I'm wondering if you aren't emphasizing lead parts too much. As you've already seen probably too many times, nailing the fundamentals is the key to advancing. I find a lot of people today want to move right into playing lead and "songs" and that's very understandable. Back when I learned (mid-60s) it seemed like forever before you even got to your first song and I think that's why many gave up.

Even now (I've played for 40 years, with an admitted 20 year gap in the middle), what I do is 40% fundamentals (warm ups, scales, etc.) 50% working on rhythm and chording and perhaps 10% classic "lead" work. Advanced chording eventually gets you to where you're picking the melody out as part of playing, not as a separate single note lead. And that's when people will really take notice.

A couple of other points: remember that a lot of guitarists (especially today) may be using custom tunings and lots of FX. The point here is that you may be playing the right notes but it may never sound right without also adding in the original's FX settings, tuning, etc. My suggestion: try older tunes (50s, 60s) not so much because they're less complex but because they're more likely to have been played in standard tuning and with minimal effects.

The second is to consider "ear training" ... I haven't really looked into that but there are probably CD/DVD courses that teach you how to hear music more effectively. That's another weakness you sometimes find in players my age; we were often taught to read music alone. I don't advocate only playing by ear, but having that ability fine tuned will be a major plus for you.

So don't give up! I remember playing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" so many times that I almost became a vegetarian But those fundamentals do pay off, just as everyone's saying!

My wife could care less if Jeff Beck was over here jamming with me.lol The only comments she makes is if she is on the phone and someone asks if that is me playing and then she will say something nice. Hey dont ever give up because you know you will miss that rush of nailing something and just the shear pleasure it brings to play. Try and work on two songs at a time that you can play from beginning to end and dont move on till you nailed them. Try www.licklibrary for some DVDs as they have everything and will take you through them note for note solos and all if you have problems doing it by ear. Just stay within your level and remember to have fun. I believe that is what you are missing right now the fun part. There are a lot of great songs that are not hard to play that sound great.

I've taught students with this attitude in the past. My advice was to go to the library and get one or two DVDs. There is an exellent one on how to play chords and pick melodies out of chords. I'd guess that these days there is even a wider choice.

Good luck!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I think you've been given alot of good advise here. Stick with the online lessons or by books. I have been teaching myself how to play for the last 10 years or so without any lessons what so ever and not one time have i felt the need to quit. I just watch and learn mostly. I have found that it helps to learn your basic chords and the notes that make them up. Find a site that you can get chords and lyrics from then just sit and play. It's called faking it. Over time you will develope your own unique style and progress into all of the other good stuff in playing guitar. No matter the struggle with the learning process NEVER GIVE UP. Well unless you want to try piano or bass then who's to say it's any easier? Good Luck with everything.

Heh... so true. Sample conversation:

(Some sort of "In the studio with..." show on T.V.)

Mrs (looks up from reading): "Are you playing along with this song?"

Mr: "Why, yes, can you not hear my tasty fills..?"

Mrs (going back to reading): "Oh."

I know what your going through, Ive only been playin a lil while & in my mind if I cant play like freakin Jimi Hendrix i suck...but practice makes perfect(;

_________________
"being a rock star is the intersection of who you are, and who you want to be." -Slash

Have you ever been playing along to something on the TV and had a family member say something like: "That sounds familiar" - sheesh!

the way I see it the most important question for anybody to ask--no matter there skill level is--do you enjoy playing guitar?

By that I mean--is it fun?
DO you love doing it?

Play it for enjoyment/fun/relaxation etc.
Don
t worry how it sounds to others.

then if you get good enough to play for others--it's just gravy.

Have a plan of how to learn-yes.

But if you enjoy playing, even if you're not very good--keep at it.

If you don't enjoy it, even if you're a virtuoso--at least take a break.

I fall somewhere in between, and there are times I've taken a break from playing--some intentional, some forced upon me by life.

But it's always been a temporary thing, because I love playing.
And I enjoy it so much more now that I'm just doing it for fun, not to impress anyone, be in a band, or play in front of others.

_________________
It wasn't Willy-Nilly, it was at crows.

Try this: http://www.justinguitar.com/

I was aimless for a long time and then i found this site. The whole thing is 100% free, the videos and tuition are superb, believe me.