Heu guys, there have been lots of threads bout how to practice, should it be fun etc.

Here's a new dilemma:

I have been playing 10 years, in that time I have played in New York City many times with my first band, been a staple of the Belfast scene and even played with my heroes in Guns N' Roses with my last band.......BUT..........I know sweet f*** all in terms of theory, scales etc.....I've been blaggin and draggin for a decade...reason why: not laziness, I have learnin difficulties that marred my education which is why I turned to guitar but every time I try and learn scales etc, it goes over my head, I read everything 100 times over and cant understand it, it frustrates me and makes me think I am stupid, I want to learn these things and I try to learn these things but I just do not see me ever having the ability.

Does anyone suffer the same problems as me?
Is there a way I can understand without feeling like a dumbass?
Can anyone help me?

Please?

CC

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Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
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Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
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Blackstar HT-5

It sounds like either...

1) you just need to find a way to learn those that you can relate to.

2) stop worrying about scales (a weak point for you), and work 120% on your strong points. you don't "need" to be a great scale player.

ditto. what dgonz said.

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"look mummy there's an airplane up in the sky"

Although probably not to the extreme as you describe, I've had some difficulty at times with scales and such. I tend to see things in patterns. That is, everything. If my telephone number doesn't follow some sort of pattern, I have a difficult time remembering it. If a password to something doesn't follow some sort of meaningful pattern, I am nearly unable to remember it. I simply don't have the memorization skills that most folks seem to enjoy.

Some 20+ years ago when I discovered the CAGED system, this opened many doors. I began discovering other patterns along the fret board that translated into major and minor scales. From there is was all gravy.

Think patterns. Every major, minor, pentatonic, modal scale follows a specific pattern that makes it relatively easy, with practice, to transpose from one key to another. Pick a chord progression like, Am-F-Dm-E, and work the patterns that work until your fingers bleed. Then change keys to something like, Bm-G-Em-F#, and work that set of patterns. Before long this will come naturally as breathing.

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Calling an illegal alien an undocumented immigrant is like calling a drug dealer an undocumented pharmicist.

Great points by Warpfield. I know the fretboard inside and out. Not to the point of a pro jazz player, but pretty damn good. When I play them improvising solos and writing stuff, I don't think theory so much. I think more "patterns". Yes, theory does come into play, but it's more like "Ok, this is in G major, so I can just play this pattern all over, and focus on these certain notes in that pattern, blah blah blah".

For a reference point, I've met blues players that could play ridiculously awesome to anything you throw at them, and not really "know" what they're playing from a theory standpoint. I've seen great rock players do that too. Yes, they know the basics and more, but not a ton of "thinking" is done. I've also seen players with lots of schooling that "know" far more than me, but sound like crap when they play. Why? There's a certain point where feel and interpretation comes into play. A person can only be "taught" so much. If they don't have that feel inside them, and the instinct to use what little they might know but in the best way, then it doesn't matter how many scales they know, or how much theory they can rattle off in a conversation.

Many great composers aren't always the best players, and many great players can't compose well. Being able to do both is the ultimate, but you don't need both to have fun, play well, jam with your buddies, write songs, play gigs and even make money playing guitar.

We all have strengths and weaknesses. Focus more on those strengths than spending too much time on you weaknesses that may be unnecessary. That will take you far in the music industry, the corporate field and life in general.

+1 dg , has the handle , thanks bro.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Thank you guys, I really appreciate it.


CC

_________________
Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

maybe try a guitar teacher that has a lot of experince and taught for a while, they might be able to teach you in a way that you understand.

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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!

Yes I would agree that maybe you should look into the CAGEd system and learn to play your scales off of chord shapes as I think that might be the best way for you to go.Hey man you have been gigging for sometime so I would assume you know how to play. I just think your dislexic which is not your fault and millions of people suffer from it.So dont down yourself overcome your issue and it will inspire a lot of people in music who also have it.KEEP ON ROCKIN

I feel you...I just got this book called Gary's Grid that is an easy way to learn the fret board. I know I am terrible with scales...but the book and the system of remembering things seem to actually work. One downfall is that Gary's Grid is expensive, but when you get the book, you will see why it costs so much.

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Its true I can play, but I think I've harmed myself in not understanding it all which aint really my fault.
I'll check the book out and once again guys..........thank you and love to all. Appreciate it!


CC

_________________
Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

Celtic, I'm in the same boat, I don't look at tabs anymore or this scale or that scale. It's sensory overload. I've gone back to old school and listen to cd's and pick out the notes and phrases in rhythms and leads. Sometimes it takes longer but in the end I have a better ear for what goes where. I used to learn by tabs and practice scales via click or metronome but it never seemed to sink in. Ever since (about 4 years now) I implemented the "listen and play" technique, I know where I am at in any key. Let me state that this may not work for everybody but it definitely has helped me.

ps, the video lessons are killer, kind of like monkey see monkey do.