I really suck

[jcmlespaul]

Whenever I try out new or even familiar gear at a music store. I sound as bad if not worse than all the other guitar center hacks...maybe I am just a hack

 

[Maiden22]

As long as you're having fun, who cares!!!!!

 

[jcmlespaul]

Good point. It does make trying out new gear a little less enjoyable at least for me.

 

[Lampshade1973]

I watch some of the guys videos on here and I feel like I learned to play the guitar wrong sometimes....

 

[iplayloudly]

You're not alone. I started playing back in '93 and I swear I haven't gotten any better since about '98. I play all the time but I just don't improve.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

I stopped electric for 10 years to play hillbilly type music in my band, which is going nowhere. I come back to electric and everyone is an expert now. It's like while I was away, they handed out expert pills. I wish I never stopped playing metal. I use to be good. Could play any Megadeth, Metallica, Exodus, etc....

Somewhere along the way everything > 200 bpm. I can't keep up.

So I have intentions of playing whole songs, then I'm like why bother wasting 3 weeks to learn a new Lamb of God song, then another month to play it to speed. So I just take a hit or two of weed at night, sit indian style in front of my tube amp and chug. I have fun. But then I go on youtube and watch people play and get depressed.

Every other day I just want to sell all my shit and phone it in.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

You're not alone. I started playing back in '93 and I swear I haven't gotten any better since about '98. I play all the time but I just don't improve.

Yep, I've been trying to play an arpeggio since 1988. I can do pentatonic shit, that's about it.

 

[glip22]

I started in 91. It's a hobby for me and I love it. I love tone, amps, guitars, doing all of my own work on the amps and guitars. If I would just sit down and organize something musically it would probably be pretty damn good as I started out playing lead and riffing and then began working on rhythms. Kind of ass backwards.
Until I do this I suck as my playing is noodling with no real organization. Quite often I play and say to myself, man that was awesome but it goes in one ear and out the other. Have fun Man! Making noise is good fun.

 

[Racerxrated]

I'm the same way. I don't do as well just sitting in front of a rig and just riffing. And I'm a pentatonic guy, I can do all I need with variations of the blues scale. But I'm a lot more confident/comfortable with a band. When I stop gigging I'll have to play along with some background music to be at my best. I tried an Uberschall last week at a GC, ended up playing some chords after riffing/scale wanking because I just clam up by myself lol....it's all a fun hobby. Years ago I was better at the sweeps and arpeggios but at 48 the hands don't react as quickly. And I don't have time anymore to really sit down and work at it.

 

[paulyc]

It's the 10,000 hour rule...you have to amass 10,000 hours at something (anything) to be really good at it

 

[4406cuda]

I know not everyone on this site is a fan of David Gilmour or Santana. But when those guys play one simple note, it sounds amazing.

It's not how fast or how many notes you can play, it is being able to play something with conviction.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

I'm terrible, plus I gots no soul = double whammy!


I do however have no shame, so I can still have fun playing like crap!

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

I'm sort of at peace with the fact that I'm not that great. I'm 44, what am I gonna do? Start a metal band? My other band hasn't rehearsed in 3 months. I wish my drummer would just come to terms with the fact that we're going nowhere, then I can sell all my acoustic shit/PA, etc.. .and buy another tube amp so I can play the same riffs in my basement by myself for another 44 years.

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

At this point in my life, I doubt I could ever play in a band. I just fight with myself over what notes I should/shouldn't play.

 

[kurtsstuff]

The best guitar players in the world are the ones having the most fun..At any skill level..

 

[Chubtone]

Come on now Josh. I have heard you play and one of the stores you were playing in this day was mine. You are a very good player and would smoke most. You should hear what we get to listen to sometimes.

Personally, I hate playing in stores or even in my own store when someone else is around. It takes me a while to forget where I am and who is listening. It was always like that for me live too. I can remember looking down at my hands during the solo in the first song and I could always SEE my hands shaking violently. At pretty much every gig I ever did. I'm sure my vibrato was always stellar in the first song. By the second song I was fine, but that first solo was always a huge mix of nerves and adrenalin. I was always that kid who spent a half hour in the john before every football or baseball game too. Too much information?

So no, you absolutely do not suck and I don't mind listening to you play at all.

 

[glip22]

Come on now Josh. I have heard you play and one of the stores you were playing in this day was mine. You are a very good player and would smoke most. You should hear what we get to listen to sometimes.

Personally, I hate playing in stores or even in my own store when someone else is around. It takes me a while to forget where I am and who is listening. It was always like that for me live too. I can remember looking down at my hands during the solo in the first song and I could always SEE my hands shaking violently. At pretty much every gig I ever did. I'm sure my vibrato was always stellar in the first song. By the second song I was fine, but that first solo was always a huge mix of nerves and adrenalin. I was always that kid who spent a half hour in the john before every football or baseball game too. Too much information?

So no, you absolutely do not suck and I don't mind listening to you play at all.

Going back and reading his post, in light of what you posted, I now detect some sarcasm in there. The emoticon gives it away. Josh played us all

 

[1meanplexi]

I do find it interesting on watching clips. I see how some clips are done to perfection. I have a different take. I record, play, fuck up and post it.

 

[jcmlespaul]

Thank you Curt! It can be intimidating to play a guitar right after you just did.