How to get good at guitar

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Everyone says to practice to get better. And i do find i get a little better with practice after the first ten minutes, but then i just sound a little better than shit for the rest of my practice

This leads me to believe there are two schools of thought on getting good at guitar. There is of course practice, and then there is buying a new guitar, amp, or pedal.

I feel like most of us are in the second camp. That is how @Techdeth really got good. Don't believe me? Look at how many cool amps he has.

He will try to convince you that it is scales...but scales are just for classical music. They have absolutely no carryover.

 

[DanTravis62]

No, the real key to getting good isn't JUST practice

it's playing in bands so you are forced to play music in all sorts of situations that are weird or uncomfortable

It's forcing you to constantly prove that you belong there playing the guitar

You can always buy lots of amps if you want to take TGP "family pictures"

 

[VonBonfire]

Smash, respectfully, you need to consider some other factors before you give up:

1. How long are your toenails?

2. Do you keep a plush silver rug beneath your amp during practice sessions?

3. Have you provided weed and bourbon to your local bluesman in exchange for pentatonic secrets?

4. Do you own a Twin Reverb?

5. Are you still hobbling your technique with flat picks?

Anyways, just a handful of things to think about.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Smash, respectfully, you need to consider some other factors before you give up:

1. How long are your toenails?

Goddamnit, i just clipped them yesterday

2. Do you keep a plush silver rug beneath your amp during practice sessions?

3. Have you provided weed and bourbon to your local bluesman in exchange for pentatonic secrets?

4. Do you own a Twin Reverb?

5. Are you still hobbling your technique with flat picks?

Anyways, just a handful of things to think about.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

No, the real key to getting good isn't JUST practice

it's playing in bands so you are forced to play music in all sorts of situations that are weird or uncomfortable

It's forcing you to constantly prove that you belong there playing the guitar

You can always buy lots of amps if you want to take TGP "family pictures"

I don't know Dan...I feel like you are just trying to get me to focus on the wrong shit so you can snag all the good gear out from under me.

I am watching you

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

Believe me, I tried the gear buying thing... it's still not working.
I also tried to get into a couple of bands along the way, but never found anything that fit.
I feel like I'm in stuck in purgatory some days.

 

[VonBonfire]

I don't know Dan...I feel like you are just trying to get me to focus on the wrong shit so you can snag all the good gear out from under me.

I am watching you

The ulterior motive...."practice and gigs are the way forward but hey did you wanna sell your Dr Z?"

 

[Techdeth]

Everyone says to practice to get better. And i do find i get a little better with practice after the first ten minutes, but then i just sound a little better than shit for the rest of my practice

This leads me to believe there are two schools of thought on getting good at guitar. There is of course practice, and then there is buying a new guitar, amp, or pedal.

I feel like most of us are in the second camp. That is how @Techdeth really got good. Don't believe me? Look at how many cool amps he has.

He will try to convince you that it is scales...but scales are just for classical music. They have absolutely no carryover.

Practice and amps . Period

 

[DanTravis62]

I don't know Dan...I feel like you are just trying to get me to focus on the wrong shit so you can snag all the good gear out from under me.

I am watching you

To snag all the good gear I would have to have money to buy gear

 

[VonBonfire]

Toenails and plush silver rugs. Period.

Yep.

To snag all the good gear I would have to have money to buy gear

You must've been staring into my wallet when you said this.

 

[WizardAmpIphoneClip]

You're either a good player or you suck balls.
There's people that claim theyve been playing for 20 years and still blow.

 

[alund]

Dan is right. Practice is right. Screwing up live or real time makes you think…. I won’t do that again. Or. Wtf was that. It works. Go home. Practice and use what you did at the show. Looking good with cool amps is an old man’s game. Making a shit amp sound good is talent.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Dan is right. Practice is right. Screwing up live or real time makes you think…. I won’t do that again. Or. Wtf was that. It works. Go home. Practice and use what you did at the show. Looking good with cool amps is an old man’s game. Making a shit amp sound good is talent.

I don't have a shit amp. Maybe i should buy one...

 

[VonBonfire]

Making a shit amp sound good is talent.

I had an Esteban G-10 that would challenge even Govan or Malmsteen on this^

 

[311boogieman]

Great tone does not equal great ability but great ability usually equals great tone. There are exceptions of course.

 

[stephen sawall]

When I teaching in the 90's two guys were playing stuff off Rust in Peace after playing 7 - 8 months. Other people played a decade and could barely play Kiss.

I think a lot of it is people are good at different things.

 

[67mike]

Need a good teacher, need natural talent, need to practise. Imho

 

[thegame]

I take lessons from Yehuda. It’s really made me a bitter player

 

[VonBonfire]

Need a good teacher, need natural talent, need to practise. Imho

Desire can make up for the lack of the first two things.

@DanTravis62 is right about gigs and jams....the proving ground for all couch picking work.

 

[DanTravis62]

Desire can make up for the lack of the first two things.

Absolutely it can. I had no teacher for my first 20 years or so, and definitely no natural talent.

@DanTravis62 is right about gigs and jams....the proving ground for all couch picking work.

a cranked tube amp that's feeding back and needs to be controlled, and a crowd that can either shower you with praise or spit in your face - that's the crucible that turns guitar from a neat little hobby with decorations you can show off, or something much more