Should I give up?
 

I was born with a nueromuscular disorder as some of you know, and it is more pronounced in my lower extremeties, but it does effect my hands in subtle but very annoying ways. The muscle tension isn't enough to hinder me from playing completely, and over the past three years I've practiced tirelessly and made great strides. I absorb knowledge and techniques like a sponge and have applied them to my own playing....but we all know it's key to have loose muscles and hands when playing guitar, well as far as picking goes that's almost impossible. I'm not stiff as a bored persay but very tense and that is something I'll never be able to help. So seeing as I've never been a quitter I have opted to just try and adapt and find ways around it. I have gotten advice from Richard Lloyd, Alex Skolnick, and Jason Becker which is most inspiring to me...but my best friend gave me a blow to my dignity that is hard to get over. He noticed (yet again) that my picking wasn't so even and clean....like I didn't already know that, like I don't focus on that so much it drives me crazy. He suggested maybe I shouldn't put so much pressure into my picking...well duh. Yet I march on, play each note slowly and cleanly to a metronome day after day after day. Though the hangups become less and less apparent, I will play a scale or a lick I made up and blammo each time I get to the third string playing upwards from the low E (playing a three note per line lick) my hand inadvertantly slows up or freezes..suffice it to say I'm so bloody frustrated. They say doing the same thing over and over expecting different results is insanity, maybe I'm just that. Today there's a special sale at a local music shop for prefered customers and I was going to buy a new guitar. As much as I love playing I'm begining to wonder whether I should use my money or not on a new guitar...oh well, my problem I guess. Thanks for reading this desperate diatribe.

Hey fella,

I think the passion you have for the guitar is evident from your post and that in itself is the answer. No way are you gonna give it up!!
You say you've made great strides and you KNOW you're gonna keep on making 'em through blood, sweat and tears.
Also, is playing guitar not a form of physiotherapy as far as keeping your synapses firing to the best of their ability goes?
Keep it up, you're an inspiration to us all!!

One more thing.......GO BUY THAT GEEEEETAAAARRRRR!!!!!!!

head_creeps

I'm with Head Creeps. Never quit. Never surrender. Never give up! Just remember Django and look what he accomplished after the fire damaged his fingers when he was a young man. He went on to become legendary!!! You love it (which is clear) so stay with it man.

And yeah, go buy that guitar. :)

Hi Hjorvard,

I am in awe of your tenacity and persistence. It sounds to me like you are a very good player indeed, and should go with your heart and never give up.

It is never easy to hear that someone else has noticed a lack of skill that we ourselves have noticed, but to me that just shows that you are under no illusions. The worry would be that you let this get the better of you.

Mentally, I think you should focus on what you HAVE achieved rather than what you haven't - did you get this far thinking that you'd never get any better?

I am by no means trying to belittle what you are going through - but don't let it get you down.

You are an inspiration to me.
Get that guitar.

best wishes

Dielle
xxx

You know I only play for my own entertainment. If I only play a few scales I am happy even if I screw up half the time. I have been playing for just about 4 months and I do mean playing. I don't know a single song hahahah. But I have fun learning and practicing. I really want a new guitar the one I have is a really cheapy-do beginner guitar just to see if I would like it. I do but hey I am broke but I am still happy with the one I have. If I was you I would get that guitar and keep playing for sure :) I can relate to your situation but only barely. I can't stand and play thats for sure and I really am not very good but considering how I was 4 months ago I can jam! Stick with it if nothing else it should make you happy just playing,
Ed

Thanks for the inspiring words guys, you realy don't know how badly I needed to hear stuff like this :) I guess I'll keep on truckin and be the best damn metal guitarist I can be...

p.s. I did go through with getting the guitar and it is friggin sweet

right on, man. i can relate to how frustrating it would be to practice your ass off with precision and tenacity and have little payoff like that. if you ask me, though...playing 3-note-per-string licks and shredfests aren't nearly as gratifying for the soul as playing with feeling, and i'm not getting into a "gilmour versus gilbert" argument at all. i'm more leaning towards a jazz approach to thinking about your instrument. if you have physical handicaps that are holding you back, continue working on them- obviously. but branch out! the best think i ever did for myself was to learn jazz changes, learn how to really feel music. maybe jazz doesn't do it for you but i dunno, i got bit by the bug after "playing" jazz in big bands for three years, and seeing it in a different light made me re-examine my priorities. and you don't need lighting-quick hands to play beautifully.