Thursday night at a lesson I was talking with a student (who will remain anonymous, but his name rhymes with Shmjerry) about how he’d recorded himself playing this week.
He said it was awful. Made him question his playing, his career, his very identity — all his life choices to this point.
I may be exaggerating. But it was humbling.
I had the exact same experience when I started recording myself. I watched the video and thought: really? After all these years, I sound like that?
I felt defeated.
It was also one of the most powerful things I’ve ever done for my playing.
No exaggeration.
Here’s the thing — when you’re in the act of playing, you don’t hear what’s really going on. Your brain is busy. The recording isn’t. It just sits there telling the truth.
So as painful as it is at first: record yourself. Ideally video.
Watch it. Cry. Then go practice.
Recording yourself gives you instant feedback you can use the same day.
Keep reading: Playing with your eyes closed and playing in front of people.
For more tips like this, get my book, 100 Ways to Improve Your Guitar Playing.
Nicholas