Do I have what it takes?

[Predator]

I've been playing for a few weeks now, and I'm having all the usual problems (hitting the wrong strings, etc.) Recently I got this song to learn from my teacher, 'The Guitar Boogie', and while it really is quite simple I'm having trouble with it every now and again. Sometimes I can play it no-worries and other times I can barely get it. What's going on? I get so frustrated I just wanna quit, but I won't! Is all this a common problem or is it just me and should I just give up the whole thing?

[slaughteredsoul]

Dont give up!! this crap happens to me all the time. i just started learning to play the intro to "nothing else matters"...sometimes im so good i surprise myself and other times,i just cant seem to hit the right strings...and its very irritating.i mess up especially when im playing in front of someone...just nervous i guess.i only picked up a guitar a couple of months ago,but dreamt of it my whole life...so as a beginner myself all i can tell you is dont give up:) you definately wont get anywhere if you give up now..and its nothing personal,just keep rocking you'll be able to play that solo part in dyer's eve one day!
i cant wait to be able to play 'fade to black' ...
~rock on~

[bobcat]

Slaughteredsoul is correct! Don't give up!!

What you are developing is muscle memory. Sometimes your muscles know exactly where they are going and what they are doing and other times they forget and start off on their own path. You are also working on eye, hand and brain coordination. That is a LOT to learn, especially in the beginning stages. Keep working at it and you will be playing solos in no time. :p

[Predator]

Thanks guys! I'll keep practicing:D

[muskrat]

Don't worry I know what you mean I have played about 1 month, and I get the same thing with the intro to sunday bloody sunday, at times I can play it perfect at lightning speed, then I pick up the guitar a half hour later and.....nothing....it is wierd, but I guess all part of the learinng process....Don't give up, talking to others who play, the guitar is a apperently a bitch to learn...but they say when you finally start to really get it its all worth it!!!

[Chickwithapick]

Don't give up! When I'd learn the notes on a new string I was like "This is impossible, there's no way I'll ever be able to change strings or pick without looking" but I just found a song that uses the notes you know and the new notes (try a guitar book) and did it over and over and over and it just happens...you can do it!

[eische]

oh yeah, it seems to be a general problem, even though I was definitely worring just the same; I blamed it on my age, the songs, the guitar, my fingers, everything - but I just hung on and now there're some songs I play blindly.

And talking of blindly: Sometimes it seems to me, that it has to do with say »overpractising« (you look at the notes, but don't see them, because you have them in mind already, then they come suddenly into focus again and your out off the song, because your eyes hit the wrong spot), so I found out, that it's sometimes good to give certain songs a rest (say one or two days not practising) and then start again - it helps, me at least ......keep playing.....;)

[Jasper_e]

yup. just keep practicing.

[Coffee]

Play it slow. No. Slow!!! Watch your hands carefully and make sure you're doing it right. Don't blame your right hand when the left is the problem or the other way around. What you're trying to do is teach your fingers the correct way of doing it so they can do it automatically without thinking about it. Remember the first time you rode a bike, walked, read something, worked on a computer? Do you have to think about doing these things now or are they automatic. They're automatic. Once you have it down slow, you will be able to speed it up. If you're really having a problem, practice each hands movement seperately (right hand and left hand). When learning something new, practice the movement 100 times correctly very slowly and you will never have to think about it again or learn it over. Don't even try and play it in correct rhythm until you have the moves down pat.

When you play the song, likely you're like the rest of us, you make the mistake at the same spot (or spots). Don't play the whole song, practice the specific move where you're having the problem until it becomes simple to you.

Do you have what it takes? Absolutely. I guarantee you have learned harder things in your life.

[Predator]

Thanks Coffee.