Hi Everyone,

I started playing Guitar back on October 2008. I really didn't spend too much on it and by August 2009, I had barely moved on from open chords to power chords and learning where the notes where on the fretboard. It was at this time, that I was asked by a friend to join a band as the bass player. Initially I said no but he said that all I would be doing was holding notes most of the time. When I went to the first band practice, this certainly was not the case. The lead and rythym guitarist were 30 year veterans and were expecting a lot more than holding notes from me. Over the course of the next few months, they taught me how to play riffs and to improvise with notes around the root note in songs. Unfortunately, this band split in March of this year. I then returned to the Guitar, where my development was still at August 2009 with no improvement. Still, I missed doing practice with band mates, and since I had gotten rid of all of my bass gear and traded it for Guitar gear, I started up a new covers band with some work mates with me on rythym guitar. This was a steep learning curve to say the least. Having to learn riffs like Sunshine of Your Love and Jumping Jack Flash was pretty hectic. I have since mastered power chords as well as barre chords which went a long way to playing decent rythym. I have no problems playing the songs we play as I have spent long hours practicing them. The problem is that the guys in the band sometimes like to do impromtu jams in the middle or at the end of practice and this is where I get lost. I have no ear for music, can't hear a chord and say what it sounds like and I am not very good at playing things without learning them first. The guys accept this as I do my job in terms of what we are supposed to play but in reality it does get me down. Also, my old band has resurrected itself so I'm back playing bass as well as my other band where I play Guitar. There is no issue in terms of time yet as neither bands are gigging yet. I'm also Married with a full time job and an eight year old son, so sometimes time can be precious.

The concerns I have are routed around not having that magical musical ear, and from that, being able to improvise. How do I develop this, where can I go for help? This makes me very insecure about playing.

The worst part about this is that my equipement is more developed than my playing. I currently have an MIM Strat, MIM tele, a Gibson Les Paul and an Epiphone Casino and play them through either a Marshall 100 Watt MGHDFX Stack or a Fender Frontman 121R with a Boss GT6 pedal board.

When your holding one of these Guitars in your hands, there is a level of expectation......

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III

Play the blues!



no, seriously, start jamming to backing tracks, the blues is a great way to start. It has a defined range (so not too free and scary, like some jazz or fusion etc), and you can develop an ear for what fits and also get some soloing skills. And the blues is basically the foundation to any popular music out there. Try it out!

Also, maybe one of these would be a good idea: VOX Jamvox.
http://www.voxamps.com/jamvox/

good luck man!

-Nutter

wow you have come a long way in 2 yrs. playing in 2 bands, a family man with a full time job, sounds to me like your well on your way.
whats the problem?

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

yeah, DONT DROP IT. lol

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Good advice here Torres. Perserverance will pay off. I'm no expert either and I've been trying to play for years. The backing track is your friend, but you will progress much faster in your band. There is no substitute for playing live with others when it comes to self improvement. One day the light will come on in your head and you'll be glad you stuck with it. Keep on rockin...

read the posts above very carefully. it is truly GREAT advice. like nevin, i've been playing for a long time and still feel lost.
you've got alot going for you already. alot of us started on cheap gear. you don't have that working against you. you will develop an "ear" eventually and there is nothing magical about it. it just takes time and practice. when your buddies break out into "jam" sessions, experiment and ask questions if you need to. playing bass will improve your guitar playing i believe. it did for me and i enjoy the instrument as much as guitar.
finally, RELAX. i have this problem also. i want to be perfect all the time. for me, that ain't gonna happen. again, like nev said, don't go for note for note. do your own thing. have fun.

First of all you shouldn't be so down on yourself as for only 2 yrs playing you have made admirable progress.To develop your playing to the point where you can immediately recognize chords and jam along to new songs takes more than a couple of years.There are excellent backing track sites on the net that can really be of great help for refining your playing. There are excellent chord books available too that show several ways to play the same chord from easiest configuration to hardest,one of the best is:Guitar Chords edited by Jake Jackson by Flametree Publishing the website is: www.flametreepublishing.com or www.musicfirebox.com I picked up my copy at Chapters Book Store for about $10 and was impressed with the layout and chord illustrations.

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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.

First of all you shouldn't be so down on yourself as for only 2 yrs playing you have made admirable progress.To develop your playing to the point where you can immediately recognize chords and jam along to new songs takes more than a couple of years.There are excellent backing track sites on the net that can really be of great help for refining your playing. There are excellent chord books available too that show several ways to play the same chord from easiest configuration to hardest,one of the best is:Guitar Chords edited by Jake Jackson by Flametree Publishing the website is: www.flametreepublishing.com or www.musicfirebox.com I picked up my copy at Chapters Book Store for about $10 and was impressed with the layout and chord illustrations.

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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.

First of all you shouldn't be so down on yourself as for only 2 yrs playing you have made admirable progress.To develop your playing to the point where you can immediately recognize chords and jam along to new songs takes more than a couple of years.There are excellent backing track sites on the net that can really be of great help for refining your playing. There are excellent chord books available too that show several ways to play the same chord from easiest configuration to hardest,one of the best is:Guitar Chords edited by Jake Jackson by Flametree Publishing the website is: www.flametreepublishing.com or www.musicfirebox.com I picked up my copy at Chapters Book Store for about $10 and was impressed with the layout and chord illustrations.

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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.

torres- i have been playing for 50 years, and i still feel i have a lot to learn. some people progress faster than others.

don't get intimidated by playing with other more experienced guitarists. when i was about 12, my guitar teacher, who was a master jazz player, taught me some jazz style playing. after a little while, he had my parents take me to a club where he was playing. he called me on stage to play with his group. here i am playing on a byrdland

they guys were great. they made me feel welcome, and tutored me a little bit afterword.

keep playing. you'll get where you want

Playing with better players will only make you better.Most seasoned guitarists are great about imparting their knowledge. It's a lifetime journey, this guitar, and fulfillment to the max.....Rock on Torres......... Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Thanks everyone, some really awesome advice and suggestions here, I'm glad that I aired my doubts about my playing and confidence now and will certainly adopt a lot of the suggestions here.

Much appreciated.

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III

can you sing?
started at 5 y/o, guitar lessons, just the basics, by 9 could play (rhythm guitar) and sing, stopped the lessons, pushed myself to do it in front of an audience even if it was an audience of just one, first band as rhthym guitar at twelve, my Telecaster was ripped off at seventeen, bass player now/since, but like to write on a sixer when possible, if you can sing it you can play it Bro. sing more, you will be more secure playing.

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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.

Yeah,play with musicians who are more advanced than you are and you'll learn faster.
When I was younger I used to get jealous,for lack of a better term,when some guy just blew me away,like when I met Warren Haynes when he was unknown,man was that a surprise .....now after 40+ years I admire someone's talent,and don't feel the need to compare my playing with somebody who is better....let's face it,the world is full of great players and depending on where you live there can be one around every corner,like here in Nashville and the surrounding area.
Take it as learning in the school of hard knocks,it's a great education.