Making progress

Published on May 1, 2005 By dharmagrl In Misc

You know, Ive been fooling around with my guitar for about a month now. I had a week long hiatus when I caught my thumb in the rat trap and couldnt play, and even after that I haven't been exactly dilligent about playing daily.

The last time I played, i got frustrated and disgusted with myself because I couldn't get the strum pattern for a song right....and I got even more frustrated because I couldn't get co-ordinated enough to sing and play at the same time.

It put me right off playing. I got pissed off at myself because I felt like a dumbass.

Friday after I got back from the doctor, I picked up my guitar and tuned it. Just for kicks, I decided to try and strum along to 'Time Of Your Life'.

It all came together. All of sudden the strum patterns and chord changes became easy, and I even found myself singing as I was playing. I wasn't even trying very hard! My hands and fingers and voice and eyes all worked with each other and I played and sang that song three of four times over because I was enjoying myself so much.

It's given me a boost, an incentive to try and play more. I'm able to sing and play 'Turn The Page', and I'm working on Bush's 'Glycerine' today. Yeah, they're simple songs, but I get such a sense of accomplishment out of mastering them.

I stopped trying so hard, and things happened.

Perhaps I should try and apply that philosophy to the rest of my life too....

Comments (Page 1)

Danny Bassette

on May 01, 2005

Perhaps I should try and apply that philosophy to the rest of my life too....

Good idea, and whie your at it try recording your playing and share it with us all.

dharmagrl

on May 01, 2005

try recording your playing and share it with us all.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! (Copyright Chiprj 2004)

Oh, you're funny, Danny!

Ionolast

on May 01, 2005

Is that "Time of Your Life" by Paul Anka?

It's been like that for me, too. Sometimes when I try to play along with a song, it doesn't work. It must have to do with being in tune.

How do you feel about having to keep your fingernails short?

dharmagrl

on May 01, 2005

Is that "Time of Your Life" by Paul Anka?

Nope, it's by GreenDay. Also titled 'Good Riddance':

'Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road

Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go..'

I chew my fingernails anyway, so keeping them short doesn't bother me. I'm going to try and grow them a little on my right hand so I can pick better.

aeryck

on May 01, 2005

This blogg is getting to be like a brilliant one that found me a while back. What sort of guitar are you playing on? ---- wait, I remember it's an Ibanez, right? Okay what colour is you Ibanez?

dharmagrl

on May 01, 2005

What sort of guitar are you playing on? ---- wait, I remember it's an Ibanez, right? Okay what colour is you Ibanez?

Nope, it's a Rogue, and it's called redburst. I'll take a pic of it so you can see....

MasonM

on May 01, 2005

Is actually true of most things. Think about learning to drive. At first you're tense, nervous, trying very hard, and concentrating on everything. And you do it all badly.

After a while you begin to relax and everything about it becomes much easier and more natural.

I apply a basic rule to my life: I only get tense or nervous when there's a poisonous snake crawling up my pants leg, otherwise I'm cool.

dharmagrl

on May 01, 2005

I apply a basic rule to my life: I only get tense or nervous when there's a poisonous snake crawling up my pants leg, otherwise I'm cool

And that's what I've always admired about you, Mason. You've had a run of crappy luck recently, but you've always managed to maintain and air of calmness and almost serenity to yourself.

I'm trying to be less tense and nervous.....

MasonM

on May 01, 2005

I don't sweat the petty things or pet the sweaty things.

dynamaso

on May 01, 2005

This is what keeps me going every day, Dharma. I used to run myself ragged trying to do as much as I could before each day finished. The end result was a frazzled, former shell of the man I wanted to be. Nowadays, I don't try so hard but still get through as much, if not more. It really does work.

I am reminded of a movie I saw recently called 'Taxi'. It stars Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah. Jimmy Fallon's character can't drive to save his life because he is always trying too hard. Queen tells him to sing his favourite song and forget about everything else. He relaxes, starts singing and before long is driving safely and confidently.

It really does work.

MecAustralien

on May 02, 2005

Good on ya! I tried learning guitar about a year ago and gave up because I don't have the persistence, but I recently came across a whole bunch of people who had taught themselevs to play and they said it was realy hard for the first 2 months and then they got better. So I've promised myself this year to work on it every day for 2 months. This time I'm choosing the song I want to learn. rather than what my Mum suggests. I really want to be able to get up at pubs and play the songs I want to sing, rather than having to relyon other people to learn what I want, because often they don't wanna learn my songs. Plus I wanna be able to work out cords to my own songs. But so far I'cve been too busy to et started so I fully commend your eforts.

Ionolast

on May 02, 2005

Here's a free program to help you tune http://www.freewarearena.com/html2/index.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownloaddetails&lid=1584

dharmagrl

on May 02, 2005

I don't sweat the petty things or pet the sweaty things

I have a coffee cup that says 'dont sweat the small stuff' on it...

Nowadays, I don't try so hard but still get through as much, if not more. It really does work.

That's what I'm going to try and do more often. The Tao is what it is...and you know the rest.

I recently came across a whole bunch of people who had taught themselevs to play and they said it was realy hard for the first 2 months and then they got better. So I've promised myself this year to work on it every day for 2 months.

You dont even have to play for that long every day. Even 2 or 3 mins of getting used to the feel of the guitar and learning where your fingers need to go for chords is better than nothing.

Here's a free program to help you tune

Actualy, I have a tuner that does it all for me...even tells me what number string I'm picking!

MasonM

on May 02, 2005

I have a tuner that does it all for me

Learn to tune by ear. It will help you "play by ear" better. Did for me anyway.

Spc Nobody Special

on May 02, 2005

they said it was realy hard for the first 2 months and then they got better

Depends on the person, but generally true. In my case, I finally gave up and used what I learned to pick up bass instead. Only instrument I haven't been able to learn.

It all came together.

Sweet.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!