My Advice For Mastering Your Instrument

My list of what I think is the best and most rewarding way to learning your instrument.
Video sponsored by my Patreon Supporters
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[@billgross176]

This truly is the golden age for learning guitar. Ive learned more in the last 5 years of watching youtube videos than I did in the previous 40 years.

[@ganglestank]

It really puts into perspective the greats who could overplay but chose not to because everyone overplays these days due to the skill level ladder being easier to climb

[@garethnaicker4225]

I say this in most of your comment sections. But you're so damn underrated it's a tragedy.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Thanks so much. Slow and steady wins the race 😁

[@Desperado665]

You should make a course man! Would love to learn from you

[@kevinb9050]

Agree - AND -- please make a course that focuses on the Jay Leonard J advanced stylings (i.e., clucking, simultaneous with funk, simultaneous with 70s rock, simultaneous with aggressive blues, with jazzy notes spiced in). Make it the JLJ-iest course not just "a" course. I found that just listening to your gear demos taught me a great deal. Listening to your oxblood demo, some years ago, was highly inspiring. I'd even pay for a course that just breaks down what is going on in the demos, for crying out loud! - from a fellow Canuck (in Boston)

[@cmart205]

Super awesome advice. Thanks!

[@bigbokiptd]

Amazing video and advices, thank you so so much for sharing!

[@mondrian5620]

Great video and great content in general. Keep em comin bro!

[@kostisk8914]

Awesome vid! Thx for sharing!

[@makaioboodram3571]

These are amazing tips, thank you,. I love your vibe too🙏

[@salo6564]

You’re so genuine bro, subbed!

[@dennisapplegate7553]

Thanks Jay I love your enthusiasm for your art . Great advise .

[@zenwarfare70]

Good advice !

[@skwashiiiiii]

Best guitar advice I haven't heard in awhile. Thank you Jay!

[@guitfiddleblue]

Great video! Love that tele - now I want a tele with a vibrato!

[@mateovicuna7640]

Hey Jay, I really admire ur playing. You have that thing, u know what I'm talking about... Cheers from Chile!

[@lightonthelandscape]

Awesome stuff Jay. 30 years ago my guitar teacher told me to vary my practice. One day just turn the radio on and play along to everything - even if you hate the song. Another time practice scales/techniques. Another time focus on your guitar style, listening and playing to your influences and focusing on their town (how they play notes, sliding in, bending, vibrato etc). One great lesson was to record songs to play along to, but cut the volume in parts of each song and have the song volume pop back in again, so when practicing to the song, you keep playing during the no volume parts. When the song pops in, you can hear if your tempo is in or not. A neat way to learn timing/temp. There's also quality practice and then noodling practice. Both are important. Quality being totally focused on learning something specific. Noodling, just playing without even concentrating, just let the fingers do their stuff. So important. Great advice Jay. Thanks for the tips.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Lots of great stuff in there, thanks for writing 💯💯💯

[@hearpalhere]

Solid advice for sure. Especially about playing with others. I would only add that it's great to try writing your own songs with friends to learn quickly too.

[@craigridley9618]

Yeahhhh.... king of the hill was my sound check for years 😂 great stuff all around Jay! Great advice!

[@shadrackperez7325]

Thanks man! Great advice! I need to enjoy at the level I am so I don’t feel like is a chore. And you are right, guitar is the best!!! Cheers mate

[@ipsofacto6864]

"it's not practice, your playing guitar, it's awesome" that's such a good point. I could hear that in your playing straight away. It makes you stand out from other great players.

[@RobertKeeleyTV]

Loved this video! So much great wisdom. Thank you sir.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Thanks so much for watching brother. Always awesome to see your name on the feed 😁😁😁😁😁

[@ArthurCLee]

This is great. Nicely done. As a guitar teacher myself, like you said, I ALWAYS tell my students to 1. play with other people and 2. Listen to music! It's amazing how many of them, especially younger students, actually don't listen to music. What a shame. I guess I would also add 3. Go out and listen to live music, whether at a venue or someone busking on the street or around a campfire... etc. Surrounding yourself with music is the best way to learn. Thanks for the video.

[@isaacjohnson.]

Great advice in here. Thank you Jay! Love your style and unique sound. Great channel.

[@JayLeonardJ]

My pleasure!

[@TedSchoenling]

Gonna steal this staying "I practice things I don't like, I PLAY the guitar" LOVE THAT

[@deplinenoise]

Great stuff and presented brilliantly and in a personal way. Love your channel!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Thanks!

[@brandonrobinson1785]

VERY HELPFUL!

[@larrywithrow5876]

Thanks so much J for the information, it’s great to hear how a real player learned and honed your skills. I’m a 68 year old beginner/ wanna be player, but struggling hard with how to play through chord shapes. Any advice would be sooo much appreciated. Thanks

[@bcoll1082]

You're skill, energy, and passion are so inspiring. You're very talented, and should be more recognized as such. I watch you play, and because of the plateau I've been stuck on for too long, I consider quitting again. Then I think that, because of the person you appear to be, you would likely discourage quitting and encourage embracing the guitar even more. I have been in love with guitars since I first picked one up and therefore cannot completely eliminate them from my life. So, even if I stay stuck here on this plateau, I'll never completely quit again. Even throughout my hectic and crazy life, and while raising my 4 kids, I'll always try to find a way to make time. Even if it's just a little bit. Thank you for the inspiration Jay. Congratulations on all of your success, and best for the future.

[@spydiggerous]

Great advice! Loved the video of you attempting to crush your bandmate's keyboard. LOL.

[@adrianurrusuno2607]

The last advise is the best of all of them. And I really mean it. Great video Jay!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Truth! Thanks for writing!

[@rcolang1]

recently discovered your channel looking for examples of a pedal.....but stayed for the wisdom, great player and loved this even for an advanced player!! Thank you!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Really appreciate it! Thanks for watching!

[@aarongallant35]

That's great advice for everyone to play along with music they admire, I progressed greatly as a musician, not just a guitarist when I started to do so. I favored playing along with Elmore James' music. I'm very surprised how many different methods you and I share for improving our skills and passion. Keep up the good work:)

[@JayLeonardJ]

You had me at Elmore James :)

[@angrybuzzy]

Love the golf analogy, JLJ. Truth.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Thanks and happy swinging!

[@fxaarchable]

I do love your approach.

[@misticformula1485]

That advice about learning different genres is great 👍

[@JayLeonardJ]

I really appreciate it!

[@SandauxBeats]

Maaaan! These lessons are my "Aha!" moment! Thank you, Jay!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Haha, Thanks :)

[@tomfoolery2082]

Iv played in a few cover bands so i get playing styles ur not crazy a bout . Good tips . Love the channel .

[@vicpnut1]

I can’t get over how in two videos of yours that I’ve watched (back to back ) how much a monster player you are and you’re advice makes sense more so than most other advice I’ve gotten

[@JayLeonardJ]

I really appreciate it. Thanks so much for writing and rock on!

[@D_J_P]

You gave away your Canadian roots with your automatic sports example being hockey. Right on J! (Greetings from YYC)

[@DerekPaulGuitar]

All of this helps greatly, as always... great video man!!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Thanks man. You are already an amazing player as it is :)

[@DerekPaulGuitar]

@@JayLeonardJ Well that's made my day, cheers Jay!

[@Ash-fm6ym]

Great vid, subbed

[@perrywoods1057]

Wonderful Advice! Cheers to the Keyboardist who also took it in stride!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Haha, he definitely was a good sport beyond measure :)

[@swaap040]

that piece of advice about making mistakes is the tru-est thing ever. its very important to get used to making mistakes and fixing them on the fly. and that does not only count for your own mistakes! if for instance the drummer f*cks up his beat you should be concentrating on adapting to it and acting nothing is wrong instead of giving your band mate an obvious mad look XD. (btw love your video's)

[@coinstarbon1693]

Hahah i love the reaction from the guy playing the keyboard, he was like WHAAAT! :O

[@egraffius]

Another one I figured out that helped me quite a bit was to play the vocal lines from the song on the guitar and hum or sing along as you play. Really helps your ear and gave me a lot more respect for singers.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Great tip!

[@tonepoet]

You can also slow down videos on KZbin (playback speed) without changing the pitch. It's in the settings on the video (computer and on mobile). You give some great advice, dude, and you have some good enthusiasm.

[@JayLeonardJ]

I forgot to mention that!!! Thanks

[@scottmenasco2157]

Your vids deserve way more views, dude

[@danielchavez85]

I've was learning AC/DC's Back in Black record from the sheet music and it was going really slow. After I bought the Waza-Air Headphones and started streaming the record while playing, everything clicked and I was able to finally finish learning all the rhythm guitar parts on that album. Learning to a recording has really made me a believer - reminds me of when I first started playing as a teenager. I think we get too analytical the older we get and forget to explore in our learning. Great advice!!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Really glad that these words rang true for you: rock on and thanks for writing :)

[@alansouthall8221]

Super useful can't wait to get back to my guitar.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Hope it helps!

[@greigclement9081]

Jay, you should consider teaching a Funk course. Your funk chord and riff changes are cranked out at incredible speed.

[@stan2211stan]

I think Jay would be a very entertaining company spokesperson for ANYTHING and should be selling on television. Can you imagine watching a Soap and JLJ pops up to tell You to buy it?

[@kostisk8914]

One tip I would like to offer is that when I watch a vid about gear and GAS for it, I learn some of what the reviewer played. Like 99% of the time my gas dissipates as it was the awesome playing that hooked me more then the gear itself. Plus I got to learn something super cool that I can include in my quiver of tricks. Learning guitar is down right 👑

[@SandauxBeats]

I've already been doing lessons 2, 3, 5 and 6 before watching this. Makes me proud of myself. Yey! 😊 Will continue that and add lessons 1 and 4.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Awesome!!! Glad to see you are enjoying the vids :)

[@robsthedon]

🙏 would love to hear you play ‘peace frog’

[@jbencinitas]

This guy is the best

[@JayLeonardJ]

Thanks!

[@guitarkis4969]

My wife will attest that I have learned to play most commercials during the evening news. Lots of fun and a great way to learn something new outside of the box.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Definitely!

[@jacksonllk]

Please make a course!

[@MrDreadeye]

EXCELLENT...

[@matthewlunsford4351]

Thanks.

[@khemrew]

very true.

[@prendelalumbreofficial714]

I would have accepted vinyl record aswell! Instead of cd lol...... dont worry man,cd's were in there hay day when i was growing up and first learning so i woulda said that aswell!. Thank you for the awesome video!... I love how your personality shines through your playing . Youre a madman! Keep up the awesome content man!

[@prendelalumbreofficial714]

Most definitely the first patreon page ill support asap

[@JayLeonardJ]

I miss lugging my giant CD binder everywhere I went, haha

[@jordaniezzi8617]

I only took lessons for about a year but I used to bring my teacher a cd every week to beg him to teach me how to play whatever song was on it.

[@McDoinky]

a very important video that's applicaple to any instrument subscribed could you do a bass guitar video sometime?

[@ashrafimaduddin8162]

Hey Jay, any good songs that you would recommend for beginner to start with country or chicken pickin licks? Thanks in advance!

[@tomrogerthu]

Still listen to cd’s in the car..maybe i should keep a guitar there aswell?🤔 Great tips btw😊

[@bigkeezo]

I’m gonna take in person lessons at guitar center. It’s necessary

[@ThFatty]

This whole video is full of excellent advice. But definitely this: 13:39 "It's not practice, it's fun. I practice things I don't like. I PLAY the guitar."

[@donindri]

Would love to see you jamming with Tomorrow Fujita. Thanks for posting.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Tomo!!! He was my teacher for a year back in college. We definitely had some epic jams 😁

[@donindri]

JayLeonardJ Wow, didn’t know that, definitely could hear the influence. Been watching a lot of his videos and subscribed to his Guitar Wisdom site. He sometimes posts videos of jams with his students, I hope he has one with you. Thanks for the reply.

[@TonyAguirreJazz]

Great vid. "pretend like you know what you are doing" - Joe Walsh

[@Sizzz29]

Drop a course Jay, I’m literally begging you. Drop a course.

[@slo_carry]

What was the second theme song, after Friends? I know it, but can't name it...

[@slo_carry]

Simpsons!

[@TheGrahamSnyder]

Awasone j , you are one of those most uderated guitar players out there , can I ask what pickup and tone caps are you using ?

[@1redgate8]

One of his vids goes through different wiring, pots and caps. If I remember correctly he explains what he's got in his guitars.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Right now I am using "Tone Specific J-Mod" pickups. They are my signature special wind. Give them an email and ask them to wind a set for you 👍

[@real_fjcalabrese]

I played along to cassettes. Some of these were recorded off vinyl.

[@rjb7569]

You, Fred, are a dinosaur... as am I.

[@real_fjcalabrese]

@@rjb7569 I had a few books with soundsheets.

[@cchavez248]

Mile stones?

[@tommym321]

Haven’t watched video. Does he say “practice more ya idjits” for 10 minutes? 😂I kid, I kid. Thanks for video

[@kond1e]

I heard the "go go power rangers" theme

[@mlewmisc]

KZbin has a speed function to let you slow down songs!

[@monchikun9935]

Pro Tip: you can slow down KZbin videos so find a song set the playback speed and enjoy.

[@rjb7569]

So let's hear the theme song from the Flintstones!

[@JayLeonardJ]

The Flintstones theme is awesome but the little licks in the Jetsons might have it beat, haha

[@Caged63Man]

'Lots of ways to hit it'... I learned that from dating....lol

[@wynandvanreenen2612]

I don’t understand why you are not one of the biggest channels on KZbin. Thanks for your videos! Do you shoot 4k or 1080?

[@JayLeonardJ]

I shoot in 4k and crop down to 1080p

[@wynandvanreenen2612]

JayLeonardJ thanks!

[@mikefromusa6902]

Awesome man go go power rangers

[@nixternal]

Why do I get the feeling that you want me to listen to Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, One Direction...OK, I ran out of all the music old people like me are supposed to bitch about :D Great vid though, I need to play more with the CD & less with the metronome, that I do know.

[@JayLeonardJ]

One thing Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and Harry Styles (from One Direction) have in common... Producer Max Martin. Look him up, that guy has had a crazy career 😳

[@theystoleitfromus]

8:28 counk

[@Indobiker61]

You can even slow down KZbin clips....in diferent speeds.... Learn till you can play the song without looking at the tabs..

[@JayLeonardJ]

Great advice!

[@wynandvanreenen2612]

😂 “CD” child of the 90’s

[@JayLeonardJ]

If I didn't give it away with my constant CD references, I did it with my selection of TV theme songs, haha

[@daveduffy2823]

JayLeonardJ - Ha, I give my age away playing tv themes too. - original Star Trek, Hawaii 5-0, Lost in Space, UFO and Spider-Man 67 (all on You Tube). Great for warm ups.

[@joshuadoliveiro]

you play golf? unsubscribed.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Based on that logic, you have TONS of music you need to remove from your Spotify playlist 😂😂

[@volfgankamei5348]

Thanks.