I'm not good and maybe never will be, I just enjoy playing guitar, on my own. Without inner desire and motivation I would have stop long time ago. Playing guitar just feels good, and that's it.
Im 54 years old. First picked up a guitar when I was 12. A former guitar teacher of mine used to tell me that, "the most successful musicians aren't always the greatest musicians. Many of us are very good, but we will never be very successful at music." I reflect on those words from time to time. My 19 year old daughter has been playing guitar for 13 years. Enjoying guitar together will be the moments that I cherish the most through this journey. The rest has been icing on the cake.
I remind myself and students that learning and playing a simple l lV V is an achievement that you can play anytime anywhere in the world and there are literally hundreds of songs to play using that progression before that you only wished you could play and envied those that could...we sometimes forget that great joy can be derived and shared by just a couple of simple chords and thats powerful.
Agreed wholeheartedly. What my parents always tell me when i complain about my musical skill is: "You are still miles better than someone who never picked it up. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it." Now, guitar isn't my main instrument anymore, but i couldn't care less, just playing a simple riff alone or jamming with a friend, brings me MUCH more joy than a band rehearsal or a local gig ever did.
Jules mate, you really need to put a structured blues course together. You teach so well and I and am sure many others would be happy to give you a few quid!
You’re the sweetest dude ever ☺️ and not only a great guitar teacher, but a hobby psychologist on top of that. Really nice explanation 👌 I clicked that bell icon 🔔
This video is one of the reasons I subscribed to your channel. Everything is true. The more the you know, the more there is to know. I remember the first time I recorded myself, it was awful. Yet before I heard it I thought it wasn’t too bad. How wrong I was!!
I've been playing for 30 years and feel the same. Which makes it remarkable what bands like The Beatles achieved when they were in their early twenties.
Not really. I've started back playing just a year ago, but I'm much, much better than I was when I was younger and played longer. I think it depends on how serious you are, practicing the right way, and so forth.
I don't need a recording of my self to know I suck. I used to play hours a day but realized I'm not a musician. Now, I just play for myself, its therapeutic and I think I'm better than I ever was because I don't really care anymore.
I began playing guitar when I was 16 years old and just memorized songs and even guitar tab guitar solos. I'm almost 50 now and watched a few of your videos and an internal light bulb lit up in my brain and I began making improvised guitar solos all over the neck. You are an F'n awesome guitar teacher. I am so thankful you passed on your knowledge of guitar on here. If you are ever in Topeka Kansas let me know and I'll buy you a steak dinner and a beer!
We also don't all make it to CEO of the company we work for! I love and enjoy everything about guitar, playing it, watching other people play it, buying and researching guitars and gear and basically everything that goes with learning. I know I will never be a famous guitar hero but for all the enjoyment I get out of it to me it is worth every bit of the time I can spare and money I can afford to play it. I have worked all my life full time + extra to have what I have now, I have nowhere near the talent of probably 99.9% of guitarists I have seen in my life and on RUclips, but it brings me so much enjoyment and fun...................... Plus If I didn't play guitar I'd only be spending my time trying to be as good as I can doing something else!.................... So guitar gets it for me 🎸🎶
Thank you, Jules. After 2 years of playing all the time, and weekly lessons, last week I told my wife that I just absolutely suck and should burn my guitars. I was looking at it all wrong, thank you for straightening me out!
I Understand How You Feel Brother. I had the same thought Critic Going through My head just a few moments ago. Like my playing Sucks. And clicked on Jewels Videos from a Few Months ago. And I could play most of it even on My Acoustic. The Electrics are too loud here. 😮 The Point Is. We Are Our Most Worst and Harsh Critic. Why Is This? How Come We do this?? Just like My Self We are taught from an Infant To Critisize Our Selves And Others. Then We Become Perfectionist That No One can live up too. Not Even Our Selves. It's Called The Human Condition. Don't Burn your Guitars. You "Might" catch The house on fire. 🙂 And that would be costly. Keep Playing. Life Is Suppose to Be Fun!
Brilliant! Winstone Churchill said,'Success is the ability to go from one failure to another without loss of enthusiasm' and guess what we are improving all the time.
Dude. I have been playing in bands for 35+ years. Playing many gigs with top level bands. The pinnacle was opening for KISS in 2009 in Phx Az. But the reason for my comment on this video is I’m a drummer and producer. I can play guitar (if you want to call it that) maybe more a collector of guitars and a tinkerer. Recently I have set some goals to actually learn to play and play confidently in live shows. And I just wanted to say of all the RUclips guitar lesson videos I have in my subscribe list. I find yours to be the best for me. You explanation and demonstrations are clear and never overplayed “look at me shred” you have a knack for teaching. Keep up the good work! I hope you find great success with your channel.
FANTASTIC Video! Your honesty and vulnerability is ironically your Power. I KNOW you touched EVERY Guitar Player and those that Desire to become a Guitar Player and inspired them. Pay no Mind to our neurotic Patterns (no one is alone) and to simply Play On !! The Joy is in the Journey. Playing your Age 13 Band Tape was THE sweetest thing I've ever heard! Touché !!
I return to what I love - what my ear is always drawn to. That re-ignites my passion. I find more "juice" in diving back into SRV, Motown, the Beatles, catching new nuances, than stressing myself out with what I don't know. Also, I would challenge anyone reading this (myself included) to go back into the archives, listen to one of your earliest recordings, enjoy the mistakes, and just hear all the gold. Great video Jules, I appreciate your perspective. I will say, pinch harmonics don't rank as high as barre chords for me - it's upon each player to sift and sort what they really enjoy, and to prioritize that over ALL else. Some say our limits become the substance of our style.
