Am I the only one that can't play any full songs and basically only plays leads over backing tracks or in a band situation?

[HowieJams]

I know I am going to catch flack for this, but oh well.

Yes, I have and still work a lot and have a ton of other hobbies that take up my time, but it is more I just don't want to be bothered learning any songs or anybody elses leads, it is not fun for me.

All I basically do is play leads over backing tracks or I just play random chords and throw riffs in between them.

I literally only know one or two songs anymore.

Even in my last few band situations, I would just sit back, let the rhythm guitar player play chords, let the singer sing, and my job was to just throw riffs in between vocal lines and maybe take a quick solo for a few bars. Kind of like Santana does.
Sometimes I would thow a chord in here or there, but just one strum for effect on top of the rhythm players strumming.

Maybe I should grab a book of 3 or 4 chords songs so at least I know how to play some songs?

Any others out there like me?

Flame suit on, fire away!

 

[BeZo]

I barely remember the songs I wrote, and I'm the only person on the planet that actually needs to know those.

 

[HowieJams]

I barely remember the songs I wrote, and I'm the only person on the planet that actually needs to know those.

same here

 

[Smash]

I think most of us cant play full songs. Or if we can, we choose not to

 

[shar-vell Dan]

Is this a thing now ?
I play 7 decades of music, problem is most folks that know it are getting sick & dying of old age.

 

[VonBonfire]

At this stage in my life if there wasn't money involved I would see playing guitar at all as mostly a waste of time.

 

[Dan Gleesak]

I wouldn’t sweat it man. Most of the songs I know all the way through were the ones I learned when I was just beginning guitar and wanted to look cool for my friends.

Unless you are trying to make a living out of it, just jam on what makes you happy. Guitar should be fun

 

[JackBootedThug]

You are not alone my brother….

 

[crankyrayhanky]

OP: with that approach you will need to be tasty on a Santana level and even then most people won't want to play with you. Not sure if that matters

 

[njshred]

In the 80s you had to know the hundred most popular cover songs to have any chance of getting a gig.

 

[ihave27frets]

Just make your own backing tracks

 

[NorCal_Val]

I’ll learn songs for gigs.(does that count?)
But, mostly, I just play to amuse myself.
However, I am jamming with some guys for a possible doom/stoner project. So, we’ll see how that goes.

 

[Matt300ZXT]

I barely remember the songs I wrote, and I'm the only person on the planet that actually needs to know those.

Dude, I play your songs all the time.

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

I like writing my own songs, and can play them front to back.

I also wrote down all the chord progressions/etc... so I can remember them, too.

I've never liked learning covers. Mainly learn the main riff of a song that I like and that's about it.

 

[Geo]

yes

 

[thegame]

There should be a differentiation made between not wanting to/lacking motivation or time but otherwise capable and being utterly incapable of doing so

 

[DredFryer]

Not alone, there's only a handful of songs I know from start to finish

 

[RaceU4her]

im not sure theres a song not my own that i know start to finish anymore, once i got decent enough on guitar i just always liked writing my own stuff more. ill learn parts of songs to practice recording if i find a decent backing track, never a whole song though

 

[romanianreaper]

I have written all of the riffs and lyrics for my band and that is my main focus but I typically just play licks and parts of songs.

 

[inyarak74]

For me it’s relaxing and fun to just jam along to Spotify, pandora. Rarely a whole song, I get bored quick.