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Posted by: montecristo Jul 1 2008, 06:07 PM

Hey everyone,

To start off, I am at the beginner level....I would rate myself as level 3 here at GMC. When I am by myself, I can keep myself busy for an hour practicing and all.. However, the minute people are over, whether its friends or neighbours or whatever, i seem to freeze up. My mind goes blank, I have nothing to play, and the things that I do play, I am slow and hesititant..I become very shy.

Any suggestions on how to overcome this, because it is frustrating. I want to be able to play somewhat beautiful music without pressure in front of others.. thanks for any help!

Oh yeah, the same can be said about singing. By myself, I can sing worry free. The moment I know someone can hear me, again, I freeze up

Posted by: Capt.Z Jul 1 2008, 06:22 PM

I don't have this problem, but what I do is imagine myself alone. I
try not to look at the people. Eventually you will get a little more comfortable.

If you mess, just play through. Tell you're not so great, or something like
that, and hopefully they'll understand.

Posted by: Jenkinson Jul 1 2008, 06:51 PM

There is a bulletproof way to overcome this. Play in front of people as MUCH as possible.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jul 1 2008, 07:03 PM

How many songs you know how to play ?
This is a common issue..Best way is to learn and think of what songs and stuff you would play for home audience and practice it a little..Then next time you will know what to play..About being nervous , try to relax and don't put pressure on yourself..You don't need to play it perfect..But music is meant to be heard so I'm sure you will get over the problem after being more self confident (as a guitar player too)...

Posted by: Martin la guitarra Jul 1 2008, 07:12 PM

thats the thruth. I had the same problem, and the only way to overcome it is to just simply perform infront of people. I think the reason why we have this problem is because we have so HIGH expectations from our selves - at least i do.
When you've played infront of an audience a few times (it could be the same people all the time) You learn that one or two mistakes are not that big of a deal.

Posted by: Smells Jul 1 2008, 07:14 PM

think about the people you are playing in front of, especially in "home" situations, so you know them well, do they play themselves? most of my friends that pull the "go on then, play us something" dont play at all, so the easiest of tunes (provided its one they know) usually does the trick.

once you`ve been playing a while you`ll build up a library of songs that you`ll be able to pull out of the bag when needed, but as others have said before, the more you do it, the easier it`ll become

Posted by: Koopid Jul 1 2008, 07:56 PM

Booze...

Nah, just kidding. I am a beginner and I have the same problem. Even infront of my own brother who doesnt play at all I can't seem to relax. But as skill increases it gets easier. Choose a song you know really well so that even if you play it worse than usual, it is still good I noticed this by looking at a live performance (my first) I recorded on video. I was so nervous I couldnt even feel my fingers and the only way I could know if I played the song right was by listening to myself in my amp The shaking fingers gave a nice vibrato tho, haha. I knew the song well and we had rehearsed it a lot. We chose to start with the song we all felt most comfortable with just because if we got nervous we should be able to rely on it going by itself. And listening to the recording it actually worked. I knew the song so well my fingers didnt care so much that I was nervous and did the job by itself.

I guess what I am trying to say is that the more you practice the less you will be affected by nerves. You may still be nervous but it will have less effect on your playing.

How to get less nervous I can't give you much advice on though, but I found that atleast playing to my brother gets easier and easier every time I do it The only person I feel totally comfortable playing with is my wife

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jul 1 2008, 08:47 PM

Don't worry man it is very normal, just be yourself, play anything, and be relaxed. You don't have to play perfect for the audience, audience like to be entertained, so a couple of happy chords for a small group of people always works.

Posted by: superize Jul 1 2008, 11:34 PM

I have the exact same problem i cant play when others are watching me

Posted by: jacmoe Jul 2 2008, 12:01 AM

One way of breaking the barrier is joining a band with gigs.

Or attending guitar school sessions where everyone is in the same boat.


I discovered many years ago that a great way of beginning to sing and play in front of people was to go busking!

Put on your sunglasses and grab your guitar and a handfull of songs and hit the streets!