Great video Jules. I have played at pubs here in Australia in bands, trios, duos, solo and it never gets easy, someone will tell you your good, someone will tell you your shit, just keep going. At some point maybe a thousand times over you have to self assess your playing and at the end of it all its about your own personal enjoyment and remember that practising is the key to knowing your way around the neck. I think you may only really need to know the major, minor and myxolodian scales but in keys all across the neck. I was watching a Tommy Emmanuel video the other week and he stated he may practice one piece for an hour at least! Just don't give up, either get a teacher who sets you a piece to play or jump on "RUclips" and pick a couple of tunes and practice them over and over. Good luck everyone, if it was easy everyone would do it.
Honest assessment that we all need to share. The most important thing is to enjoy and at the same time, little by little trying to make improvement. But number one priority is to enjoy and feel good. Thank you very much Jules. Cheers form Indonesia..
Excatly Jewles. Your Spot On. Thats why 1 of My Fav Books Written Over 25 Years Ago. Is Living With Joy. ✨️✨️✨️🎶 Thank You! Your A Jewel🎵 A Jem. Your Videos, Demos, Teachings Are Golden. Bring Us More !!!
I've learnt one thing over all these years of being bad at something: life is an art of starting anew 😊. And now, just like in mindfull meditation, i start again and again. And it gives me a lot of fun without frustration. It is what it is now, but I can always try again, try a different approach and it is ok. It still gives me more than it costs me.
Jule, is becoming in my mind like the Mercedes-Benz of guitar videos. There is quality and substance in your work, both of which I dig and appreciate and enjoy. I see music as a whole very important including guitar. I beleive to get to the truth one has to be like a druid i.e. pure. I have made money with music and intend to do more of it in he future, that said, as a musician beleive you need to be not materialistic to be able to connect to that which will nourishs. Money for me is a by product as opposed to a goal. That's how it's worked for me.
Jules, this video was badly needed! Yes, people do get into slumps, of insecurity, frustration, or otherwise--and these are the realities of learning to play an instrument; or any other endeavors in life. Thanks, and don't you give up on teaching--you're good at that--and we appreciate it!
I enjoyed listening to all you said.. the reminding of self doubt we hold over our progress, when we have made progress is a kick in the teeth.. I also had some 'local band gig experience. Then when I left band I lapsed a lot, lost enthusiasm.. then told I had Multiple Sclerosis by doctor, then fell and broke 2 fingers in my ' guitar hand '.. damn.. Hand in plaster, 5 months 2 ops...callouses faded ( I was a serious string bender etc) stopped. Years passed where I let guitar go...thinking i could not play like I used to.. do I stopped... for 12-14 years.. I have started again.. practise is horrendous.. but I am seeing glimmers of light to potential anything resembling guitar sounds etc.. I am very slowly growing.. Its getting somewhere... I accept I will not notice huge advancements... BUT I can honestly say I have my callouses back.. Things are happening.. I am better than before. All you have said I took on board and noted what you said .. It was a good statement you made... Well done.. Cheers
This is a very powerful video. I have no idea how good a guitar player you are but I do know your a fantastic teacher. My playing has improved immensely because of your videos. You not only teach a concept, you also teach how to apply the concept. Thank you!
JULES GUITAR is my favorite GO TO Tutorial Site. Whenever I seem to hit the Flatlands, I just scan your Tutorials & watch what I think is random but ALWAYS seems to be the one I didn't know I was looking for! I always LEARN some Nugget or other and even when it's Above my Head, I just LISTEN and absorb. This Video was incredibly inspirational and gave me such a warm feeling that just learning how to play the Guitar means I am a part of a wonderful Community of People with good Hearts & deep Souls.
This video needs more likes. It is not only a lesson in believing in the progress of one's guitar journey but can be applied to many other aspects of one's life. Thank you so much for posting
that video of you playing the tele is probably the one that got me interested in your channel so I'm glad you didn't give up. thanks very much for your videos!
I've decided to try again, for the umpteenth time to understand theory enough to play comfortably with friends or at jams or whatever. My hands do just fine, its just understanding how and where to play and when, its always so confusing. I found your channel a few days ago, and your lessons are fun and explained well, I'm gonna stick with it and stick with your channel for a few months and see how it goes. Your basic blues lessons have been really helpful so far, thank you so much for bothering to make these clips.
One of my friend's said he will never be good at guitar and he has been playing for 10 years, I found out the real reason why and its because he only plays the drums!
I’m 15 years into playing I definitely have that feeling. Actually seriously broke my left wrist last may so playing guitar is rehab. Playing the blues is a lot easier to do right now so going through your stuff. It’s very refreshing to spice up the dominant 7 chords in a 12 bar blues rhythm. Thank you. I have that feeling like I’ve completely leveled off.
When you are in music, listening, playing and composing, its a lifelong pursuit. This is the truth and those of us that are know this. The more learned...the less is required. This is the greatest mystery and great fun is to be had in its exploration.
You pretty much hit the nail on the head. I have experienced all of the same frustrations. Only, you are a much better player than I am. While you are not playing Madison Square Garden, you have found your calling. You are a great guitar teacher.
They say to record yourself, as a beginner. Arggh it was a shattering moment, perhaps beneficial cause the video confirmed my worst fears. I'll never be good at guitar. My left fingers are bent/crooked... then why go on? For the love of music, for the joy of visiting a magical realm, to become self-disciplined.
