How to get good at guitar

[nightlight]

I'd chalk it up to muscle memory, ear training and discipline. But if you're not having fun, you won't get to that stage.

I think it's a common thing for 1/3 or 2/3 of the people who buy a guitar to quit before they learn how to play songs because their fingers hurt and they don't have the desire or discipline to keep pressing on.

Those that do persevere because they're having fun start to develop muscle memory, which is how your fingers know instinctively where to go in say a jam situation or on a darkened stage.

Ear training is what elevates one musician over in terms of having better ideas and better knowledge of how to construct a song or a solo and take it in directions that no one thought possible, which is the pillar of good music.

 

[DanTravis62]

I'd chalk it up to muscle memory, ear training and discipline. But if you're not having fun, you won't get to that stage.

I think it's a common thing for 1/3 or 2/3 of the people who buy a guitar to quit before they learn how to play songs because their fingers hurt and they don't have the desire or discipline to keep pressing on.

Those that do persevere because they're having fun start to develop muscle memory, which is how your fingers know instinctively where to go in say a jam situation or on a darkened stage.

Ear training is what elevates one musician over in terms of having better ideas and better knowledge of how to construct a song or a solo and take it in directions that no one thought possible, which is the pillar of good music.

It's absolutely insane how little most guitar players value training their ear, not to mention learning the craft as far as songwriting and creation

Honestly it makes a lot of sense though, when you hear the same complaints/problems and see the same "help" posts over and over on social media and forums. And not just beginners, too; this is often relatively experienced players who can play "crazy train" (just referencing geo's post lol) just fine, along with the standard covers of VH, ACDC, Led Zep, Metallica, that literally everyone learns when they start.

"Help, I can't write any music"

"Help, I get stuck writing music"

"Help, I don't know where to begin with writing music"

It's because they like guitar a lot, but they don't like music very much at all. They think they do, but you have to dive deeper into it to really get a feel for what bands are doing when they create the music that you like. It's a whole can of worms that takes a whole lot of time and effort, and realistically most players aren't going to put that time in.