Re: lets be honest about our playing.
whats more important to you? picking up your guitar and playing no matter how bad ,or good you may be,or impressing people? whats my point?...i have been asked to provide clips here but i am embarressed to do so....the last one that showed up here was the source of much laughter...so i was always hesitant about putting anything up after that because the fear of being your joke of the day. i am not a good guitarist. i have to play in drop d because of a lack of finger dexterity and coordination. i have never taken lessons because frankly i just didnt get it. i didnt start messing around on the guitar for more than a hobby till around 2008 or so. i cant read music or tabs, i dont play covers because i cant. what i can do is hear things and sounds in my head and bring them out. so if i put up something please try to remember that i just have a passion for music and enjoy playing my guitars as much as you do..i just dont have you guys skills. i am in my very first band project...ever and im 45 years old.
Don't be so hard on yourself. Playing what you feel is what music is all about. Most of us can't read music either. But
anyone can read tab. Stick with it, you'll be up to speed soon enough. It's a great way to learn songs. Even if you write a lot of your own music, you need to learn songs to understand what others players are doing. Otherwise you're wasting time reinventing the wheel. Understand their chords and single note riffs. It's a springboard for your own ideas.
Part of practicing in the early years is finger exercises, boring, but you need strength and dexterity to fully express yourself. Play along with CD's and satellite radio, which helps develop your timing. Start off playing what the guitarists are playing, and then work on adding new things to those songs. Create on an existing foundation. I play almost every morning and evening, playing songs, writing songs, noodling, plugged or unplugged. Keep those fingers busy. Play while you watch TV. Play everytime you have 10 spare minutes.
Jams are a great learning environment; I've been to many blues jams and sat in with many bands. You learn, in real time, what works and what doesn't. You learn to think on your feet. I'll sit in with a band for a song or two, which usually ends up being a whole set or the rest of the night. They'll play songs I don't know, and never heard before, and learn it on the spot, and then two minutes into it, they say: 'Rick, solo.' It took me a little while, but this is where you
really develop as a player. Now, I can hold my own playing with any local blues guitarist. It doesn't happen over night, but you should get out in the real world and play with other guys, including on stage. The bedroom player thing is nice, but it's an artificial world and your playing habits can get very out of touch with reality.
Most of all, believe in yourself, set goals, push yourself. Yo'll get more confident. You will see improvements, they'll be gradual, but it will happen. Everyone starts off knowing nothing and sounding awful, just like we all put on our pants one leg at a time. Stick with it. You
will continue to improve. It's a lifelong journey, no one thinks they're good enough.
