Confidence is everything

[Zeppelin_Maniac]

I started this new thread because I want to expound on what sweatytim said in "A beginner video...." and use 2 video examples to illustrate the point.

Yeah, confidence is everything when playing guitar no matter what level one plays at. For me, my lack of confidence came from what I thought others thought of my playing. It was the whole I'm a beginner and I suck, and I don't want others to know I suck. At some point I realized my lack of confidence was hindering my playing. Once I stopped caring what others thought and started "owning" the song I was playing I got better.

I knew my lack of confidence kicked in when I was around better guitar players. In fact, my playing got worse around better guitar players! So I started hanging out at Guitar Center - I'd sit on a stool at the accessories counter and just play. Every now and then the staff behind the counter would ask me to show them how I played a song which would totally boost my confidence. One day I was in the acoustic room at GC strumming Zeppelin's "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You". I thought I was hot stuff all by myself in there. Until another guy walked in that I'd seen before and knew was good. And I stopped playing. Then he did something that surpised me -- he told me to keep playing that song. I did and he took a guitar off the wall and began playing lead. I was blown away at the burst of confidence I got from that.

Then I took it even further! I started playing around my friends. Your friends will tell you if you suck or not. But my friends just started singing along to my playing.

I knew I had total confidence when customers at Guitar Center started complaining one day that I was too loud. At this point I knew the staff well and they'd let me play the Jimmy Page Les Paul they kept behind glass. That day I was blarring "Black Dog" full blast. And I was rocking it too! I was in a world by myself right there in the amp section when one of the staff walked up and told me folks were complaining that they couldn't hear themselves play.

These days I pay it forward. When I walk into a room and someone stops playing, I tell them to keep playing that song because I know what it'll do for them. When someone tells me they're a beginner and they're not very good, I say I don't care, play me something (I'm not much better myself). Play what you know so we can jam. Often I come out of those experiences with a new song under my belt or a new way to play something. Either way we both benefit. When I meet lead guitarists I often play 12-bar blues so we can jam.

Bottom line... sweatytim is right. Just "own" whatever you're playing. You'll be surprised at what it does for you.

Here's a video from my first month of playing. No confidence. And a lot of hesitation.
Hold My Hand - Hootie and The Blowfish (http://www.cothranonline.com/videos/Sep05/Sep05003.wmv)

Here's a video a year later. A lot more confidence. And full of mistakes. Only now I don't care and I'm just rolling with it. Besides, if I weren't playing to a sound track people probably wouldn't even know I was making mistakes.
The Battle OF Evermore - Led Zeppelin (http://www.cothranonline.com/videos/Sep%2006/The%20Battle%20Of%20Evermore.wmv)
The video might be a tad dark. Here are the chords I'm playing:
Verse: Am-C-Am-G, and the D
Chorus: C-D-C-D then G-C-G7-C

[Blewbyou]

You are so right confidence or the lack thereof is a huge issue. Like I posted in a different thread I have an awefull time with stage freight and most of it has to do with the lack of confidence. I'm 40 a beginner( well not really I've been playing for 3 years) and a perfectionist and I don't like people hearing my music until it's perfect which it never is in my opinion so. I will play infront of my wife and kids that's about it. But I am working on it.I need to work on my confidence to say I'm 40 and a beginner everybody has got to start somewhere and just play.:cool:
Blew

[Zeppelin_Maniac]

Blewbyou: FYI I started playing at 39. I'm 40 right now. In the last year and a half I've learned a lot of lessons. But one that I think applicable here is:

Find a guitar player better than yourself and jam with them. Good guitarists make you better and they give you the confidence to want to play with others. And as you get better you'll start to notice how much those good guitar players aren't perfect themselves. Plus, they were beginners at some point themselves.

