What Are Your Weaknesses
Daniel Robinson
May 5 2008, 07:48 AM
Instructor
Posts: 560
Joined: 22-March 08
From: Normal, Illinois
Everyone always wants to be the best they can be, but as humans we tend to play to our strengths and ignore our weaknesses.

The same holds true for guitar playing, do you know what your weaknesses are as a player? I would assume most of you know where you are weak in your playing.

I would ask you all.

What are your weak spots in your playing and what can we do to help you overcome them?

Some weaknesses are relatively simple to correct, some are very difficult but until we admit to what we have to work on we will continue to ignore them and our goal of mastering the instrument will become very difficult and frustrating.


I will go first and tell you all that my legato technique is not what it should be, i tend to use my picking skills as a crutch in alot of circumstances. Don't get me wrong i can play legato but its not as smooth as i would like it to be so i have set aside time in my practicing schedule to really get down and dirty to put this problem area to rest.

I have started working on just strengthening my fingers doing trills and hammer on drills, to facilitate this i have also put 12's on my second guitar so i have to work harder to acheive the legato sound in the end i think i will make my fingers alot stronger. Even the last few days i have done this i have seen remarkable increase in finger strength.

Daniel

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Gus
May 6 2008, 01:50 AM
GMC:er
Posts: 999
Joined: 21-January 08
From: Brazil/Denmark
Sweep picking, definitely...

I gave it more than one try, but I always lose motivation.
Maybe I am too addicted to alternate picking. When I try to speed up the sweeping I automatically move to alternate picking....

I am not practicing too much right now, but as soon I finish my thesis I decided one thing. I will always practice my worst technique every day. That will be sweep picking as a start. And when I think it is not the worst anymore I move to something else...

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Daniel Robinson
May 7 2008, 06:14 PM
Instructor
Posts: 560
Joined: 22-March 08
From: Normal, Illinois
QUOTE (Gus @ May 5 2008, 08:50 PM) *
Sweep picking, definitely...

I gave it more than one try, but I always lose motivation.
Maybe I am too addicted to alternate picking. When I try to speed up the sweeping I automatically move to alternate picking....

I am not practicing too much right now, but as soon I finish my thesis I decided one thing. I will always practice my worst technique every day. That will be sweep picking as a start. And when I think it is not the worst anymore I move to something else...



When you start to really jump into the sweep picking Gus let us know what your individual problems may be so we can try to help you overcome them.

Daniel

QUOTE (Outlaw2112 @ May 5 2008, 08:53 PM) *
Playing in front of people... I can play stuff perfect by myself, but when im in front of people i tend to mess up and get nervous..



Outlaw,

Everyone deals with pressure in their own way. The only way to overcome this is continuing to do it. I would hope you still get nervous, its natural. I would be more afraid of not getting nervous because then maybe there is something wrong heh.

I still get nervous before a show and i been doing it for sometime, but i also so look forward being on that stage that the nervousness doesnt tie me down from my playing. I have difficulty playing in front of small amounts of people. I don't know maybe its the fear of intimacy or something. I am talking like 2 or 3 people.

On the otherside of it i have gotten the chance to play in front of 20,000 people and that doesnt bother me in the least. Butterflies is one thing, overwhelming anxiety..no.

Just keep working on playing in front of people eventually you will find your calm spot to shine and then it will be such an enjoyable experience. Remember these people who come to see you are there to have a good time...not to judge you as a person. Have fun with them. If you mess up a little don't even flinch about it just keep going and act like nothing is wrong.

Daniel

QUOTE (The Uncreator @ May 5 2008, 09:06 PM) *
8 finger tapping, I have never progressed so slowly at a technique



Your on your own with this one, at least from me. I have a tough enough time with 4 finger tapping let alone 8 heh. But there are instructors here who can help you seek them out and ask questions!

Daniel

QUOTE (fatb0t @ May 5 2008, 09:37 PM) *
SWEEPING
and legato are my weaknesses....
----
For a while it was descending AP 3 note per string runs - Fixed it though! Took a solid weak of practicing the aeolian in every key descending, with some legato slides to expand all over the fret board - Now my descending is faster than my ascending - gotta work on that too I suppose!

I love the feeling of accomplishment when you start to become really comfortable with something that was so awkward to you in the beginning...



I have given some excersise ideas for legato technique in answering others check them out.

As for sweep picking what issue are you having with sweep picking in general. If you can give specifics its easier for someone to answer. Ask anything you want either myself or another instructor would be happy to help you reach your sweeping goals.

