Solved Going back to the basics

[danny.guitar]

I consider myself a decent guitar player. I can play a lot of stuff that other people I know consider "hard". But I can't always play it perfectly. In fact, I make a lot of mistakes. Especially while recording. I find myself doing multiple takes even on simple stuff because: I pluck the wrong string, I get a little buzz (due to poor technique), I have a hard time playing barre chords, I play with too much tension, etc.

I have never taken lessons. Maybe I should?

What should I practice? I feel like I've missed a few very basic things while learning that I should have practiced. To be honest, I rarely ever sit down and actually practice technique, scales, etc. I caught on fast and learned a lot of songs way beyond my level when first starting out, but things are getting harder to play. I feel like I'm moving backwards now. So I think I should start from the beginning.

What kind of exercises should I practice each day? Be specific!

These are the main problems I have:

A hard time memorizing/feeling rhythm when learning a song. My rythym actually sucks. Playing to a click track/metronome is hard unless it's a very simple rhythm.

Picking the wrong notes on occasion (more often than I'd like to admit).

Too much tension when playing, especially barre chords.

Some buzzing from improper technique. Not always, but a lot.

Having to do multiple takes even on simple stuff.

Inconsistency when playing. Sometimes I'll play it perfectly. Other times, not so perfect.

Wrist pain while playing (usually only on barre chords).

Trouble using the pinky independently from the ring finger. I use my pinky, but not that often.

Having to look at the guitar strings while I pick in certain parts so I don't hit the wrong string.

ANY help would be appreciated.

 

[hungovermorning]

string guage

Strange question, but what guage of strings are you using?

 

[danny.guitar]

Strange question, but what guage of strings are you using?

Medium gauge - 13's. D'Addario Phosphor bronze.

Why? Sometimes the string buzz is just my guitar, but in most cases it's because I'm doing something wrong.

 

[skyguitarworks]

another simple question to help answer your question......what type of music are your working with, who are some of your favorite players, etc....?

 

[thewanderer24]

sounds like a lot of your problems are technique related. Nobody is going to help your technique over the web. Get a good teacher. Even in a few lessons a decent teacher should be able to give you enough stuff to help you tremendously if you are willing to put the work in.

 

[danny.guitar]

another simple question to help answer your question......what type of music are your working with, who are some of your favorite players, etc....?

I'm into a lot of classic rock music, although I've heard it all a million times. Now I'm more into writing my own. I don't listen to other people's music much anymore, except on occasion. And they are usually underground artists.

I like old rock style, acoustic stuff (my favorite), fingerstyle (Tommy Emmanuel, Doyle Dykes, etc.). Also some classical music (Beethoven, etc.). Buckethead, lots of different stuff, really.

sounds like a lot of your problems are technique related. Nobody is going to help your technique over the web. Get a good teacher. Even in a few lessons a decent teacher should be able to give you enough stuff to help you tremendously if you are willing to put the work in.

Yea, I do need to find a teacher. I'm willing to practice now whatever I need to practice.

What should I look for in a teacher? How do I know if he's a good teacher and I can trust his advice? There are a select few here who actually know what they're doing, and there's also a lot of "teachers" who I'm actually better than. :/

What kind of questions should I ask? What should I look for to know if he's a good teacher or not?

 

[Sirnothingness]

I'm from the belief that you have to use a certain amount of practice time to work on the fundamentals. Be consistent with it. Don't just sit down and blow, work on the boring things as well. Timing should come with hours of practicing with a metronome or simple beat. It sucks, but it's just a fact. I've seen guitarists that want to do nothing but learn some songs, and usually that's about all they ever achieve. If there's an aspect of your playing that you don't fel is up to par, then work it into your practice routine and remain consisten with it. Work out some chromatic scales that include your pinky. Try to play with an even touch on each string. Don't practice for too long at a time. Break it up into smaller sessions.

What else can be said? You know what's bothering you. So practice it. it can and should improve.

 

[hungovermorning]

Medium gauge - 13's. D'Addario Phosphor bronze.

Why? Sometimes the string buzz is just my guitar, but in most cases it's because I'm doing something wrong.

Use some 11s, I like Martin Phosphors at that size. 13s are a hand cramp waiting to happen and they are HEAVY. Go get some 11s and be happy.

 

[thewanderer24]

Yea, I do need to find a teacher. I'm willing to practice now whatever I need to practice.

What should I look for in a teacher? How do I know if he's a good teacher and I can trust his advice? There are a select few here who actually know what they're doing, and there's also a lot of "teachers" who I'm actually better than. :/

What kind of questions should I ask? What should I look for to know if he's a good teacher or not?

Ultimately, you have to just trust your instincts. You laid out your concerns and things you need to work on, pretty well already in this thread. Bring that list of stuff to a teacher and see how he responds to it. If you get the warm and fuzzy, that's a good thing. If he leaves you feeling uneasy, probably it isn't right.

It's also perfectly reasonable to ask your teacher about his or her past and current gigs, for recordings of their playing, etc.

Also, I definitely want to echo the sentiment that practicing the fundamentals isn't something you do until you "got it" and then you stop. The fundamental stuff (rhythm, scales, theory, etc.) is only as good as you are practiced on it. If you don't practice it, your skills will atrophy. It's really easy to work in technique, rhythm, and scale exercises as a warm up part of your practice routine.

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

Can rhythm really be learned? I've always been one of the lucky ones who seem to have it "built in", but is there hope for those without such fortune?