Okay.. here's another thing I've learned that helped my confidence. If you have a guitar store near you that let's customers play guitars, go hang out. I have Guitar Center. If you hang out for a while you'll notice that most people playing guitar are simply playing one song over and over. You'll notice the metal shredders are just shredding the same thing for like 20 minutes. There will be a guy playing the first 2-3 measures of Stairway To Heaven , and a few others playing odd songs. Once in a while you'll hear someone that knocks your socks off. That's the guy you want to go talk to. Pick his brain, ask him to show you something, anything, but go talk to him. I've picked up amp tips, playing tips, hell, I've even learned how to play something I've always had trouble figuring out (playing slide in an open tuning).

Moreover, just give it time -- you'll get there. Shoot me some video. Let me see you play something. Play me anything. I bet you're much better than you think you are.

[ledzepcoda7]

hey zeppelin, i agree that you should find people who are better to show you things, but in my case i live upstairs from a guy who has been playing for 30 years and he is so good that he kind of blew me off because i am so very new. he invited me over to play but when he saw that i knew pretty much nothing, he kind of like said "well it's getting late". so i am totally stoked about nextlevel b/c dave and tim are willing to share so much.
i have to say watching your videos, gives me a huge boost b/c i am 23 and i thought i was too old and i missed the bus. my little brother is 14 and is learning along with me. i am glad that you guys are so eager to not only learn new things but share those same tips and hints with others. it gives me encouragement to keep trying. thanks......

[Whiskey]

i am 23 and i thought i was too old and i missed the bus.

Part of me is very happy you're here and part of me wants to hurt you. LOL.

Seriously.you're never too old.

[Quaver]

Part of me is very happy you're here and part of me wants to hurt you. LOL.

Seriously.you're never too old.



Hell! What do I say to you two..I`m pushing 50! but still young at heart and finaly getting around to, I hope, mastering the guitar.

[Tom T]

WoW I am 44 and just started playing a year and a half ago I know what you mean about confidence I am still trying to find mine. My teacher keeps telling how much I have improved and my wife is starting to recognize songs that I am playing. I would love to play with other people but don't really know any one else in my area. I have set goals for myself to actually finish a song from start to end (getting closer to that goal).
Tom

[sweatytim]

Zep,

I agree with you 100%. If I play just my guitar in front of my wife or daughter then Im so focused on playing it right that its not fun and sounds worse. But, on the other hand, if I put on a backing track and just jam; its soooo much more of a rush and fun and EVERYBODY enjoys it so much more whether I play it right or wrong. :eek:

[JCC]

FYI -

I played my first Open Mic Night and for the first time.

12 People were there when I started and 12 ppl were there when I finished....AHAHHAHAHHAA!

I played:
1st Song: When Life Was Easy - The Ocean Blue
Grow Old With You - Adam Sandler;
Forever Young - Rod Stewart
Under The Milky Way - The Church
In Your Eyes - The Reivers
And You Just May Be The One - The Monkees

My Grade for myself: C

I played my Zager Acoustic/Electric and it sounded great - 1st time I played it thru an AMP.

Some of those songs I did are on youtube by the original artists if you want to see/hear the songs....The Ocean Blue song, which I love, isn't there.

Where I played is a place trying to get folks to come out and play - Acoustic - and, the owner wants more people to come (obviously with only 12 ppl in there -no joke either).

If you live in Northern Virginia, stop by - it's every week on Sunday Night at 9 PM - Sweethearts in Chantilly, Virginia (about 25 miles outside of DC).

I'll post more stories of how I do in the future.

[Daspub]

Hey JCC:

I'm in Maryland, just across the state line, and would be glad to come down to hear you play. Are you doing this every Sunday?

And by the way, congratulations on having the guts and nerve to get up there and play.

[disobedience]

I've been playing guitar for over 20 years now...I played semi-professional back in the day but gave it up for years to spend the time and money with my family.

At 37 now, I've gotten back into playing and loving it. Here's what we all need to realize as musicians. We will never feel like we're good enough (I know I still don't), but that's part of the fun in playing...we constantly push ourselves to be better.
If you're afraid or lacking confidence to play in front of people then I challenge you to "GO DO IT!" As soon as possible. If it's in a guitar store or open mic or a party...get out and PLAY...and Have Fun!