Any music is art. Like painted pictures people get enjoyment from different things and the same applies to both playing and listening to others playing music. When playing guitar, the important thing is to keep enjoying yourself with an aim to get better at enjoying yourself more over the course of time. It is good to listen back to yourself. This way you can ask yourself if you would enjoy listening to what you yourself are offering others.
I've been playing 40something yrs. The fact is that you can get good, even excellent, over time. The thing is that learning and finding new things to learn about theory and practice are a lifelong progression. This is true for all instruments, not just guitar. There is no point where you learn everything. This is why musicians eventually focus more on developing certain areas where they excel and find interesting.
Very good illustration of looking back to such moments. I too have had a reaction when I look at either pictures of what I chose to wear or how I sounded in years past on guitar or banjo. Thank you for sharing
Wow you just put where i was when i started trying too figure out the guitar. I had 2 great guitar. Both martins . But i got stuck because it didnt make sense. Watching your videos it is alot clearer not totally clear but it is making sense now!
You shouldn't focus on the negative side as the brain is unable to distinguish between positive and negative mostly. Sports Psychologists often give the Golfing example where a Golfer is playing a shot and say there is a lake or a wood full of trees to their left. Any instruction such as 'Don't go into the lake or woods on your left,just hit it straight onto the fairway.' leaves the Brain automatically picking up on the hazards rather than the 'hit it straight' or 'fairway' part. Just concentrate on the positive stuff instead in terms of guitar.
You will get good if you map out the fret board. There's a famous saying that ,what one fool can do another fool can do. Derrick Beaumont says you will only fail when you give up trying. Good luck 😃. John.
I'm a beginner and the video you mentioned was excellent for me - if you think your playing was bad, I'm still not even remotely close to being able to replicate your sound even on the first solo with four notes! Sure I can play the notes but bending and vibrato are not skills I have come close to mastering - even hammer ons are new to me and frustratingly inconsistent but I watched what you were doing carefully and initially I didn't even notice that you were doing it until I slowed the playback speed to watch both your hands - but, as I said I'm a raw beginner so it doesn't discourage me, just pushes me to learn. Videos like this are extremely helpful so the fact that it's popular is no surprise. A lot of videos exploring the same/similar topics can be confusing but yours are very clear and concise and well paced. (in the video mentioned, I would have loved to see you break down the short solos and the techniques employed in a little more detail but as that wasn't really the point of the lesson I understand why you didn't). I believe as a beginner your goals need to be modest, particularly if, like me, you have no intention of doing anything other than playing at home for your own amusement and pleasure. I'm way past the age where aspirations as a performer, let alone a "star" are considerations. I've found some great stuff on your channel and yes, you are plenty capable of teaching I'm sure, based purely off of what I've learned and am learning from your videos.
This is great! Welcome to the club hehe its cool when you accept where your at and who you are in life, because you arrive at a time when you have nothing to prove to anyone. Then comes the part where you dont care what anyone thinks of you anyway, just enjoy life. Young people want to prove themselves, I entertain the bedroom walls ha. And my close family, those are my gigs now ---wife, daughter, mother. Yeah Jamming for Grandma! Note: Amazing instructor who made a guitar video without even playing the guitar, lol. Alternative to alternative!
This is true in most things in life Carpenter, learning to drive, playing an instrument, singing or whatever professional vocation you choose. The top experts in the world in violin, guitar, piano etc. practice every day into their nineties as they realize you can always improve.
I just love to practice and play. I love everything about it. How ever good I become it's all good with me. If I never become a guitar hero....I'm still having fun 🙂
I’ve said many times, I can do a lot of things but don’t really excel at any of them. I started playing trumpet when I was ten, I’m now sixty six and am just mediocre on a good day. Many high school trumpeters are better than I am. I’ll admit, I don’t spend much time practicing, but even when I did, my improvement was marginal. I’ve taken lessons and worked at it, I’m just not very good. Two years ago I decided to once again pick up the guitar and this time I’ve stuck with it. I’ve made lots of progress but I’m still not very good. I can learn something and a few weeks later I have to learn it again. Playing a melody within a chord still eludes me. There’s lots that I wish I could play but I can’t. I hear something in my head but I can’t play it on guitar. I’m competent at strumming open chords and I think I have good rhythm but that’s about all I can do. I have friends that are really good at guitar and I wish I could play like they do. I spend a lot of time with guitar, my practice log has me averaging forty or so hours per month. I’m not very good and may not ever be, but it sure is fun. I’d much rather play guitar than trumpet, and guitar is much more welcome at a campfire or social occasion, unless you really suck.
I’ve always wondered what goes on in legends’ heads. Let’s use Slash and the Sweet Child solo to throw an example out there. He’s been playing that solo note for note for the last 36 years. Imagine his progress in the last 36 years! I wonder if when he plays that solo he’s thinking to himself how horrendous it is. But everybody still thinks it’s his best work ever.
Hi Jewels, I Practice Most your lessons with Acoustic. However Please do some Lessons dedicated to Acoustic. Thank You !!! Excellent lessons. Peace, Love, Happiness.
If I don't sound good I just buy another guitar, amp or pedal. Just kidding. I'm not impressed with my playing but people say it sounds beautiful (fingerstyle). Sometimes you're your own worst critic. You have to be honest with yourself, do you play for your ego, fame and fortune, creativity, or is it a God given gift you can't hold back. For me its a creative outlet and I don't force myself to play. I always enjoy making stuff up, trying new things and hearing the results. Some things are laughable some not too bad. My friend took up guitar and did not improve because he quit playing. He thought it would be easy but in reality its hours of work. Just strumming cowboy chords with the inability to sing gets stagnant after awhile. You either quit or move onto really playing the instrument and learning how deep the rabbit hole is. If life wants you in the spot light, you will be there. Too many people force an issue when they should be doing something completely different and in tune with their natural abilities. I guess deep inside we all want to be "Rock Stars".