Daniel

QUOTE (Nemanja Filipovic @ May 6 2008, 08:53 AM) *
Great topic Daniel.My weakness is that I don't haw electric guitar.smile.gif



Someone want to donate a guitar to Nemanja? smile.gif


Daniel

QUOTE (OrganisedConfusion @ May 6 2008, 09:57 AM) *
I'm just superb all across the board biggrin.gif

My weaknesses are theory, downpicking, alternate picking, sweeping, hybrid picking, economy picking and many other regions.

My strengths are my trademark slowlos biggrin.gif



Your definately at the right place to address all those issues smile.gif

If you have anything specific you need help with let any of us know and we will try to help you.

Daniel

QUOTE (Muris Varajic @ May 6 2008, 10:29 AM) *
Probably note choice...million dollars question I would say.
Plus some techniques. biggrin.gif

Off to practicing wink.gif



My advice to you Muris is to sell your guitar on E-bay and take up Stamp collecting. Its obvious you don't want to learn anything here tongue.gif

QUOTE (ActiveX @ May 6 2008, 04:00 PM) *
Strumming; nice simple strumming on the acoustic...for the life of me I can't get motivated to practice this, even though I know how important it is. I always end up cranking up the distortion and just practicing the "fun" stuff...power chords, solo's, pinch harmonics, improv, tabs for songs, etc.



I understand your frustration with this kind of thing. But remember, those simple things are what makes up music. Sometimes i will compose an entire song based on some simple chord that i strummed and it takes on a life of its own and spins off into directions that i couldnt see coming.

Why not take a little time to play a few strummed chords and imagine what you can play on top of it. I think you might be pleasantly surprised of what you can come up with if you open up your imagination to this idea. Some of the most powerful songs we have have heard started with nothing more then 2 or three strummed chords and a guy humming a melody he didnt know what to do with.

This to me is the magic of music its so basic and yet so complex at the same time. The ultimate expression of paradox.

Daniel

QUOTE (Nobody @ May 6 2008, 04:14 PM) *
Well my main weakness is playing an other guitarist's solo in right timing. I can learn riffs and stuff and play them 1:1 when I want to but I just can't learn a solo and play it the way that other guitarist felt it. And this is a big problem because when we do some covers with my band I always make the solo different and it's not exactly in time this messes things up..

Other thing that's my weakness is Sweep Picking because the only way I can make each note sound perfectly is playing really slow but I do it every day so in the end I will be playing perfect Sweeps. It's a matter of time..

Cheers,
Hristian


Its seems your on the right track with sweep picking. And good attitude to have. If there is anything myself or any of the instructors can do to help with a specific issue let us know on the forums or P.M. and we will do what we can. We are here to help you reach your goals.

As far as playing other guitarists solo's nobody says you have to play them note for note. Me personally i also take creative license with cover tunes. And not because i can't play it the way it was written but because i feel the need to express myself in my own way.

What you do have to work on though is really working out how long the orginal solo is and making yours fit in the space allowed. If you are unable to do this work out with your band how to extend this section of the song so your all on the same page. Nothing worse then miscommunication while on stage it can make you look bad. Work out these issues with your band mates before the curtain comes up so to speak. I am sure they will probably accomodate you in this area if it makes all of you look more professional.

