This is true, and closing in on 30 years of playing, even some as a working musician, there are still days when I feel like I haven't scratched the surface. you'll always have up and down days.

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

Great thread, I played OK but 20 years ago put it down. Last year got the bug again and purchased an American Deluxe Strat Ash and a Blues Jr NOS. Couldn't fault the equipment, but the operator had a lot of rust. I found that the net is a great source of learning, free tab, backing tracks and how to video.
Bottom line though is I play for me, I just enjoy working through some blues standards and overall I appreciate live music that much more.
JW

I started learning about last March or so. I understand how you feel.

I'm loving the journey though. I try to practice everyday and when I'm playing, (practicing) I'm wishing I could play like Jimi. But you know what, Jimi practiced since he was a little kid and devoted massive amounts of time to get to that level. I'm 47 and know that if I keep at it I will have fun, make friends, and gradually get better.

I'm gonna keep at it and hope you do to.

At 50 yrs of age I retired. Decided to purchase a guitar similar to the one I had as a youth(Classic 70's Stratocaster). Then I purchased the guitar that everyone said was the guitar to have(Les Paul), next I purchased a Telecaster and then an Epiphone Dot and an Ibanez acoustic electric. On a good day I remember some of the songs we played in our youth but I'm limited by the fact that I have no one to play along side of. Both guys who I played with in my youth have passed away. I want so badly to play well , I'll keep trying and keep listening and hopefully will get it together some day.

I started learning about last March or so. I understand how you feel.

I'm loving the journey though. I try to practice everyday and when I'm playing, (practicing) I'm wishing I could play like Jimi. But you know what, Jimi practiced since he was a little kid and devoted massive amounts of time to get to that level. I'm 47 and know that if I keep at it I will have fun, make friends, and gradually get better.

I'm gonna keep at it and hope you do to.

I really am starting to feel a bit better.
What started this rant was a clip of Gary More at the Fender show and just" died " to see the talent that He and his ilk have. No-ones fingers should be able to move that fast and precisely
I do play for myself as many have noted but sometimes I don't want to listen to myself. So maybe practice will or wont make me much better but I will try to enjoy the journey

Wow. The initial post was like someone had tapped into my head in a bad day,lol. I've only been at it for 1 year and a half and some days I feel like Jimi Hendrix Jr. and the next day I can barely play the most basic songs. Guitar playing is so fun and so frustrating at the same time but at least I feel that it is well worth the pain. I'm 34 and I'm a firm believer that anyone who puts in the time can be great at anything. I've always been interested in music and sports and I'll give you these examples to back that up. Tiger Woods, we all know his story. Magic Johnson used to shoot hoops with his mittens on while the other kids stayed inside in the winter. Jimi Hendrix used to sleep with his guitar as did Slash who learned to play songs on one string on his first guitar since the other 5 were missing for a while. Eddie Van Halen spent most of his teen years sitting on the edge of his bed mastering the guitar. That said sure there's some hotshots out there and my thinking is congrats to you now give me my guitar so I can try and catch up. It's so easy to get down on playing the guitar, it's such a difficult instrument to play but stick with it and know that you're not the only one in this boat.

Francispj, thank you for having the courage to share your insecurities. As you can see, you are not alone. In January, I'll hit the second anniversary of the day--at 43 years of age--when I bought my first guitar. Two years and very little to show for it. I share many of your frustrations, but reading the testimonials of so many people here who are in the same boat, I don't feel quite as incompetent.

So I'll never put Clapton out of a job. But I'm still having a good time...most of the time.

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

I think the biggest obstacle to playing better is not seeing that rhythm is the basis for everything. I don't mean like rhythm is the foundation (first you learn that, then lead). I mean that it's ALL rhythm and always rhythm, even when playing single notes...

Someone like BB King never played chords but it was ALL rhythm..

Think about your right and left hand but never forget your foot...

You'll be a lot better and happier that way...

Focus on songs...not "how fast."

The guitar is supposed to make you happy. The bottom line though is you have to put the time in. Call up your friend believe me that is the best thing you can do is playing with someone more advanced than you. Even if he comes over and you vamp some blues while he solos you will learn. Forget those pinheads on youtube. I saw this guy play an amazing version of Vai's for the Love of God that was amazing ,and some idiot post that at 2:27 he did not bend up a step and a half and I am like you got to be kidding me. And of course the guy with the comment has nothing posted. Make music and have fun as we all have our short comings.

No matter how much I practiced I would get so frustrated that I could never get close to the speed alternate picking that guys like Vai or Gilbert can but I kept trying as that is the fun and the rush when you get 30 seconds of music that took weeks to get right.

It's all about goals. Have you asked yourself what is your goal?
If your goal is to play as good as some friend or artist you look up to then you might get frustrated and discouraged in the process.
If your goal is just to have fun and you ARE having fun, then there's nothing more to do.

I bought my guitar in 97'. Never had a teacher. All I've learned was from tablatures and (GOD Bless) the internet. But there was some point in history (the year was 2003 as I remembered) that I just wasn't enjoying it. I was stuck. I was playing the same things for 1-2 years and I got bored. I wasn't having fun. And I was in the same position you are now. I thought I sucked. The guitar was left gathering dust for 5 years... And somehow, just one year ago, It occured to me. My own blues revival. I started all over (I used to be focused more on heavier music).

And the thing is, I'm now having fun. The 12 years of me having a guitar surely don't represent the skill I seem to have. But that's OK. As long as I'm enjoying doing it I will keep on doing it. I'm not having any illusions of me being as good as Stevie Ray Vaughan but the truth is I'm having fun trying.

So play. DON'T practice. PLAY. There is a difference in there.
You practice when you want to achieve something
(it's like school exams, you may become good in History but It's not likely that you'll enjoy studying it long hours).
You play when you want to have fun. And who knows, you may become good in the process.

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Alexander
AMSTD Strat RW Candy Cola +Callaham + Texas Specials +Tortoise shell pickguard/Fender Blues Junior III SN FSR
Salonica-Greece


Macedonia IS GREECE the last 2500 years

BB King couldn't sing and play at the same time, never could, neither could Frank Zappa. Everyone has their own ways of doing things. Don't force yourself to play when you don't want to. Nothing productive ever comes out of it. Rhythm IS the basis for everything. Don't worry about lead stuff until you master some cords and can change smoothly. You'll only get frustrated.

When you feel frustrated look at this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR9d4ESl ... re=related

Zappa said they were better than the Beatles. They were called The Shaggs. They had an album and were kind of popular. Enjoy.

Keep atit. Take lessons. If your first guitar teach doesn't work out, try another. If at all possible, play with other people - especially a drummer. Or use a metronome.

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James Burton Upgrade Telecaster
Hot Rodded Am Fat Strat Texas Special (now featuring Kinman Traditional II pickups)
Fender Blues Jr.
SWR California Blonde
Pedals Pedals Pedals

The hardest thing to do when you play is to play "less."

Show offs make things "busy" or simply go for "fast."
Rank beginners or even folks who sing and play for years still think you have to play all the strings when doing chords. They're in the same boat, oddly.

Start a list of people you DON'T have to play like and give up the phrase "I know I'll never play like..."

Just to get things moving, I'll provide a few names:

Hendrix
SRV
Satriani
Clapton
Malmsteem

It's like street fighting/self-defense: it's better to have 3 moves you can use than a bunch of katas you'll forget when it's on the line.