How do you build confidence

I know the cords I know the strum patterns but I lack confidence in playing them in front of people an the video camera.

Maybe I should just blindfold myself and try playing.

It is hard for me to build up confidence. any good ideas

Personally, I find that building confidence is very hard to do on your own, as a big part of it comes from your audience's reaction to your playing. If they like how it sounds, you'll most likely be more confident in your playing than you will if they don't.

There are, of course, a few things you can try to do to build a bit of confidence. First off, make sure you can play whatever you'll be playing without looking at your guitar. Now try playing that in front of a mirror, the same way you would prepare for a job interview in front of a mirror. It doesn't quite give you an idea of how it is to play in front of others, but it does give you an idea of how your audience sees you, Which is more important than how you feel. While playing in front of a mirror, try to look as confident and professional as possible. That's how an audience wants to see you, regardless of size (maybe except for family). If you look unconfident, you'll have a hard time convincing an audience that you're worth listening to.

Note, I have played 0 serious gigs, and nothing impressive at school musicals, so I'm in no way an expert on the area. I just know what works for me, and thought I'd share that bit of advice.

Playing in front of people can definitely be nerve racking! I'd expand on Kasperow's first suggestion and say you should be able to play the song on autopilot - you should know it frontwards and backwards. So pick a song you know very very well. Practice playing it all of the way through. People tend to practice parts - be able to play it all of the way through cleanly. Practice it as you plan to perform it!

Also, be easy on yourself. If you mess up, it isn't the end of the world. Keep things in perspective - you aren't trying to save the planet from iminent peril, you are performing a song. Pull it back together and move on. If you can play it on auto-pilot, this is easier to do. Many times, your audience won't know that you messed up, though it may be glaring to you.

Getting going is the tough part. Once you get started, forget about the audience - let yourself get absorbed in what you are performing. You'll find you relax at that point...it may even become fun :-).

Once you get your first success under your belt, it gets easier.

My experience playing in front of people was in a church contemporary choir. Once I played solo to support the singers. I was SWEATING bullets! My heart was pounding as I started. Once I got going, I found I relaxed and it was actually fun! I got a huge sense of accomplishment from it - it was a great experience.

I don't want to oversimplify but practice brings confidence. Knowing you can execute what you want your fingers to do.

Does that mean you won't have butterflies when to step in front of people? No. You will have them no matter who you are (for the most part).

The key is that when you start playing, the deal about being in front of people should just melt away and you're playing.

I used to be the resident 'gear-trier-outer' at the local guitar store in the 80's...this means I spent too much time hanging out and not buying anything...

I would try out gear in a little trial room with a window. Semi-regularly I would have people/kids pop in to the window just to watch. I mean, I don't know that I was that awesome but i practiced enough where I did ok.

Point is, I was performing though unintentionally.

When it came for my first time in front of a 'real' audience of like 800ish for a 'shredder' competition.....I was nervous as all get out but I learned by sitting in front of a window of onlookers that if I just do what I do and play what I know, I should be ok...and I was.

I didn't win but the guy that did was awesome so......

Moral is that if you know what you play, when it comes time to play it in front of people, you find yourself in that same headspace as when you were sitting at the end of your bed.

for some great ideas. I know its very hard to practice all the time by yourself.

I will keep practicing alone and with the mirror and camera.

thanks again for nice replies.

Just an idea maybe someday they can have Skype with a few people playing the guitar watching others practice too. You never know you might pick something up that your missing or easier way to play the chords.

Originally Posted by: JeffS65I don't want to oversimplify but practice brings confidence. Knowing you can execute what you want your fingers to do.

Ok, I used to be in a band, and have played lots of gigs, including being on live TV a couple of times.

It really is as simple as what Jeff says. You just need to have whatever you're going to perform locked down. You know how you see flashy guitar players scrunching up their faces as they go for that amazing note, riff, lick, whatever? You're watching and its like "wow, that guy/gal can PLAY... they are putting out at their maximum skill level right there, live...". Hogwash. Its just showmanship. A good player has that "amazing" note/lick/riff down pat. They can play it easily... a seasoned professional performer is not playing at the utmost of their ability, but well within it. This is not a bad thing. Sometimes they make facial expressions just for show, other times its because they really do get into what they are playing.... its not bad either way. There's absolutely nothing wrong with putting on a show if its sincere. But the important thing to recognize is that they are in full command of their instrument and are well prepared for their performance. If you can barely pull something off, that's not the time to put it out in front of an audience. You should have it so down that executing the technical mechanics of what you need to play is just second nature. I had that issue with a particular song... it had a repeating riff that was a little complex for me. I simply played it over and over again until I had it down pat and could do it without having to think about it much. This really helped when we would play a gig, particularly because we tended to open with that song.

Also, not meaning to offend, but I completely disagree with Kasperow saying that "a big part of it comes from your audience's reaction to your playing". We never played a gig where people got up or booed or anything, but a few times we'd play a venue where people weren't that into it... sometimes you're doing a small gig, people are just in for a beer, and want to talk to their friends over you're playing... No matter what, you can't allow your confidence to depend on your audience's reaction. You are going to have times where it just isn't clicking with your audience, but if you play as best you can, with confidence and conviction, you may win them over, whether its just a few friends or a crowded bar.

On a more practical note, unless you're trying to cultivate a particular image, ditch practicing in front of a mirror or video camera. Its ok for checking your form (shooting a video of a problem chord change may reveal where you are going wrong, for example), but other than that, its probably going to make you more self-concious. Try to be what they call "third-eye blind". In other words, quite worrying about how you look or are being perceived, and instead just be yourself. You are who you are, if you are comfortable in your own skin, you'll give a much more relaxed and natural performance, again, even if its just to your significant other or a couple of people.

That´s right.

dont be afraid to mess up and laugh at yourself sometimes. sometimes im not even playing for the audience but for myself. I think, what sound would I want to hear as the audience. I am always nervous before the first note of the song then I feel good once I hear that sweet sound. best of luck! keep playing in front of people.

Just sitting in the guitar shop, trying out an instrument, can take courage, but it can also up your confidence a bit.