Average age of the users in the masterclass Options

[MFC]

Turned 52 on July 1st. Started playing at the age of 9.

:shock

Such experience should place you among the gods I guess?

[BollyRotten]

Thats a long list Rhys, some of which i completely agree with. To start with Kris's DVD speed tone and theory (if yo udont already have it) will answer some of your problems. Unless you have already overcome most of the issues. Thats the bit i didnt get are you still having all or some of these problems or are they hurdles you came to earlier in your playing?
The dvd does speed picking alt. picking and metronome exercises.
I have to say all i use my metronome for is exercises 3 note per string runs and things like that. As for a right and wrong way i would say there isnt one. you put it on a speed that you can keep up with and slowly increase when you feel more comfortable with what your trying to achieve. I find that i have to learn everything very slowly at first. If i just rush and try to play a song at the right tempo I make mistakes that after a while just keep on happening on the same note every time, Its all to do with muscle memory, and that you have to train! Say all 5 positions of the pentatonic scale, I would play each position very slowly and the moment i made a mistake would have to start the whole thing again. It may sound dumb but if i carried on playing after even just one bum note my brain would then when playing the same error again next time around.
Hope this is making sense.!

Again for legato the DVD is a must . but again something you have to practise over and over to build up muscle memory and strength!
At least your at the best place on the net for guitar help and thats this forum! been very usefull to me, as my playing gets worse rather thatn better recently

[texasamp]

Turned 52 on July 1st. Started playing at the age of 9.

:shock

Such experience should place you among the gods I guess?

Well if that's what you think you turn out to be after playing for a very long time you're already in for a rude awakening.

It's called "Never giving up no matter how hard the odds may seem". And to always stay teachable. And to know there's always someone out there lots better than you are. There is no graduation in playing the guitar, it's a one day at a time thing and after many of those days of working out with your guitar you may see a piece of the light or you may not. I chose to play music over a career and there has been many nights that I went hungry, but there is one thing that I know... If you want something bad enough and are willing to go to any lengths to get it, you can!

I will testify to this though.. things that I have learned from playing a long time are,
1. Those metronomes are no more. Your mind becomes one. Learning how to count becomes a natural thing.
2. The best rehearsal for myself is playing live because when you screw up you remember it. I guarantee the next night you play there you will not make that same mistake. We as musicians always want someone to say "Man you are good" and that does not come to often. We play it out of our guitars, we DO NOT need to hear that. I often seen a man that can play a thousand notes lightning fast and another man play a solo using only 3 notes, and this guy just knocked me to my knees. Do you want to be seen or be Heard?
3. Last but least, playing with feel. When the stage lights come on it's time to play. It may take a few minutes but I go into my own space, I do not see what is in front of me, but I am still connected to my rhythm section. I once had stage fright, that is gone. I may get a small bit of jitters but it always goes away very quickly.

I love playing in front of people, even one person, but when you get payed for what you love to do the most, it is that much more sweeter.

Darrell-

[robostrat]

I thought i was the only one who's constant hitting the wall >:<

just took me two years or so to let my hand / fingers pick a barre chord :shock

and still struggle with a lot of things, but still keep enyoing and practicing

@ rhys, as Kris always says the keyword is practice,practice,practice, practice,practice,practice,practice,practice,practice,practice,practice,
practice and practice

[Liam]

I thought i was the only one who's constant hitting the wall  >:<  

just took me two years or so to let my hand / fingers pick a barre chord  :shock  

and still struggle with a lot of things, but still keep enyoing and practicing

@ rhys, as Kris always says the keyword is practice,practice,practice, practice,practice,practice,practice,practice,practice,practice,practice,
practice and practice

and a break ...


practice again....(oh hell im better then last time)

[rhys]

Thats a long list Rhys,  some of which i completely agree with. To start with Kris's DVD speed tone and theory (if yo udont already have it) will  answer some of your problems. Unless you have already overcome most of the issues. Thats the bit i didnt get are you still having all or some of these problems or are they hurdles you came to earlier in your playing?  
The dvd does speed picking alt. picking and metronome exercises.
I have to say all i use my metronome for is exercises 3 note per string runs and things like that. As for a right and wrong way i would say there isnt one. you put it on a speed that you can keep up with and slowly increase when you feel more comfortable with what your trying to achieve. I find that i have to learn everything very slowly at first. If i just rush and  try to play a song at the right tempo I make mistakes that after a while just keep on happening on the same note every time, Its all to do with muscle memory, and that you have to train! Say all 5 positions of the pentatonic scale, I would play each position very slowly and the moment i made a mistake would have to start the whole thing again. It may sound dumb but if i carried on playing after even just one bum note my brain would then when playing the same error again next time around.  
Hope this is making sense.!  