Thank you for the advice. I now realise that I'm supremely confident and 100% certain that I'll never be any good. (just joking 🤣) But seriously, I believe the most important thing you said is HAVE FUN, and I am. Watching your channel is instructional, entertaining and best of all it's taught me to enjoy the guitar... even though I'll never play in a band... I mean, c'mon, let's get real eh?😁
I have some of the same doubts when it come to my progress but with practice I know I am getting better all the time. I look at what I could do at the beginning as compared to now I can see the progress. So the more I play I lose more doubt.
A lot of people will disagree but I think the greats we all admire are just born with a natural musical ability most of us can't begin to approach. This is something I realized very early on after starting to play guitar in my late teens. Most of my heroes were already masters with their best works under their belts by their early twenties. A good example is Steve Howe, he was only twenty-three when he was recording his first Yes album simply entitled The Yest Ablum. I've been playing forty yrs on and off and I still can't play a lot of that stuff...good anyway. And about a year later he was recording Fragile---forget about the stuff he was doing on that!! And you can go on and on. Clapton was a child when he recorded the Beno album! There are licks on that that seasoned players still have a hard time pulling off authentically. And don't even start on the young wizardry of Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page!! And none of these guys spent years practicing and studying in music college!!
They started playing when they were four and were encouraged by their parents who may also have been entertainers or somehow connected to the biz. If your 43 and still hoping to be famous you have very very slim chances. You have no chance of getting attention - beyond playing naked in front of Buckingham palace because you’re largely invisible . Along with 10 million other wannabes all vying for attention and stardom . And that’s just America. Play for the love of playing and for your art. Play for the challenge of learning and acquiring new Skills and knowledge. That’s a huge reward right there.
I have to think that I am great. I spend most of my time thinking that I can't sing a note, I also hate my voice. My playing is mainly crap. However, when I get up in front of people, I have the ability to think I am great. I would not able get up and do it without that. This doesn't mean that I am not continuely practicing in the hope that I will become the person I think I am for an hour or so.
Being an excellent guitarist doesn't necessarily mean that you've mastered all aspects and playing styles of the instrument. I don't believe I've ever heard Eric Clapton play jazz like Joe Pass or country like Vince Gil, but that doesn't mean he isn't an excellent player.
If I get really good then I’ll get ppl bothering me to get on a band ( it happens ) , I don’t want to play on a band , I want to fudge enough to play solo at open mic nights .. then I’m good.
The dilemma is our understanding and with it our ability to hear increases at the same rate but ahead of our playing. That way we are always falling short of what we can hear. Constant improvement is constant disappointment. Now ill watch the video, and see what he says 😂
hey! how do you solve when your hands and finger are sweat?thats my frustration even your good becomes very bad to play guitar when sweatsb attack on your fingers😢
The guitar is a bit restrictive in a way as it has to be played correctly to sound any good. Saxophonists seem to be able to get away with stuff guitarists can’t. Ditto keyboard players to a certain extent.
Even the greatest guitar players cant play directly through the amp. Gary moore used volume as effect, matt bellamy and tom morello uses whammy and all tricks combined In the end we cant be as good as Guthrie Govan
I'm not good and maybe never will be, I just enjoy playing guitar, on my own. Without inner desire and motivation I would have stop long time ago. Playing guitar just feels good, and that's it.
Im 54 years old. First picked up a guitar when I was 12. A former guitar teacher of mine used to tell me that, "the most successful musicians aren't always the greatest musicians. Many of us are very good, but we will never be very successful at music." I reflect on those words from time to time. My 19 year old daughter has been playing guitar for 13 years. Enjoying guitar together will be the moments that I cherish the most through this journey. The rest has been icing on the cake.
I remind myself and students that learning and playing a simple l lV V is an achievement that you can play anytime anywhere in the world and there are literally hundreds of songs to play using that progression before that you only wished you could play and envied those that could...we sometimes forget that great joy can be derived and shared by just a couple of simple chords and thats powerful.
Agreed. And Beautiful! The simple things Are Really The Best.
Less Is More. Thank You for your comment - Reminder. ✨️✨️✨️🙂
Three chords and the truth 👍🏻
Agreed wholeheartedly.
What my parents always tell me when i complain about my musical skill is:
"You are still miles better than someone who never picked it up. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it."
Now, guitar isn't my main instrument anymore, but i couldn't care less, just playing a simple riff alone or jamming with a friend, brings me MUCH more joy than a band rehearsal or a local gig ever did.
Jules mate, you really need to put a structured blues course together. You teach so well and I and am sure many others would be happy to give you a few quid!
You’re the sweetest dude ever ☺️ and not only a great guitar teacher, but a hobby psychologist on top of that. Really nice explanation 👌 I clicked that bell icon 🔔
This video is one of the reasons I subscribed to your channel. Everything is true. The more the you know, the more there is to know. I remember the first time I recorded myself, it was awful. Yet before I heard it I thought it wasn’t too bad. How wrong I was!!
I've been playing for 30 years and feel the same. Which makes it remarkable what bands like The Beatles achieved when they were in their early twenties.
Not really. I've started back playing just a year ago, but I'm much, much better than I was when I was younger and played longer.
