talk me out of giving up the guitar.

[zenzeypher]

Sell the guitars.

Buy a bass, and a bass amp - you only need one of each. You may not even need an amp, other than a small one to practice with at home - most practice rooms and many gigs have supplied amps.

Learn how to follow a basic chord progression with some 'moving' notes. (It's not hard.)

Join a band.

The rest will follow...


I'm not saying bass is "easy" to play compared to guitar - it's just as hard to get really good at. But it's easier to get more-or-less competent at, and *far* easier to get into a band with. And it will open your ears to a completely different way of playing.

I find playing bass live a ton more fun then playing guitar live! and you're right it's a good one and you can get away with following roots if you're inclined too.

I would recommend bass to anyone wanting to learn an instrument.


I nearly gave up guitar a few times also, I'm very much a person of frustration if I can't get anything right always instantly, but guitar and tattooing are the only really the two things that have taught me patience.

I'm self taught also and if I find a better guitarist or a jam situation to play in I jump at the chance, even if I make a tit out of myself...and I do

Best thing I ever did was join a cover band and work from there.

[pintspiller]

learn some garage rock tunes. stuff with easy powerchords. does you confidence a boost. impresses your non- playing friends too

[Big Paulie]

talk me out of giving up the guitar

Don't do it.

There, I tried.

Now, if you decide not to heed my sage advice, I'm just down the road if you want to swap that CV Tele for some fly fishing gear

[Sir Axeman]

If your desire is strong enough it will pull you through these times of doubt and lack of desire/motivation. If you can play a few rush songs your easily good enough to learn lots of other good songs. AND! No matter where your at you CAN always improve and get better. But the more you learn the more you find there is to learn..so its never ending for all of us! The thrill is in the chase and getting to one of your little goals...then set a new one..and so on! But thats it with goals...make the attainable! Don't tell yourself I must play Eugenes Trick Bag up to full tempo by next week or next month or whatever. Keep it realistic and if you work at it you will get there. How quickly...thats up to you. Thats a "how long is a piece of string?" type of question.


Bad teacher experience - just forget him and move on. There are better ones and if money is an issue there's always youtube! These kind of teachers really make me wonder...I bet he's a part timer n can't keep students if he's like how you said! Loads of stuff online for nowt...all you have to do is delve into it. A teacher is good for those that aren't self motivated/disciplined to practice...they need someone to kick them up the ass and get their ass in gear. Or to inspire a little! I always felt a "yeah!" moment when I used to have lessons and my teacher played something good that caught my ear...it really made me want to get to that level myself! But if you've got the right mindset and patience its never been better to learn the guitar than it is now with youtube, muso websites etc.

Keep gew'in wi'yead down!!

[bertie]

give up

[koneguitarist]

With music sport or art, you have to really want to do it to be any good. So if you are half arsed about it as you seem to be, lend the guitar to someone or sell it to someone who will appreciate what they have.

[Sir Axeman]

Ignore these ruthless cruel people. Watch this vid its always very inspiring/encouraging.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm-KFJ2jDWA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sej4qZ6-Fs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TA3SSEAbeg

[TheThingThatShouldNotBe]

Sell your gear if you need the money ,if your heart is into music youll get buy on an acoustic .
I got by for years knowing I was shit . Actually the thing that got me playing again was my interest in D.I.Y electronics & FX .
Its the cheapest way to create new toys .

[Kebabkid]

although i love the guitar,and have been trying to learn to play for a long time on/off,i am seriously thinking of packing it all in.i just cannot get my head round the instrument tbh (and believe me i have tried).when i do pick the guitar up,i just run through the same tunes that i can play (mainly rush stuff).

i cannot afford guitar lessons either (am currently paying off a bicycle),and the last tutor i went to was a bit of a cock (when i was trying to show what i was practicing,he said that was easy to play then proceeded to "put me in my place!" he also forgot that he had a lesson with me (my 2nd lesson) when i had cycled 5 miles with my guitar to his lesson so i soon quit the guy

anyhoo i just don't think i have what it takes to learn an instrument (as much as i wish i could play guitar),i'm just going through the motions with the few tunes i do know how to play (i cannot improvise either

sorry to rant,but it just feels like a constant struggle/battle to get anywhere with the thing also the money would come in handy from selling my guitar/amps

anyone else thought of chucking it in/but didn't?

a big part of me though will always want to play guitar.

I sympathise with your dilemma but reading between the lines, I'm not sure if you're really ready it give it up. Ok, if you need the money, sell some stuff and keep an essential, smaller set-up back as it sounds as if you're going to miss it.

Also, if you're able to play Rush stuff, you have ability and there's no reason why you shouldn't progress, but it does all depend on what you want from the guitar. Are you playing for fun? Do you want to play live? Playing with other people could help and set you a goal for learning new stuff.

I know you can't afford lessons at the mo but the Registry of Guitar Tutors is meant to be a sound organisation and there are a couple of teachers in Devizes - http://www.rgt.org/tutors/index.php
Alternatively, the Tascam GB-10 Phrase Trainer is a good and encouraging piece of practise gear. You can load songs into it, change keys, slow them down for learning and play along with them via the fine in-built sounds.

If all of the above sounds like a chore and you don't even want to keep a basic set-up, just keep an acoustic for fun and some occasional picking.

All the best and hope you stick with it and get to the joyous place many people here have found. There's very few better substitutes for playing music and be kind to yourself

[koneguitarist]

There is no excuse regarding costs for learning guitar in these times.
None of us had YouTube lessons guitar mags with cd or DVD lessons either, plus guitars are cheaper and much better quality these days even the cheapest electric is far more gig gable than cheapest from woolworths and the like when I were a lad! Cue you were lucky sketch.