Amazingly Frustrated

[WonderMonkey]

I've played off and on for years due to other responsibilities. A month on, a few off, etc. It was no question why I wasn't really any good, and it didn't bother me. How COULD anybody be expected to progress playing like that?

I've had more time for a while not. I don't play DAILY, but it's close. I do some technical work, then learn some songs. And I'm still terrible. It's not that I expect to be any good, but aren't there minimums a person should expect to progress?

I can play generic chords. That's it. My strumming is way better for sure, but that's all. I'm no better at barre chords than the third day I started to work on them. At my weekly jam session in my basement each time I attempt to go to a barre chord everybody just looks up (in a nice way) and I'm nowhere close to anywhere that I need to be.

I reset my head so I don't push too much. Sometimes I just play the one song I can actually strum and not want to throw my guitar down the stairs, which means I'd have to take it UP the stairs to throw it back down.

I'm at the point where the frustration is so high.

I take lessons and the poor guy is doing all he can. He has helped me tremendously but each week I'm basically at the same place I was before. The music stand points and laughs, and I challenge it to a fight out in the alley. I've yet to win.

On average I play 1/2 hour a day, 5-6 days a week, usually 5. I don't expect to be a wizard, but just to play simple songs around a fire would be nice.

[WonderMonkey]

This frustration is probably rooted in those barre chords. I work on them so much I ignore other things I could be doing. Someone once said "Well then take time away from them!" and I did, and I went backwards. "Relax, don't push, they will show up one day!" Right.

[SpruceTop]

From now on, save your money and skip the in-person lessons but do go on YouTube and seek out the guitar music you like that is played by the many guitar players out there. Listen to what they're doing and look at how they're playing it and I'm sure you'll progress faster than you are now. You can always go back to taking lessons or not ...

P.S. As for barre chords, try using the thumb-fretting method of forming the F-shape barre chord. Although it's not the "correct" way of doing it, it will come naturally and ease your playing efforts once you get comfortable with it! The correct way of fretting a barre chord with the index finger was what we all learned after seeing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan and is what we did to impress our friends.

[Wengr]

Need more specific info. Is the guitar set up properly? Do you feel that physical problems are the reason? What do you feel is the reason?
Lack of understanding something, physical issues, or something else? Btw, I'm an instructor and I'm frustrated these days myself.

[L20A]

You can avoid a lot of bar chords if you don't like them.
With the use of a capo you can often find a different key to use that doesn't require a bar chord.
Some bar chords offer a simpler chord that is easier to play.
The F chord and Bm chords come to mind.

Another thing to try.
Play other guitars to see if they are easier to make bar chords on. If you find this to be the case, you may need to have your guitar set up.
A good set up and the right strings will go a long way to make bar chords easier to play.

[guitar george]

If you know the basic chords, you should be able to strum many different songs. Look on the internet for "chords and lyrics" of songs you like and there will be many websites with the chords and lyrics and in different keys. The only chord you might want to barre is the "F" chord and there are a few other ways an "F" chord can be played without barring. If this is part of the problem, find songs that do not need the "F" chord.

[dmckean44]

It took me 20 years to get fairly good. It was frustrating because it only took me a couple years to be a decent bass player. Guitar just has a steep learning curve and is an exercise in delayed gratification.

Stick with it, record yourself once a month and listen to those old recording once a year and you'll see your steady progress.

[TBman]

A half hour is my warm up time, basically. There is one measure of a tune that is giving me a problem and I have literally played it over a thousand times over the past few weeks, with another 1,000 coming. Sometimes things are easy, sometimes they aren't. Just keep plugging away, but really a half hour a day would have to be very intense to benefit me.

[rokdog49]

Earlier today my Grandson who is 16 was here.
I taught him the intro to Ventura Highway which he picked up fairly quickly but could not play up to speed without errors.
He was frustrated and declared how crummy he was.
I told him it took me 30 minutes of repetition to nail it and I've been playing guitar a long time.
The moral of the story is just keep at it.
Some are gifted, others just have to plod along.
Focus on some specific songs you want to play and pound away until you can play them.
As I always say, you are not alone.

