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Please help - my guitar playing is lousy
- Thread starter BassyBill
- Start date
Thanks for all the comments so far - yes, it's definitely technique I need to work on rather than theory, as you might expect.
Sounds like I need to pay attention to:
* holding the pick right (it may sound dumb, but I still can't figure out the best way to do this for me)
* strumming patterns (any further advice here would be very welcome)
* left hand muscle memory for rhythm playing (unsurprisingly, string spacing is what sometimes causes me issues here, as well as with the strumming)
Then maybe just work on speed for lead stuff (less of an issue, really), before thinking about anything more "tricky". Begging some friends for lessons is also a really good idea as I know some great guitarists who could help in this respect - but clearly they can't help with the "coming at guitar from the bass" angle as much as you guys have.
Thanks again!
Sounds like I need to pay attention to:
* holding the pick right (it may sound dumb, but I still can't figure out the best way to do this for me)
* strumming patterns (any further advice here would be very welcome)
* left hand muscle memory for rhythm playing (unsurprisingly, string spacing is what sometimes causes me issues here, as well as with the strumming)
Then maybe just work on speed for lead stuff (less of an issue, really), before thinking about anything more "tricky". Begging some friends for lessons is also a really good idea as I know some great guitarists who could help in this respect - but clearly they can't help with the "coming at guitar from the bass" angle as much as you guys have.
Thanks again!
Most have problems with strumming right at first. It's a feel thing, and I always hated it when the old guys told me to feel it. So..... here are some hints.
1. The vocalist will not like it if you switch back and forth between strum patterns during a song. Pick one and stay with it - for the entire song.
2. Nothing wrong with all down strums - it's like riding the root, there are better things, but until you get the feel all down strums get the job done.
3. Boom, strum, strum, strum. Boom is a pick of the lowest string used in the chord followed with three down strums - 4/4 time of course.
4. Boom, strum, boom, strum. The second boom is on the next to lowest string. Watch how Hank does it.
Now how do you get a strum pattern into muscle memory? Go watch TV, take your guitar along and grab the neck around the 5th fret - you will get a dead thud sound - not a problem. Now do your strum pattern while watching TV. After an hour's program that strum pattern will be in muscle memory and belong to you.
It's the old P word. Good luck.
1. The vocalist will not like it if you switch back and forth between strum patterns during a song. Pick one and stay with it - for the entire song.
2. Nothing wrong with all down strums - it's like riding the root, there are better things, but until you get the feel all down strums get the job done.
3. Boom, strum, strum, strum. Boom is a pick of the lowest string used in the chord followed with three down strums - 4/4 time of course.
4. Boom, strum, boom, strum. The second boom is on the next to lowest string. Watch how Hank does it.
Now how do you get a strum pattern into muscle memory? Go watch TV, take your guitar along and grab the neck around the 5th fret - you will get a dead thud sound - not a problem. Now do your strum pattern while watching TV. After an hour's program that strum pattern will be in muscle memory and belong to you.
It's the old P word. Good luck.
Thanks for the comments so far. keep 'em coming, especially if you're a bassist who's been playing for about 30 years who's just found out some good ways to learn guitar.
Well, I fit your critereon. I've taken a leaf out of the book a lot of guitarists I know must read. If your not sure about what you're playing, add lots and lots of effects, and turn yourself down in the mix. It gives reasonable results for my recordings, although obviously, a competent guitarist would do a better job.
I always use a really thin pick/plectrum when I play guitar stuff like in the second clip. Something like Fender Thins (I use something like 0.41mm) Tends to not clunk so much against the strings and sounds like you're just brushing on them like a breeze
For metal and punk, I use thick picks, 0.70 - 1.00mm
And if I ever use one for bass, I use 2.00 - 3.00mm
When I started playing guitar, I was extremely surprised at the difference that each different type, style, and thickness of pick made to absolutely everything!
You probably knew this already, but just in case I thought I'd add my $0.02
