Getting good at guitar

[MRsplashypants]

Anyone have any tips at getting good at guitar? I've been playing for a couple years and I wanna start learning all my theory and scales and such but I dont know where to start...
I've began learning my minor pentatonics but I would like to know where to go from there...

[sclitheroe]

I'm in the same boat...getting pretty good at learning tabs and whatnot, but no theory. I'd like to learn some theory as well so I'm not just mimicing what I read in a tab or hear on CD.

[rockstar]

Sorry guys, but it doesn't happen.

I've been playing for ten years and I still really, really suck.

[kermitology]

Take lessons?

[Igottago]

Its one of those things you will always feel room for improvement. I've been playing for about 7 years, and while I'm much better than when I started, I still don't feel like a great guitar player.

I think you just have to push yourself to try things you find intimidating. For me, I have a bad tendency to keep playing rythym and not trying to much lead stuff...I need to step outside my comfort zone and try to learn a few complex solos.

If I were you I'd buy a couple lesson books, and download some tabs for songs you find challenging, and just put in the time.

Also, one thing that can raise your game is playing with others. If you play with someone who is better than you, you start to learn to keep up.

[Russic]

The only time I noticed any significant improvement was when I took lessons. Unfortunately I ran out of time and never took them again.
*kicks self*

[MelBridgeman]

take lessons
and practice, practice, practice

[Reggie Dunlop]

Hang out here at night and talk to the shifty-looking stranger.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

take lessons
and practice, practice, practice

^^ THIS

I started playing guitar when I was 12. I took beginner lessons for about six months and was taught the basics -- how to play the most commonly-used chords, how to care for my instrument (changing strings, etc.), and how to play a few songs. After that, I was self-taught for the next 15 years, learning to play new songs by looking up tabs/chords on the web. I started taking lessons again about a year ago, and I can easily say that I learned more in three months than I did in the previous 15 years.

Finding a good teacher is key, though. Any fool can teach you playing technique and how to play your favourite rock songs. What you want is someone who really knows their music theory and can teach you different scales and modes and when to use them. It may be more boring and not as instantly-gratifying as learning your favourite songs right away, but it will make you a MUCH better player in the long run.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Royal Conservatory ftw

[Matata]

I had about 4 years of weekly lessons, but I became a much better player by teaching myself. Kim thayil of soundgarden once said 'If you take guitar lessons, you'll only end up sounding like your teacher.' And that prompted me, the angsty teenager, to do things on my own, and it ended up being the best decision I could make.

I'd recommend finding out who your guitar heros are and educate yourself on how they got where they are as players and try and emulate that (I have about 100 issues of Guitar mags). Try and learn material that is way beyond your abilities, ex -During my early years, I tried to go from Nirvana and punk to Metallica's 'Master of puppets' and it took me years to memorize and master all the parts but nowadays I can play it start to finish without blinking. By challenging yourself you learn faster and you get a huge boost of confidence when a piece of music changes from 'impossible' to 'piece-of-cake'. Nowadays I'll take a crack at classical pieces like 'Pagini's 5th caprice' or 'flight of the bumblebee' to keep the learning process fun and rewarding.

[stang]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

^^ THIS

I started playing guitar when I was 12. I took beginner lessons for about six months and was taught the basics -- how to play the most commonly-used chords, how to care for my instrument (changing strings, etc.), and how to play a few songs. After that, I was self-taught for the next 15 years, learning to play new songs by looking up tabs/chords on the web. I started taking lessons again about a year ago, and I can easily say that I learned more in three months than I did in the previous 15 years.

Finding a good teacher is key, though. Any fool can teach you playing technique and how to play your favourite rock songs. What you want is someone who really knows their music theory and can teach you different scales and modes and when to use them. It may be more boring and not as instantly-gratifying as learning your favourite songs right away, but it will make you a MUCH better player in the long run.

^^^ Yup

ALso a couple other things... Is that I found a loop pedal has helped me a bunch. Loop a CHord Progression and learn to play over top of it.

Also jamming with other musicians (who are better then you) will help too, dont worry about being the worst player there, because thats how you will learn.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Igottago

I think you just have to push yourself to try things you find intimidating. For me, I have a bad tendency to keep playing rythym and not trying to much lead stuff...I need to step outside my comfort zone and try to learn a few complex solos.

That's funny, I have a tendancy to only play solos and lead and not know how to play rhythm whatsoever.

We really need a CP guitar club or get together to help each other. There seems to be a lot of people who want to learn and play with others. That book club manages to meet somehow. Why can't us guitarists get it down?

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

That's funny, I have a tendancy to only play solos and lead and not know how to play rhythm whatsoever.

My little brother's the same way. We were in a band together for a few years and he played lead while i played rythm and wrote the songs. The kid was a prodigy like crazy good, but learned all by ear and doesnt know theory for crap. But he cant tune a guitar from any randomness to standard tuning with nothing but a pick.

[troutman]

I improved greatly this year buy getting a quality guitar that is easier to play. Now I play every day. Practice, practice, practice.

I read in This Is Your Brain On Music, that anyone can become a virtuoso, by putting in 10,000 hours of practice.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

That's funny, I have a tendancy to only play solos and lead and not know how to play rhythm whatsoever.

We really need a CP guitar club or get together to help each other. There seems to be a lot of people who want to learn and play with others. That book club manages to meet somehow. Why can't us guitarists get it down?

That's a good idea.

[Canuck-Hater]

Play more blues, listen to Pantera and focus on Dimebag playing guitar

[Got Miikka?]

My uncle, who is a seasoned and extremely proficient guitar player, told me two things I would need to do for sure if I ever wanted to get near his level of mastery:

1. Learn the fret-board top to bottom
2. Learn all of the ways to play every note (ie., all of the variations that exist to play a single chord)

He also mentioned that 10000 hours thing.

[Rhetts_the_Best]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

That's funny, I have a tendancy to only play solos and lead and not know how to play rhythm whatsoever.

We really need a CP guitar club or get together to help each other. There seems to be a lot of people who want to learn and play with others. That book club manages to meet somehow. Why can't us guitarists get it down?

Im down for that.

Also hack it is key to know rythm for learning to play lead.

I really dont read much music, but im pretty familiar with the pentatonic scale, as well as some modes like phrygian and lydian.
(don't get me started about locrian or mixolydian)

[Reggie Dunlop]

Motion seconded by troutman....

I hereby propose the formation of the CalgaryPluckers...

First order of business: a Club Constitution.

There ought to be a law with no bail
Smash a guitar and you go to jail
With no chance for early parole
You don't get out 'til you get some soul.

There must be a neighbourhood establishment with a Jam Night somewheres...