I turned 70 in August 2023. When I was younger I played guitar with friends partying and such, mostly open chords and I was pretty good at it but was always bored with my playing because I could see many great guitar players at concerts and on tv and knew anyone could learn to do what they were doing. Of course, we didn't have internet so that made it challenging, I lived in a very rural area and son very few materials which lead to my eventual setting it aside except for a burst of playing here and there. I became single 8 years ago and once I got settled into my new single life I started once again playing seriously and I mean seriously, I devoted at least one hour a day and realized that I had to do the dreaded thing!!! learn theory and to my great surprise things started happening, I started playing serious guitar. The first thing mentioned was learning the notes on the guitar and it was the BIG turning point and no it's not that hard. I know this is long but if this helps one person, especially you young people then I will be happy with that.
This is a great list! Chelsea touched on this, but I feel like a big mistake of mine is having unrealistic expectations. I can be very hard on myself when I don’t play something well. I used to say to myself that I suck. Now, I try to be easier on myself and allow myself to enjoy the process of learning.
Nate had a really good point about recognizing it can take a long time to learn a complicated song. A lot of patience and perseverance is required. I'm going through that right now as I learn Classical Gas.
Yeah, Classical Gas is a beast, but it helped my playing overall in so many other ways than just learning the song. I'm looking forward to hearing/seeing you play it.
My mental process is based on learning the Guitar is like peaks and troughs. Some time you improve and climb the peaks and sometimes you seem unable to get anything right and drop down the troughs. The thing to remember when you look back is over time the peaks get higher and the troughs get lower. Just look at the progress from say 12 months back. I quite often, when playing a song, say to myself "Why 12 months ago did I find that so difficult?"
As always, a great set of insights and encouragements! I'd add my biggest mistakes: #1 - waiting too long to study with and commit to a high-quality teacher! The lie is "I can figure this out with videos and books on my own." NOT! #2 - Not having a weekly or monthly plan. When I do, I progress, when I don't I drift. Simple as that.
Yeah these are pretty relatable ... :D Another one I've made is not recording every songwriting idea I've had. Sometimes you just stumble on something and instead of recording it and writing down what you played, you'll think you'll remember ... and of course a couple days later the idea is totally gone.
Another great video. My mistake was spending to much time on scales and exercises and not enough time learning songs. Now I just focus on 2 or three songs. Also not playing with other musicians.
I like the comment that buying more gear won't make you a better player. It's really all about just putting in the practice time. I also like the comment about making sure to apply the technical skills you learn to actual music.
My mistake: Thinking I can throw money at the problem and get better ( i.e. if I just had that guitar, or that amp, or that pedal), when what I really need is to sit my butt down and work on my playing (and thank you for the advise about scheduling practice time. Great tip). There is no substitute for hard work. It's like believing new golf clubs will magically turn me into a scratch golfer. Better off spending that money on lessons. And great advice on getting into the head of the guitarist. I get wrapped up if figuring out what notes they are playing, I forget to think about why they chose those notes.
You are right. Spending time with the guitar is the only thing that works. I've thrown money at wanting to get better by buying online courses, but sitting on my porch or couch with the guitar is the only thing that works.
#2 is it for me too. I'm 64 been playing since I was 13, I've been tinkering since I was 13. had I dedicated myself I'd be a great guitar player. Now I fear it's too late.
Two years to play my first complete song. I was afraid to play in front of my wife. She understands more than I give her credit for. Should have done it many months earlier. "Paradise" by J. Prine sang it to her as well. Don't be afraid!
I'm guilty of many of these mistakes. My biggest mistake is practicing nothing but drills and thinking that every chord change has to be perfect before attempting to learn a song. My second biggest mistake is completely avoiding any song with bar chords. Lastly, I consistently let my expectations get the better of me. I will work on a song and when I haven't mastered it in a couple of months I give up on it. As a result I know a lot of different parts of a number of songs but cannot play the complete song.
Here's a common mistake that I actually don't make: It helps me a lot to write down my guitar goals each year. I do this every January 1st. The goals will include the number of hours I want to practice, one or two technique goals, and the songs I want to learn for the year. These goals, of course, need to support the longer term goal of where I want to go as a guitar player.
This is a good point Jim. I usually do this too, but this year is different. I have a lot on my plate for the Guitar Fam site and RUclips channel, so I feel like my personal playing/goals are taking a backseat. That's not a bad thing, but I feel pretty torn between more rock/fusion improv stuff and fingerstyle stuff for my personal practice time.
