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Posted by: thefireball Oct 14 2010, 04:14 PM

What is the saddest thing about being a guitarist for you?

Well...for me is not having the skill to play what I hear in my head. I can hear awesome solos, riffing, sweeping, crazy Steve Vai techniques... even compose my own song right off the top of my head. But can't find where the notes are, nor play it well even if I did know.

I expect this is commonly found with beginner - intermediate guitarists, like me.

Please encourage me.

Posted by: Fran Oct 14 2010, 04:21 PM

For me it is not being able to play most of the songs I love. But that's why I practice

Posted by: Lian Gerbino Oct 14 2010, 05:36 PM

that's not sad! that's very cool man! I mean, you have goals to reach man, and the road to your head in just in front of you.
practice, practice, and a bit more of practice! and you will get it.

what makes me sad is TIME! I have not enough time to learn everything I want. I know you can't go for everything, you must prioritize something. but there's a lot of cool things I would love to learn and the day has only 24 hours.

I need more coffee!!! LOL

Posted by: Daniel Realpe Oct 14 2010, 05:36 PM

maybe it's that compared to piano it is a hell more difficult to become a solo artist. I mean, completely solo, like a pianist. Well, maybe if you are an acoustic guitarist that changes.

Posted by: Zsolt Galambos Oct 14 2010, 06:26 PM

I completely agree with Lian, my friend. On the other hand, the same thing's with me. Well, almost The fact that you hear music in your head can lead you to become a very good musician and composer. You only have to do whatever it takes to have it. That means practicing a whole lot, and I can tell you, it really pays to practice (WITH A METRONOME). Imagine yourself in the near future that you can play everything that you wish, almost instantly. Isn't it a great vision? Go for it. You've got a whole community of members and instructors to support you. At the moment, I, like Lian, have a problem with time...

Posted by: Azzaboi Oct 14 2010, 06:32 PM

The saddest thing about being a guitarist...

Everyone else is missing out!

Posted by: Todd Simpson Oct 14 2010, 06:51 PM

For me it's also time. Just never seems there is enough of it. But don't be too saddened by not yet being able to play what you hear. I went through the same thing and it is frustrating. But, the good news is that once your fingers catch up to your brain, you will be in great shape. Make it a life goal to get those two things on the same wavelength.

Todd

Posted by: thefireball Oct 14 2010, 07:44 PM

Okay guys, thanks. Time is another thing I have problems with. Even over this fall break I'm on I have homework. So I can't practice all day.

Posted by: jafomatic Oct 14 2010, 08:35 PM

The saddest thing about being a guitarist is when you discover how much more marketable skill, popularity, money, and job satisfaction could've been yours if only you'd chosen to play bass or drums instead.

Posted by: emirb Oct 15 2010, 08:08 AM

As Morpheus said: Time is always against us and so true, right now I'm at work trying to focus on work but at the same time 'playing' some licks in my head:) trying to memorize the 'feeling to it'. I would say that I share your problem fireball as that's exactly what motivates me to learn more and to practice more. I can not play today what I hear and imagine in my head. Not naturally at least. Not as fast and smooth as I would(could?!) and so on. THAT is the reason to go on!

Posted by: Bear Rose Oct 15 2010, 03:34 PM

Haha, I like that!

I think for me, the saddest thing is those times that you feel like you've hit a glass ceiling with your playing and you don't know what to do to really go higher. You can see that there is lots of room for improvement, but you feel like you can't break through from where you are to reach that next plateau.

But then, that is juxtaposed with the moment that you break through that glass ceiling and you feel so happy because you are progressing and improving farther up to where you want to be!

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Oct 19 2010, 06:41 PM

It's great that you have those melodies, and don't loose motivation, it takes a lot of hard work! EVERY great guitar player has practiced VERY hard to get to the point where he can play what he imagines, so you shouldn't be concerned. It comes with time, and it comes slowly. Just keep practicing, and playing things you love, it will be great!

Posted by: Rated Htr Oct 20 2010, 01:45 PM

Easy One...Time and bad habits. We never learn things right at first, we must make many mistakes in order to improve, specially those who come from a self-taught background like I did before. What makes me sad, is thinking I'm not progressing because of certain things that I'm not even aware of, or worst, that I'm aware of but don't know how to correct them.

Posted by: thefireball Oct 20 2010, 03:10 PM

I feel the same way.

Posted by: Lian Gerbino Oct 20 2010, 03:33 PM

hey! mistakes are great! they mean you are doing something! do not hate mistakes, is deeply related to the learning process.
no body, and here I say [b]NO BODY!!! can to know something before to learn it.
so, "What makes me sad, is thinking I'm not progressing because of certain things that I'm not even aware of, or worst, that I'm aware of but don't know how to correct them."
how do you can read a Greek book without knowing a word in Greek? first you have to learn the language, and then, you'll be able to read it,(state: I'm not aware of) so, the first times you read it, you won't understand every word or every frase. (state: I'm aware but don't know how to fix it) but, after many many many readings, you finally reach the knowledge to understand everything.
so, we always say: practice! practice! but another important thing is to be patient. trust in you, be sure to follow your agenda, and everything will be more clear in future.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Oct 20 2010, 06:39 PM

If you can imagine all those cool solos, melodies and songs in your head than you should be happy not sad. Since the day when you will be able to play them on your guitar is just around the corner. Practice hard. Generally technique is just a way to convey what's in your head. Part which is your creativity is most important in the end.