The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 01-11-2018, 03:43 PM
lcgeek lcgeek is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 250
Default Revelation

I've been attempting to learn and play guitar for many years. I feel like I never made the kind of progress I had hoped for in terms of musicality. Sure I can remember chords, scales, songs, but I am just painting by numbers and not all that musical when doing so. In the back of my mind, I knew somehow that something was always missing but I could not figure out what my roadblock was.

After so many years, I think I just now have realized my problem. I never learned how to really listen. I mean REALLY listen. Have you ever been there?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-11-2018, 04:04 PM
ChrisE ChrisE is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 2,214
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by lcgeek View Post
I've been attempting to learn and play guitar for many years. I feel like I never made the kind of progress I had hoped for in terms of musicality. Sure I can remember chords, scales, songs, but I am just painting by numbers and not all that musical when doing so. In the back of my mind, I knew somehow that something was always missing but I could not figure out what my roadblock was.

After so many years, I think I just now have realized my problem. I never learned how to really listen. I mean REALLY listen. Have you ever been there?
What did you say?
__________________
2015 Martin D-18
1982 Martin HD-28
2013 Taylor 314ce
2004 Fender Telecaster MIM
2010 Martin DCX1RE
1984 Sigma DM3
Fender Mustang III v2
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-11-2018, 04:16 PM
Tony Done Tony Done is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Toowoomba, Australia
Posts: 2,014
Default

I'm not very musical, and it takes me a long time to learn anything. I only really started listening closely when it became possible to use a sound editor as an aid, and having Youtube to listen to alternative versions also made a difference. My biggest failing, which came as a genuine revelation just a few months ago, after about 55 years of playing, is that I haven't been paying enough attention to good string damping technique. I was listening to Ry Cooder's original video version of "Get Rhythm" at the time.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-11-2018, 04:24 PM
Golffishny Golffishny is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 810
Default

My dad said I never listened. Does that count?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-11-2018, 04:33 PM
Guitarsan Guitarsan is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NC
Posts: 536
Default

If you mean listen to yourself as you play, you’re on to something. Really, all you need to do is play in a band. If you don’t listen to yourself and the other band members..... well, they’ll let you know soon enough.
__________________
"The guitar is the perfect drug because when you play it you're in no pain, and when you put it down, there's no hangover." Paul Reed Smith

2018 Taylor 812ce 12-fret DLX
2016 Taylor GS Mini-e Koa
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-11-2018, 04:56 PM
Theleman Theleman is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 308
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by lcgeek View Post
I've been attempting to learn and play guitar for many years. I feel like I never made the kind of progress I had hoped for in terms of musicality. Sure I can remember chords, scales, songs, but I am just painting by numbers and not all that musical when doing so. In the back of my mind, I knew somehow that something was always missing but I could not figure out what my roadblock was.

After so many years, I think I just now have realized my problem. I never learned how to really listen. I mean REALLY listen. Have you ever been there?
I see the points. I felt that the most important thing in playing music is first to know the piece in heart. If not, one cannot play it.

The other day I was wanting to learn to play a song by Neil Young, and first thing I had to do was to listen to the song repeatedly until I know the song - the melody, rhythm, chords and the lyrics, before I can even try playing it.

And I want to learn some Blues songs, but because I don't know many blues songs in heart, I cannot play them. Only thing I can do is just play some blues scales.

Last edited by Theleman; 01-11-2018 at 05:45 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-11-2018, 05:28 PM
TBman's Avatar
TBman TBman is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 35,829
Default

You have to play a gazillion times to get rid of that "paint by numbers" feeling. I've been working on a tune since 12/26/17 and it might be ready for public display 12/26/18. Then again, maybe not lol.

Sometimes it's better to pick a few tunes below your "pay grade" just to be able to play something musically.
__________________
Barry

Sad Moments {Marianne Vedral cover}:


My SoundCloud page

Some steel strings, some nylon.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-11-2018, 10:50 PM
Mr. Jelly's Avatar
Mr. Jelly Mr. Jelly is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Sioux City, Iowa
Posts: 7,848
Default

I think you are right!
__________________
Waterloo WL-S, K & K mini
Waterloo WL-S Deluxe, K & K mini
Iris OG, 12 fret, slot head, K & K mini

Follow The Yellow Brick Road
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-12-2018, 12:07 AM
Steadfastly Steadfastly is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Minto, NB
Posts: 3,800
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by lcgeek View Post
I've been attempting to learn and play guitar for many years. I feel like I never made the kind of progress I had hoped for in terms of musicality. Sure I can remember chords, scales, songs, but I am just painting by numbers and not all that musical when doing so. In the back of my mind, I knew somehow that something was always missing but I could not figure out what my roadblock was.

After so many years, I think I just now have realized my problem. I never learned how to really listen. I mean REALLY listen. Have you ever been there?
Eh? I'm from Canada, eh.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-12-2018, 12:19 AM
Steel and wood Steel and wood is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,752
Default

Took me a little while to train my ear but now I just take it for granted.

I can tell if something is major or minor straight away, but I can't tell the key of the tune/song unless I have a guitar with me to work out in an instant. (Educated guess otherwise).

One of the great things I've learnt on my guitar learning journey.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 01-12-2018, 12:31 AM
Orfeas Orfeas is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Lake Tahoe
Posts: 2,048
Default

There have been times that I did not care how I or others play, and there are other times that I analyze everything. It all depends on mood and what illegal substances were consumed.
__________________
SCGC Custom OM Mars spruce/cocobolo
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 01-12-2018, 12:49 AM
Tommy_G Tommy_G is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 135
Default

I think there is something to be said for learning young with a pro teacher.

My first instrument was piano, and althought I havent played it with intent or regularity for 30 years, when I do, I get comments on my nice touch and presentation. I am generally satisfied when I hear recordings of my piano work. That was 10 years of professional guidance and technique.

i have played guitar since I quit formal piano and when I hear recordings of my playing I am not satisfied with my presentation. I am good enough to get gigs and band invites but I know that I have a lot of listening and tweaking to do to perfect my guitar performance. I am self taught. I have 3x more of my life invested in guitar than piano.

Excellent thread... Makes a person think...

Last edited by Tommy_G; 01-12-2018 at 12:55 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 01-12-2018, 10:36 AM
lcgeek lcgeek is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 250
Default

A vast topic for sure. If I simplify the context to say, creating one simple melody line.

I could just start plucking notes out of scales or chords or what not and maybe that simple melody line might sound good (be interesting and musical?) or not. But for me, that simple exercise would have been all physical...fingers to fretboard first, and then hoping that somehow the after effect sounded ok. But I don't/can't hear in my head the melody line first. Why not? Why can't I "think" a simple interesting melody line? For me, I think it is because I never learned how to REALLY listen so as to really understand these notes in all their glory.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:24 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=