@@TheGuitarFam you sure do have a lot on your plate! It’s certainly understandable that you need for your personal guitar goals to not be the first priority. I think the takeaway I have from your comment is how inspiring it is to hear you say you are still on a journey to learn guitar. You’re very accomplished yet you still want to learn new things. I have a plaque that has the inscription “Ancora Imparo”, which means “I am Still Learning”. Michelangelo supposedly said this when he was 87 years old. His quote keeps me grounded and humble. It keeps me always trying to learn and improve the things I do. I think you feel the same way.
My mistake: not keeping my guitar set up well and changing the strings. It affects both my left and right hand work. I’m learning a lot more about how to keep the guitar set up.
Biggest mistake: Not following a practice plan. I know I should have one and focus on following it. I will make periodic goals that I want to accomplish, and I might develop a plan. But once I pick up my guitar, I do "off book" stuff and ignore my written plan. I can waste 2 hours of "practice" farting around and not doing what I know I should. Next biggest mistake: waiting more than 2 years before using a metronome. Yes, timing is everything! Third biggest mistake: avoiding every single song with a barre chord for over 2 years. Would transpose everything into the easiest cowboy chords. Now I realize what a mistake that's been and I'm struggling to get up to speed. But boy, can I play a mean I, IV, V in the key of G!!!😊
The other mistake is not jamming with other musicians enough. Playing with other musicians makes you better. And play with guitarists who are better than you. The best learning environment is when you are the dumbest guy in the room. That applies to almost anything.
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I turned 70 in August 2023. When I was younger I played guitar with friends partying and such, mostly open chords and I was pretty good at it but was always bored with my playing because I could see many great guitar players at concerts and on tv and knew anyone could learn to do what they were doing. Of course, we didn't have internet so that made it challenging, I lived in a very rural area and son very few materials which lead to my eventual setting it aside except for a burst of playing here and there. I became single 8 years ago and once I got settled into my new single life I started once again playing seriously and I mean seriously, I devoted at least one hour a day and realized that I had to do the dreaded thing!!! learn theory and to my great surprise things started happening, I started playing serious guitar. The first thing mentioned was learning the notes on the guitar and it was the BIG turning point and no it's not that hard. I know this is long but if this helps one person, especially you young people then I will be happy with that.
Thanks for sharing part of your story and encouraging everyone to dig into learning the fretboard and theory.
This is a great list!
Chelsea touched on this, but I feel like a big mistake of mine is having unrealistic expectations. I can be very hard on myself when I don’t play something well. I used to say to myself that I suck. Now, I try to be easier on myself and allow myself to enjoy the process of learning.
Nate had a really good point about recognizing it can take a long time to learn a complicated song. A lot of patience and perseverance is required. I'm going through that right now as I learn Classical Gas.
Yeah, Classical Gas is a beast, but it helped my playing overall in so many other ways than just learning the song. I'm looking forward to hearing/seeing you play it.
My mental process is based on learning the Guitar is like peaks and troughs. Some time you improve and climb the peaks and sometimes you seem unable to get anything right and drop down the troughs. The thing to remember when you look back is over time the peaks get higher and the troughs get lower. Just look at the progress from say 12 months back. I quite often, when playing a song, say to myself "Why 12 months ago did I find that so difficult?"
As always, a great set of insights and encouragements! I'd add my biggest mistakes:
#1 - waiting too long to study with and commit to a high-quality teacher! The lie is "I can figure this out with videos and books on my own." NOT!
#2 - Not having a weekly or monthly plan. When I do, I progress, when I don't I drift. Simple as that.
LOL. Yeah, it's pretty tough to piece everything together on your own. Thanks for watching James.
Great idea!. Alot of those apply to me! Thanks alot guys for the tips 👍☺️
Sure Mystical Messengers. Thanks for watching.
Yeah these are pretty relatable ... :D
Another one I've made is not recording every songwriting idea I've had. Sometimes you just stumble on something and instead of recording it and writing down what you played, you'll think you'll remember ... and of course a couple days later the idea is totally gone.
Yeah, I've had that happen a lot. It's been better for the past 12 years or so since I have a smart phone though.
Another great video. My mistake was spending to much time on scales and exercises and not enough time learning songs. Now I just focus on 2 or three songs. Also not playing with other musicians.
Yes, I've done that lots too. We've got a Guitar Fam Challenge coming up for 2023 that will address this. ;)
I like the comment that buying more gear won't make you a better player. It's really all about just putting in the practice time. I also like the comment about making sure to apply the technical skills you learn to actual music.
