Do\ have you ever felt you where going backwards when first playing?
I am at the moment on a downward hill after being quite upbeat about my prospects of actually getting to grips with this Instrument.
I am not new to it having attempted to play in and off for a couple of years. Now I find myself in total limbo I used to be able to pick off certain chords without any problem. Now though it’s a different story and I am taking, basic chords here A, A minor , D my fingers are all in the erotic place and I am second guessing where to put my fingers.
Does any of this sound familiar, or is just me. I now know how the reason why I have tried on and off. Hence my post - “Is not everyone cut out to play”
Yes, I am aware I’d the adage, if you can’t you can’t... However that is like saying if you can’t swim you drown
Comments
The obvious 1st step to getting past that is lessons from a good teacher. Guitar is one of the few instruments where the bulk (I'm guessing here, but seems to me that this is the case) of the players didn't learn in a structured environment. If lessons aren't an option, try a structured course, like justin sandercoe, of the RGT etc.
Secondly, this is something I've linked to before, but it's very relevant: https://clawhammerbanjo.net/brainjo/
basically it breaks down how we learn, and how that can be applied to learning an instrument. Worth taking the time to look at IMO.
I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.
I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.
I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.
Slow down. There is a speed where you can play perfectly. Speed is the least important aspect of one's playing, accuracy being the most important. Ok, so you have lost some speed because you've had a break in practising - no big deal, just have patience and it'll come back. But practise slowly, otherwise you'll imprint mistakes in your muscle memory and not progress.
For pupils stuck on a certain chord change in a song, I'll suggest not strumming all four beats, which gives them about half a beat to change chord, but just to strum on the one of the bar, giving them them three beats to change chord. The really important part is to have your left hand ready for the one of the bar. The bits in between are just a bonus. Try this technique with a tricky change in a song or just over a metronome. You'll find quite soon you'll be reducing the number of beats you need to perform the change, and it'll just keep getting better.
I very played a folk festival with people who used a capo to play in A. If you are happy where you are fine if not keep going. I'm in a band with a guitarist whose better than me but 20 years younger. I say it again keep going
Sorry but this is BS, if you have functional fingers & ears you can play, some people take to it quicker than others but I believe we all can play to a reasonable standard if the hours are put in.
Take some lessons is possible & learn some basic songs
If you take the time to learn where the notes are on the fretboard and take the time to learn which notes make which chords then you won't ever have to second guess where to put your fingers ... your never need chord charts and your be able to play in tune all over the neck
But for some reason as guitarist we are virtually taught we don't need to know any of the above, we can just bumble on with learning chord shapes and the pentonic box. You don't come across this unwillingness to learn is fine in the teaching of any other instrument ... it's bizarre.
In terms of natural ability people do differ wildly .... I have two 12 year old students. One is superb with the kind of playing some 20 year old's would be proud of. The other is still struggling. Now I could put that down to one practices like mad and the other doesn't which is true but I also have to consider the fact good kid progresses quicker due to his natural ability makes him want to practice more and more whether the other kid get's disillusioned because it takes so much practice to move on a tiny amount.
Just keep at it, I think every player I have ever talked to remembers a time when something clicked and they began progressing quicker. But my advice is learn where the notes are, and learn some simple theory. Think back to school and learning the alphabet before you learned to read and write
What is frustrating as that in Millions of cases it can be done.. However maybe millions before have come to the same conclusion as to why this maybe one step to far