The Murphy Method Blog

Here is a recent exchange I had with a student in the UK which I hope will prove enlightening.

Hi Murphy,

Last week I took a giant step forward and dared to venture into Pandora’s box: the Advanced Earl DVD. I wasn’t too sure how I would fair but having worked my way through High Breaks and Backup I felt I was ready for a bigger challenge. Besides, I was growing awfully tired of hearing those same or similar licks again and again. My ear needed a fresh sound.

I got some relief in the guise of “Liberty” in the key of C from the Soldier’s Joy DVD. What an amazing DVD that one is! In fact I would go so far as to say it is one of my favorites. But my goal over the next twelve months is to progress up the neck with a focus in developing a good solid back-up.

After watching Advanced Earl all the way through one time to get some inspiration I decided I would try out “Foggy Mountain Special.” My aim was to try to see if I could master the left hand fingering and get a feel for those up-the-neck shapes. To my amazement all my fingers just seemed to fall on the right strings and on the right frets with apparent ease. I guess you could say I hit one of those eureka moments which is often the topic of discussion on the Banjo Hangout. I have still some way to go to getting the tune to completion but I have learned all the licks and joined up most of the dots…

Best Regards

Archie

Hi Archie,

I was intrigued by your comment about working your way through High Breaks and Backup. You say, “I was growing awfully tired of hearing those same or similar licks again and again…”

Then later on, when working on “Foggy Mountain Special” you say, “To my amazement all my fingers just seemed to fall on the right strings and on the right frets with apparent ease.”

Hmmmm…..Would you happen to see any connection between those two happenings?

Yes, of course you would. The Method works!

This is exactly why I have you (and everybody else) do those same similar licks over and over again (as you did in High Breaks) till they get boring beyond belief! It’s so your fingers will fall in the right places without your having to think about it when you tackle the harder stuff like “Foggy Mountain Special.” See, there is Method in my Madness!

I’m glad you are hanging in there. I think a quote from a Bill Monroe song would be appropriate here: “And for those who walk that Shining Pathway, the gates will open…”

Glad the gates are opening for you!

Murphy

Tags: advanced earl, method in the madness, playing up the neck

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