Yeah, buying more gear won't make you a better player... but it sure is fun. ;)
I can sure relate to many of these!
My mistake: Thinking I can throw money at the problem and get better ( i.e. if I just had that guitar, or that amp, or that pedal), when what I really need is to sit my butt down and work on my playing (and thank you for the advise about scheduling practice time. Great tip). There is no substitute for hard work. It's like believing new golf clubs will magically turn me into a scratch golfer. Better off spending that money on lessons. And great advice on getting into the head of the guitarist. I get wrapped up if figuring out what notes they are playing, I forget to think about why they chose those notes.
You are right. Spending time with the guitar is the only thing that works. I've thrown money at wanting to get better by buying online courses, but sitting on my porch or couch with the guitar is the only thing that works.
#2 is it for me too. I'm 64 been playing since I was 13, I've been tinkering since I was 13. had I dedicated myself I'd be a great guitar player. Now I fear it's too late.
It's never too late to get a little better than you were yesterday. Thanks for watching Michael.
i beat myself up trying to play pachelbel's canon took me nearly 2 days
i struggled really bad to learn cliffs of dover was nearly 2 weeks learning it
Two years to play my first complete song. I was afraid to play in front of my wife. She understands more than I give her credit for. Should have done it many months earlier. "Paradise" by J. Prine sang it to her as well. Don't be afraid!
That's great that you've got a full song down. Lot's of guitarists take a lot longer to hit that milestone.
I'm guilty of many of these mistakes. My biggest mistake is practicing nothing but drills and thinking that every chord change has to be perfect before attempting to learn a song. My second biggest mistake is completely avoiding any song with bar chords. Lastly, I consistently let my expectations get the better of me. I will work on a song and when I haven't mastered it in a couple of months I give up on it. As a result I know a lot of different parts of a number of songs but cannot play the complete song.
Yeah, I've been guilty of practicing drills instead of songs too.
Here's a common mistake that I actually don't make: It helps me a lot to write down my guitar goals each year. I do this every January 1st. The goals will include the number of hours I want to practice, one or two technique goals, and the songs I want to learn for the year. These goals, of course, need to support the longer term goal of where I want to go as a guitar player.
This is a good point Jim. I usually do this too, but this year is different. I have a lot on my plate for the Guitar Fam site and RUclips channel, so I feel like my personal playing/goals are taking a backseat. That's not a bad thing, but I feel pretty torn between more rock/fusion improv stuff and fingerstyle stuff for my personal practice time.
@@TheGuitarFam you sure do have a lot on your plate! It’s certainly understandable that you need for your personal guitar goals to not be the first priority.
I think the takeaway I have from your comment is how inspiring it is to hear you say you are still on a journey to learn guitar. You’re very accomplished yet you still want to learn new things.
I have a plaque that has the inscription “Ancora Imparo”, which means “I am Still Learning”. Michelangelo supposedly said this when he was 87 years old. His quote keeps me grounded and humble. It keeps me always trying to learn and improve the things I do.
I think you feel the same way.
I get distracted by things in my flat, is there a chance you guys can make a video on tips to create a space in the home to focus on learning guitar?
No kidding, it's so easy to get distracted by devices. I find my porch is the best place for me to practice without much distraction.
My mistake: not keeping my guitar set up well and changing the strings. It affects both my left and right hand work. I’m learning a lot more about how to keep the guitar set up.
Great Marcos. It's always nice to have those setup skills.
Biggest mistake: Not following a practice plan. I know I should have one and focus on following it. I will make periodic goals that I want to accomplish, and I might develop a plan. But once I pick up my guitar, I do "off book" stuff and ignore my written plan. I can waste 2 hours of "practice" farting around and not doing what I know I should. Next biggest mistake: waiting more than 2 years before using a metronome. Yes, timing is everything! Third biggest mistake: avoiding every single song with a barre chord for over 2 years. Would transpose everything into the easiest cowboy chords. Now I realize what a mistake that's been and I'm struggling to get up to speed. But boy, can I play a mean I, IV, V in the key of G!!!😊
Yeah, it's so easy to piddle away my valuable practice time.
The other mistake is not jamming with other musicians enough. Playing with other musicians makes you better. And play with guitarists who are better than you. The best learning environment is when you are the dumbest guy in the room. That applies to almost anything.
Yeah, that's true for everything.