How exactly does one get good at guitar?

[DL2]

A question for the ages, no doubt.

 

And to those of you who say 'practice': How?

[lp_junkie]

For me it was hours and hours of practice as a kid and teenager, then tons of gigs in my 20's, teaching lessons and recording in my early 30's (again hours and hours of practicing still) and now with the new band hours of rehearsals and recording.

 

It has to be something you are willing to sacrifice a lot of time for, push yourself to learn styles outside of your comfort zone.

 

I am a rock/metal guitar player but I spent 3 years learning bluegrass, especially for the picking techniques.

[riffy]

Develop your ears and a LOT of practice.

[homestar_kevin]

[YOUTUBE]eGDBR2L5kzI[/YOUTUBE]

 

 

TALKING ABOUT PRACTICE

[the_gunslinger]

A {censored}load of practice and playing with other musicians.

[lp_junkie]

I took formal lessons, learned theory, and jammed with my Dad and some kids from the neighborhood. But I was completely obsessed with it, since we didn't have video games or computers and certainly no internet. I had my guitar for entertainment.

 

Even now we have been rehearsing 8-9 hours a day as a band tightening up our songs and working out the set and show.

[shredder1]

I`ve always had a guitar in my hands, even watching the TV, putting leads on adverts and anything on the box, two keys to improving your playing, practice and time and mixing with as many like minded guitarists, dont get into the rut of being a bedroom guitarist, get out there and play

[jack harper]

TALKING ABOUT PRACTICE

 

 

 

Find what influences you and mimic them.

 

then get creative and mash all your influences together and make your own songs.

 

when you start writing songs, i found, you become a much better player

[Jkater]

 

Develop your ears and a LOT of practice.

 

 

This part of the equation is often forgotten. The EARS is where it starts.

 

Years ago, I was taking drawing lessons from a woman who was an awesome artist. She taught me, through exercises that drawing is 90% SEEING and 10% in the hand. I think music is not much different though the technical part may be a little more involved. For sure the technical part is the one most can achieve with, yes, a lot of practice. But grasping the language of music through listening and conveing one's own experience and emotion with that language is what makes a musician a musician.

[CoqBelliqueux]

Passion. Time. Hearing stuff in your head.

[treedroppings]

play along with your favorite songs

 

get a teacher to learn you your favorite songs

 

learn blues scales (guns&roses) major & minor scales (dio, rainbow) and

diminished scales (thrash)

 

also chords and arpeggios are the same notes, arpeggios are played sequentially, and chords are all the notes at once

 

when you learn scales, you can forget to play along with the song, making every lead you play sound like '60's acid rock

[mistersully]

wear boots... it's all in the boots

[Armchair Bronco]

I don't think it's practice so much as it is learning complete songs, front start to finish, including solos. And including the singing parts, too.

 

Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Solo, Chorus, Verse, Chorus

 

You need to be able to play the whole thing, sing the whole thing, nail the solo, and get to the point where you're really refining the entire package. You do that enough times with enough different songs, and eventually you start to get good at guitar.

 

Practicing can be scales or noodling or whatever. But learning a song from front to back is serious business.

[Doctor49]

Take the time to learn the instrument, scales, modes, fretboard, picking styles and techniques.

Try play anything and everything

Listen to anything and everything

Play with anyone who will play with you.

Watch teachers/you Tubers/etc - you will soon pick out who is good and who is not.

USE A METRONOME FROM DAY ONE

nothing says amateur more loudly than poor timekeeping.

 

and don't be surprised if this sounds like hard work. It is, as is anything worth doing well.

[*BLEEP*]

Practice, woodshedding, and most of all...

 

 

STAYING THE HELL AWAY FROM GUITAR FORUMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[211dave112]

lessons gave me a great base to start from but I've learnt way more by getting out and playing. i know basic theory that i learnt mostly at school which helps a bit.

[Armchair Bronco]

 

Dude! You're on fire tonight! This is the best advice yet.

[aenemated]

jack daniel's and cocaine.

[EADGBE]

Staying away from drugs and alcohol helps too.

[StompBoxLover]

no matter what you practise (scales/chords, emulating a certain style/player, learning songs/how to improvise...),

you have to set goals and need a time frame.

Divide the way towards these goals into tiny little steps, work out a schedule and keep track of your progress.

 

that and a lot of dedication.

 

(a good teacher will help, even if he or she just checks your progress once a month)

[aenemated]

 

Staying away from drugs and alcohol helps too.

 

 

i don't think that helps ANYTHING.

[Jkater]

Make sure you have other interests than music. Go to movies, read good books, meet nice people, spend time with your kids... then go back to your guitar, richer musically than before.

[Sale83]

You can allways go down to the crossroads...

[FoonkySteve]

Dont think its been mentioned yet or has it? but ........ practise! Im just kidding, obviously you have to practise, but more importantly.... patience! No-one learns guitar overnight, especially technique, for those of you who disagree, flip your guitar upside-down and play as a leftie or a rightie if your already a leftie? That should put you back in begginer territory, you can know all the theory in the world, but developing technique takes patience.

 

Another good idea is to record yourself on a monthly basis, you actually progress more than you think, although you dont realise because you are you??

 

For the average adult, with a job, partner maybe even kids, i recommend to practice 20-30 mins every other day, that is enough to make decent progress without commiting to an intense practise schedule and making promises you cant keep.

 

Here's the wierd contradicting part: Be a perfectionist, as in when learning your 1st few open chords, make sure you can hear every note on every string, make sure you only play the required strings in the chord ie Dmin only requires the D,G,B,E strings to be struck, if it doesnt sound quite right play the strings of the chord individualy to locate the problem and adjust your hand,wrist,elbow fingers,knuckles or finger tips to correct it. Once you can identify your own mistakes and fix them, you are well on your way to progressing proficiently!

 

Here's the contradiction. Don't be a perfectionist! 'What? You just said be a perfectionist a minute ago?!'

 

I know! Thats for the basic chords, basically what im saying here is if you cant play a particular thing lets say a part of a song, dont overdo it in one session, you will get pissed off and frustrated, either put the guitar down, go have a coffee or watch tv whatever.... or play something completely different, then go back to it. Also say you cant get a strumming pattern? Dont stop strumming immediatly if you cant get it straight away, just keep making the mistakes and keep strumming its all about getting in the rhythm K?

 

Lastly, accept that you will never be the best guitarist in the world ever! Its not about being the best, its about playing for the love of playing, if you dont enjoy it, then the guitar is not for you, try skiing or sewing or something?

 

Long post, sorry its just my opinion:)

[Ferdinandstrat]

 

i don't think that helps ANYTHING.

 

 

Yes, except for general health....

 

However...a good joint once in a while didnt hurt anyone.

 

 

And back to the thread:

 

Selling your soul to the devil.