Daniel

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Posts in this topic
- Daniel Robinson   What Are Your Weaknesses   May 5 2008, 07:48 AM
- - kyldeee   I also have some problems with legato, and also sw...   May 5 2008, 08:28 AM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (kyldeee @ May 5 2008, 03:28 AM) I ...   May 5 2008, 08:31 AM
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- - kyldeee   QUOTE (Daniel Robinson @ May 5 2008, 08:3...   May 5 2008, 08:37 AM
- - Daniel Robinson   Maybe this advice can help you, without knowing ex...   May 5 2008, 09:07 AM
- - kyldeee   QUOTE (Daniel Robinson @ May 5 2008, 09:0...   May 5 2008, 09:10 AM
- - superize   I feel that my waekness lies in my legato and espa...   May 5 2008, 10:16 AM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (superize @ May 5 2008, 05:16 AM) I...   May 6 2008, 01:47 PM
|- - superize   QUOTE (Daniel Robinson @ May 6 2008, 02:4...   May 6 2008, 02:55 PM
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- - Ivan Milenkovic   I have many weaknesses, and the things I should wo...   May 5 2008, 10:19 AM
|- - Andrew Cockburn   Great topic! Alternate Picking technique for ...   May 5 2008, 12:53 PM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (Ivan Milenkovic @ May 5 2008, 05:1...   May 6 2008, 02:41 PM
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- - iainsteward   This is a great topic, thanks Daniel!! I ...   May 5 2008, 01:00 PM
- - Trond Vold   One of my many weaknesses is that i'm complete...   May 5 2008, 01:17 PM
|- - Hammerin Hank   QUOTE (Trond Vold @ May 5 2008, 08:17 AM)...   May 19 2008, 08:45 PM
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- - chast   My weakness is playing guitar But my main problem...   May 5 2008, 01:22 PM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (chast @ May 5 2008, 08:22 AM) My w...   May 6 2008, 03:24 PM
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- - TreyDeschamp   Great Topic! I think my weakness is trying to...   May 5 2008, 01:25 PM
- - PlayAllDay   Oh dear - I don't have any weaknessess at all....   May 5 2008, 03:50 PM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (PlayAllDay @ May 5 2008, 10:50 AM)...   May 6 2008, 04:48 PM
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- - rokchik   Fantastic topic Daniel As for my weaknesses well...   May 5 2008, 04:17 PM
|- - Andrew Cockburn   QUOTE (rokchik @ May 5 2008, 11:17 AM) Fa...   May 5 2008, 06:27 PM
|- - rokchik   QUOTE (Andrew Cockburn @ May 5 2008, 02:2...   May 5 2008, 09:26 PM
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- - ZakkWylde   I have extreme rythm problems because I can't ...   May 5 2008, 04:27 PM
- - USAMAN   Endurance in downward picking...If I try to play m...   May 5 2008, 04:32 PM
- - Canis   I have a lot of weaknesses... But if I were to pic...   May 5 2008, 04:39 PM
- - audiopaal   I think I'm pretty average in most things, and...   May 5 2008, 04:59 PM
- - Siggum   Got many weaknesess, for example fast alternate pi...   May 5 2008, 05:18 PM
|- - Muris Varajic   Probably note choice...million dollars question I ...   May 6 2008, 03:29 PM
||- - OrganisedConfusion   QUOTE (Muris Varajic @ May 6 2008, 03:29 ...   May 6 2008, 03:31 PM
||- - Pizzoaro   I have a lot "unfinished" practice L...   Jun 29 2008, 11:44 PM
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|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (Siggum @ May 5 2008, 12:18 PM) Got...   May 6 2008, 05:10 PM
|- - kjutte   My weakness is not having enough time to practise ...   Jun 29 2008, 08:33 PM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (kjutte @ Jun 29 2008, 03:33 PM) My...   Jul 6 2008, 01:45 PM
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- - Zizi Top   i think i have a lot of weakness when i go to vaca...   May 5 2008, 06:39 PM
- - DeepRoots   Hmm..weaknesses... I'd say my sweeping has go...   May 5 2008, 09:31 PM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (DeepRoots @ May 5 2008, 04:31 PM) ...   May 7 2008, 05:43 PM
|- - DeepRoots   Daniel, i'm seeing some of the best one-on-one...   May 7 2008, 05:43 PM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (DeepRoots @ May 7 2008, 12:43 PM) ...   May 9 2008, 12:52 AM
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- - Nick325   i would say my sweeping, 5 string more than 3 stri...   May 5 2008, 09:37 PM
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- - Outlaw2112   Playing in front of people... I can play stuff per...   May 6 2008, 01:53 AM
- - The Uncreator   8 finger tapping, I have never progressed so slowl...   May 6 2008, 02:06 AM
|- - audiopaal   QUOTE (The Uncreator @ May 6 2008, 03:06 ...   May 6 2008, 07:41 AM
|- - DeepRoots   QUOTE (audiopaal @ May 6 2008, 07:41 AM) ...   May 6 2008, 07:46 AM
|- - audiopaal   QUOTE (DeepRoots @ May 6 2008, 08:46 AM) ...   May 6 2008, 08:08 AM
|- - DeepRoots   QUOTE (audiopaal @ May 6 2008, 08:08 AM) ...   May 6 2008, 08:22 AM
|- - Gus   QUOTE (audiopaal @ May 6 2008, 09:08 AM) ...   May 6 2008, 10:52 PM
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- - fatb0t   SWEEPING and legato are my weaknesses.... ---- For...   May 6 2008, 02:37 AM
