to be like that.

However, for some of you - especially NOW

there can be a different way

this isn't easy

it's hard work

but, it's possible.

Interested? 🤔

Read on. 😄

Guitarists wonder

"How do I play those amazing jazzy guitar solos?"

I tell them:

"It's not about a thousand scales or modes.

It's not about locking yourself in a room with a metronomes.

It's not about playing boring exercises that make you fall asleep. It's about learning the language of jazz.

You learn jazz guitar licks.

Licks are the phrases that make up conversation.

If you went to Japan and wanted to have simple conversations,

you don't learn the toughest grammar rules

or how to identify every object in Japanese.

HOW TO BECOME BETTER AT GUITAR

1. Decide your focus

What style of music do you love the most?
Pick one first.
This can be your main style.
It doesn't have to be the only one, but it's your primary one.

(THREAD) 2. Decide what sounds you like

Pick 10 guitar players you like
Pick your top 10 favorite songs in that style
Pick 10 albums that represent that style to you
This is how you build your taste, style, aesthetic.

You don't have to like everything, just know what you like!

HOW TO GET THE INTERNSHIP THAT YOU WANT

Ok, this is for:

+ students who are about to graduate
+ musicians who are coming from a different field of study/work BUT want to work in the music industry

(THREAD) The advice here will have some music industry specific tips but a lot of it will be relevant for different industries too.

Okay, first things first.

1. You are not special until proven that you are.

A lot of people come demanding for an intership. They feel they are special.

5 Mistakes Beginner Jazz Guitarists Make

1) Being obsessed about music theory

Although theory is important, it's not the only thing. It's important to actually get basic theory but then to focus on the music. That means spending time listening & playing the songs.

(thread) 2) Not listening to the classics

Without listening and absorbing the classic recordings, how are you going to play the music?

Name 5 of your favorite jazz artists!

Can't name them?

Well, time to listen to the music.

Masa saya mula main gitar, saya start sebab Nirvana.

Saya suka Nirvana: Unplugged in New York.

Tu kira jam saya. Dengar pakai walkman, ada kaset time tu.

Lepas tu start main gitar pakai kapok biru sunburst RM80.

Nenek bagi duit, saya pergi beli kat Spectrum Ampang.

(thread) Main gitar dekat 3 bulan, tak quit lagi.

Ayah tanya kalau saya nak gitar baru.

Mestilah kata yes!

Dapat gitar klasikal Esteve RM600, dengan condition saya belajar classical guitar & belajar baca nota muzik.

Itu memang turning point dalam hidup saya.

Life changing!

[Nak Jadi Pemuzik Sessionist Professional?]

Tak cukup boleh main instrument anda, banyak kemahiran lain yang anda perlu ada, seperti:

1) boleh belajar lagu (dengan cepat)
Boleh belajar 18 ke 30 lagu baru dalam beberapa hari atau seminggu?

(thread) Ada masanya sessionist perlu belajar by ear lagu baru dengan cepat dan ada masa dengan charts dan...

2) Boleh baca nota muzik dan chart part anda
Ini penting untuk gig orchestra, big band dan arrangement besar. Mesti boleh baca supaya dapat gig tertentu

7 lagu jazz untuk newbies

1. Blue Bossa
2. Blue Monk
3. Autumn Leaves
4. Misty
5. Chendering (Jimmy Boyle)
6. Freddie Freeloader
7. Beautiful Love 7 Benda Boleh Dalami (untuk mula main jazz)

1. Jazz Melodies
2. Jazz Chord Progressions
3. Jazz Licks
4. Scales, Arpeggios, Etudes
5. Ear Training
6. Music Theory
7. Jazz History

Ok geng, ini cerita serius.

I think a lot of people need some extra income to help their day, week and month.

Let me help by dropping some knowledge to help you make some money.

Saya akan beri musician examples tapi you can adapt to other skills.

(thread) Ok.

Semua ini perlukan kerja, inisiatif.

Awak kena supply part tu.

Saya supply part ilmu.

1) Tulis apa kebolehan awak (benda yang boleh buat) - main gitar, tulis lagu, melukis fan art, apa-apa skill

2) Tulis siapa yang mungkin nak (dan mampu) bayar untuk skill itu.

Pemuzik kalau nak cari makan, ini tips untuk awak:

Tentukan
1) apa yang awak pandai
2) apa yang orang nak bayar awak buat
3) Buat benda yang orang sudi bayar awak buat & dibayar

Contohnya, kalau pandai main gitar, awak boleh:
- gig
- session (untuk band, penyanyi)
- ajar gitar Ini penting sebab kalau awak ada skills yang orang tak minat nak bayar, makanya tak ada kerja untuk awak.

Kalau ada skills yang "rare" atau unik, awak ada peluang untuk buat orang think of you first (first call or the main or only person for the job).

"Az, kenapa you beri banyak tips percuma on Twitter ni?"

Hidup kita singkat.

Of course, saya pun cari makan.

Sebab tu saya mengajar on Skype, 1-on-1, buat album, perform, session, tulis buku...

Tapi, banyak benda yang saya wish someone told me when I was younger.

(thread) So, dari benda ini tinggal dalam kepala saya.

Dan reach cuma private students saya, at least saya cuba kongsi to more people.

Samada orang ambil iktibar, that's out of my control.

Tapi, saya tetap kongsi & beri panduan.

Ramai yang bantu saya over the years.

Now, I give back.

Musicians

I want to share some thoughts on money. Somehow, musicians (+ artists in general) have a complicated relationship with money.

On one hand, we fight for the right to be paid fairly for our work.

On the other hand, some associate making money as selling out. (thread) Also, I've seen some refusing to make money out of certain artistic projects, implying that making money from artistic or community endeavours to be a wrong thing to do.

I give tons of advice to many people who tweet or DM me.

But, whether people apply it - that's totally up to the person.

Sometimes it's:
- exercises that I learned from my teachers at Berklee
- actual strategies that I would do myself
- what to do to advance your music career The thing is so much of the value that you get depends on how open your mind is.

It depends:
- on your mindset
- how hungry you are for your success
- whether you are afraid of being judged
- whether you are afraid of success

Knowledge only works when applied.

Why Projects Matter...

If you're a creative/musician/educator, thinking in projects may help direct your energy + time.

This is how I think when I'm planning what to make/do next.

What I've made so far this year: 1) How To Start Teaching Guitar Lessons
azsamad.com/teach

This is a guide to help guitarists who want to get a side income from teaching guitar, even if they have never taught before. Comes with audio + worksheets to help you get started (and save years of mistakes I did)

Musicians, need work?
Want to make money from your skills?

3 Ways:

1) Be good
2) Be famous
3) Be hardworking

Let's go deeper.

(thread) 1) Be good

If you're good at what you do, people might hire you. Of course, this has to be done together with promoting yourself (word of mouth, social media, marketing etc). If you're good and no one knows you exist (or if no one thinks of you) - then you have no work.