Fighting frustration

Mr. Sinkhole · #1 June 12th, 2006

I've been playing about two and a half years now, and frustration with my progress (or lack thereof) is still a major problem for me. I have really sensitive ears, and can hear all my flaws (even the tiny, tiny, tiny ones), which is useful for practicing but frustrates the bejeezus out of me, because I can't play the part perfectly and flawlessly, even with major practice.

I used to be a six-hour-a-day-practice guy, but lately, there are days when I don't even want to LOOK at a guitar.

and I barely practice for more than two hours on good days.

Any tips on overcoming this? Greatly apprecitated.

Sink/Gibb

chammon · #2 June 12th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Sinkhole

I've been playing about two and a half years now, and frustration with my progress (or lack thereof) is still a major problem for me. I have really sensitive ears, and can hear all my flaws (even the tiny, tiny, tiny ones), which is useful for practicing but frustrates the bejeezus out of me, because I can't play the part perfectly and flawlessly, even with major practice.

Any tips on overcoming this? Greatly apprecitated.

Sink/Gibb

Not sure this is a tip or not but I have been playing for over fifty years and I still haven't made it through any song I've ever played without knowing for certain that I could have done it better. But that dosen't mean I'm dissatisfied. It just meant that I had to keep the day job. Fall back in love again with the guitar and stay at it for a few decades. You won't regret it.

Rockerbob · #3 June 12th, 2006

+1 to the above, but only 35 years for me. I still can't play a tune "perfectly." I just play them good enough for me.

Bennett · #4 June 12th, 2006

I'm no expert on the matter with only close to 11 months or so under my belt, but I don't believe anyone plays tunes perfectly. Even the greats will mess up somewhere in the tune, even if it's minor.

One thing I've learnt though is that the real challenge is learning to continue through a piece knowing full well you've stuffed up somewhere. If you continue as though nothing has gone wrong then no-one else will know. Ok, so maybe experts will know, but who cares?

At the end of the day, if it makes you happy and potentially others happy too then that's what it's all about. Besides, if songs were perfect then the performer might as well be a machine. I'd rather have a rendition performed with character.

Lcjones · #5 June 12th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Sinkhole

I've been playing about two and a half years now, and frustration with my progress (or lack thereof) is still a major problem for me. I have really sensitive ears, and can hear all my flaws (even the tiny, tiny, tiny ones), which is useful for practicing but frustrates the bejeezus out of me, because I can't play the part perfectly and flawlessly, even with major practice.

Having read this, I have to ask.. "what part are you attempting to play flawessly? Someone elses?"

All this time you've been playing and practicing, you've been learning and creating your own style of playing. I certainly appreciate a guitarist who can play someone elses melody note for note and nuance for nuance. But that is all that is; playing someone elses melody.

There is a plague in songwriter circles called "you are your worst critique". You are totally biased and that is totally unfair to your expertise as well as your mind. It's one thing to evaluate your performance for improvement. It's quite another to beat yourself up because you don't sound exactly as someone else.

Quote:

I used to be a six-hour-a-day-practice guy, but lately, there are days when I don't even want to LOOK at a guitar.

and I barely practice for more than two hours on good days.

I can relate. But no matter what, always and without fail, look in on your guitars everyday. They are only in your posession a short while.

Quote:

Any tips on overcoming this? Greatly apprecitated.

Write your own melody and song. Quit trying to imitate someone else. Bring your own rules of playing to the table and let someone else try to recreate your melody note for note, nuance for nuance.

Quote:

Sink/Gibb

Les

DharmaBum · #6 June 13th, 2006

Mr. Sinkhole: There is no "perfect". Really. I'm guesing there are times where you hit EVERY note, and even had the timing down. Sounded a little... stale or lifeless. Too clean, too even. Muzak is perfect. Music is delightfully imperfect. Which is why we love it, I guess.

You can have a lot of fun if you aren't chasing some standard of perfection that doesn't exist.

Mr. Sinkhole · #7 June 13th, 2006

Thanks everyone, this really lifted my spirits.... now I just have to fix my darn bridge (raised it too high when changing strings) and get back to "work".

Thanks again!

Sink/Gibb

fly135 · #8 June 14th, 2006

Maybe you are just your own worst critic. Post a tune in the recording section.

notallthere · #9 June 15th, 2006

SIX HOURS A DAY!!!!....TWO HOURS A DAY!!!, Wow; I guess my messly one hour a day will never get me anywhere!

vee · #10 June 16th, 2006

Hi Mr Sinkhole,

I gave up long ago trying to play the songs like the original artistes did. Now I try to make my own interpretation rather than a bad imitation.

Have fun,

Vee