Once upon a time… a lot of young and inexperienced teachers, new and experienced students are in the clutches of unwise instruction based on learning vast amounts of misleading and seemingly practical repetitious efforts that can do almost nothing for the creative and the muse, along with all the offspring and outputs to come!
What you practice on your instrument either informs or derails. When playing patterns repeatedly with the goal of one day being able to reform heartfelt, inspired, emotive music the loyalty shows in ways that reflect the half-assery of choosing random patterns and scales that prove to be useless – and never ending searches for something that is actually never reached for, nor “practiced”.
The same can apply widely to scales and chords. And any and all mechanisms that serve no purpose – in that there is no muse, no music, and no inspiration. Simply put, practice stuff you don’t like and your muse will respond in kind.
I no longer advise learning anything that repels the flow of insight that only comes from enthusiasm as this can wellspring from the creative muse.
Therefore, whatever your loving interest is drawn toward, pursue that and its relative tributaries. Feed your ear and gently let your loyal muscles plod along effortlessly so that pure repetition over the course of time provides the wings of freedom.
Chris Warren
Ebbanoxious Guitar Lessons 