self-teach guitar, how do you not get frustrated?

Question

i'm finding it very difficult to manuever the basic stuff
after 10 minutes of practicing, i get so frustrated that i want to smash my guitar (lucky i didn't :) )
but i've been practicing the same thing for a long time and i still i master it
how do i not get frustrated when practicing?

Answer 1

you dont get frustrated by trying out songs that you like. easy songs too. you listen to the song, get the tabs, and try to play along, maybe slowly at first, but listen to the song so you know how it sounds. but most importantly you have to play something that you like. when i first picked up my guitar, i became a little frustrated also, because i couldnt play what the book said. (that may also help, is try to get a learning book if you dont have one). So what i did, was i skipped around to different parts in that book, and came on the section of power chords. Some of the songs that you were to learn were songs i knew, so i learned them. It took a little while, i had to hold the frustration in, just had to work through it. Also what might help is work some more on the basic stuff, it's going to take more than 10 minutes a day. If say your playing a scale that you found and it's boring you, try making something up of your own, just start moving your fingers around and picking. Picking might also be a little difficult until you get the hang of it. If you are learning from a book, don't exactly rely upon it to learn how to play properly. What i did was adapted it to my own style. I played how it was comfortable for me. So what you really want to do to keep from becoming frustrated is learn to play some easy songs that you like. And obviously i dont know what type of music you like, listen to, play, but I'll recommend one song, one of the easiest i've ever learned. Brain Stew by Green Day, the same power chords over and over again. Oh and Ariels by System of a Down is fairly simple too. If you play an electric i recommend getting a type of distortion pedal later on after you get the basics down, it will increase your skill greatly, i know mine did. But you just gotta keep working at it, and try to be a little more patient.

oh almost forgot, try signal notes first, and then power chords. I found regular chords and barr chords to be the hardest to learn. but if you learn the singal notes first and then the power chords you should do pretty well, since it will help with your finger movement.

Answer 2

You should find someone to give you some pointers about how to hold your hands, get the feel of how sounds are made without forcing your fingers too much. I was doing pretty well for a while, then didn't have time, trying to get back into it. I've got a stack of videos and a couple of computer programs. I like the eGuitar program, because it shows some good animations of string bends and stuff.
Also, if you don't have a very good guitar and tuner, you will get frustrated a lot because nothing will sound like it should.
(the Stratocasters and knock-offs suck for learning because they are murder to keep in tune for 10 minutes)
Practice EVERY day, even if it is only a little. It takes regularity to get your muscles trained.

Answer 3

Relax and give yourself a break. I don't play the guitar, but I do play piano. I've taught myself how to play many songs, and believe me I do get frustrated at times. I just learn small sections of the song at a time, then move on to the next section until I can put it all together. Practice a little every day, but don't let yourself get burned out. Maybe a few guitar lessons from a teacher might help, also.

Answer 4

Yeah, but it's probably be good if you know some music theory and some stuff about the guitar. Like for example if you knew the strings and music theory you could essentially write a lesson book yourself, of course you may not be able to write down well known songs since it's hard to transcribe by ear but you could. I play saxophone in band so I know music theory and I am learning the guitar and just by the stuff I know from music class I know every note on the guitar string (not well enough to figure it out in an instant). But yes, you could teach yourself. It may or may not be hard/

Answer 5

The first steps are very, very slow, and along the way to mastery there are lots of huge, discouraging obstacles. Persistence is the only way to get anywhere. However, take heart that there are also times when you'll learn something and it'll be second nature within an hour.

Regardless of your level, get a teacher. It's great for your spirits, you'll get your questions answered directly, and you'll learn things books can't teach you.

Answer 6

it starts out that way, and You should probably only practice a little every day, and try different things instead of the same old stuff, you'll get burn out from doing that. Guitar's hard to learn compared to some of the other instraments I play. Just keep reminding yourself why guitar's important to you. Try ultimate-guitar.com they have some good lessons and stuff.

Answer 7

You have to like it more than it frustrates you.
Get a guitar tab book of your favorite band and learn the 5 basic major chords to a couple of your favorite, easy songs. With that, you can slowly play along to cds, once you have your guitar tuned to the song.

Answer 8

Patience Grasshopper

Answer 9

Take a break from learning and just play single note solos to blues records like "Damn Right, I've Got The Blues" by Buddy Guy. Don't try to play what they play, just play whatever happens.

Answer 10

well, i was lucky, and i had a teacher that taught me like every other friday. but now i have to tech myself becuase he moved waaaaaaay away, and yeah. so i have to teach myself the rest. i dont get frustrated because i love playing, and hope to become known. but when i get frustrated when im trying to write a song, (happens like every hour or so), i just put in my all american rejects cd, and that really helps, and it inspires me a lot. weird, i know, lol