I think it depends on how serious you are, practicing the right way, and so forth.
Factors other than pure musicianship are a big part of commercial /financial success.
I don't need a recording of my self to know I suck. I used to play hours a day but realized I'm not a musician. Now, I just play for myself, its therapeutic and I think I'm better than I ever was because I don't really care anymore.
I began playing guitar when I was 16 years old and just memorized songs and even guitar tab guitar solos. I'm almost 50 now and watched a few of your videos and an internal light bulb lit up in my brain and I began making improvised guitar solos all over the neck. You are an F'n awesome guitar teacher. I am so thankful you passed on your knowledge of guitar on here. If you are ever in Topeka Kansas let me know and I'll buy you a steak dinner and a beer!
We also don't all make it to CEO of the company we work for! I love and enjoy everything about guitar, playing it, watching other people play it, buying and researching guitars and gear and basically everything that goes with learning. I know I will never be a famous guitar hero but for all the enjoyment I get out of it to me it is worth every bit of the time I can spare and money I can afford to play it. I have worked all my life full time + extra to have what I have now, I have nowhere near the talent of probably 99.9% of guitarists I have seen in my life and on RUclips, but it brings me so much enjoyment and fun...................... Plus If I didn't play guitar I'd only be spending my time trying to be as good as I can doing something else!.................... So guitar gets it for me 🎸🎶
Same here 100%
Oh my god! This video is not just about the guitar/music experience. This is about all the live. You are the best
Thank you, Jules. After 2 years of playing all the time, and weekly lessons, last week I told my wife that I just absolutely suck and should burn my guitars. I was looking at it all wrong, thank you for straightening me out!
I Understand How You Feel Brother.
I had the same thought Critic Going through
My head just a few moments ago. Like my playing Sucks.
And clicked on Jewels Videos from a Few
Months ago. And I could play most of it even on
My Acoustic. The Electrics are too loud here. 😮
The Point Is. We Are Our Most Worst and Harsh Critic.
Why Is This? How Come We do this??
Just like My Self We are taught from an
Infant To Critisize Our Selves And Others.
Then We Become Perfectionist That
No One can live up too. Not Even Our Selves.
It's Called The Human Condition.
Don't Burn your Guitars. You "Might" catch
The house on fire. 🙂 And that would be costly.
Keep Playing. Life Is Suppose to Be Fun!
Great comments my fellow guitar players, play what you love, and love what you play, HAVE FUN 🎉
Brilliant! Winstone Churchill said,'Success is the ability to go from one failure to another without loss of enthusiasm' and guess what we are improving all the time.
Dude. I have been playing in bands for 35+ years. Playing many gigs with top level bands. The pinnacle was opening for KISS in 2009 in Phx Az.
But the reason for my comment on this video is I’m a drummer and producer. I can play guitar (if you want to call it that) maybe more a collector of guitars and a tinkerer. Recently I have set some goals to actually learn to play and play confidently in live shows. And I just wanted to say of all the RUclips guitar lesson videos I have in my subscribe list. I find yours to be the best for me. You explanation and demonstrations are clear and never overplayed “look at me shred” you have a knack for teaching.
Keep up the good work! I hope you find great success with your channel.
FANTASTIC Video! Your honesty and vulnerability is ironically your Power. I KNOW you touched EVERY Guitar Player and those that Desire to become a Guitar Player and inspired them. Pay no Mind to our neurotic Patterns (no one is alone) and to simply Play On !! The Joy is in the Journey.
Playing your Age 13 Band Tape was THE sweetest thing I've ever heard! Touché !!
As the saying goes: Don’t concentrate on the goal, concentrate on the process. Great vid, thx for sharing 👍
I return to what I love - what my ear is always drawn to. That re-ignites my passion. I find more "juice" in diving back into SRV, Motown, the Beatles, catching new nuances, than stressing myself out with what I don't know.
Also, I would challenge anyone reading this (myself included) to go back into the archives, listen to one of your earliest recordings, enjoy the mistakes, and just hear all the gold.
Great video Jules, I appreciate your perspective. I will say, pinch harmonics don't rank as high as barre chords for me - it's upon each player to sift and sort what they really enjoy, and to prioritize that over ALL else. Some say our limits become the substance of our style.
Great video Jules. I have played at pubs here in Australia in bands, trios, duos, solo and it never gets easy, someone will tell you your good, someone will tell you your shit, just keep going. At some point maybe a thousand times over you have to self assess your playing and at the end of it all its about your own personal enjoyment and remember that practising is the key to knowing your way around the neck. I think you may only really need to know the major, minor and myxolodian scales but in keys all across the neck. I was watching a Tommy Emmanuel video the other week and he stated he may practice one piece for an hour at least! Just don't give up, either get a teacher who sets you a piece to play or jump on "RUclips" and pick a couple of tunes and practice them over and over. Good luck everyone, if it was easy everyone would do it.
Honest assessment that we all need to share. The most important thing is to enjoy and at the same time, little by little trying to make improvement. But number one priority is to enjoy and feel good. Thank you very much Jules. Cheers form Indonesia..
Excatly Jewles. Your Spot On.
Thats why 1 of My Fav Books Written
Over 25 Years Ago. Is Living With Joy. ✨️✨️✨️🎶
Thank You! Your A Jewel🎵 A Jem.
Your Videos, Demos, Teachings Are Golden.
Bring Us More !!!
I've learnt one thing over all these years of being bad at something: life is an art of starting anew 😊. And now, just like in mindfull meditation, i start again and again. And it gives me a lot of fun without frustration. It is what it is now, but I can always try again, try a different approach and it is ok. It still gives me more than it costs me.
