I've been playing the guitar for years and I'm no good!?

Question

Granted, I only practice a little bit here and there, and I don't take it seriously, but when I bought the guitar like, ten years ago I assumed that I'd gradually get better and better. I am better than I used to be but the progress is painfully slow. I can only play songs that use major chords A, C, D, E, F, and G (Well, Am and Em too...). And solos are a mystery to me.

I guess I'll keep playing it for my own entertainment, but is there a better way to learn? Or are some people just too lame to play this instrument? (I was a good drummer back in the day but my Dad always told me the drums are not a musical instrument. LOL)

I'd be interested in hearing about others experience...how long did it take to become good at it and how much did you practice?

Answer 1

if you want to be better, you definitely have to practice more.

in order to play the guitar without any problems, you have to study regularly for at least seven years. in fact, it never stops; you're never ''secure'' that you can play the guitar excellently. you have to practice and practice.

you can enroll to a music school, if your job or other responsibilities allow. and if, of course, you want to be a better player.

Answer 2

Well, other than getting a teacher, there is no other way to get better but practice.

Solo's are more of a complex thing to learn. One of the major things about solo's are scales. The most common soloing scale is the Pentatonic scale, which is used in alot of solo's from other people especially people like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Jimi Hendrix, e.t.c. The pentatonic scale is very simple, depending what key your in, it may vary, but, from the fifth position (or fret) it is simply:

e-----------------------5-8-5---------...

B-------------------5-8-------8-5-----...

G--------------5-7-----------------7-5...

D----------5-7------------------------...

A------5-7----------------------------...

E--5-8--------------------------------...

That scale, from the fifth position, is probably one of the most easiest, yet common used scale by guitarists. Now of course, there are other scales such as arpeggio, harmonic minor, lydian, dorian, the list goes on. Yet the pentatonic is very versatile, and easy to work with. Of course, soloing is just not about being fast. You can  play just this scale in any key, without tremolo picking, or sweep picking, or any of that stuff. You can just play this scale, and make it sound good. Heck, a  solo can be just a chord progression.

It took me a long time actually to get where I am today on the guitar. I currently have about two decades of guitar experience, and I'm in a so called "Famous" band. It took me years of practice, years with teachers, and it took alot of time and money. But it was worth it. My parents saw how devoted I was to the guitar (Which is, by the way, the key thing playing any instrument, devotion and commitment), and they knew I was heading into a musical career. I was practicing my guitar day and night, I'm not like Zakk Wylde practicing even when I'm sleeping (I heard Zakk practices his guitar when he goes to the bathroom). But you do need at least like 5 hours of practice every day to get REALLY good. I mean I started when I was like 7, or 8, and really had little knowledge of anything. Now, 20 years later, I'm able to play stuff from Michael Angelo Batio, Jimi Hendrix, DragonForce, Steve Vai, and that's because I devoted myself to the guitar, and committed to myself. It really all just takes time being good, and you can't just become one day, just practice, practice, and practice some more. Remember, practice makes almost perfect.

-Nakayama Akira

Answer 3

Would you get into a boxing ring without lessons? Get some lessons, you will be AMAZED at what they can show you. But in either case PRACTICE scale and chords and DON'T BE AFRAID of BARRE CHORDS.

tip; any chord in the open position can go up the neck, for instance Am that you already know. . . put your first finger over the nut and use the rest of your other fingers to make the chord. NOW, move your 1st finger from the nut to the 1st fret, make the chord again, Bbm!! Now you can add B flat minor to your chord collection, one more fret Bm, 3rd fret Cm, so on and so forth.

ANY of your open chords will do this.

PRACTICE,PRACTICE keep it fun and PRACTICE.

Answer 4

uh .. i have played as much as 8 hours to 12 hours a day... and still try to play at the minimum of 1 hour each day...

Answer 5

So I don't think the problem is that you need to play more or have a teacher or  anything definitive like that.

What you lack is drive and intent to become better.  If you want to become good or at least improve at a steady, if slow rate, you need to want it.

Whether you practice for 10 minutes a day or 3 hrs, doesn't matter as much as what you do with that time.  If you just play around with the 10 chord voicings you already know you'll never get much further.  

If instead, you have intent to improve, you'll find yourself a book or 2, a teacher, or some info on the internet and learn things that are entirely new to you.  Also it's important to listen to music and listen very closely.  Then learn what you hear, note by note and chord by chord.  Take as long as you have to in order to get it right.  

It's not easy, but if you enjoy playing guitar it's the most satisfying feeling you'll ever experience.

Answer 6

u have t keep practicing. and u have to practci more than just the major and minor chords. try different rythms with them and try changing through them faster.

ask your teacher (if u have a teacher) to teach u some scales and songs. but not just minor and major scales. but scales like pentatonic, blues scale, mixlodian. there are a lot more. but if u dont have a teacher just search on google the names or "how to" and then the names.

and if u like rock and things u have to learn some power chords. if u dont have a teacher u can search that too. u can probably go to youtube and search basic power chords.

o and barre chords.

but the main thing is just PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!

Answer 7

I would recommend against lessons. I take lessons bu my teacher has a preconceived notion of what I can and cannot play. When he says a song is too hard for me, I just look it up online. I find I get much better that way. Try http://www.ultmte-guitar.com for tabs

Answer 8

Dude, I've been playing for 5 months, and I'm even better.  Practice, practice, practice, or else you're waisting your time.  I'm already able to play songs like Stricken by Disturbed, all because I practice minimum an hour a day.  You have to find more time for yourself.

Answer 9

Say good-bye to it.

Answer 10

Practise for 20-30mins a day for a year.

themn u rock!

Answer 11

you have to PRACTICE. its that simple. a little bit here and there wont make you good. duhh. i practice at least an hour a day and ive been playing for 3 years.