Action cures fear and builds confidence like nothing else. Post vids on here...that's the easy way to start. The people on here are great and positive and seem to always tell you how to improve..not knock you down.

I got hooked on playing in front of crowds when I was young...I passed that on to my daughter (she sings and plays a little guitar too)...once you get bit by the performance bug...you'll wonder why you were ever worried.

Zepplin posted about a party he played recently...I think he got the bug..cause he talked about how great it was...and it is! Playing for people and getting "into" the music is like nothing else! Try it :D

[Zeppelin_Maniac]

Zepplin posted about a party he played recently...I think he got the bug..cause he talked about how great it was...and it is! Playing for people and getting "into" the music is like nothing else! Try it :D

Night before last a friend came over to my house. We had dinner plans to talk about some business opportunities. During the conversation I mentioned that I got a new guitar and asked him if he wanted to hear it. Of course he did. I queued up Vertigo, Rocky Mountain Way, and I Can See For Miles and proceeded to play my 3-song set. Cold. And nailed them all.

When I was playing I was so focused on what I was doing that I didn't give any thought to someone else in the room. It was me and the music. Even that was a rush because I played each song once without practicing them first. Although it was for one person I was jazzed in that it was a performance rather than a jam or practice session. It was another confidence builder for me and damn I want more of it! :-)

More people should hear me play!

[Kevbocat]

Hello, I'm new here and I just wanted to say that I enjoyed your story. It really gave me some inspiration to get my guitar out and start playing. One of my biggest problem is playing in front of people. I really enjoyed your story. Thank you for sharing it.

[Daspub]

Forum member JCC played his second open mic night last night in Chantilly Virginia, and I went to listen.

He did great, and shot some video, which I hope he'll post. Otherwise, here's two shots of his performance.

It takes guts to get up there and belt it out.

[Zeppelin_Maniac]

If you live in Northern Virginia, stop by - it's every week on Sunday Night at 9 PM - Sweethearts in Chantilly, Virginia (about 25 miles outside of DC).


Aw man!.... I can't believe I missed reading the above post. I could've gone. If you guys are interested maybe you could LMK the next time you're going?

[disobedience]

That's really excellent!!

I'm hoping he posts some vids too.

[Daspub]

Hey Zep:

You can't be more then 15 minutes from me. Come on over and jam sometime--I have a reasonable practice space and an understanding wife (since we often let the volume go up as our hearing gets worse). PM me and let's play some stuff.

I've been getting together with a drummer and another guitarist just to work out some songs, have a beer and play. We're average at best, but getting better. You're welcome to join in. (We need a bassist and some vocals, so if anyone else out there wants to thump a beat, and is in the DC area, let me know).

PM me if you're interested.

[Hottscull]

Just Dam...
Zep, what a great post! More folks of your caliber and the world would be harmonious.
I just started fulfilling my life long dream of playing guitar at the ripe young age of 44. Been at it about 9 mo now and am totally addicted. This sight and forum and the great people involved feed that addiction. The advice, motivation, demonstrations and support are unbelievable and invaluable to me. To the folks at NLG, this forums administrators, moderators and members.... Thanks for helping me realize my dream.
Scott

[Musicca]

I think its threads like this that need to be bumped every week or 2 for others to read and hopefully get excited about and draw inspiration from.