[watchingfool]

Forgive me if I'm off, but I think you might be doing way too much judging, being too hard on yourself. For me, I can play and enjoy my guitars, or I can really try to learn. Learning is tough, sometimes not fun. So maybe forget about learning for a while and just have fun at whatever level you're at. I play along with iPhone songs on my computer or through my amp. I have songs that I can just play along with - man it's great!! Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne. But for me to try to play along with Jim Croce on Dreamin' Again and matching his finger picking, I really get down on myself. So I learned just the chords, and it's great. When I'm in the mood to practice, I switch over and practice the finger picking, usually ending up feeling like you've expressed, I'm frustrated I can't play effortlessly like Croce. I tell myself to lighten up and have fun with it!!

Keep on playing, though!!!

[dorney]

Perhaps there is something in Dayton's water supply that is keeping us from progressing at this guitar crap. Not that this will make you feel any better, but I will bet you dollars to donuts that if you witnessed me trying to play even the most basic 3 chord song you would feel pretty good about your progress. This is after 2 Years and 2 instructors. I have recently reached a point where I signed up for Truefire and started at the very basic course (think 2 chord Wildthing). Sorry I don't have any suggestions for you, however although it was not your intention, you did make ME feel like I am not the only one that's that was not gifted with natural talent. Good luck on your journey and don't give up!

[TBman]

Originally Posted by WonderMonkey

I've played off and on for years due to other responsibilities. A month on, a few off, etc. It was no question why I wasn't really any good, and it didn't bother me. How COULD anybody be expected to progress playing like that?

I've had more time for a while not. I don't play DAILY, but it's close. I do some technical work, then learn some songs. And I'm still terrible. It's not that I expect to be any good, but aren't there minimums a person should expect to progress?

I can play generic chords. That's it. My strumming is way better for sure, but that's all. I'm no better at barre chords than the third day I started to work on them. At my weekly jam session in my basement each time I attempt to go to a barre chord everybody just looks up (in a nice way) and I'm nowhere close to anywhere that I need to be.

I reset my head so I don't push too much. Sometimes I just play the one song I can actually strum and not want to throw my guitar down the stairs, which means I'd have to take it UP the stairs to throw it back down.

I'm at the point where the frustration is so high.

I take lessons and the poor guy is doing all he can. He has helped me tremendously but each week I'm basically at the same place I was before. The music stand points and laughs, and I challenge it to a fight out in the alley. I've yet to win.

On average I play 1/2 hour a day, 5-6 days a week, usually 5. I don't expect to be a wizard, but just to play simple songs around a fire would be nice.

WM, PM sent.

My progress has been painfully slow, but I know it's because of inconsistency.

Put down the guitar for a week or two if you can and then come back. Take that breather and when you pick it back up you just might feel a little more competent.

Also remember that your brain needs time to cement memories. If you want the best results, practice hard for a week, and then take 2-3 days off, and keep cycling that way. It's the same concept as to why weight lifters give muscle groups a beating and then several days off before hitting them again. Your brain records most memories in deep storage while you sleep and it can take multiple sessions. Another key is to repeat certain things over and over, but add in new stuff too, but sparingly. The new stuff keeps you from getting bored, the repetitive practice, with time off, helps you make progress.

Not everyone is a whizz kid at guitar. Some of us have to work extra hard at it. As with most things, persistence and patience will have its rewards.

[SongwriterFan]

Once you realize that barre chords aren't really possible to play, and that when you see somebody playing them it's actually a magician's trick, you'll feel much better. At least that's what I tell myself.

[Brick is Red]

For barre chords, try slightly rolling your baring finger. This will help you to feel and apply pressure evenly across the strings. Another suggestion is to be cognizant of placing your thumb in a position where you can gain some firmness. An example of what I mean will be evident you form a Bm barre chord on the 5th string root (2nd fret). At least for me, gaining full control of this chord was a good point of reference to gaining "better" fretting hand technique and thumb placement.

I can understand the frustration. I hope you will feel better after posting this thread.