frustraited

[blackjack]

ive ben playing for about a year now, and been taking lessons in classical acoustic. so far i dont know any songs all the way through, just little peices i learn each week, for my lessons.

the problem is that i dont feel like im getting anywhere. i want to play rock, but i dont have any direction, i dont know what to learn or where to go from where i am.

ive invested too much time and money to give up, and i just dont want to give up. i really want to play.

i dont really know what im expecting you to say, or why im posting this at all. but does anyone have any advice?

[tsl602000]

are you playing in a band, Blackjack???

If not: go find a band... that's where you learn to play.. go out and rehearse and even better: gig!!!!!

[westhemann]

i feel your pain man.all i can tell you is i have never had a music lesson in my life.what i did was i bought the tab for my favorite album(kill em all)which was also a great beginner album to learn.i put the tape in,read the tab,and muddled through it.

the best way to practice as a beginner(imo) is to learn whole songs.start easy,nirvana is really simple.if you don't enjoy whsat you are playing you won't continue.

it is a long road but it is really worth it

[westhemann]

by the way we all get into ruts from time to time.you just have to pull yourself out of it and practice,practice,practice.my first 4 years i never missed a days practice.minimum 2 hours a day,sometimes 6 or 7.then i fell into my own rut which lasted about 5 years,and then i pulled my ass out and started learning again.now i am looking for something new to keep me learning.

[Reaper]

Another good way is to buy a new CD from a band you've never heard before... and while it's best to stray from your norm (to break the rut), just don't go for something like "Milli Vanilli's Greatest Hits (Live!)"

[PaulNeeds]

Classical technique will give you a great foundation and appreciatio of the fretboard. The classical stuff can give you a solid foundation on what notes go together, harmony and construction of what you're playing.

That said... I played French Horn in schools orchestras till I was about 15, and took up guitar at 14. Never had a guitar lesson, learned by playing along with my favourite records (or trying to anyway).

I lsater founda couple of useful books - one on rhythm guitar playing (by Harvey Vinson I think) and one on jazz chords (Arthritis helps for some of those shapes.)

As has been said, with a basic armoury of techniques under your belt, the fastest progress came when I started playing music with a friend - we helped each other along, eventually forming a band that lasted 10 years and with collaborations still going on some 20 years later. There is no substitute for playing with other musicians. I can't read tab - but can read 'real' music (Tab has a line too many - been reading music FAR too long to learn a new line!)

Ultimately, unless you can at least start to play what you like as well as learning these techniques, you will grow discouraged - or worse bored - and give up. SO start learning the stuff you like as well, eventually you will be able to combine the two and become a very interesting and versatile musician.

[Roli]

Or just sit down and play. Anything that comes into your mind. You don't even need to copy anything exactly; just play 'something like that'. One good practice thingy is you choose a pattern - for example blues - then play two measures of chords then two measures of improvisation. You really gotta take it easy, time is on your side.