A mistake that many musicians make when learning to play a piece or musical exercise that they consider difficult, is that from the first moment they try it, they do it at a fast speed, when in reality, if you want to master something, you must begin to a slow speed and gradually increase until you master the piece or exercise at the speed it really goes. Here are some tips to master a difficult piece.
Analyze the piece or exercise
Before you fall on a piece or musical exercise, you must analyze what is happening inside it, so that what you are going to do is done with conscience. Verify in what tone it is, analyze the harmonic progression, the alterations, the changes of tone, the melody. If audio is available, listen to it before trying, to get a general idea of how everything is going.
Slow practice
Do not worry about the speed, she will arrive alone when you master the piece or exercise. At first you should practice slow to register in your brain. When you have practiced the piece at slow speed several times, you will notice that the fingers will do everything on their own, without you thinking about it, then the time will come to increase the speed.
Practice more difficult parts
Throughout a musical piece or musical exercise you will find easy passages that will come out right the first time. You will also find passages that will not turn out right the first time. Those passages that do not go well the first time you pay attention. When you are practicing and you find yourself with a part that you can not do at slow speed, stop in that part and try several times, if possible at an even slower speed, until you learn that part well and it turns out well. After that part comes out well, you can continue on.
Practice by parts
Another common mistake in many musicians is that they want to make the whole song on the first try. The best thing is to go in parts. Learn the intro well. When you have the intro ready, then move on to the stanza. If the stanza is already ready, move on to the next part, either to the pre-chorus or the chorus. And so on. The same with the exercises. Do not pass to bar 10 if you still do not master bar 8.
Creativity
When you have mastered the exercise or piece of music and can do it at the right speed, do not stay there. Try to give it a personal touch. You can change the tone, rhythm, phrasing, etc. There are endless possibilities. Let your mind fly and create your own version. Remember, music is not just an execution of your instrument, it is an expression.