Hey Friend,

Sorry again...

My daughter had her last cross country race this morning, and we’re just getting back. She got her best time to date and a good spot to build from for next year (yup, already planning…).

Here’s a question for you…

In my car, I’ve been on an Eagles kick lately. The "Hotel California" CD had been playing for a few weeks, and I changed to "The Long Run" earlier this week. 

I get hooked on a song or two and end up doing deep listening. I’m trying to hear things in the song that I haven’t heard before, and without fail, I do.

For example, just yesterday I heard what sounded like the pick scraping the strings of a strummed guitar part in one song. So it was either that or a percussion track with a light tapping along with the strum pattern.

I can tell you I’ve listened to this song dozens of times, and this was the first time I heard this particular sound in the track.

I know, it’s an audio geek thing to do, but this type of listening will help you with playing guitar. That’s because the ears are as important to your playing as the hands and fingers.

When you focus on listening skills, you begin to hear the subtle nuances of tone that allow you to develop your unique sound. You learn to adjust finger placement and pressure, how to create vibrato and how much to apply, even how you hold your pick.

All that from just practicing your listening skills? 

Well, yeah. That and working on your technique, but the two go hand in hand.

Of course, it takes time and practice, but listening skills are something you can practice any time, not just when you have your guitar in hand.

So when you’re just sitting there listening to a cool song, focus in on one of the instruments and see what else you can hear. I think you’ll surprise yourself...

Peace~

Dave