 

[Fusioninspace]

There's nothing wrong with going with light strings. Go with some .009's and that will help with cramping and general playability - the downside will be you'll probably break more strings. There's some loss of meat to the sound as well - but that's more of a personal opinion.

What is your goal with playing? Do you want to be a weekend rockstar and play at a bar, or just jam with friends, or just record and play alone at home?

All are totally legit goals. I play with a worship band on Sundays - pretty much strumming kind of stuff - simple, yet extremely rewarding and then at home I record (focusing on the entire song, not just the guitar) and also do a lot of comping stuff alone.

I had many years of classes as a kid - you really need some feed-back on the basics. But it's experience and trying new things that will really help you grow.

 

[famous beagle]

Can rhythm really be learned? I've always been one of the lucky ones who seem to have it "built in", but is there hope for those without such fortune?

Of course it can. Both my rhythm and my pitch sucked when I started 20 years ago, but now I'm a solid player and singer.

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

Of course it can. Both my rhythm and my pitch sucked when I started 20 years ago, but now I'm a solid player and singer.

Hey man, I wouldn't know! Wasn't trying to be mean or anything

 

[famous beagle]

Hey man, I wouldn't know! Wasn't trying to be mean or anything

No, I know you weren't trying to be mean.

I just get a little touchy on the whole "God-given ability" versus hard work subject.

 

[TelePaul]

Can rhythm really be learned? I've always been one of the lucky ones who seem to have it "built in", but is there hope for those without such fortune?

Yeah it can it's taken me six years and sometimes it's still a bit dodgy!

Danny, alot of the time I play guitar to relax, out of recreation. When I'm doing this, and I make a mistake, I don't pay it any attention. I have recently started analysing how I play, and stopping when I make a mistake.

Also, have a look at your right hand. Keep a strong grip on your plectrum - I curl alot of my left index finger around the bottom of my pick - and control the strings at the bridge with your right hand. That might give ya more control over your strumming.

 

[32-20-Blues]

I consider myself a decent guitar player. I can play a lot of stuff that other people I know consider "hard". But I can't always play it perfectly. In fact, I make a lot of mistakes. Especially while recording. I find myself doing multiple takes even on simple stuff because: I pluck the wrong string, I get a little buzz (due to poor technique), I have a hard time playing barre chords, I play with too much tension, etc.

I have never taken lessons. Maybe I should?

I've heard you. You're damn good. Now have some self-confidence.

It's like wearing a hat around women, right? You see, women are like dogs. Dogs can smell fear, women can smell a lack of self-confidence. Now, if you walk into a room full of women with a hat on your head (let's say it's a fedora, or a trilby), and you're not absofuckinglutely convinced that you look good in your hat, well then they won't want to bump uglies with you. HOWEVER, if you stride into that room like Frank Sinatra with a fifth of Jack Daniels inside of you, and you are convinced that you look as sharp as a two-edged razor, well then you'll get laid faster than the greasy 70's linoleum upon your kitchen floor (and that stuff goes down easy - trust me, I laid linoleum floors and housewives by the score for years).

So, the moral of the story is that if you think you're good (which you are, I've heard you, remember?), well then your audience will think you're good. Stand up on that stage (or your living-room floor, whatever), spread your legs and grab your axe. Throw back your ears, pull like a donkey, and wring the shit out of those notes as if you were hung like a motherfucking brontausuarus. The wine will flow, Jesus will weep, and the earth will move.

This is the gospel of the Lord. Amen.

 

[cephus]

Since you've identified all these problems, it would seem that you have already established your cirriculum, no?

If there is somehting I can't do, or I am doing wrong, I work on that. If after i work on that, I don't get any better at it, then I pretty much move on. Of course, moving on sometimes means cheating and finding another way to do something, which is where new techniques come from.

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

No, I know you weren't trying to be mean.

I just get a little touchy on the whole "God-given ability" versus hard work subject.

As somebody who wishes he had an easier time teaching friends/family members how to do certain things, I know what you mean man. For my own personal goals and whatnot, being gifted is a god-send for sure, but when it comes to trying to teach other people how to do things I'm gifted at, it really becomes a horrible curse: I'm probably the worst teacher on the face of the planet

(P.S. I really, really, *really* don't mean to come off as trying to sound superior or some stupid shit like that: I just like a good honest conversation about such things )

 

[danny.guitar]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess my rhythm is "lacking" but it's not like I have no rhythm at all. Playing on time to a metronome is where I have trouble. Playing to drums is a bit easier.

I'm just tired of making stupid little mistakes. This fucks the whole recording process up. I'd love to just be able to play something perfectly every time. At least almost every time... Even songs I've been playing for years I still mess up on. It's like there is something fundamental I'm missing.

What worries me the most is the wrist pain when playing barre chords. I know I'm doing something wrong there. I also play with too much tension. I think I might try going down to a lower guage at least until I know I'm doing things right. It feels like I'm having to press down on the strings way too hard.

Anyway, I've written down a list of the things I need to practice so I'm gonna finally just get myself to do it, as much as I hate it.

I've read over most of the replies but I'll come back and read over them again in case I missed any.

Thanks again.

 

[thewanderer24]

If you are getting pain from playing, you really should have at least one sit down with a worthwhile teacher. Fighting through it is a good way to do real damage.

As for learning rhythm, the only way you get better, is by practicing regularly and SLOWLY with a metronome.