Jule, is becoming in my mind like the Mercedes-Benz of guitar videos. There is quality and substance in your work, both of which I dig and appreciate and enjoy. I see music as a whole very important including guitar. I beleive to get to the truth one has to be like a druid i.e. pure. I have made money with music and intend to do more of it in he future, that said, as a musician beleive you need to be not materialistic to be able to connect to that which will nourishs. Money for me is a by product as opposed to a goal. That's how it's worked for me.
Jules you are a star, I have learnt so much from your videos, keep them coming 👍
You are more than just “ok” at teaching guitar Jules!!
Jules, this video was badly needed! Yes, people do get into slumps, of insecurity, frustration, or otherwise--and these are the realities of learning to play an instrument; or any other endeavors in life. Thanks, and don't you give up on teaching--you're good at that--and we appreciate it!
I enjoyed listening to all you said.. the reminding of self doubt we hold over our progress, when we have made progress is a kick in the teeth..
I also had some 'local band gig experience. Then when I left band I lapsed a lot, lost enthusiasm.. then told I had Multiple Sclerosis by doctor, then fell and broke 2 fingers in my ' guitar hand '.. damn..
Hand in plaster, 5 months 2 ops...callouses faded ( I was a serious string bender etc) stopped.
Years passed where I let guitar go...thinking i could not play like I used to.. do I stopped... for 12-14 years..
I have started again.. practise is horrendous.. but I am seeing glimmers of light to potential anything resembling guitar sounds etc..
I am very slowly growing..
Its getting somewhere...
I accept I will not notice huge advancements... BUT I can honestly say I have my callouses back..
Things are happening..
I am better than before.
All you have said I took on board and noted what you said .. It was a good statement you made...
Well done.. Cheers
This is a very powerful video. I have no idea how good a guitar player you are but I do know your a fantastic teacher. My playing has improved immensely because of your videos. You not only teach a concept, you also teach how to apply the concept. Thank you!
JULES GUITAR is my favorite GO TO Tutorial Site. Whenever I seem to hit the Flatlands, I just scan your Tutorials & watch what I think is random but ALWAYS seems to be the one I didn't know I was looking for! I always LEARN some Nugget or other and even when it's Above my Head, I just LISTEN and absorb.
This Video was incredibly inspirational and gave me such a warm feeling that just learning how to play the Guitar means I am a part of a wonderful Community of People with good Hearts & deep Souls.
A timely video for me there Jules,, thanks.
Woke up this morning feeling a bit blue about all the points you outline there.......now I'm cheered!
This video needs more likes. It is not only a lesson in believing in the progress of one's guitar journey but can be applied to many other aspects of one's life. Thank you so much for posting
that video of you playing the tele is probably the one that got me interested in your channel so I'm glad you didn't give up.
thanks very much for your videos!
Keep up the great work Jules, You are a child of the universe !
I've decided to try again, for the umpteenth time to understand theory enough to play comfortably with friends or at jams or whatever. My hands do just fine, its just understanding how and where to play and when, its always so confusing. I found your channel a few days ago, and your lessons are fun and explained well, I'm gonna stick with it and stick with your channel for a few months and see how it goes. Your basic blues lessons have been really helpful so far, thank you so much for bothering to make these clips.
One of my friend's said he will never be good at guitar and he has been playing for 10 years, I found out the real reason why and its because he only plays the drums!
lol 😂
I’m 15 years into playing I definitely have that feeling. Actually seriously broke my left wrist last may so playing guitar is rehab. Playing the blues is a lot easier to do right now so going through your stuff. It’s very refreshing to spice up the dominant 7 chords in a 12 bar blues rhythm. Thank you. I have that feeling like I’ve completely leveled off.
When you are in music, listening, playing and composing, its a lifelong pursuit. This is the truth and those of us that are know this. The more learned...the less is required. This is the greatest mystery and great fun is to be had in its exploration.
You pretty much hit the nail on the head. I have experienced all of the same frustrations. Only, you are a much better player than I am. While you are not playing Madison Square Garden, you have found your calling. You are a great guitar teacher.
I compensate by buying guitars....now amps.
Sounds familiar mate 👍🏻
Lol.
Yup, me too. 😊
And personally I’m still naff.
Glad I’m not the only one lol
The JOY is the feeling that we all desire!! Focus on looing for and finding your own personal JOY!! 👍💞😊
They say to record yourself, as a beginner. Arggh it was a shattering moment, perhaps beneficial cause the video confirmed my worst fears. I'll never be good at guitar. My left fingers are bent/crooked... then why go on? For the love of music, for the joy of visiting a magical realm, to become self-disciplined.
Well, Jules. I almost always have fun when i practice.
But now I'm looking for some people to play with, lol.
I'm ready!
My goodness you don't know how badly I needed this video.
Thank you so much.
Any music is art. Like painted pictures people get enjoyment from different things and the same applies to both playing and listening to others playing music.
When playing guitar, the important thing is to keep enjoying yourself with an aim to get better at enjoying yourself more over the course of time.
It is good to listen back to yourself. This way you can ask yourself if you would enjoy listening to what you yourself are offering others.
I've been playing 40something yrs. The fact is that you can get good, even excellent, over time. The thing is that learning and finding new things to learn about theory and practice are a lifelong progression. This is true for all instruments, not just guitar. There is no point where you learn everything. This is why musicians eventually focus more on developing certain areas where they excel and find interesting.
Great lesson that can be applied to a lot of things in life. Thanks for sharing!
