When did you finally feel like you could play the guitar

[MattTX_24]

This is going to be completely subjective and everyone will have their own answer, and I guess it comes down to each person’s interpretation or expectations.

For the record, I would say you can definitely play guitar.

I can play a little bit of drums, bass guitar, and piano. By no means am I able to sit down and just have a jam session with any instrument I play, but that doesn’t mean I can’t play the instruments.

I guess the best way to approach this is to simply allow yourself to add a qualifier or two to the statement. “I’m a guitar player, mostly amateur at this point but continuing to learn.” But you’re most definitely a guitar player.

[BrandonK]

Thanks for the reply Matt,

I guess I would love to be able to just pick up the guitar and play a song around a camp fire. I feel I am still so far away from that goal.

[Acoustically_Challenged]

I’m right there with you, and I’ve been dabbling in guitar much longer than you. I used to practice but never thought of myself as a player. That changed after I heard Tony say that once you pick up the guitar and start playing you ARE a guitar player. That re-frame helped my guitar work be inspirational and aspirational. I started keeping a pick in my pocket at all times as a reminder.

Now, you’re not at your goal today, but can you say you’re better than you were 6 months ago? If yes, even a little, then you’re progressing and that’s better than those who keep their guitar in a case under the bed. Skill can ebb and flow as well. You may have awesome growth in one 30-day period, then plateau for a while. That’s OK.

[MattTX_24]

I thought about this some more… and I think I have a better answer to what you were asking.

I felt like I could play guitar when I could play the chords to some of my favorite songs.

I started playing guitar around the time Coldplay’s first album “Parachutes” came out. That album has some unique chord shapes and tunings. I felt like I could play guitar when I was able to learn some of those songs. And no, I couldn’t play them at 100% speed or without stopping and starting, but I felt like I could play guitar if I could recreate the sounds of my favorite songs.

I do hear you about feeling like you can play when you’re able to just sit down “at a campfire” and play a few songs….

I think you’re closer than you think. I don’t feel like I ever give myself the opportunity to learn full songs. But this can be done with a little extra effort. Heck, there are a million songs out there that just use a few chords.

• This reply was modified 3 months ago by  MattTX_24.

[BrandonK]

Very true Acoustically_Challenged about it is better to at least be playing 10 to 30 minutes each day versus having the guitar in my case and not playing it at all.

[BrandonK]

Thank you so much for the additional answer,

I would assume Coldplay songs are pretty complicated to play?

Also, I hope I am closer than I think

[MattTX_24]

Actually, the Coldplay songs weren’t overly difficult… I just had very little knowledge at the time I was learning the chords. When I learned the chords and heard myself play them, I had an “a-ha” moment… like, “oh wow… I can play guitar!”

Did it mean I could sit down and play a song for a bunch of people? No… but it was the first moment I thought that I was a guitar player.

[jumpinjeff]

I feel one thing when I play now…..I feel free. When I play I am exploring infinity in a seemingly finite way. Many years of daily effort where itegral to this process. I started getting flashes and glimmers along the way that always kept me chasing the next challenge. I had a mentor who used to tell me that at some point I would not have to think about what the next note is…I would just intuitively play it. I thought he was patronizing me and I was not one of those people….I was dead wrong. It has come to pass. Just in case anyone who reads this may think they are not one of those people who can just play: I have no innate musical talent, what I did get in abundance at birth was determination…..what is the difference between the two? the musically gifted get the freedom in a tenth of the time. Can anyone get this? Yes!! But if you have no innate talent only determination will take you there over time. So much so that time itself becomes just a marker and not a goal.

[BrandonK]

That makes sense MattTX_24,

[Skyman911]

Everyone is different, and you will get a different answer from most everyone. If you only know three chords, I guarantee you can pick up your guitar and start playing songs anytime you want. There are literally thousands of songs with only three chords. I’m like @jumpinjeff, and had no innate musical talent when I first started. For me personally, it was about the three year mark where I felt like I was “getting it”. I didn’t need to think about the next chord, chord shape etc..

But what @jumpinjeff mentioned, you have to be diligent. You need to play everyday if possible. Leaving your guitar in its case, and hoping you will get better someday will just lead to frustration. One of my teachers gave me some great advice. Be happy where you are at, don’t get discouraged at where you aren’t. We all want to get better and improve. But if I’m frustrated at where I’m not at, you will never get there. I promise, many, if not all of us have been in your shoes. I remember practicing, and practicing and being so frustrated that I hadn’t improved as much as I had expected given the time I was putting in. There was only ONE big thing that changed. Acceptance. Once I started accepting where I was at, and being OK with it, and having fun with it, everything changed. Playing became everything I wanted to do, instead of dreading another crappy practice session, and wondering if I’ll ever “get there”. You are already there, just open your eyes and let it happen.

[BrandonK]

Thank you JumpingJeff,

That makes sense that as you put in your 1,000 repetitions you would be able to play the next note/chord without thinking. It becomes muscle memory.

