Actually, this could be a good thing for you in the long run. You'll have to learn to teach yourself, motivate yourself, and sometimes force yourself to play guitar. Teaching yourself to teach yourself can be as hard as actually learning to play guitar. I homeschool, and I was self taught for my first year on guitar so I've gotten fairly good at it. Although my guitar teacher did have a lot to teach me about practicing and I certainly wouldn't be near where I am now if not for him. So try and get those lessons back as soon as you can.

Here are some things that help me,

-Vary your practice. Practice as many things as you can. Playing scales and arpeggios for an hour and a half can drain the life out of you, but if you play them for twenty minutes, jam on a song you're writing, and then play them again for ten minutes you won't get as bored and you'll get more done. Learn songs by ear, learn new chords, write songs, learn entire songs all the way through, jam with backing tracks. Learning songs all the way through is something often neglected by guitarists, but it's one of the most rewarding things you can do.

-Find new bands and new songs when you don't feel like playing. It'll get you way more excited about the music you like when you find out where that music came from and who influenced who.

-Try to play things that you think are too hard for you. When I was self taught I played it very safe. I only stuck to things I knew I could play. Alternative, Punk, Surf, Ska, and I was scared to death to try to play something that would take a lot of work. My teacher was the one who started making me push myself harder and play things I thought I couldn't, and that's how you improve. It's very frustrating sometimes, so know when to stop and take a break from it.

-Youtube lessons. There are lessons on youtube for everything, any style you want, any level you want. Spend some time browsing youtube and learning licks and techniques from people. Some aren't that great, but one good lesson can do you a world of good. Don't listen to the people who tell you not to learn off the internet, the people who think that the only way to learn guitar is by listening to some dusty record and figuring everything out on your own. If you have a question, post it. We're all here to learn, and to help. Don't you think that if Hendrix had the internet, he'd use it? It's just another tool for expanding your knowledge of guitar, so take advantage of it.

By the way, if you're at all into blues check out the free lessons at http://www.steviesnacks.com/. They helped me a lot, and they're fun.

-Don't be afraid to take a little break. A day, a week, whatever. Hopefully you'll start missing it bad enough to want to play again. Just don't give up, because this is just a stage in your life that will pass.

"You have to stick with it. Sometimes you are going to be so frustrated you'll want to give up on guitar. You'll hate guitar. But all of this is just part of learning, because if you stick with it, you're going to be rewarded."
-Jimi Hendrix

I don't know what's gotten into me lately with all of these insanely long posts.

Life throws walls up all the time and you have to knock them down. If good grades is what it takes to keep up your guitar then get good grades. You can't control many things in life but you can control your state of mind. I don't agree with being an eternal optimist but you can't dwell on what's happened already either. Take a day or a week, be pissed off and then rise above it. I've personally had some really bad times in my life and at one point I had a year or so when it all came tumbling down. It was one thing after another and I like everyone else I questioned everything from myself to my family and friends to the heavens themselves and I was all alone. Then for whatever reason I woke up one day and thought "well if no one else is going to help me then I've wasted enough time already so I'd better do this myself." A new attitude helped me slowly crawl out and become a way better person than I ever was when things were good. As horrible as that time was I absolutely cherish it now because I became me during that time. I'm not going to sit and try and tell you that everyone loves you and it will get better because we all know that's true but what you need to know is what to do right now. Right now you have to pick up that guitar and pull yourself out of this rut because you deserve to be happy. Once you take care of yourself then everything will fall into place. Once you get out of this rut and know your inner strength do you think that some tool at school or some teenage girl is going to be able to affect you? Not a chance bro. Sorry for the sermon and excuse me if I overstepped my bounds but I just want you to know that you will overcome this and you will be better for it.

Khashoggi, from the progression of your posts in this thread you are getting better already if you read them in order you story fills in very well, almost like you are rebuilding your music machine from the inside out, faster more melodic and stronger than before

^ this.... hope you get back into your guitar fully (well, more than before actually)

HOLY CRAP!!
You're homeschooled, too?? NO WAY.
Well, my sis and I had our very first school experience back in September last year. I miss the freedom of homeschooling....

P.S. -- Not into blues?!?!?!?!?!? Puh-LEASE.... I adore the blues.

P.P.S. -- The Hendrix quote really helped me, too. I'm actually listening to him now....
Thanks again for everything.

NO WAY! That's awesome! You probably already know a thing or two about teaching yourself then, since technically everything is "home work". I've been homeschooled since first grade, before that I had a year in school with Kindergarten. I remember being scared to death of the "big kids" who were really just 12 year olds. I thought about going to "real" school for high school, but all my friends seemed to hate it so I convinced my parents not to send me. Plus I can go to blues jams that last until 1 in the morning regardless of whether or not it's a school night. And I'd rather have blues jams than proms anyway.


Very cool. You'll definately enjoy those lessons then.



I have that quote taped up right where I practice so I can always look at it when I'm feeling miserable about my playing. You'd have to be some kind of super human robot not to get stuck in a rut.

NO WAY! That's awesome! You probably already know a thing or two about teaching yourself then, since technically everything is "home work". I've been homeschooled since first grade, before that I had a year in school with Kindergarten. I remember being scared to death of the "big kids" who were really just 12 year olds. I thought about going to "real" school for high school, but all my friends seemed to hate it so I convinced my parents not to send me. Plus I can go to blues jams that last until 1 in the morning regardless of whether or not it's a school night. And I'd rather have blues jams than proms anyway.

Very cool. You'll definately enjoy those lessons then.

I have that quote taped up right where I practice so I can always look at it when I'm feeling miserable about my playing. You'd have to be some kind of super human robot not to get stuck in a rut.

I got my first fender coz my mom said she would break my acoustic guitar over my head if I flunked my A Levels. I just said to her - if I get at least 1 grade A will you buy me a Fender and she said YES!!! I got one grade A and a week later we went into a music store in Hereford and came out with a Fender Antigua Strat - holy moly I swear I never worked so hard for an exam!

I think a lot of folk here have given you some great help & advice so I won't add anything except don't ever give up playing.

Khash you hit the wall. There is not a player here who has not hit the wall on a few occasions. Sometimes it is good to take a break so you can recharge your batteries. Believe me it will not last long and something will inspire you to pick it back up very soon. As far as feeling like you are going to lose your skills or forget what is in your head I have not really played in two years but am shocked when I teach my son at how much comes back to me. Also when you have a lot on your mind and are stressed it will affect your playing as you are not focusing clearly. Before you know it you will be playing and this will have been a little bit of a help as you will fresh and ready to go.


Just-Listen to breeze whisper to the trees dont send me to the path of nevermore.lol