I've been playing guitar for a long time now, and I've been through( and am still going through ) the self-doubt parts, the stage fright parts, the intimidation from others parts and all I can say is that everyone MUST remeber that music helps create feelings and emotions (which everyone have), music changes attitudes, and mostly music connects people no matter where they live or who they are. Whether its playing for yourself, or for a sea of people in front of you. The shared effect is still the same.
I believe that is why there is no age boundary, an 11 year old can and will respond, the same way as a 80 year old. when learning an instrument. The pride and self satisfaction will be unmistakable. But just when you think it cannot get any better, the 11 year old and the 80 year old sit and share what they have learned together and thats when the real magic begins IMHO. This little anecdote happens to be true to life between my son and his greatgrandfather. They learned to play the violin at the same time and spent much time practicing and sharing together. It was this that inspired me to take my next step in the evolution of my guitar career and begin to teach others. Little did I know at the time that, perhaps I was being paid as the teacher, but I was learning things that go far beyond the guitar. Humility and patience being 2 of the most important things. I'm not sure who it was now, in an earlier post that mentioned "paying it forward" but truly this is one of the best things that one musician can do for another. It can be surely said that even if the less experienced player thinks he is the only one learnig, that infact it is a 2 way street, a ying and a yang, or a pizza n beer type attitude that promotes proactive learning as we know it.
I hope all will share there experiences and help keep bumping this thread near the top..... inbetween practicing and playing of course :D Peace

[Tapper5]

It's so great to hear from the adults in this forum who've started to learn guitar recently. I'm 34 and had zero point no musical talent and only started to focus on the guitar seriously when I discovered this site a couple months ago. The progress I've made surprises me. The more I hear stories similar to mine, the more passionate I get about wanting to learn more. Thanks to everyone hear for keeping so positive and encouraging.

[senor]

zep. maniac,

i finally got to this thread. you rock bro! way to go!

great story. great philosophy. thanks for your dedication in posting, it got me up off my rear and moving forward.

thanks

senor

[BrianG1110]

I used to have a confidence issue, im 17 started in february this year. Now it doesn't matter what I learn , even if its part of a song, i just play it for everyone who walks through the front door:D . Then i go around to my friends house and play it for them. It feels good.

Some songs that really made me feel good are sweet child o mine, wish you were here, and knockin on heavens door solo 1, there the ones i always blast and have people singin along.

to bad i cant go to guitar center when ever i want though, i got my liscense but my mom doesn't want me driving to cherry hill alone. But ill get there;)

[Bounty]

I agree confidence is huge. I’m always embarrassed at my play. I was very, very nervous about posting on NLG. I’m not so nervous anymore just because I’ve done it a couple of times. I was the guy who knew/ knows a million riffs but not too many songs. I’m working on that. I’m playing in front of whoever will stand still. This is a huge confidence builder. Most people can’t play at all so they like what your doing. I’ve also learned since I joined NLG that I’m fairly knowledgeable. People always think they are but I’ve had the answers or similar answers to lots of the questions. Owning your tune is a great way to put it. I’m trying to play like I’m the only guy in the room when I’m at GC. I tell you what it helps. I know exactly what Zep means when he says he played worse around good guitarists. I was and still am a bit that way. I’m just going to keep doing it until it doesn’t bother me anymore.

Thanks for starting the thread Zep.

[RADAR_Brian]

SIGH...

All this talk just makes me just wish I had a Guitar Center. Forget the confidence part! hehe. j/k

Seriously, I have to drive 2 and a half hours to find a GC.

I'm like alot of you... mid 30s and just recent picked up a guitar. I had a friend throughout my childhood who always played, and I just never thought I would be able to since my area seemed to be fine art (I am a high school art teacher now)... anyway, the more I play for people the more excited I am to continue learning!

Great thread here.

[Tom loves Tenacious D]

lol thanks zep, now i think im going to video tape myself playing wish you were here. im not as shy about playing around people anymore...but there's still that sometimes...but im working on it

[the real prozac]

This is something the I really needed to hear. I've been playing seriously for about 3 months. I, like you, would go into Guitar Center, and play very lightly so no one could hear. Today, I watched myself on my webcam to see what I'm doing and to record something to put on here for tips. But, I was hesitant because I'm not good at all. EVEN FOR TIPS!!!