I would just love to be able to go to Ultimate Guitar Tabs and pick a 4 cords song and be able to play it. <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>

[jumpinjeff]

Now we have something to work with!! What is currently preventing you from picking a 4 chord song and playing it? You have that desire, you have some experience, what is blocking your path, as it were. I’ll go first: the biggest thing blocking my progress was my own expectation. I have a list of 4 but will leave you with just the one…no need to put yours in the Forum it is mostly rhetorical. If you can suss out what is blocking you, then we can get you fast tracked to your desired outcome. You have good things going on. Your song list is cool. You have developed your habit. You are slowly increasing your playing times. These are all key components to sustained improvement. Thumbs up there. How are you doing with the fun component?

[BrandonK]

Thank you for your message.

I feel the thing that is holding me back is I have a hard time with tempo and strumming patterns. Getting the rhythm is something I am trying to learn.

That is what is really holding me back and I really stopping me from what I a feel is having fun. I feel right now as I am learning it’s hard so it’s all work right now.

[Moose408]

Do you actively practice rhythm and strumming? I started scheduling rhythm practice 3 times a week (for 5 mins) a couple years ago and now have pretty decent rhythm. You aren’t going to improve at things you don’t practice.

Tony is VERY good about explaining the timing for the daily challenges, but because you are often focusing on several elements in the challenge the brain will tend to learn the one you are focusing on most intently which is most often the fretting hand. To get good at rhythm you need to isolate just the strumming hand. On the daily challenges try taking a few minutes of muting the strings with your fretting hand and just work on you strumming hand doing the timing that Tony has laid out.

[BrandonK]

Makes sense, I guess over time once the Daily challenges becomes easier I can start focusing on the tempo side.

[BrandonK]

I guess that is one of my challenges Skyman911. I find the TAC Daily lessons challenging still and only get through 10 minutes of the session and feel like I didn’t get it ie the chords, strumming patern…etc. Like you mentioned I feel further behind and not like I am making progress.

If I recap where I am not, I mean I can play A Major, A Minor, B Major, C Major, D Major, E Major, E minor, G Major.

I can play a few songs as well
1. Stand By Me – Ben E. King
2. Anything but you – Moldy Peaches

3. Knocking on Heavens Door – Bob Dylan

4. Wonderwall – Oasis

So maybe I am further than I think/feel?

[TMutter]

Tonys 10-15 minutes a day mantra is spot on. My breakthrough was similar to his guidance. When I put my guitar in the living room on a stand vs having it a case, things changed for me. I found myself picking it up multiple times in a day – sometimes for just a few chord strums – but it was always out. Muscle memory really accelerated. One other drill is to find a few songs with chords in your wheel house and play along with a recording of them. You dont have to play it exactly, maybe just strum on the down beat. Overtime your brain will start to feel lyric phrasing while your strumming hand is finding the beat and your chord hand is finding the frets. Wont be too long where you will be able to play the songs without the recording. It worked for me early in my journey. Happy playing guitar man.

[BrandonK]

I am finding the daily challenge is just that, I still find them challenging and don’t really get the drill. I feel 95% of the time I finish feeling I did what I could but not sure how much will stick.

[the-old-coach]

Well, here’s yet another viewpoint….. not different….. just “additional”…..

I think there’s more to it than just “playing guitar”. I see that as just the starting point.

Back in my working career as a utility power-lineman, the journeymen always told us (apprentices at the time)– “climbing a pole is good, but more importantly, you also have to know what to do when you get there….”.

Similarly, to me, being able to “play guitar” is great stuff……. but the real thing is what you do with that skill.

Do you wanna use that knowledge to write songs? Do you just wanna enjoy it as a hobby to keep to yourself? Do you wanna play campfire songs with friends and/or family? Do you wanna record or video your playing? Do you wanna perform live?…….. There’s just soooo many options.

Deciding your “end goal” is very important- (although as you grow, you may change it a few times!)

My two-cents– the old coach

[jorgemac]

1 & a 2 and 3… 4

Some days I’m a strummer, some days I’m a finger picker.

Some days my fingers won’t listen to me.

Some days I’m a slide guitar king and a few minutes later I can’t fumble through a chord change.

Some days I can hammer on, pull off, slide into or out of a progression.

Some days I can slap the out the melody with a percussive beat.

Some days My fingers get in the way like 2 left feet.

Some days I can pick a melody by ear.

Some days I just land on my rear.

I am an evolving guitar player… And life is pretty darn good.

[BrandonK]

Thanks everyone,

I try to play at least 30 min to 60 min. Practice my chords, the few songs I know, do my TAC lesson and also play with the Gibson app.

Trying to make sure I stay consistent.

Currently my goal is to be able to play the guitar, sing around a campfire and at family events like Christmas.

[Skyman911]

Keep in mind that almost 90% of new guitar players quit after the first year. If you’re still committed, you’re in the 10%. The first year or so is the hardest for sure. I’m also curious if TAC is your only method of learning?