Very good illustration of looking back to such moments. I too have had a reaction when I look at either pictures of what I chose to wear or how I sounded in years past on guitar or banjo. Thank you for sharing
Wow you just put where i was when i started trying too figure out the guitar. I had 2 great guitar. Both martins . But i got stuck because it didnt make sense. Watching your videos it is alot clearer not totally clear but it is making sense now!
The joy of goals is not achieving them but setting them.
im rubish... but every once in awhile i surprise myself with a moment of music and it keeps me coming back. Its purely personal therapy.
Very wise words
You shouldn't focus on the negative side as the brain is unable to distinguish between positive and negative mostly. Sports Psychologists often give the Golfing example where a Golfer is playing a shot and say there is a lake or a wood full of trees to their left. Any instruction such as 'Don't go into the lake or woods on your left,just hit it straight onto the fairway.' leaves the Brain automatically picking up on the hazards rather than the 'hit it straight' or 'fairway' part. Just concentrate on the positive stuff instead in terms of guitar.
You will get good if you map out the fret board. There's a famous saying that ,what one fool can do another fool can do. Derrick Beaumont says you will only fail when you give up trying. Good luck 😃. John.
If only I could come close to that final solo in the pentatonic lesson I would die a happy man.
I'm a beginner and the video you mentioned was excellent for me - if you think your playing was bad, I'm still not even remotely close to being able to replicate your sound even on the first solo with four notes! Sure I can play the notes but bending and vibrato are not skills I have come close to mastering - even hammer ons are new to me and frustratingly inconsistent but I watched what you were doing carefully and initially I didn't even notice that you were doing it until I slowed the playback speed to watch both your hands - but, as I said I'm a raw beginner so it doesn't discourage me, just pushes me to learn. Videos like this are extremely helpful so the fact that it's popular is no surprise. A lot of videos exploring the same/similar topics can be confusing but yours are very clear and concise and well paced. (in the video mentioned, I would have loved to see you break down the short solos and the techniques employed in a little more detail but as that wasn't really the point of the lesson I understand why you didn't).
I believe as a beginner your goals need to be modest, particularly if, like me, you have no intention of doing anything other than playing at home for your own amusement and pleasure. I'm way past the age where aspirations as a performer, let alone a "star" are considerations. I've found some great stuff on your channel and yes, you are plenty capable of teaching I'm sure, based purely off of what I've learned and am learning from your videos.
I'm with you there Bro
This is great! Welcome to the club hehe its cool when you accept where your at and who you are in life, because you arrive at a time when you have nothing to prove to anyone. Then comes the part where you dont care what anyone thinks of you anyway, just enjoy life. Young people want to prove themselves, I entertain the bedroom walls ha. And my close family, those are my gigs now ---wife, daughter, mother. Yeah Jamming for Grandma! Note: Amazing instructor who made a guitar video without even playing the guitar, lol. Alternative to alternative!
Jules, I have the answer, but I am busy right now. By next year I will have a video with the solution.
If a person is born with perfect pitch then you can become truly professional .
This is true in most things in life Carpenter, learning to drive, playing an instrument, singing or whatever professional vocation you choose. The top experts in the world in violin, guitar, piano etc. practice every day into their nineties as they realize you can always improve.
I just love to practice and play. I love everything about it. How ever good I become it's all good with me. If I never become a guitar hero....I'm still having fun 🙂
Very good advice….. thanks
I’ve said many times, I can do a lot of things but don’t really excel at any of them. I started playing trumpet when I was ten, I’m now sixty six and am just mediocre on a good day. Many high school trumpeters are better than I am. I’ll admit, I don’t spend much time practicing, but even when I did, my improvement was marginal. I’ve taken lessons and worked at it, I’m just not very good. Two years ago I decided to once again pick up the guitar and this time I’ve stuck with it. I’ve made lots of progress but I’m still not very good. I can learn something and a few weeks later I have to learn it again. Playing a melody within a chord still eludes me. There’s lots that I wish I could play but I can’t. I hear something in my head but I can’t play it on guitar. I’m competent at strumming open chords and I think I have good rhythm but that’s about all I can do. I have friends that are really good at guitar and I wish I could play like they do. I spend a lot of time with guitar, my practice log has me averaging forty or so hours per month. I’m not very good and may not ever be, but it sure is fun. I’d much rather play guitar than trumpet, and guitar is much more welcome at a campfire or social occasion, unless you really suck.
Inspiring video. Thanks, Jules! 🤘🏻
Very well done...thank you!!
I liked it very Alex g. I suck but I luv it never care how well I’m doing only ever try to be better than myself a month ago . ❤
Wise words my friend ✌️&❤
I’ve always wondered what goes on in legends’ heads. Let’s use Slash and the Sweet Child solo to throw an example out there. He’s been playing that solo note for note for the last 36 years. Imagine his progress in the last 36 years! I wonder if when he plays that solo he’s thinking to himself how horrendous it is. But everybody still thinks it’s his best work ever.
Hi Jewels,
I Practice Most your lessons with Acoustic. However Please do some Lessons dedicated to Acoustic.
Thank You !!! Excellent lessons. Peace, Love, Happiness.
Perfection.. Perfect, dangerous neigbourhoods.
Thanks for the inspiration and the many valuable lessons
music is infinite, therefore everyone could be infinitely better. the secret is learn from others without comparing l.
Hey Jules, you should’ve played “Rave On” on your Martin just after the cassette tape at 1:09 !
