When you realize you can't really play finger style

[TBman]

Where's the matches?

I posted this in another thread, but, wow, nothing like kidding myself for 20 years,

[charles Tauber]

What you are realizing is that you haven't put in the work to play like the fellow in the video. He's put in the work to play like that.

Does it matter? Depends upon what sort of music one wants to play, what sort of sounds one wants to come out of one's instrument when one plays. If strumming a few chords as accompaniment to singing is one's goal, there isn't a specific need to put in the work to be able to do more than that.

(As an aside, I disagree with his approach, but it works well enough for him to make the sounds he wants, which is what matters.)

[Rockysdad]

I just do, what I do. Works for me, most of the time.

There are times when I hear others play, and wish I played *better* but, it is what it is, after all these years.

[Blueser100]

That's nice that he can do that. I can do arpeggios and Travis patterns well enough to play the songs I want to play. But my hands are quite a bit smaller than his and I will never be able to stretch 5+ frets. But that's ok. I am actually not trying to improve as a player and re-focusing my attention on simple beginner/intermediate tunes (e.g., Greensleeves, House of the Rising Sun, etc) that are already familiar and that bring a sense of comfort and remembrance for me.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by charles Tauber

What you are realizing is that you haven't put in the work to play like the fellow in the video. He's put in the work to play like that.

Does it matter? Depends upon what sort of music one wants to play, what sort of sounds one wants to come out of one's instrument when one plays. If strumming a few chords as accompaniment to singing is one's goal, there isn't a specific need to put in the work to be able to do more than that.

(As an aside, I disagree with his approach, but it works well enough for him to make the sounds he wants, which is what matters.)

Excellent points Charles. I don't feel as bad now. Time to do some of the 120 arpeggios

[Gitfiddlemann]

Thanks for sharing Barry.
I agree with Charles too. It obviously works for him, which is fine.
Arpeggio studies are definitely worth it, but I find them more useful when they complement a particular tune I’m working on.
That’s when they can really be useful. Noticeably so.
Otherwise, they can be just random patterns, which have their place, but take too much time away from more effective practicing, imo.

[rick-slo]

Arpeggio patterns vary. You might do one pattern pretty well but have your fingers tied in knots with another pattern. Of course difficulty is tempo related.

One pattern I find takes some consistent practice to get a decent tempo is the one in Etude No. 1 by Heitor Villa-Lobos. Practice this a bit as an exercise.

Below she does a very good job explaining things including some comments on barre chords.

[DukeX]

Originally Posted by TBman

Where's the matches?

I posted this in another thread, but, wow, nothing like kidding myself for 20 years,

Well...you're a considerably better fingerstyle player than I am!

Does that make you feel better?

[DukeX]

Originally Posted by Blueser100

...I am actually not trying to improve as a player and re-focusing my attention on simple beginner/intermediate tunes (e.g., Greensleeves, House of the Rising Sun, etc) that are already familiar and that bring a sense of comfort and remembrance for me.

I believe focusing on playing these simple tunes is making you a better player. Just in a different way.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by DukeX

Well...you're a considerably better fingerstyle player than I am!

Does that make you feel better?

Thanks Duke!