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Post subject: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:38 am
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Aspiring Musician
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I need a new motivation to keep pushing my guitar playing. Like, seriously, for the past 2 years I've only been bothering to learn songs that I can look at the tab for litterally 3 minutes and then I'm done. And even then, it's not much. Most of the time when I'm playing I'm just either making up riffs and bunching them together and calling it a song, or improvising with incredibly loud sound.
It's really strange cause alot of incredible stuff's been happening for me for most of the year, and you'd think that'd motivate me, but it doesn't.

EDIT;

Furthermore, I've been learning songs like powderfinger 'these days', but it's not a challenge. I just looked at the chords, and I could play it. I need a new challenge, but I'm not motivated to take whatever challenge may come, if that makes sense. So I need motivation, to get motivated.
My playing will always be limited by a right-hand problem, but surely there's always something that I can do to expand my playing, right?

So, what do you think I should do? I guess I'm incredibly lazy, when it comes to everything. I need someone or something to give me that extra push.

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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 3:22 am
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Well, first be VERY honest with yourself and ask yourself "What are my goals..??" If you wanna play back yard picnics, it a lot easier than making it a paying occupation.

Next question is: What are you willing to do to get there..??

And BE HONEST !

You're only at it for 2 years... no way should you be bored or unmotivated... there's way too much that you still don't know.

Maybe the guitar isn't for you... it isn't for everybody, no shame in that.

Many people in the beginning, think that they too can learn to play, not realizing how hard it really is to do right. They end up quitting along the way, not willing to put in the time or do/learn what it takes - why do you think there are so many used guitars for sale out there?

I have read numerous sources say that it takes a minimum of 5 years to become competent. Other sources I've read say 50,000 hours. And this is minimum.

How many hours have Clapton, Beck, Page, Hendrix, Townshend, et al devoted? Waay more than that I'm certain.

Another very important question: Do you want to be a guitarist, or do you want to be a musician?

If you just wanna be the former, you can Tab your way to eventual greatness.

If you want to be the latter, put away the songbooks and the Tab for now and learn the Fretboard, back and forth. Learn root patterns and how to name any note wherever it appears on the neck. Truly learning the Fretboard alone should take you a minimum of a year or more.

Then go on to notation and theory. Then technique.

I'm 10 mos. in, never even held a guitar before that and I haven't yet played a single song. Never did any Tab. I want to be a musician so I spend an hour/day learning the Fretboard. Another hour on notation. 30 min. on scales. 30 min. on chords - goal = 2 chords/week. 30 min. on Guitar Aerobics, a 52 week course w/ a daily excercise covering: Alternate Picking, Arpeggios, Sweep Picking, String Skipping, Legato, String Bending and Rythm Guitar (it's a Hal Leonard book with 2 CDs: CD1 - examples, CD2- Rythm tracks for playing along with) you do 10 reps of each excercise at differing tempos. Then I spend at least 30 min. to several hours noodling, trying things and generally getting some fun out of it all. This is EVERYDAY ! Add to this a 30 min. guitar lesson weekly - my teacher is already telling me I'm well ahead of his other students with the same time in, he's had to modify his lesson plan for me.

IMHO, you need to put the time in up front on fundamentals or at some point along the path you're going to plateau and stick with the things you know. This may be what you're experiencing.

Motivation comes from within, no one here can motivate you. Everyone is different. Personally I don't get bogged down, that's just who I am. My eye is way out to the future. I know what I'm doing now is gonna pay off in future. I wanna be as good as I can be, leaving nothing on the table. I know it's not going to be easy, I expect it to be hard... really hard. Not everyone is like that, and that's OK for them, and it's OK with me too.

But, if you break things down to baby steps, the sense of accomplishment can help keep you going.

Yea, it's sometimes boring, sometimes just rote repetition. But it won't last forever and when you get the fundamentals behind you, then you can make quantum leaps forward.

My suspicion is that you lack a clear path or vision. You are just trying to pick it up on the sly. No one is that sly.

Lots of people start out just doing tabulature, and if that's what they want, that's what they should do. But I'm certain that in 5 years, I'll be able to play circles around them.

The 5 years will pass no matter what... ask yourself where do you want your playing to be when they do?

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 3:45 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Honestly, my goal is to start a duo and start gigging, even if we're no good, just get out there, you know? So I guess you could say I'm in desperate need of a band. Drums, particually. I know lots of drummers, but they're already in bands. For the past couple of months I've been interested in getting someone on the drums, who has never played them before. That'd be pretty cool. I suppose I'm just sick of playing in my room.
And actually, i've been playing for about 4 years, not 2. Just during the past 2, I've hit this massive wall. Sorry if I worded that wrong in my original post.

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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 6:10 am
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I'll cheer you up. You're lucky you're still young. You have youth on your side. You still have time to get some discipline.

I need it too. Not judging you at all, because I'm in the same boat. Get this.

I got a little depressed last week when I watched a Marty "how to" vid on Jimi's Little Wing. Here it is:



At some point, power chord players like us just simply must decide whether we have the discipline to simply put in the work and learn to play stuff like that. You're not bored; more scared or lazy. (Again, me too.) Can you take it to the next level or not? You can learn this song, one note at a time. Or you can keep playing power chords. Me too. You can learn Stairway to Heaven, Europa, and other stuff that requires real playing....or you can keep bashing power chords. It's not boredom; there is plenty to keep you motivated. It's hard work.

