Question Home

Position:Home>Performing Arts> I'm in love with the guitar, music is the best thing in my life, but my guit


Question: I'm in love with the guitar, music is the best thing in my life, but my guitar playing is terrible!. Help!?
I love the guitar more than I've ever loved anything, even more than any woman I've ever loved, but I can't play a single song, I can only read tabs, I play horrible, and the struggle of trying to improve is starting to send me into a state of depression, what can I do!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I can relate to your love of guitar, and i think i felt the same way as you when i started playing!. However, i eventually got it!.
If you've been teaching yourself from books and the internet and it isn't working, i would suggest a few lessons with a teacher, or at least find someone you know who can show you some basic chords etc!.
If you've only just started playing don't stress too much, you will improve with time and practise!. also, when you say you cant play a single song, which songs have you been trying!? maybe you've just been attempting songs which are hard, and are for more experienced guitarists!.!.
Most importantly, practise!. But, don't force yourself to practise, as this may dim your love for guitar!. I find its best to play and practise when you feel like it, and for however long you feel like it!. Obviously you have to do it on a regular basis, but i don't think you should set a specific time in which to do it!.
Don't lose hope, you WILL improve, just give it time!.
Good luck!. =)Www@QuestionHome@Com

When I was first learning, I would be up ALL night playing chords & scales then scales & chords!. After a while I tried an EASY little song, then moved to a harder one!. There has even recently , been a song I wanted to play but had to "retreat" sort of speak, and regroup later when my skill level had developed along better!. I have been playing a couple of decades so unless you can afford to quit work/school or whatever and do NOTHING but practice all day long with soar fingers, it may be quite a while before you can play like you want to!. Many professional guitarist are not at the level they want to be in spite of being considered world class guitarists!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

tsk tsk tsk!.!.!. You rightly analogize the guitar with a fine woman but you are like a man who can't get it up! Such a pity if you have a nice girltar and yes it can make you feel very depressed!.

What you need to do it practice practice practice!. Take it one step at a time!. Play the easy stuff first!. Make sure you can lock in the easy stuff (like really really basic stuff, e!.g!. power chords, and very basic solos)!. This is because you can't reach the peak of the mountain in one giant leap!.!.!. you have to take baby steps!. It takes time and patience and effort and discipline, much like sex!.

Do basic drills and repeat them constantly!. Start slowly first and once you've nailed them at slow tempo then speed it up slightly, nail it at that tempo, then up the tempo a little more!.!.!. but make sure you nail it everytime! Treat your guitar like you would treat any fine woman!.!.!. start slow and get it right before you go hard and finally nail her like you know you want to!

This is my technique and since I've being doing it I am now rocking out and shredding and sending my guitar and I into orgasmatic overload!

,\m/ (Rock On!)Www@QuestionHome@Com

A couple of questions immediately come to mind:
1!. How long have you been playing!?
2!. Have you ever tried lessons from a real human being rather than online or from books!?
3!. What type of music are you trying to play!?
4!. How old are you!?
5 Have you ever considered that maybe you aren't cut out to be a guitarist!?

First off, You don't say how long you've been trying to play!. If you've only been playing for a year or two, then you shouldn't expect to be Eric Clapton yet!. Guitar playing at its best takes year and years to really master!.
2!. Lessons form a human being are essential, especially in the beginning!. You need to learn the basics of proper guitar technique and only a human can show you what YOU are doing right or wrong!.
you don't need to take lessons forever, but at least a few months would help!.
3!. If you are trying to play "On Top of Old Smoky" and still can't do it!.!.then give up!. If you are trying to play like Eddie Van Halen, it takes years!. Be patient
4!. I started learning at 8 yrs old, and am still learning new things!. A good guitarist is never "through" learning!.

And finally, 5!. Maybe guitar isn't your bag!. I've seen many people who just don't have the manual dexterity or aptitude to play guitar!.
Just like I've seen some of the greatest guitarists I know, are so completely rhythmically challenged, that they can't even clap their hands in time to music! They will never be drummers, even if they love the drums to death!. I myself can play guitar, bass, drums, many percussion instruments and electronic keyboards and organ!. BUT I will never be able to play piano as long as I live!. I don't have the "piano gene" That let's me separate my right and left hands so thoroughly that I can do the left hand rhythms and right hand melodies at the same time!. Forget it, it'll never happen in a million years!.

So if you've been playing a long time,had lessons and still can't do it, maybe it's just not for you!.

But I wish you luck, guitar is wonderful, I agreeWww@QuestionHome@Com