tab

Hi all. Just registered and I have to say this site is pretty cool. I've been to A LOT of tab sites on the way and stumbled across this one. I immediately registered so I could post on this forum. Here is my questions:

I've been playing now for about a yr and half. No formal instruction and I'm pretty damn frustrated. Basically I suck. Most people say it's my rhythm that is what is hurting me. Any one have any good advice on how I can get better at rhythm? I read a lot of tab books and mostly try to play heavy metal, ie...Metallica, God Smack, and other bands similiar. Lots of heavy riffs and notes. Am I going at this all wrong? I love the music that I try to play, but perhaps I should try other styles as well? I'm not to sure about that. Is there some easy (easy learning) songs out there that I can learn that will help me with my problems?



[Edited by phirstaide on 03-17-2002 at 12:50 AM]

Here's is the most important advice anyone can give you... Find a guitar mate that's better than you. Most people find teachers, some ask friends or parents.
What you need (expecially if your rhythm sucks) is someone else's ears and sense of rhythm.
Work on songs you love, any style. You mate will tell you if a song you have chosen is easy enough...
TAB books and sites are a great way to document oneself, but NOTHING compares to someone that will tell you 'you play too fast' and that taps his foot to tell you how to get in the pocket...

you can also record your self playing, then listen to it, analize your problems and try to solve them.

oh, and if you have problems with rhythm and you don't have a band you can download some drum machine, search for the drum tabs of you favourite songs and play over them.

thank you all for your replies and i have put some of what everyone has said to good use.

now on to other questions. forgive me for my lack of punctuation for in my job it is in my interest that i type fast so i dispense with cap letters quite frequently.

unfortunately at the moment i can do nothing but play alone. alone is where i am the student, the observer, and the critic. isn't it wonderful how critical we can be of ourselves? and yet my g/f whom i love more than life its self says the music i play brings joy to her heart. oh i know that she says these things out of love but i cannot help but to give in to a smile or two. i have downloaded several metronomes for me to use. would that be a good thing to spend the next few months just doing nothing but following the 'nomes constant beeps and chirps? i want so badly to get better, but as i have said in my last thread, i seem to be at a standstill. and yet....it seems like every accomplishment i make is but a small one.

i leave you all with this: how can i overcome such feelings of despair. i do not want fame or fortune, i just want to play.

top hatted said:
"you can also record your self playing, then listen to it, analize your problems and try to solve them."

this helped me... i could hear where i was farting, slipping etc and with regard to rythm, when i was playing too faaaaaast! it is simple to record also...

-Daniel

I do not get to play enough with others now. it is the best help in meter as there is no choice but to stay with them. "pros" accept that if a note(s) or word(s) are missed the correct thing to do is always to pick up where you should be (in time) and not try to stick in the note or word late (error of omission being better than comission). I try to get the meter and rythm in my bones some way. foot tap, head nod or sway, body sway and in hands. Some rythms are easier with a body sway by the bar or half bar and tap/etc to the count. Hope this helps.