Home › Forums › Beginner Guitar Discussions › Beginner? Setting expectations!
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March 31, 2021 at 2:18 pm #245792
So how do you define a beginner? I have been playing for about 11 months. I practice at least 2 hours per day. I not only subscribe to online courses but have a teacher once per week. I can hear myself getting better. Lessons I had trouble with months ago I now handle with ease.
I never was much into theory but I am realizing that without that foundation my progress can slow.
Sometimes I get frustrated with my progress. I am about to say something stupid. I will hear Clapton play a blues solo and dream about playing it with the ease of Slowhand. When I pick up my guitar I am knocked back to reality.How do you control your expectations and not lose motivation when you realize you likely won’t play like Clapton or the kid in GuitarCenter who can pick up any guitar and make it sing despite not being old enough to drive.
Asking for a friend.
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March 31, 2021 at 2:42 pm #245797
“Asking for a friend” LOL – that line always cracks me up! 😆
Hi Peter,
I don’t know the answer to your question but being a beginner may last a long time. I have played about 1-2 years before joining Active Melody plus 4 years here so a total of about 5-6 years and I still consider myself a beginner, or maybe an “advanced beginner”. I do have a great understanding of the fretboard, basic scales and patterns, chords all over the neck. I can write my own compositions thanks to Brian. Well, everything I know is thanks to Brian’s lessons anyway but I’m still a beginner. It’s just a label and it means nothing.
You know you are getting better and yet you are still frustrated with your progress? Is it maybe you don’t see it clearly? Do you record yourself so you can go back a few months back and compare? If not, you should definitely do that. You may be amazed how fast you’re getting better and you will clearly SEE the improvement. You can’t beat the time. Some people learn slower, some learn faster but so what? I think the key here is to ENJOY the learning process and have FUN with it. If you’re trying to be the next Eric Clapton, your expectations are set way too high unless you’re 12. Enjoy the journey because that’s where the FUN is, the small revelations and small steps forward. Set smaller, more achievable goals and work towards them, check them off when done. Keep track of your progress somehow so you can look back and see it there. Otherwise you’ll think you are not moving – in order to see movement you need perspective, right?
You have landed in a place where all this is possible so dive into Brian’s lessons, have fun with them, make recording yourself REGULARLY a goal and you’ll improve fast with something to show for. We have monthly “challenges” here where a bunch of us just do that and we comment on each other’s work and see other progress and all that. Lots of fun!
🎸JoLa
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March 31, 2021 at 3:12 pm #245799
Thanks. I think you are spot on regarding recording myself. Currently, I don’t but will begin immediately.
I have been working on a number with my teacher and really put in the work this week to learn it. When I played it during my lesson it sounded like I never picked up the guitar.
Somewhat self-induced frustration. -
March 31, 2021 at 3:52 pm #245804
Yep, that’s part of the process. Whenever I pick up a guitar in front of someone else, I sound like it’s my first time, too. But whatever time and effort you put into it will benefit you in the long run. The frustration is real, that’s why so many people quit. Don’t be one of them 😉
🎸JoLa
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March 31, 2021 at 7:56 pm #245823
Recording myself and taking part in the monthly challenges has really made a big difference in my playing. JoLa and the others here are super supportive. Brian’s method of teaching is much different than most, but has propelled me out of a rut and has me playing stuff I never dreamed possible and UNDERSTANDING what I am playing. I hope it does the same for you!
Charlie H
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March 31, 2021 at 11:52 pm #245840
Charlie speaks the truth. Join in with the monthly challenges, and your playing will progress far faster than it will due to your face-to-face teacher. And when you do sit down to play something for your teacher, you will find that you’ve become totally relaxed and confident. Easy peazy.
Sunjamr Steve
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April 1, 2021 at 12:21 am #245841
I am a beginer myself, playing for last 6-7 months… and everything I write is as much about me too…
During the first six months I had been obsessive about practise; and inspite of the extremely busy professional schedule, there were days I have practised for 6-8 hours; definitely 1-2 hr per day in bad days too (finger pain and groggy head and all)… there is no substitute for practice. I have also taken the route of Online Courses, teacher once a week… but around 5-6 months time, I have realised… its not the course or the teacher, its MY search and My Journey, and I have to do it alone, with help of Mentors and Friends… hence I joined this forum.
I shall quote one of Brians motivational lessons… “One long and all inclusive course is not the answer, you will learn all and forget all… Also… Trying to learn too much theory, all at once, has its pitfalls… since its input only for you, you just learn and cannot produce or create anything out of it immediately”. I am OK good with theory, but what good is knowing the spelling of Minor7 Flat 5 or Modal jazz structure; if I cant use it and apply it effectively?? Hence dont be bothered too much about what you dont know, rather make the best use of what you know. We all know, what BB King did with 4 notes 🙏
And finally, Not many will say this Honestly to you… learning an instrument and being reasonably OK is a long and tedious process (Mastering it takes a lifetime and may not be enough still)… we must chip it bit by bit… and be mentally prepared that 3 years is the minimum time for something worthwhile to come out of your hand and mind.
So… Hold on… push through; Enjoy the journey, We want to play to have fun, right?? Forget the ” Desired End State” 🙏
Storming Heaven's Gate
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April 1, 2021 at 4:09 am #245852
“When I pick up my guitar I am knocked back to reality.”
i lived that more than once.“How do you control your expectations and not lose motivation when you realize you likely won’t play like..”
i post a monthly challenge :
* nice comments boost me
* realizing i can do something, not perfect, but done at least, also a good motivator
i also have long term objectives (what i expect to be able to do in 3, 4 years) and short term (what for this year); this helps me select lessons, be focus on something very concrete and thus makes progress.finally, i always keep in mind that what is important is the journey iself, i ‘m not searching glory or impress my friends. a beguinner playing guitar with a smile is far better than a guitar hero making face.
Where does the white go when snow melts?
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April 1, 2021 at 8:45 am #245868
I’m still a beginner after 5years, mostly down to not getting enough practise time tbh. I will say though that the slower you pace the practise lesson the more proficient in it you will become, So slow everything down before you try to have your playing up to speed. Practise is about practising the right thing imho
..Billy..
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April 1, 2021 at 12:30 pm #245896
I have been playing for over 40 years and still consider myself a beginner. I thought I was good until I joined Active Melody. Four years later, my growth as a player and student has rocketed exponentially. It is normal to get frustrated. Your frustration level is commensurate with how hard you work and good you want to be. My grandiose expectations of myself have been tempered by this guitar communities’ mutual excellence and sense humility. After a while, you will start having so much fun you won’t care about being better than the next guy. I promise. Just grab a few lessons, participate in the monthly challenges, join in the forum discussions and before you know it you will be rockin’ in the free world!!
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April 1, 2021 at 12:58 pm #245898
It’s a never-ending journey, right? Sometimes I think that I am making progress and I am enthusiastic. And other times I wonder what the heck I am doing and why am I not better. And I recognize that there is so much to learn which sometimes causes me to fragment a bit: learning chord strumming songs, fingerpicking, trying to play the blues, playing lead, and of course theory.
For me, and this might apply to you, Peter. it’s just recognizing that you are trying. And there is honor and accomplishment in simply trying. You are learning and growing every day. I try to focus on that.
NEIL
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