Jamey Andreas' Principles book?

Hi all,

I can comment on the first book, and I have the second "path" but I can't comment on it yet.

I recently got 2nd place in an essay contest Jamey ran,
and I'll simply reiterate a portion of it here.
---
"Wax on, wax off" - like in the Karate Kid.

Do like the book says and all of a sudden you'll start
to feel like you know kung fu.
---

Every single word in the book actually deserves careful
attention, and I say that because after "waxing" for
a while, and going back after finding a difficulty I'm having,
I gain new insights reading it again, and I invariably
realize I should have read the book as many times
as I have... much much more slowly.

Every little detail counts and "if you're doing it wrong"
it WILL manifest as a problem that you could have
addressed before.

IMHO - speaking from experience.

The attention to "pick-style" actually seems to be
90% of the whole issue with picking.

I have just recently started picking with a pick with
my guitar teacher, and I'll be darned if what appears
to be simple in the book, doesn't pay off big time.

( I added somehow myself "alternate picking" and
 "economy picking" right from the get-go, maybe
 after reading a newsletter. )

If you read what Ney Mello says about his pick style,
it entirely depends on the simple foundation Jamey
Provides.

Ney adds a very subtle "trick" it seems, which is,
to paraphrase Ney...

"Like a gun, the Arm 'Loads the String' and the miniscule
wrist action 'Pulls the Trigger'"

This is for alternate picking on the same string.

Jamey, if you think about it, already covers well
using the existing momentum of a down or up stroke
to carry to the next string.

You may not really understand this unless you do it
really really slow at first.

If I read Ney right, the back-end of the pick is to
"fish-tail" down on a down stroke, and up on an
up stroke.

This "pulling the trigger" is ultimatley not visible
to the naked eye, it is very subtle, but it is probably
okay to start off A LITTLE BIT ONLY with highly
exaggerated wrist action.  You'll get hurt if you keep
up the big action.

Pays to have your wrist straight and perhaps
back a little bit.  ( and relaxed hand except for
the thumb and index finger like Jamey says. )

Unlike Jamey's intro to picking, which you need to know
anyway, and your muscles need to know...

Ney adds a thing or two so your arm momentum is
not in the way of the next alternating pick stroke.

Presto !  Control at high speed.

Ney says it is unwise to try and learn or teach what he does if not done in person.  Therefore don't listen to anything I've said about Ney because it may well be unwise for me to have said anything.

Don't forget your metronome.  I did.

:(

Have Both " The Princibles & The Path". Well worth the price - have been "noodling with guitars for about 35 years nothing serious till this past summer when the young`en wanted to learn so got both of us a guitar package " guitar - amp and such -started taking lessons and the teacher recomended "The Princibles " got both at a buy together deal - Definatly makes you think about what you are doing ! Once again if you don`t have it or both " GET THEM"
Slidething

I read Principles. It was helpful. I have gotten something out of every learning tool I ever bought except Kurt Mitchell DVD's but he is a lunatic geared towards experienced people.

I bought both books and the DVD about 2 weeks ago. I can only comment on the "Principles" after reading and trying a few exercises. Watched about 1/2 the DVD so far. I've been playing only 2 1/2 months. For a beginner with no previous experience,

I found the following very informative as Jamie explains:
1. How to properly develop muscle memory. I had heard this term, great description of what it is and how to achieve it.
2. Details on how and why to sit and hold the guitar.
3. Details on eliminating pain or discomfort while practicing.
4. This book will save me numerous hours of searching the web for a specific topic.
5. Answers many, many beginner questions.

I am not disappointed in the purchase. The description on muscle memeory may even help my golf game... or not. As a beginner - it has been valuable to me.

Robert

I enjoy reading her Newsletter that I get emailed to me every week or so.

Anybody else get that?

I got the DVD of Guitar Principles, but I have to confess that it's a bit boring to me watching Jamey reading a tele prompter. I really think his(her?) method is excellent, but I think the DVD lacks some warmth.

Any thought?

I got Jamie's Principles and The Path books several months ago and found them invaluable for a beginning guitarist. There is so much information, that many guitar teachers seem to either skim over or don't know how to teach, that is absolutely critical to a beginner getting a good start that I would recommend these books for anyone just starting out.

BTW, Jamie is a woman. And Ney Mello, whose materials have been mentioned here, is a student of Jamie's Principles techniques.

Earl

That's interesting....

This from the Guitar Principles Newsletter sent round on 3 August 2003, I quote:

"Someone commented on my arm position in the photo from the New York Workshop posted on the site.

'His left elbow and upper arm are hanging away from his body.....'"

His?

Unusual to let that one go uncorrected. And, both the "Jamie" and "Jamey" spellings started to appear on newsletters during that time.

Hmmmm.

Was "his," now hers. Things change, people change.

I get the newsletter too; there's often some really good stuff in there.

Exactly...For instance Jethro Tull fans know that David Palmer ,famous for making the orchestal arrangements for the band since their first album, has turned to Dee Palmer.

:)

Anyway I'm still curious if someone else has a similar reaction about the Principles' DVD as me. For my money Jamey reads everything from a teleprompter and it's quite boring (sorry Jamey,I like the books indeed).

'His left elbow and upper arm are hanging away from his body.....'"

His?

Unusual to let that one go uncorrected. And, both the "Jamie" and "Jamey" spellings started to appear on newsletters during that time.

Hmmmm.

Apparently, he actually did have a sex change, 'gender realignment' or whatever it's called now. So when I first read stuff on his site it was "his". Now it's "hers". I seem to remember somebody here posting a link to a newsletter where he explained the decision to his readers.

Just a preference thing. I'm sure that many of the female players here would see it as just another "upgrade" decision. :wink: