You probably know that the two hemispheres of our brains are as
different as day and night. The left hemisphere is the
analytical side that we use for calculating logical conclusions based
on an array of learned parameters that are different for each
person. One thing is for sure, the left side tells you left
from right and helps you figure out your checking account
balance. It is constantly weighing odds of danger, timing
etc. Numeric geographic solid things we have to deal with
all of our lives. The left brain never stops learning
and is calculating and recalculating conclusions to everyday challenges
up to death.
On the other hand, the right brain is the side that falls in love,
believes in God and feels things in an intuitive way that is sometimes
very accurate and sometimes not. It is these not so sure
times that the two hemispheres need to work together. This is
where the trouble can begin. This is a huge topic and I just
want to cover the aspects involved in playing music. The
decision to start playing guitar was probably a right brained decision.
At the moment of the first dought it is the left brain that
probably helps you remember the last hair brained hobby you got into
and maybe how disappointed you were that you were not a prize golfer
and how expensive it was. The problem with most people is that we
tend to vacillate between the two hemispheres. Some
people are true left or right brain dominants which in some ways is
better and some not.
The right brain is believed to be totally developed by the time a
normal person is about five years old. This is why it is
referred to as the child and believe it or not even the feminine side.
It is a pretty reasonable belief that the right brain is usually
powerfully developed in children who for some reason had an environment
where the the left brain was somewhat suspended. Same
thing could happen in reverse a left brain dominant probably came from
a childhood environment where things were a little more emotionally
under control or low keyed. Sensitive types are thought of to be strong
right brainers because of the feeling involved in decisions as opposed
to the logical weighing of pro and cons that the left brain dominant
would go through to make a decision about buying a guitar and paying
for lessons. A right brained dominant may make the right or
wrong decision that he/she can teach themselves because the music calls
to them and seems like it is going to flow out when the dam
breaks. The problem with these people is when they find out
that i does not come easily or readily they just as easily make the
decision to quit because they feel that they must not be cut out for it
, the teacher stinks or some reason that is equally as denial
driven. The big mistake these righties make is that it is
the right brained dominant that is the musician Sorry lefties, I’ve
seen thousands of examples and it is fact. I know great
players who know theory inside and out and have every song by their
favorites memorized but their music sounds stiff and lacks
expression. Jimi Hendrix was the the consummate righty.
They all take drugs and escape and are basically butterflies that flit
from one band or marriage to another. I speak from
experience because I am basically a right brained dominant in a left
brainers body. My SAT was in the top 2% of the nation on
the analytical part. This make for a very mixed up mess but great
musicians. More to come!
indyguitar
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Indianapolis, IN 46268
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2006
indyguitar