[Scorp]

Let's start with the "thanks".

I just wanted to express my gratitude to all those GTU'ers that took the time to post the tabs, lessons, tips, and advice that got me to the point I'm at with my beloved guitar. I've got a long way to go but I've made real progress thanks to those who have chosen to share their knowledge and talent. I think we are all fortunate to live in a time where we can log on to the internet and, for very little time, trouble, or expense reap the benefits of the experience of others.

Okay, on to the thoughts and theories... Just some random conclusions and discoveries made along the way since I got my 1st guitar (Kate - black Telecaster) some 3 years ago.

Playing a guitar is not a competitive sport.
Playing a guitar, or any other musical instrument, is an art form. It is counterproductive to compare your abilities against those of another musician. If you feel the need to measure your abilities do so against yourself. It is a far more relevant question to ask "am I better than I was last month" rather than "am I better than the guy/girl next door".

Find someone to jam with that is better than you.
Not just better, but better and not arrogant about it. I am fortunate in that I get to play fairly regularily with a guy that knows way more about playing than I do. He is generous with his knowledge and never makes me feel hopeless. Personally I find it easier to learn something by watching someone else do it and then trying it myself. There's been many times when I've tried to learn something from tabs and been frustrated. Then Paul shows me how it's done and it all just gels. Plus he sometimes lets me play his Martin and his Taylor 12-string.

Decide what you are going to do before you pick up your guitar.
I've read a number of posts that have a common theme: "how come I'm not getting any better? Why am I stuck in a rut?" Well, I have a theory...When I first started playing guitar I made a lot of progress in a short period of time. I had never played a note before I bought the Telecaster but I spent about 3 hours a day for 6 weeks at it. By that time I knew a good number of chords and could play a handful of songs that were recognizable. Eventually what happened was I would only attempt new songs if they were made up of the chords I already knew. Then, from those I would only play the songs I likes best or were the easiest and before I knew it I was in Rutsville. Forward progress had stopped.

So, to get back to my point, now before I pick up my guitar I decide if I'm just going to noodle around and play some stuff I already know or am I going to try to broaden my knowledge on my instrument. Now don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with revisiting some old favorites and playing for sheer enjoyment, but if that's all you do there won't be much progress in your skills. But when I decide "today I'll spend an hour working on barre chords" that's when I get better as a player. When you "feel" yourself getting better it stokes your enthusiasm and helps you to stay motivatied to get better. Cool, eh?

The trick here is to have the discipline to set yourself specific goals and stick to them. It's not a lot of fun to play scales and other drills but it develops the skills you need to improve as a player.

You're better than you think you are.
If you're anything like me you are your own worst critic. I don't think I've ever played a song from front to back without hearing the little voice in my head criticizing my playing. Yet people say it sounds pretty good. Being overly self-critical can be damaging to your self confidence as a player. Keep in mind that music is an organic thing. Music is not like arithmetic, it lives a breathes with the player and the listener.

Go watch live performances
For me, there is nothing more inspirational than watching a really good guitar player at work. When I watch someone play I try not to let it be a completely passive experience. I watch what he/she does in terms of fingering, strumming, and general technique and try to learn something from it.

There are no shortcuts
I've seen lots of posts that ask about easier ways to do things. In my experience, sometimes there is no easier way. Sometimes only hard work, dedication, and hours of practice are the ONLY way. But I will say this... Good technique will make anything easier than poor technique. We all live in a world of instant gratification which can lead to a mindset that is at odds with something like learning to play guitar. But that's what makes playing so great. It takes time, patience, determination, desire, and love to learn to play guitar and, in my opinion, that's just how it should be. If it were too easy everyone would do it.

Well that's it... thanks for reading. Keep posting, keep playing, keep helping each other.

[simonlewis07]

actually i agree with almost all of that, or at least all of it that i read
its definately true about playing wit hsomeone else. i mean i just started playing, and i still suck i think, but sometimes when you are playing something by yourself, you overcomplicate things. like when i first started i was like, 'im gonna learn stairway to heaven, because everyone has to learn that song.' and i took one look at it and gave up. a few months ago i went back to it, and looked at it with someone whose been playing guitar for probably 30 years. and he showed me that its just a few simple chord shapes (the intro, that is.) i was trying to finger each note seperately, and this guy showed me the correct/easy way to do it.

[dadfad]

I pretty much agree with every one of your points up there and in my own experience have found them to be true. Good post.

[airscape17]

I like to stroke my enthusiasm too!

[jessie_the_guru]

Such wonderful advice. I believe that you have actaully cleared up a lot of things about my guitar playing skills. Now I know why I'm not getting any better...that post really managed to clear a lot of things up for me...I shall take your advice and practice much harder than what I do, and work on different techniques. I do, however, need to broaden my skill and what-not, and I am just a beginner, and I should play guitar with someone else who is better at playing than I am so that I can learn a little a more each time I play...I never really thought of it all that way before. I have now been thoroughly enlightened upon many facts. Good post, you had a very good point, and now I know what was wrong with my 'technique' and now I am guaranteed to improve. Thanks for the advice.

-Jessie

[AndyFroe]

I wholeheartedly agree however, I do believe much progress can be made with music you already know. All those creative fck ups in the very beggining are a great way to enhance your ear for things. Which is one of the things i think tabs do us harm with. Alot of us just see numbers without ever opening our ears because we really dont "have" to. I learned off the numbers and progressed into understanding what im doing. But looking back on it i think i should have just popped in a cd of somethin and just tried, which is what i can do now without thought.

[Scorp]

Glad it was useful to you.

One point I forgot to make was that if you are going to put out hard earned cash for lessons it is important to have specific goals. That is, tell your instructor what it is (as specifically as possible) what you want to learn. For someone that is just beginning with guitar you will probably have to rely on your teacher for that because you don't yet know enough to know what you don't know (if that makes any sense . For those with a bit of experience try to give the instructor some direction as to what aspects of your playing you want to improve, or a specific song or technique you want to learn. Otherwise you spend a lot of time (and time=$) doing other things. I learned this the hard way after spending about half of my lesson time with my and instructor and I trying to figure out what to do in the lesson. I guess I thought it was his job to come up with a lesson but now I know I should have been a lot more pro-active.

Anyway....
I happy my rant helped you. Keep playing.