[Guitarplayer01]

Man I just had the best time of my life. Ok I was at Guitar Center and I played a real GIBSON LES PAUL for the first time and i was playing it out of this huge Crate amp ok so I was play Sweet Child O' Mine and I noticed this guy keep walking by and he would stand for a sec and leave. So I played the Solo and started playing what got me started playing guitar in the first place the intro to Thunderstruck I picked at it for a few and then started playing it one handed and while Im doing that the guys standing right there so I stoped and looked at him. He says to me play that again thats my favorite song. So I did and he was standing there with a smile on his face and I was having the time of my life. So later I go in to the acustic room and grab a Gibson 12 string and start strumming Hotel Calfornia and one of my buddies grabs a nother 12 and starts playing with me. MAN IT WAS FN FUN.

[Tom loves Tenacious D]

that sounds so fun, i need someone to go with me to guitar center so we can play stuff together haha...deuling banjos keeps comming to mind

[bcrich]

Hey Zep I feel I have to jump in here and offer a comment. I have watched your vids in no way do you suck! You are pretty good and getting better with every vid I see of yours. I understand the whole confidence thing when playing around people and I have been playing for 30 years and I am only 36! I still get stage fright around people and especially in a music store. I prefer to play with headphones on when I am around people. But that doesn't always work lol. This past New Years my wife and I were invited to a new years party and I was told to bring my guitar. Well I didn't take my guitar I used the excuse I knew I forgot something lol! As luck would have it a few of their other friends showed up and this was why they wanted me to bring my guitar. They didn't tell me that their friends were coming from a club after playing a gig! These guys play folk,country and some rock and were pretty good.Of course they had 3 guitars with them! I listened to them play for a while when they started playing Little Pink Houses from John Couger Melloncamp, well all of a sudden I had all the confidence in the world to pick up a guitar and show the one guy playing the song the right way to play it LOL. He was amazed and said I knew I was missing a chord or 2. So from that moment on they asked me can you play this and that and at one point I just jumped in and started playing along with them. Then I factored in a solo to one of their songs and all of a sudden I was asked to play some gigs with them. I respectfully declined, but just being asked to come and play with them and that I made them sound so much better just made my confidence soar. So because of that I am not so afraid now to show you guys my videos. And if I get rude comments or whatever I just say whatever!

[chunkyd1]

ZM,

That was awesome. I really enjoyed the Zep video. Keep it up and forward the TAB for that if you have!

Dennis

[custom24]

A lot of good advice in this thread, it's good to see that you're not the only one having those thoughts.

[Surf-n-Strum]

I thought I'd share a bit about my confidence building stories. I picked up the acoustic guitar about 10 years ago for maybe 5 months, had no direction, learned some open chords and little pieces of songs.....eventually I lost interest.

Fast forward to April 2007, a friend comes over picks up my guitar and rocks out on it. I was like "I WANT TO DO THAT". So I got the bug and made a promise to myself that I would take structured lessons and I would pick it up everyday. Well, that led me to this site and David's lessons. I had a camping trip in which most of my close friends go every year in August and I was determined to have some songs under my belt. Well, I practiced everyday and I'm all ready to go.....a week before I hear that another friend who writes his own songs is coming and is bringing his guitar....I was like OK, great someone who can actually rock is coming. Kind of put a damper on my spirits. I was like....now I'm really going to look like crap.

Well, the total opposite happened. This guy watched me play and I played in front of my friends. And this musician threw so many compliments at me....he's like "Surf-N-Strum....you can play man"....keep practicing. He was most impressed with my form and my ability to sing while playing (I'm not a great singer by any means, but I was having fun with it). Also, my friends threw compliments at me....it was a great experience....and I swear my abilities jumped just from that experience....I don't know why, but chord changes seemed easier, I felt like I progressed and more importantly, I reached one of my goals I set in April.

Fast forward to December, I'm at a buddies party and he has a guitar sitting there....so badly out of tune and I can't tune by ear and there is no tuner in site. I picked it up and started playing some tunes and people were like WHOA it sounds great. I was like it sounds like SHIT. They wanted me to keep playing. I played and played on a guitar that was out of tune and people were singing along to the songs. They were really impressed. Another confidence builder.