If you choose a busy hour, people won't have the time to stop, gather and glare at you.

Anyway, I find it easier to play in front of strangers.

Posted by: Guitar1969 Jul 2 2008, 12:22 AM

I think its important to have a plan for those situations, meaning, you should have maybe one or two song you know very well(Practice alot) that you know you can go to when under pressure. If you are put on the spot and left to just noodle around on the guitar with an audience, that is probably were the pressure is coming from.

It is also much easier to play in front of people when you are in a band, and not the only one standing there. My biggest problem is when I play in front of people(maybe once a month), my guitar creativity goes out the window(No good lead licks) and I just resort to playing the bare minimum, but I know its because I don't have a set idea of what I want ot play as far as lead is concerned on the songs. You need to practice to the pont where the song is second nature.

Good Luck

Posted by: MickeM Jul 2 2008, 07:44 AM

Just be confident and dare to play, if you hold back that's a big mistake, people will hear that. Practice practice practice practice your act before so you know it inside out. Thinking about which chords come next shouldn't be an obstacle.

Walk up, know your act by heart and just play. You're the one on stage, not them, and you're a better performer than 95% of the audience anyway. The ones who can perform are there to enjoy themselves and if they are more skilled, so what, they have been there once and know what you're facing and they will surely be humble about it. Anyone who says "I can do that better", well fine, but they are not the ones on stage at this moment and they are probably not very secure about themselves if they must judge.

You do what you do and noone who's watching does it better

Posted by: Nemanja Filipovic Jul 2 2008, 08:16 AM

Try to play in front of one person first(best friend),and even if you are scared make your self to play or sing,no matter how you sound.I time you will haw more courage to do it in front of more of them.

Posted by: fkalich Jul 2 2008, 07:02 PM

If I get nervous around people for any reason, I imagine them all being naked. Then they all remind me of primates, like gorillas who wear clothes. Then I am not nervous anymore, then I think they are all funny.

Posted by: Kapto Jul 2 2008, 07:35 PM

I know the feeling.
It's "funny" though. Sometimes when I practice and I'm doing fine from time to time I hear steps of someone getting close to my room and I "panic" my concentration gets lost somewhere.
I realized when recording the level of confidence and concentration multiplies the task by three the least. So I decided to record all the lessons I take at GMC and my own exercises. Drums,(Acoustica beatcraft) Bass,Rhytm,Lead.
I read somewhere an article about Jet li. When he was young they practiced that much that much with the Chinese circus that it was impossible to make a mistake even if they wanted to. Same applies for everything in life.

Posted by: Guitar1969 Jul 2 2008, 11:33 PM

Bob Dylan has made a whole career out of this . . .

Posted by: montecristo Jul 3 2008, 04:11 AM

lol.. thanks everyone for the input, it has definately opened my eyes that i should play because i like to, and if others don't like what im playing, then its their issue. as long as i try my hardest right... also, i try to picture them naked. . i will keep you guys updated.

Posted by: swingline Jul 3 2008, 05:04 AM

Tis happens to me when I record, I just try to breathe deep, relax, and focus on the guitar.

Posted by: mattacuk Jul 3 2008, 07:40 AM

After you have been practicing for some time, you will have more confidence in your playing and it will just become automatic !! When you pick up a guitar you will have musical memory and it will be alot easier for you

Posted by: Nemanja Filipovic Jul 3 2008, 07:57 AM

To me recording is another state of mind,it requires a special focus,and I always mess out the first take.But as you sad:
breathe deep, relax, and focus on singing.

Posted by: Oxac Jul 3 2008, 10:30 AM

strip all your clothes (except underwear), take your guitar and a funny helmet. Put your helmet on and start playing on streets and such. When people asks who you are, tell them that you're from Mars and that your name is Horton and that you are an elephant and therefore aren't required to wear clothes. Doing this ONE time, will make it seem like a piece of caek to play infront of your mother, your brother or your friends,

Posted by: jacmoe Jul 3 2008, 03:47 PM

Seems like Buckethead never got out of that stage..