I have not done it yet either. Just sayin'.... I'm in a rut too.

Then I find stuff like this:




Forget the boobs; this girl is a pretty good player, and I'm not just saying that. She learns a new song every few days and plays it pretty darned good ON ACOUSTIC while singing. She (and thousands of young girls like her) are way better than I. I get depressed when I see the hundreds of young girls who can blow me away.

So yeah...I'm gonna keep chugging along though.



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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 6:24 am
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rileymcc wrote:
Honestly, my goal is to start a duo and start gigging, even if we're no good, just get out there, you know? So I guess you could say I'm in desperate need of a band. Drums, particually. I know lots of drummers, but they're already in bands. For the past couple of months I've been interested in getting someone on the drums, who has never played them before. That'd be pretty cool. I suppose I'm just sick of playing in my room.
And actually, i've been playing for about 4 years, not 2. Just during the past 2, I've hit this massive wall. Sorry if I worded that wrong in my original post.

Sounds like you've hit that brickwall.....happens to all of us from time to time, although 2 years is a long time.
JMHO, but it sounds to me like it's time for you to find someone to do that duo with. Even if you just get together every now and then, jamming with others is a great way to expand and learn.
Talk to some of those guys that are already in bands. Explain to them that your needing someone to jam with and why. They might be willing to get with you a few times every month. Being in a band doesn't mean you can't sit down and pick with others.
Give it a try.

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Last edited by grho50 on Sun Aug 04, 2013 6:30 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 6:28 am
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Riley you need to take lessons. You will learn new thing and that in its self will motivate you. In my opinion the music you are playing does not challenge you therefore you get bored to easy. Try something outside of your norm you might surprise yourself. And yes find someone to play with preferably someone better than you. It will make you a better player


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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 8:47 am
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Hi Riley,we all get in a slump and loose motivation from time to time but I have to say that I fully agree with tbazzone here,you need to get a few lessons under your belt,a good teacher would be able to motivate you and give you a direction and something to aim for.It could be that you just haven't found your musical niche yet,start exploring other genres-not trying to play them just yet but just give them a listen-you may find something that really captures your interest.Good luck and keep plugging at it.

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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:31 pm
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Get a new guitar. Nothing motivates me more than new gear. Especially a new guitar or amp. You don't have to go out and spend a fortune either. Even a new beater can be inspiring. And when I say "new", I don't necessarily mean "brand new". Just new to you. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 1:57 pm
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It happens from time to time, sometimes it's worth it to just take a break. Maybe your just thinking about it too much. I found that playing with others is a motivator, if you find someone to click with. Think Lennon/McCartney, or Becker/Fagen. You don't even need to play out right away, just find someone willing to jam.

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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 3:42 pm
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I just play and not sweat the small stuff. It sounds simple, but try just to have fun and not worry about it too much. When you start stressing, that's when you start hitting a wall. Play for the simple joy of playing and don't worry about all of this technical $@!&. I find that stuff just comes along naturally the longer you play. I probably took maybe a weeks worth of lessons when I started out, but I found it boring and didn't want to practice that stuff. I was more interested in playing songs and eventually writing songs. I guess any technical stuff I figured out just came along when I figured out what notes work together and other not so much.

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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 3:57 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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boobs.

the better you play the more boobs you get.

motivation.


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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 4:23 pm
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Hi , Riley !

What's the buzz ? If you don't want to play guitar, well - just drop it ! Maybe stick to skating and painting ? Nothing wrong with that! I gues you'll pick it up again if you feel for it. Why should you do this if there's no joy in it :?:

I suppose you like music - maybe you should try another instrument if you want to play?

A friend of mine is a sucker on the guitar ( though developing :D ) - but he is a really good songwriter & singer ....... :wink:
Just saying....

Also Remember Miami Mike's signature :
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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 9:18 pm
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Ok-So since making this thread, I've been thinking real hard on how to get myself out of this rut. One of my best mates plays guitar aswell, he's alot better than me. We don't jam that often, but I asked him if he'd like to have an acoustic jam this weekend, and help me record these days by powderfinger. He said yeah. So that's a step, I spose.

I do enjoy skating and visual art, alot of the time more than guitar playing. But there's just something to making music that makes it seem so special to me. I can't stop it, yet i feel like i've hit this massive rut.

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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 10:35 pm
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I'm nearly two years in and I've had some flat spots, so I can relate.

You don't say how long you've been playing all up, or if you play with anyone. I think you really need to play with others at some point, otherwise you can tend to recycle the same stuff by yourself, and not always get any real improvement.

You've also got to enjoy playing music just for the hell of it, rather than being on the learning guitar treadmill. It you don't ever get that kick out of playing, then you've got to ask why you're bothering to play at all.


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Post subject: Re: Demotivated on guitar
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:28 pm
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What gets me motivated is having regular JAM sesion with other musicians, it always pushes me to learn to play a part or song better for the next JAM, and you get to learn from other players while having fun.

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