When you began playing, how did you hang in there and play your guitar? Tips? Advice?

Question

I am prone to a sudden burst of enthusiasm followed by a two week (or so, generally) decline in interest. It maddens me. Can't I just stick with something, for once? I would love to keep practicing my guitar but I'm lazy. And frustrated. How can I kick my own ***? I feel burdened and smothered by that first, initial, familiarizing yourself with the instrument horribleness of sore fingers and thinking too hard. It brings me back to the early days of frustratingly bad clarinet playing. I think the reason I became so good at clarinet was not because I liked it, but because I was so damn frustrated- I would just keep practicing the same thing over and over until it was right. My parents made me practice as a child. How do you keep yourself practicing? Did you enjoy the beginning part where it hurt to hold down the strings and you couldn't get your pinky to hold down one string (forget about several strings) hard enough to get a sound out? HELP!
~frustratedinRI

My first goal is to familiarize myself with the instrument before finding a teacher. I think the best way to learn is definitely with a teacher. Secondly to learn to play blues. Mostly, right now, I just need some motivation. Thanks all.

Thanks J! I was really hoping someone would say that after this it might be fun. I'll try really hard not to be a weenie. LOL

Answer 1

Hi,

This is a good question, and you are not alone in this feeling. It's very common to become enthusiastic about someothing fun like playing the guitar, but the reality of if can often be less fun than we thought.

"Lisa", "J" and "T Junior" have really laid the groundwork for you and you'd be wise to take their great advice.

I'll just throw in a funny trick that worked for me in the beginning: It's game called "This damm guitar is in my hands every waking moment of the day, except when nature calls..."

Seriously, most people sit down to "Practice" and they tense up, and they get into it, get frustrated, and force themselves through the experience. Yet, when you sit down at your compter keyboard and type in your passowrds, you do so with the greatest of east and familliararity... why? because it is part of your daily routine. You never practice these things, you just do them.

So, get the guitar into that same place as typing at your PC keyboards, talking on your cell phone or driving with one hand while you work your car stero.

They key is to try and keep it in your hands as much as possible. Even when you are doing anything else, if you are at home, have your privacy, and it affects no one else, learn to do it with your guitar in your hands.

This accomplishes two things. It removes the "Foreign Object" aspect of the instrument.. it starts to become very normal to have that guitar in your hands. And, the more comfortable you are, practing becomes less structured... timewise. Instead of "Putting in 45 minutes" you just suddenly realize that the guitar is always in your hands, and whenever you are waiting for something to download, waiting for the water to boil, watching a commercial, whatever the moment may be, but in those moments of wasted time.... just waiting for things to happen, you can sneak in 60 seconds of practice. Maybe you just "Twang Out" a G, C D chord... but all those little moment of playing add up, and your general comfort level with the instrument will increase because you simply get used to that dang thing bein' in your hands all the time!

This is not in any way intended to replace well-structured daily practicing and a good teacher. But, it's just a suggestion that might help you cross that boundry from feeling like the guitar is a "Foreign object" to feeling as if it is a part of your body... it worked for me!

Good Luck!

Kevin Chisholm - American Guitarist

Answer 2

I know exactly how you feel. I'm pretty much in the same boat. I've been teaching myself for about a year, and I go through periods of frustration when I don't want to touch the guitar. But when I look at where I am today (not where I want to be), I'm amazed at how far I've come. I'm actually getting sounds that are similar to notes and chords. Like you said, at first I couldn't even hold the strings down. I've actually found two little tunes that I enjoy, and I keep playing them over and over. It's about time for me to move on and boost the learning curve again.

Try to remember the first day you picked up the guitar and compare that to the progress (however small) that you have made. That will give you motivation to keep pushing forward.

Good Luck!!

Answer 3

First and foremost, you have already received some excellent advice from previous responders.

All I can really add is empathy. I've been playing music for over 40 years and still recall the trials and tribulations of learning. Aspiring guitarists, such as yourself, simply have to deal with the physical demands placed (particularly) on your left hand. Patience and self discipline must be applied to any instrument to reach even a modest level of proficiency. Mastery of an instrument can take a lifetime. And even a lifetime of practice and performance doen't always guarantee being a virtuoso.

If you love, force yourself -and- take small steps. Master each tiny piece of the puzzle before moving on to the next.

Answer 4

If you really like it, you'll stick with it no matter what. Go buy yourself a good chord manual and learn a bunch of chords, then start putting them together and forming chord progressions (3 or 4 chords played in sequence). Soon, you'll be able to recognize and play along with some of your favorite songs. Then, playing guitar will be fun... like it's supposed to be!
(I play almost every day and have been for the past several years. My fingers still hurt, especially after a long show. I guess that's one thing that you'll always have to deal with; however, once you build up some large callouses, it won't hurt quite as bad as it used to.)

Answer 5

You just have to get over the initial period of suckiness and sore fingers. I did... Most people can't stick with it but if you do it'll be worth it. Once you get over that hump you can pretty much play a million different things and it won't take long to learn new songs. Just practice your chords first off. Don't try to play songs. Just play G, D, C over and over again until you get those and then move onto something harder like F. Keep practicing and don't be a weenie.

Answer 6

guitar can be frustrating and with any hobby you will have your ups and downs! I am self taught on the guitar, but once you begin to pick up on a tune you like then its really hard to stop! Its easier to enjoy when you play guitar in groups, or look up the tabs to a favorite song, better yet do what i did i would sit in a park play guitar and make a lil Xtra money!
hang in there, it will get better! try some jack johnson its way fun to play! :) goodluck!

Answer 7

Practice less, play more.

Enjoy the instrument, explore the sounds.

YOu really only need to practice a little. and ten minutes a day - EVERYday of practicing is better than practicing for two hours one day a week.

But play as much (or more) as you practice. ENJOY the sounds, try to make new ones. Remember what you did.

Answer 8

Buy a guitar stand. Put your guitar on it where you will see it quite often. Every time you see it pick it up and play it. Above all, take lessons from a QUALIFIED teacher - progress in the beginning can be slow, but it builds over time. Just keep at it, and eventually you will get good - if you have talent.

Answer 9

What has always worked for me, is to pick songs I really like. For example, I recently learned the song, Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton. I was so touched by the lyrics and the music, I just had to learn to play it. So I kept playing it on my guitar over and over again, singing along, until I can now easily perform the song from memory. I felt inspired to learn the song because I really like the song, and in the process of learning how to play the song on guitar, I also learn to play the guitar better.
The site I usually download guitar tab for songs I want to learn is at http://download-sheet-music-online.com/guitar-tab.html

Answer 10

It takes years of hard work to learn an instrument, let alone to write good, original music. If you're not prepared to put in the daily hard work, quit now.