[marinoFret]

Two months ago I discovered "Improvising".
When I first tried to improvise something with minor pentatonic scale, it sounded dull and stupid. As the time was passing, I was getting better and better......

Here's my problem:
I like improvising so much that everything I play is improvised, I improvise all the time! I stopped focusing on learning songs.

Is this wrong?!
My father complains me that I don't learn songs..... but I like the improvising better. My mother really likes my songs (I mean what I improvise while I'm playing in the living room)...

Should I focus on making my own songs, or on learning songs?

Thanks for help!

[stringslinger]

Its funny you bring this up. I was just thinking the other day about this. You know, its been years (really) since I've wanted to, or cared to learn an actual song (outside of instrumental guitar). Thats not to say I haven't picked up some parts here or there, but I DO spend most of my time creating new progressions and solos. I have found this to help more than anything. However learning songs has its place, and a very important one at that, especially for a beginner.

Learning songs will help your technique, because it will force you to play stuff that might be a little out of your league. It will force you to learn new chords and strumming patterns. It will force you to learn a new tempo, the tempo of the song. AND MOST importantly, you'll (hopefully) learn songs people want to hear, and that will impress them.

Now adays, if I mess with a song, it is probably to study their application of scales/chords with their techniques (tapping, sweeping, legato etc...).


I'll definitely say this... learning ONLY songs will not help you much when writting your own songs. However only improvisation probably isn't a good idea either. Balance is key. Though I suggest spending more time writting songs than "doodling" or learning songs.

Over time though... songs should become easier to learn, depending on their style.

[Black&Blue]

A bit of both. Learn songs to acquire some chops - then arrange them artfully on the BBQ in your own improv.