Play Canon Rock like Funtwo does on electric guitar
People play Pachelbel’s Canon arrangement at weddings, but they don’t do it like Funtwo plays the rock version on YouTube. After six years of learning to play the electric guitar, South Korean guitarist Lim Jeong (Funtwo) uploaded his “unique” video to YouTube. Since then, millions of beginning and advanced guitarists have been captivated by his style … so much so that the YouTube clip ranks in the top 25 videos of all time. His outstanding musical ability earned him a spot on stage performing with guitar legend Joe Satriani for the 2008 YouTube Live event.
How to find lessons to learn yourself
There are many instructional videos and tabbed lessons that can be purchased online. Just do an online search using the phrase “Canon guitar lessons.” There are search result pages full of professional instructors offering lessons for this arrangement.
Practice requirements
Learning to play this song with excellence will require hundreds of hours of practice. Even with the proper guidance, the truth of the matter is that you will never be able to master the arrangement without dedicated practice. Several hours a day should be set aside for fingerboard exercises. Small portions of the song should be practiced until the entire piece is mastered.
Mental attitude
To play the guitar like Funtwo does, you require an extremely high expectation of yourself. In an interview with CNN, Lim Jeong said that he would rate his guitar playing at fifty percent (50%) out of a hundred (or as a “5”). As of May 2010, YouTube videos of him playing Jerry C’s Canon Rock on electric guitar have attracted more than eighty-four million viewers. That’s pretty good for someone who rates their own musical ability at fifty percent of what it could be. I think you get my point. A high standard of excellence must be present in your personality at all times when learning the song.
Musical equipment
The equipment you use to learn to play this arrangement will have a direct effect on your motivation to master Jerry C’s Cannon Rock. A beginning guitarist may become discouraged if the instrument he is learning with does not stay in tune or has a quality sound deficient. If you really want to learn how to play electric guitar, invest in a decent amp and guitar. The guitar Funtwo used when he recorded the YouTube video was an ESP, Alfee Custon SEC-28OTC with gold accents.
A good digital recorder is required
It is important to record your guitar while you practice. Often times, what we hear with our ears sounds different from what it does when we play back a recording. You want to keep practicing your little sections of the Canon Rock song until they sound flawless. This type of practice requires a high level of patience with yourself. You should never give up, no matter how you think it sounds. Remember, “practice makes perfect”.
I personally believe that people who play guitar outstandingly (as Funtwo does) have been entrusted with a musical gift. However, not everyone is musically talented. However, great achievements can be achieved regardless of whether you are musically gifted or not. For some people, the amount of practice it takes to play Jerry C’s Cannon arrangement will be more extensive than for others. Just keep in mind that “where there is a will, there is a way.” I’ve seen people play guitar with their feet because they don’t have arms. A man named Phil Keggy reached great heights in the world of Christian music and has only four fingers on one of his hands. Set an achievable goal for mastering the song, commit to practicing daily, and before you know it, you’ll be able to play Canon on electric guitar just like Funtwo does.