- - Nemanja Filipovic   Great topic Daniel.My weakness is that I don't...   May 6 2008, 01:53 PM
- - OrganisedConfusion   I'm just superb all across the board My weak...   May 6 2008, 02:57 PM
- - Canis   Wow, thanks a lot Daniel   May 6 2008, 04:49 PM
- - rokchik   Thank you very much Daniel for your response Ama...   May 6 2008, 08:41 PM
- - ActiveX   Strumming; nice simple strumming on the acoustic.....   May 6 2008, 09:00 PM
- - Nobody   Well my main weakness is playing an other guitaris...   May 6 2008, 09:14 PM
- - PlayAllDay   Thanks very much for all the points you metion in ...   May 7 2008, 12:57 AM
- - Nobody   PAD, actually there are some very good lessons on ...   May 7 2008, 03:02 PM
|- - PlayAllDay   QUOTE (Nobody @ May 7 2008, 11:02 PM) PAD...   May 7 2008, 03:54 PM
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- - Alex87   my weakness on the guitar is picking. some days ar...   May 7 2008, 03:06 PM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (Alex87 @ May 7 2008, 10:06 AM) my ...   May 7 2008, 06:20 PM
|- - Alex87   QUOTE (Daniel Robinson @ May 7 2008, 07:2...   May 18 2008, 05:33 PM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (Alex87 @ May 18 2008, 12:33 PM) Hi...   May 20 2008, 09:29 AM
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- - Siggum   Thanks alot for your answer Daniel, that was some ...   May 7 2008, 06:15 PM
- - coffeeman   My weakness is definitely timing. When I play with...   May 7 2008, 06:43 PM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (coffeeman @ May 7 2008, 01:43 PM) ...   May 9 2008, 01:54 AM
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- - besip   My weakness is playing over metronom actualy i...   May 7 2008, 06:56 PM
- - Andrew Cockburn   This is a great thread, and at Rokchik's sugge...   May 7 2008, 11:17 PM
- - Nick325   thanks for the advice daniel   May 7 2008, 11:25 PM
- - shellshock1911   Total lack of creativity or ability in writing mus...   May 8 2008, 10:11 PM
- - Stevie·Ray·Vaughn   Well Im becoming more and more happy with my writi...   May 8 2008, 10:12 PM
|- - shellshock1911   QUOTE (Stevie·Ray·Vaughn @ May 8 2008, 10...   May 8 2008, 10:19 PM
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- - Sam Hook   Downstroke picking is my main weakness at the mome...   May 8 2008, 10:26 PM
- - Eat-Sleep-andJam   Weaknesses. Well Ive always had a good vibrato, ...   May 9 2008, 01:04 AM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (Eat-Sleep-andJam @ May 8 200...   May 9 2008, 02:29 AM
|- - Eat-Sleep-andJam   QUOTE (Daniel Robinson @ May 8 2008, 05:2...   May 9 2008, 02:48 AM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (Eat-Sleep-andJam @ May 8 200...   May 10 2008, 08:43 AM
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- - audiopaal   Thanks a lot for the reply Daniel, and for doing t...   May 9 2008, 01:05 AM
- - FrankW   My main weakness is that I am lazy as hell.   May 13 2008, 12:45 AM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (FrankW @ May 12 2008, 07:45 PM) My...   May 14 2008, 12:55 PM
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- - besip   and couple more mine Weaknesses i'm all ready ...   May 13 2008, 06:24 AM
- - mattacuk   My distinct lack of Chordal knowledge! Some...   May 13 2008, 06:05 PM
- - at lights end   i can't play long AP runs. my hands seem to go...   May 18 2008, 05:39 PM
- - Outlaw2112   women....   May 18 2008, 05:44 PM
- - jacmoe   Excellent topic, Daniel! My weakness is tha...   Jun 13 2008, 09:12 PM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (jacmoe @ Jun 13 2008, 04:12 PM) Ex...   Jun 26 2008, 07:32 AM
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- - TreyDeschamp   I cant seem to make things up. of course i dont kn...   Jun 13 2008, 09:24 PM
- - Matt23   My main weakness is my pinky speed. It's stopp...   Jun 13 2008, 09:51 PM
- - Eat-Sleep-andJam   Another one of mine, Sticking to learning somethin...   Jun 13 2008, 09:55 PM
- - Gitarrero   My weakness is speed when playing solos. I`ve ...   Jun 27 2008, 09:16 AM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (Gitarrero @ Jun 27 2008, 04:16 AM)...   Jun 29 2008, 07:23 PM
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- - Mark.   My weakness is probably my picking hand dexterty, ...   Jun 29 2008, 09:26 PM
- - besip   NO.1 Theory!!!!!!! ...   Jun 29 2008, 11:13 PM
- - vintageplaya666   I have a few weeknesses. My little finger needs m...   Jun 29 2008, 11:38 PM
|- - Daniel Robinson   QUOTE (vintageplaya666 @ Jun 29 2008, 06...   Jul 6 2008, 02:39 PM
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- - SonofDestiny   My weakness is definately speed. Alternate picking...   Jun 30 2008, 09:11 AM
- - Lithuanian   Motivation... Sadly...   Jul 2 2008, 07:25 PM
- - Jesse   ... my hand synch definately:D My left hand is jus...   Jul 6 2008, 01:49 PM
- - Canis   My number one weakness now, is that I'm on hol...   Jul 6 2008, 01:53 PM
- - Rated Htr   Well, I have areas where I have less trainning, bu...   Jul 8 2008, 06:56 AM
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