Beginner

I am the ultimate beginner! A 53 year old just learning to play! I am frustrated with myself.... I want to play like Hendrix and cant do it! But I love to practice! Any suggestions to suppress the frustration?

Can't help you with the "playing like Hendrix"... I'm a firm believer of finding your own voice with your guitar, but there's hints your posts that make me think your frustration may be that you're not playing enough. Practice is great, but you need playtime too, so here's my advice:

-set up your guitar/amp or effects box or computer, whatever you're using, so that you can listen to backing tracks and play along with your guitar with effects like overdrive, reverb & delay that you like. If you're using an amp, then make sure you have a way to amplify your backing tracks so it mixes well. You could also look at things like Line 6 Guitar Port, which you can then find "jamtracks" on-line to play along with, or Boss's DR880 which has bass and drum patterns built in, and actually really good guitar effects, so its just a "plug-in & jam" unit.

-set some really clear, attainable goals for yourself, like learning one position of the major or pentatonic scale.

-practice, but everyday, take time to just jam using what you know.. don't worry about playing fast or a lot of notes... just have fun and be creative.

I think you'll find this very rewarding, and you won't be so frustrated, because even though your inspired by a really great guitar player, you're able to have fun with your limited knowledge.

Hope that helps!

Hi Jazz player..
welcome to GT..
Hendrix.. Sound like a pretty big bite for a beginner..
Good luck..
Gordon

Originally Posted by: jazzlover23I am the ultimate beginner! A 53 year old just learning to play! I am frustrated with myself.... I want to play like Hendrix and cant do it! But I love to practice! Any suggestions to suppress the frustration?

It will take time. If you are confident and persevere, you will get there. No one can really say how long it will take you because it depends on huge variety of different factors.

If you ever feel unmotivated just remind yourself why you wanted to play guitar in the first place. I usually watch a video of my favourite guitarist to get me inspired when im not feeling so great about my abilities.

The second you say "I can't" you've already chosen your path of defeat. I prefer to say, "I am currently struggling with, BUT i WILL get there."

:)

Originally Posted by: Ryan TunisIt will take time. If you are confident and persevere, you will get there. No one can really say how long it will take you because it depends on huge variety of different factors.

If you ever feel unmotivated just remind yourself why you wanted to play guitar in the first place. I usually watch a video of my favourite guitarist to get me inspired when im not feeling so great about my abilities.

The second you say "I can't" you've already chosen your path of defeat. I prefer to say, "I am currently struggling with, BUT i WILL get there."

:)

Very awesome advise ;)

\m/

I know how you feel, but then again I do not have a set practice time or goal, so i blame myself. I spend more time looking for advice and reviews on gear then I do practice. Again, I do worry myself sometimes now when I am reading books i do notice scales or licks from different scales, so I guess I learning something. Ok, time for me to practice some with the metronome. Saw a link earlier today where Joe Santriani was talking about methods he used with a metronome:)