If I don't sound good I just buy another guitar, amp or pedal. Just kidding. I'm not impressed with my playing but people say it sounds beautiful (fingerstyle). Sometimes you're your own worst critic. You have to be honest with yourself, do you play for your ego, fame and fortune, creativity, or is it a God given gift you can't hold back. For me its a creative outlet and I don't force myself to play. I always enjoy making stuff up, trying new things and hearing the results. Some things are laughable some not too bad. My friend took up guitar and did not improve because he quit playing. He thought it would be easy but in reality its hours of work. Just strumming cowboy chords with the inability to sing gets stagnant after awhile. You either quit or move onto really playing the instrument and learning how deep the rabbit hole is. If life wants you in the spot light, you will be there. Too many people force an issue when they should be doing something completely different and in tune with their natural abilities. I guess deep inside we all want to be "Rock Stars".
Thanks Jules! I'm gonna sell my guitar now.
It's a great way to lower your blood pressure and a more positive way to spend your time than going to the range. Peace
I am in the same situation . Now I have realized I am a terrible player :) No hope for me . I already gave up I just play because I love to
And so thats the only reason to play
For sure ! …. I know tons of kids who quit when vanhalen debut came out lol…. Being intermediate is better than most ….
Thank you for this.
you are better than i will i ever be.
This is excellent. However, I finally freed myself after 40 years of trying practicing studying. Free at last
Thank you for the advice. I now realise that I'm supremely confident and 100% certain that I'll never be any good. (just joking 🤣) But seriously, I believe the most important thing you said is HAVE FUN, and I am. Watching your channel is instructional, entertaining and best of all it's taught me to enjoy the guitar... even though I'll never play in a band... I mean, c'mon, let's get real eh?😁
Rachmaninov once said in his later years i will never be able to play this damn thing!!! One of the best pianists ever 😂
I have some of the same doubts when it come to my progress but with practice I know I am getting better all the time. I look at what I could do at the beginning as compared to now I can see the progress. So the more I play I lose more doubt.
A lot of people will disagree but I think the greats we all admire are just born with a natural musical ability most of us can't begin to approach. This is something I realized very early on after starting to play guitar in my late teens. Most of my heroes were already masters with their best works under their belts by their early twenties. A good example is Steve Howe, he was only twenty-three when he was recording his first Yes album simply entitled The Yest Ablum. I've been playing forty yrs on and off and I still can't play a lot of that stuff...good anyway. And about a year later he was recording Fragile---forget about the stuff he was doing on that!! And you can go on and on. Clapton was a child when he recorded the Beno album! There are licks on that that seasoned players still have a hard time pulling off authentically. And don't even start on the young wizardry of Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page!! And none of these guys spent years practicing and studying in music college!!
Those Yes albums bring back so many great memories from my teen years when they first came out.
They started playing when they were four and were encouraged by their parents who may also have been entertainers or somehow connected to the biz. If your 43 and still hoping to be famous you have very very slim chances. You have no chance of getting attention - beyond playing naked in front of Buckingham palace because you’re largely invisible . Along with 10 million other wannabes all vying for attention and stardom . And that’s just America. Play for the love of playing and for your art. Play for the challenge of learning and acquiring new
Skills and knowledge. That’s a huge reward right there.
I have to think that I am great. I spend most of my time thinking that I can't sing a note, I also hate my voice. My playing is mainly crap. However, when I get up in front of people, I have the ability to think I am great. I would not able get up and do it without that. This doesn't mean that I am not continuely practicing in the hope that I will become the person I think I am for an hour or so.
That was interesting.
Being an excellent guitarist doesn't necessarily mean that you've mastered all aspects and playing styles of the instrument. I don't believe I've ever heard Eric Clapton play jazz like Joe Pass or country like Vince Gil, but that doesn't mean he isn't an excellent player.
Jules, is this you? Thank you for watching, got guitar 🎸 to give to random fan and I've picked you
It's scammers, do not respond!
@@JulesGuitar Thank you.
If I get really good then I’ll get ppl bothering me to get on a band ( it happens ) , I don’t want to play on a band , I want to fudge enough to play solo at open mic nights .. then I’m good.
The dilemma is our understanding and with it our ability to hear increases at the same rate but ahead of our playing. That way we are always falling short of what we can hear. Constant improvement is constant disappointment.
Now ill watch the video, and see what he says 😂
hey! how do you solve when your hands and finger are sweat?thats my frustration even your good becomes very bad to play guitar when sweatsb attack on your fingers😢
But that’s the fun of it-the learning of all the new stuff. If you know it all, you’d probably get bored.
I once remember discussing Imposter Syndrome with a therapist and said "it's not a syndrome with me I truly am the imposter".
I learn songs then analyze them
The guitar is a bit restrictive in a way as it has to be played correctly to sound any good. Saxophonists seem to be able to get away with stuff guitarists can’t. Ditto keyboard players to a certain extent.
Jerry Lee Lewis springs to mind hitting random keys with his heel.
Even the greatest guitar players cant play directly through the amp.
Gary moore used volume as effect, matt bellamy and tom morello uses whammy and all tricks combined
In the end we cant be as good as Guthrie Govan
Wow, you put into words everything in my head. All I have is doubt and feeling bad about my guitar playing.
cant fingerpick no solos only know the minor scale but play sought of in a band where I play a couple of songs or sing
❤
Every so called good guitar I have had broke. Either cracked or binding falling off etc..
I too have played some horrible recordings for others thinking they sounded good
I cringed for both of us
But there are those that were never good and probably never will be but somehow made the cut and went for the ride.
Sex Pistols. No talent all shock outrage and attention.