Again for legato the DVD is a must . but again something you have to practise over and over to build up muscle memory and strength!  
At least your at the best place on the net for guitar help and thats this forum! been very usefull to me, as my playing gets worse rather thatn better recently

Some of it i have overcome, some of it partially, and some not that much at all.

[Cheez]

I'm 17

Been Playing for 4 years

[matrixjones]

I'm 14 !

I started last year ( It'll make a year in 2 months!!! )

[psychoguitarist_...]

im 14 and bad (seriously bad)

[Tank]

I felt I had to post, as I seem to be the only person in the 25-30 catagory?
I'm 29, and have been playing guitar for around 19 years. (My first guitar was one that was under the spare bed, which I picked up and dusted off after my 10th birthday). I've been a rhythm player for a lot of that time, and played professionally for 5 years, I've only really started seriously practising for the past 2 years, (since I stopped touring to be with my family).

Funny how it took for me to stop being a professional guitarist, to drive me to develop the skills that I felt a professional guitarist should have!!

Now teach and help run a studio in Telford Shropshire in my spare time (when not practising).

/T

[Santana]

Im 13. Im so glad i started now If i keep practicing maybe one day ill be as good as Kris :sun

[Kevin98497]

im 13 and i wish i chose guitar when i decided to choose piano, im grade 7 on piano and i played for 5 years. i played guitar for about 6 months and i am rubbish at it, i only wish i could have it the other way round.....:smoke
Anyway, im glad i found this website last week, it should make me better...

[Santana]

This has probably been said a million times but ill say it anyways, ''With great effort comes fantastic rewards.'' And its the truth. So, even if you are rubbish, you still have to keep on trying to get to your goal. Have a drive. I know this is a bit off topic, but, could someone help me with viewing the videos? All i get are red x's..

[BollyRotten]

Hi Guys, not been on the site a while, been busy at work man. This survay is turning out to be quite evenly spread. I am very supprised and think its great that we are from a very broad spectrum of age yet we all have the same goal. Thats great! :sun
its proving that no matter what your age is there are people this forum who are in the same situation or can offer help without any preconceptions.
I have found this forum the best i have used for guitar tution help and advice.
Thank you all rock on and make your fingers bleed!

[Jeff]

im 13 and i wish i chose guitar when i decided to choose piano, im grade 7 on piano and i played for 5 years. i played guitar for about 6 months and i am rubbish at it, i only wish i could have it the other way round.....:smoke  
Anyway, im glad i found this website last week,  it should make me better...

In my opinion you have chosen the better route. I started playing the clarinet when I was 10 and switched to the guitar at 15. I learned timing, practice habits, metronome use and music theory on clarinet before playing guitar so it made it that much easier for me. It also has given me the ability to play multiple instruments. I would never have switched from guitar to clarinet. So, in retrospect, I made the right move. You will find that to be true as well. I wish I could play piano.

Jeff

[Kevin98497]

i never thought of the situation im in that way before, but its true that i can play multiple instruments etc. etc.
thanks for putting me on the bright side Jeff

[Disobedience]

36 Here!

It's never to late to do something you love!

[Kristofer Dahl]

36 Here!

It's never to late to do something you love!  :D

SO true I work very hard with my singing!!

[mandrake]

Just turned 53 a week ago. Oldest so far! Been playing since age 12 and still learning (hence this site). I'm into my third childhood and luvin' every minute of it. Stay the course.

[texasamp]

Just turned 53 a week ago. Oldest so far! Been playing since age 12 and still learning

Hey ya mandrake! It feels good to not be the oldest on this board. I am just 2 years younger than you and live in Houston (south side) as well. I picked up my first electric guitar up at the age of 9.

kind regards,
Darrell S.