Now I want to put up some videos on youtube and post them here for some constructive criticism.....honestly, in April there was NOT A CHANCE in hell I would have even considered doing something like that.

I guess an endorsement wouldn't hurt....what David says about structured practice, practicing the right things, picking up the guitar every day, even if it's only for 10 minutes....is so true. It works. Most importantly, I keep trying to have fun...I do get frustrated. Right now I can't change from an open chord to a barred F to save my life.....but I'm working on it and I know it'll come eventually. Confidence!

[jdawest]

wow. what a great thread. I see myself in so many of your posts, I'm 39, only been trying to play for about 5 months so I started late.
I say "trying to play" because I still cant play a whole song. I can barely play anything. a few chords, a few strum patterns, a piece of this song, a piece of that one. the whole thing hasn't "come together" for me yet. But I do know one thing, 5 months ago, I'd never touched a guitar, and compared to that, I rock now, lol! I have a long road ahead, but I'm having fun.
maybe someday I'll post a video.

[upbeat]

hey guys.. well I guess Im about the oldest here.. turning 61 come August. But I picked up this guitar about 2 years ago and jammed with some guys, always strumming..they'd show me the chords, bending my fingers every which way but I'd learn. Well I moved to Ohio here and met some guys and now we jam every Tuesday evening at the local happening bar.. I'm learning & they're teaching me.. I liked it so much I started taking lessons started at half hour and now going to full hour.. I just got the A-G chords down and now continuing on major and going on to minor chords.. half notes, b to C & half notes, e& F etc.the rest are whole...is that right? I used to play piano, so whenever the teacher talks about sharps and flats, I picture the piano and know exactly where he's at... I've learned All along the watchtower, Lady madonna though a lil problem with the minor chords, take that badge from me what's that song... I find a lot of songs are only 2 -3 chords... I am loving it! I'd like to send you vid sometime..but where do I post it?? And where's the web site you're all talking about. .all I see is gallery, articles and home and no web site... Well thanks for reading! upbeat

[custom24]

hey guys.. well I guess Im about the oldest here.. turning 61 come August. But I picked up this guitar about 2 years ago and jammed with some guys, always strumming..they'd show me the chords, bending my fingers every which way but I'd learn. Well I moved to Ohio here and met some guys and now we jam every Tuesday evening at the local happening bar.. I'm learning & they're teaching me.. I liked it so much I started taking lessons started at half hour and now going to full hour.. I just got the A-G chords down and now continuing on major and going on to minor chords.. half notes, b to C & half notes, e& F etc.the rest are whole...is that right? I used to play piano, so whenever the teacher talks about sharps and flats, I picture the piano and know exactly where he's at... I've learned All along the watchtower, Lady madonna though a lil problem with the minor chords, take that badge from me what's that song... I find a lot of songs are only 2 -3 chords... I am loving it! I'd like to send you vid sometime..but where do I post it?? And where's the web site you're all talking about. .all I see is gallery, articles and home and no web site... Well thanks for reading! upbeat

Yes each note has a full step or whole tone in between it and the next, except B>C and E>F which are a half step or semi-tone in between (adjacent on the fretboard, no gap between).

The main website is www.nextlevelguitar.com (take off the /aforum).

To post a vid, the best thing to do is make a free Youtube account, and post it there. Then simply put a link in your post in the videos section of the forum.

[Fender_Bender]

I still fight the fear of playing for other people. on saturdays me and a couple of friends play together in what we like to call a band. I'm considered to be lead guitarist, but i'm not the good im my eyes, but they say i'm doing pretty good. go figure. I've always had a fear of posting stuff on NLG, but finally got the confidence to do it. YAY!

[Blewbyou]

You've at least taken the step to posting your playing. I still haven't done that yet and I am still not keen on playing in front of others.

