Have you seen the new Star Wars movie yet? (Don’t worry, no spoilers in this email). Great film, highly recommend.

As I was watching it, it reminded me of one of my favorite (old school) Star Wars scenes – video below:

Here, we witness Luke Skywalker getting his first taste of using a lightsaber, the weapon of choice for a Jedi.

And he sucks.

Why?

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Luke’s wise old mentor) notices that Luke is trying too hard, and thinking too much.

“This time,” he instructs, “let go your conscious self, and act on instinct”.

All of a sudden, Luke can defend a barrage of laser shots – even with his eyes closed.

Here’s the thing:

Obi-Wan Kenobi is not just a great Jedi master. He would have been a great jazz guitar teacher as well.

Too often, jazz players are thinking too hard when they play, resulting in tight, awkward technique, choking their ideas and phrasing.

By learning to “let go”, and “trusting your feelings” (more Obi-Wan wisdom), your technique, and hence your music, will begin to flow effortlessly, spontaneously and naturally.

I know you may scoff at this, like Han Solo in the above video, but I’m serious.

This simple approach has done wonders for my own playing, and it will do wonders for yours. All you need to do is learn how to take advantage of the natural power of your subconscious mind.

~ Greg