Here is a conundrum for you all...

Hi Darryl,

This might not be technical advice but I feel that this can help you improve. The first step in any endeavor is to first "know what truly is your goal." What do you wish to acheive? Yes you want your overall skill to improve, but let's say you now have that skill. Then what? What will that give you that did not give you before? I suggest that you get a pen and paper and really ponder about this. And write your answers down.

After finding out what your goals are, the next step would be to know "Why you want to attain this specific goal." So, first you need to have convincing reasons, then the answers on how to get those reasons. Having a clear idea on these things first will help motivate you in your guitar training.

Note: When you practice, always place these goals and reasons anywhere near you. This will serve as a reminder and fuel to your practice sessions. It is very common for guitarists in particular to just go on autopilot mode when practicing. Because of lack of reasons to do these tasks. But if you have these reasons, you will then be convinced and motivated to not allow yourself to be distracted and do everything that you can to acheive these things.

About the disorder that you have, try this. After reading this, write down what exactly your dreams are. I believe that that can be cured. Any disorder can be cured. How? Simple, By focusing on your dreams. Imagine, if you can, that you now have acheive those dreams. Really try this. Imagine yourself being that person. Truly feel it. Feel that you are NOW that person. Convince yourself that you are that person that you want. Don't mind your disabilities, cause if you do, that'll only attract negative things to your mind. Never allow yourself to be less of who you want just because of that disorder.

Maybe you are saying to yourself, "But it seems so impossible..." It that's the case, then I beleive that it is impossible because you THINK that it is impossible. Think big, and you become big. Have you heard of a great poet that goes by a name, Helen Keller? Research that person.

I have met a lot of people who have had great disorders in their lives. A lot of them decided not to pursue their dreams just because of those disorders, but there were some who also chose a different path. They were the ones who did not allow anything to hinder them from being who they wish to become.

A human beings potential is far more greater than we can ever imagine. :)

Happy practicing,
Jose Daniel

thats a great post and great advice for any one jose daniel.

i agree with daniel.

when i was young i was told i had quite severe dyslexia. but i didnt let this beat me, and now im studying physics in a good university. and why, because i wouldnt let that beat me.

another thing about dyslexia, i was told that i would never be able to play an instrument that required diferent rythms or different movements with both hands. eg guitar and piano. for years i gave up on my dreams of guitar, playin sax for a bit, although my heart was never in it. then one day i said, screw this, ive never let someone else tell me io cant do something. i can play guitar and i will.

and now i can play guitar to a reasonable level of quality. in fact one of the few regrets of my like is that i waited till i was 17 to face this problem. when i wanted to play guitar since i was like 7. another 10 years would have made a heck of a difference.

but hey u live and learn. dont let the moment go by it might not come again.

Originally Posted by: BrokenJerathats a great post and great advice for any one jose daniel.[/QUOTE]

Thank you man.

[QUOTE=Fret spider]i agree with daniel.

when i was young i was told i had quite severe dyslexia. but i didnt let this beat me, and now im studying physics in a good university. and why, because i wouldnt let that beat me.

another thing about dyslexia, i was told that i would never be able to play an instrument that required diferent rythms or different movements with both hands. eg guitar and piano. for years i gave up on my dreams of guitar, playin sax for a bit, although my heart was never in it. then one day i said, screw this, ive never let someone else tell me io cant do something. i can play guitar and i will.

and now i can play guitar to a reasonable level of quality. in fact one of the few regrets of my like is that i waited till i was 17 to face this problem. when i wanted to play guitar since i was like 7. another 10 years would have made a heck of a difference.

but hey u live and learn. dont let the moment go by it might not come again.

Thanks.

Wow! That's very inspiring! It all comes down if you either believe that Life is the master over you, or you are the master over Life.

Carpe Diem,
Jose Daniel

Hey Darryl. I understand this is no direct answer to your question, but I wanted to state this anyway. Anything is possible. I know that you can definitely achieve the speeds that you are looking to achieve. Stick with it and just have the mindset that you are going to make what you want to happen HAPPEN because it is what you choose, regardless of what the situation may be.

You will get there - Perserverance.


Chris

I will join in singing the praises of Jose Daniels's post. I'm a great believer in "creating your own reality". The mind is the most underused muscle.

I can empathize with your "disability" darryl- but found no self-pity in your post. Great attitude man!

I have 3 herniated disks in my low back that has affected me in many ways- to the degree where there's some nerve damage that has somehow managed to work its way to other parts of my body; sometimes my left (fretting hand) goes into involuntary tremors. The docs said I will never do this or that, but, pah! I still play, and teach/practice martial arts (when time permits)- despite the docs saying I can't.

I can't give you any hard advice darryl, other than to repeat what others have already said. Your own attitude will make a great difference, and just like Django, your "disability" just may take you to a place you may never otherwise even thought about.

I particularly liked Jose's idea about writing things down, or "visualizing". I do this all the time. With music and martial arts. I may not actually literally do an exercise or whatever, but when I visualize/meditate on these things, I'm still practicing, and it becomes a part of me, and my muscle memory. If you haven't done so Darryl, try it. It wont happen overnight, but I promise over time you will see results.

Rock on.

Exactly, where there is a will there is a way. I damaged my hearing recently and was nearly faced having to give up music for good... thankfuly meds and a forced break from any loud noise including music is starting to reduce the ringing in my ears. I haven't given up playing guitar though, I play and record now looking at the wav file move and metronomoe flash in Cubase while I play with no volume. Hard to do but I can still play and imagine what it sounds like - quiting guitar is not an option!

Originally Posted by: Superhumanquiting guitar is not an option!

DITTO THAT!