Help with Sounding Better

[Aelchim]

Hey all, I have been playing guitar for a while now and i notice that i am a really sloppy player. When ever I try to do solos and the like, it just sounds bad. For example when i try to play legatos and i move from string to string once i let go of my index finger to switch strings the string it was previously on would ring and more or less ruin the flow. That generally is my problem and i also sometimes hit open strings, and I hope I'm doing something wrong or have bad techniques, and not that its because my fingers are "fat".

I will (and have) started practicing some exercises slower and working on getting a nice sound. Anyway does anyone here have any tips on playing clean, or anything in general to keep in mind so as not to go back to playing sloppy? I think that I did try to play faster than I really can, and hopefully going back and learning it at a slower rate will help. Practice Doesn't Make Perfect, Perfect Practice Makes Perfect.

[finkployd2112]

You will just have to go back and re-learn the things you feel you are sloppy at. I metronome can help you. Don't speed it up until you think you can play faster. If you can't play faster move it down.

[Portis_26]

what the other guy said and i hear practicing with a clean tone or no amp helps because you wont get a sound if you dont play clean

[Andrew Sa]

yes, a metronome is a MUST, you have to start excersizes slowly and in time and only speed up when you have them perfect at a lower speed.
NOthing can fix this except practice...look on this site for good prac techniques.

[Jolly McJollyson]

Practice Doesn't Make Perfect, Perfect Practice Makes Perfect.
Practice makes permanent. I think you've answered your own question, haha.