[Old no talent guy]

Time to bring this thread back from the dead. (Grave Robber :D )

I understand exactly what's being said here, I don't even like my dogs to hear me play much less other people, so I play very timidly.

No way I'll play anything when I go to GC, ain't happening.

I drag my brother who can play along so I can hear the gear I'm interested in. Needless to say this is getting expensive since when I play it at home I usually hate what I hear.

Every once in a while when I'm alone though (the day my Epiphone Wildkat was delivered comes to mind) I'll let go and surprise myself at how it almost sounds like music, then the wife gets home and back into my shell I go.

I know the confidence thing is really holding me back but I just can't get past it yet.

I'm 52 and gave up trying to play 30 years ago and just before X-Mas started again, and I do realize I actually have learned more in the last 3 months than I ever did in the 10 years I "played" before.

Kinda ticks me off I never learned when I was young and could remember sh*t and my hands didn't hurt, oh well.........

Need to remember this confidence thing though.

L8eR

[jdawest]

Every once in a while when I'm alone though (the day my Epiphone Wildkat was delivered comes to mind) I'll let go and surprise myself at how it almost sounds like music, then the wife gets home and back into my shell I go.



L8eR

Thats true about the wife, I find that I'm much more comfortable playing in front of a stranger, but my wife has never heard me play for more than a few seconds.
Not exactly sure why, I guess I just value her opinion more, don't want to mess up.
That, and the fact that the songs I'm learning are songs that she hates, lol! She's more into Clay Aiken, and I'm playing AC DC!:D

[barockeva]

A cucumber in the pants never hurt either.

[dereklovessublime]

heeeyyoooo! haha

[MeanNess]

Hiya everyone :) being new to NLG forums I just have to give this thread a bump! Such an awesome subject! I am by no means a Great guitarist... decent by my own standards. I still have a long road ahead of me and I am looking forward to each tiny step. There is something I think needs to be mentioned...most musicians are their own worst critic! Don't be afraid to pick up that guitar and play it in front of others! so what if you make a mistake? IMO the most important thing is to keep playing...don't stop and say ooopps! If you keep playing, most of the time no one will pick up on it anyway!!! lol Hell sometimes it even sounds cool! like you meant to do it in the first place :) Learn from your mistakes!

[PhilGoPoe]

A cucumber in the pants never hurt either.

Actually if you sit down too fast... :eek:

[PhilGoPoe]

Joking aside, what a great thread. My take on it is don't let anyone or anything rob you of the joy of music.

I love sitting around with my father in law and brother in law, strumming guitars. We play some basic music, but have a lot of fun.

[Rustystring]

I was terrified to play in front of anyone. Now I realize everyone was there once and now I just go ahead and play. I've had people say that's cool and I've had guys show me my mistakes. Which were a lot back then.
Everybody makes mistakes. Learn to play through them and not stop or loose place. I don't play very well and learn right away that if you goof and stop everyone will notice, but if if play through your mistake most will miss it. I just ordered NLG's Guitar Essentials A-Z package and can't wait to start my lessons. I'm picking up the guitar after a 35+ years no play. I want to fill in all the gaps that I have in my playing and learn as much as I can and pass it on to my children and grandchildren. My wife and I both played before we had children and now we both are going to refresh and learn what we can.
NLG Rocks

[firebug]

Well everyone here is my story. I just turned 45 and have always wanted to play guitar. I retired from the montgomery Alabama fire department a year and a half ago and now I have the time. I went to GC and bought a special addition Mahogany bodied Fender with a humbucker. That is one beautiful guitar. I also purchased a Fender Amp. Just before going to buy the guitar I ordered the full set of lesson from here. All this was the easy part, now comes the hard but fun part, learning to play. I hate I waited so long to start, I hope to God I am a natural. That would make things a little easier. Anyway, I will keep ya'll up to date on how I am progressing. Maybe I can shoot some video from time to time and post it.