When I play alone with my guitar, I try to remember one simple thing: music is not just about the notes we play, but also about the notes we let live.
Many of us spend a lot of time thinking about technique, right-hand patterns, or difficult chord shapes. These are important, but sometimes they make us forget something more basic — listening.
In solo flatpicking, the melody is the voice of the piece. It is what the listener follows. But very often, without noticing, we cut those melody notes short. We lift a finger too early, change position too quickly, or focus so much on the next move that we don’t let the sound fully bloom.
Recently I recorded a short video based on one of my Solo Flatpicking Etudes. The musical material itself is not the point. The real lesson is this: when a melody note is important, let it ring. Give it a little more time. Play everything else a bit lighter.
When you do this, something small but powerful happens. Your guitar starts to feel more like a complete instrument, and your playing feels more like a real song, even when you are alone.
For me, this is not just a technical idea — it is a way of playing with more presence and care. It reminds me that beauty often comes from simplicity and attention.
If this way of thinking resonates with you, I often share similar ideas in my Flatpicking Insights emails. And if you’d like to see how I apply this idea on the guitar, you can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/v9SmSMfyFG8
