I feel like I've made almost no progress on the guitar the last 6 months. I have no time to take formal lessons. I'm really not any good. My kids can sometimes tell what I am trying to play but my wife rarely can. I have no set routine, it seems I am just skipping around youtube aimlessly trying to find some song that I like that I can actually play. I clearly will never be good enough to play publicly. Yet for some inexplicable reason I think that if I keep plugging away, one day it well actually "click" and I'll start moving in a positive direction. Its not like I just started playing, I've been at this a few years. All that being said, I really enjoy it when something actually sounds good that I play. Sorry to whine, but I just wondered, is it time to give up the ghost?

You need to address this in the quote.

there is a plethora of good teaching materials, books,DVD,or online that can give you some structure.

There are free and/or cheap instructional sites.

It seems to me you need some solid structure.

Never give up, just consider what you need to do to improve.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Thanks 12. Any good site recommedations off the top of your head?

I've been playing for about 2 years, with a teacher. Some of the greatest help he's given me is to point out what music/songs are within my reach, and what are too advanced. Frankly, I've found the greatest progress (and enjoyment from getting it right) when he's taken a song and either simplified the tabs, or simply just had me play the chords. Maybe take the songs you're working on and adjust your expectations.

The solos and complicated riffs will be easier once the chords are easy.

Of course, the other thing he encourages is learning scales, which I work on a couple of nights a week. It also keeps the songs fresh.

Ooh it's been so many years since I started, but I did pick up Guitar for Dummies, for a friend, it seemed quite well laid out.

I'm sure some of our other members who are newer to guitar can help steer you in the right direction.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Well, I've been playing a long time off and on, and am not very good, but I still like to play.

Couple of things helped me thru feeling like that, one was using computer software to learn songs, like Guitar pro, You can DL tons of tab online for it and you can slow down sections in songs, change the key, all kinds of stuff. There's even tab for scales and exercises and stuff.

The second thing was I bought a bass. I've never played bass until then, but bass lines are a lot simpler in general, so you can really see the progress you're making. I don't know if really helps with guitar playing, but really gets you back in the mood of wanting to play more often.

From Galaxy Quest

I advise learning scales and chords. Once you can master chords and scales, you can make up your own songs. I have been improvising stuff for a while and written a few songs of my own. Yeah its nice to be able to play a few songs that others will know, but in the end I play for me, not for anyone else.

Funny thing is I get more complements playing my own stuff when I am out in the music stores than I do when I bust out Maiden or Metallica.

I did recently get a book for Christmas called totally interavtive Guitar Bible. Pretty intresting book, it has a few lessons, a brief history of guitars, DVD of different guitars and what they sound like, and a CD to go with the lesson book.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I have been playing for a couple of years now and i am the same way with no time and three kids tugging away at my pant leg all of the time. There are two guitar courses that i ordered that to me have been a great guide and really gave me the understandiung of the fret board and got me going on reading music. The first was the Learn and master Guitar Course by Steve Kranz. This starts at the a,b c's and takes you to a new level. Second i would reccemond Fretboard knoledege vol 1 & 2 (havent gone to 3 yet). This will give you a full understanding of the fretboard that will open the floode gates

Never give up! Anything worth while takes time. Here is a great website
[urlhttp://all-guitar-chords.com/guitar_chords_common.php?ch=D&mm=7&get=Get

Hope that this helps you as much as it has me!
ABS[/url]

Pineknot14, I feel your pain. I've been playing for a little over two years, and I often get very frustrated. I have brief flashes of competence, but most of the time I feel like an absolute klutz. But I do love it, and so I stick with it.

Here are some of the books that I have. You may find them useful as well:

Tom Kolb, Music Theory for Guitarists: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask

Mark Phillips & Jon Chappell, Guitar for Dummies (also recommended by Twelvebar)

Will Schmid & Greg Koch, Hal Leonard Guitar Method

And if you're into the blues, check these out:

John Ganapes, Blues You Can Use

Greg Koch, Hal Leonard Guitar Method: Blues Guitar

Your local used book store can be a great resource for finding guitar books. We have a chain here called Half Price Books where I buy all my music books. I haven't paid full price for anything.

One book that might help you get your head in the right place is Zen Guitar by Philip Toshio Suto.

Another thought: Do you have a friend that you can jam with? Sometimes just going through a simple 12-bar blues with someone else can be enough to keep you going.

Try not to get too discouraged. It can be difficult, but I hope you stay with it.

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

please don't give up!

i have many friends who started like i did- taking lessons in the early 60's. that had a great influence, and got me started in the right direction. my teacher also wrote out some songs that i liked, which kept me interested. he didn't tab them for me, however. he wanted to make sure i could read music properly.

what are your goals as far as playing? if you want, you can learn some basic chords. you can than play a few singalong things, so you could play with a few friends around and just have some fun. you could also find the type of music you like to play. research the players that get you excited about playing, and advance from there.

remember- most people aren't great on guitar overnight. a lot of practice will get you there. just remember to have fun, and stick with the fender forums for advice and support. we're here for you!

I've taught myself everything I know. It does take a while, but it's kinda cool to be able to say that you figured it out. I'm a country fan, which is based off chords. So one of the first things I did was learn how to form certain chords to songs I like, and then listen to the song to get the strum pattern. Now I'm moving more into scales and theory, which helps me play faster.

It worked for me, maybe it'll work for you. But don't give up because it DOES take a while. It's one of the most rewarding things I've ever done though. Keep at it!

Brother you need to get some basic basics down first. Learn your major chords and the minor pentatonic scale. Don't give up, just understand that your are going to have to play simple songs to start with (even if you don't really "like them") so that you can get your hands trained.

THe internet is great and free but it's also a source of information overload and there is a lot of CRAP out there. Try hitting up a bookstore and buying "Guitar for Dummies" (no offense intended and I'm not kidding it's really a book) lots of basics on set up, vare,tuning, and basic playing

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

Hi Pineknot,I've already decided when I'm going to pack it in-right after I draw my final breath-maybe.You definitely need to form some a simple plan of attack.Sit down and write down what songs you've always liked or what artists you like and get some of their recordings and song/tab books etc. and concentrate on one at a time this flitting all over the place serves no purpose and will only ad to your frustration.you need to develop a set pattern to follow and stick to it.I was going to spend this year picking out the chords to all the Beatle songs but I found a book of all their compositions with the exact chords that they used.If you're a Beatle fan the book is The Beatles Complete Chord Song Book published by Hal Leonard.I'm getting through the book now and have memorized many of the songs that I didn't know before and have gotten down several of the lead breaks also. Of course there are many excellent books so try that approach,all it takes is some determination,perseverence and a lot of love for the guitar.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Pineknot,

Never give up, never surrender. I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true.

I'm in almost exactly the same place as you are right now, but it's starting to get better... just barely, but it's still better. Just recently someone recognized several of the songs I was playing, to me that's a sign of improvement.

I also search youtube for videos of songs that I think I can learn. Unfortunately I don't have the option of taking lessons because if the small town where I live had someone that gave them (which it doesn't), I wouldn't be able to afford them anyway. So I take my lessons where I can get them. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. To each his/her own. Keep plugging awy to the best of your ability.

It's true that you will probably never play professionally, but that's true for most of us. As long as you're having fun, who cares?

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"Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul..."

-Emily Dickinson