Originally Posted by: jim1963Hello,
Well another member described my many year guitar journey pretty well "try hard - fail, try harder - fail, and give up frustrated". I am the type to be "all in" for a short period of time purchase everything, read everything, and expect timely results - only to give up too soon.
Ok, so I have a problem and am thinking thus far after a month on GT this might be the cure!
Raced through Lisa's classes and have been in my "music room" about two hours a day. I have a Seagull S6 acoustic and Epiphone Les Paul Studio boucing between them both based on finger fatigue (acoustic for technique until fingers hurt then an hour on electic). I study techniques for an hour in the morning and then play some songs for an hour late day.
My entire reason for playing guitar is I love slow tempo jazz guitar played on electric with a few slow strummed chords and finger playing. Trouble is that seems "5 picks difficulty" away and a very difficult barre chords journey ahead and typically I just give up. I am not a big rock fan but am going through the basic lessons playing beginner songs like Simple Man, Perfect, and Hotel California, and must admit I like the progress and sense of accomplishment. I don't know what to do after guitar basics but will try to compile that lesson plan (no clue how to construct my journey).
I am going to try and stick with it and hope the journey at some point gives me the talent to try a few jazz progressions and along the way if I can play some easy rock and have a smile while doing it - ALL GOOD.
Good luck to other IGT's!!!
Jim
If you were to graph how a guitar playing learner progressed as a line graph with the vertical axis being skill and the horizontal axis being time, you'd see the skill improvment flat for a good longer time than you'd probably want. Than any one of us wanted. Then comes that day where the skill curve starts looking like a jet taking off from an aircraft carrier.
Sure, there will be plataus but after a certain amount is skill is acquired, you realize that it's time that broadens horizons.
What does that mean to you?
From what I read, you're still on the flatter side of the time-versus-skill axis. No biggie though. Every instructor here or anyone that has ever played guitar was at that same place. Every single one, to a person.
The point is; when you're in the beginning 'flat zone', that's when most people give up. Don't do that. Don't believe that just because it's not happening now that it won't happen. It will in due time and with due dillegence.
The time that stuck for me, back in '81, was seeing BB King on Austin City Limts and Led Zeppelin 'The Song Remains the Same' at one of those midnight movie things...in the same week! I wasn't going to play like them or with enough skill for a good long time but I also learned that just learning stuff on the guitar was awesome. Eventually I did get 'good enough' as a player to have other players consider me a 'good guitar player'...whatever that means.
Like with the simple rock songs you enjoyed progressing one, good job! And, good that you noted how much you enjoyed the accomplishment. Those songs are tools to get you further along. They did that. Keep that kind of habit for as long as you play. Find the steps that get you there.
