Guitar players with talent

Hi im 20 and i want to become a good guitarist in a year, i have only just started and i think i pick things up quite fast, also i found about 12 notes used in a real, song in within 5 minutes, does this mean i have a good ear for music, and is it possible to become proficient within a year, nice helpful post btw

A reallt nice post however I am age 66 and started at age 64 two yrs ago and I practce about a hour a day and take lesson and really can't play all that much and i can play the leads on Johnny Cas music and have been trying to learn finger picking for about three months now and wow is is a slow process.

Gil

I see this was posted the early part of 2008. Well anyway, well written, and nothin' but the truth. I guess I was either one of the lucky ones, or it was just my love for the guitar that helped me along. I kinda lied my way into it in junior high school, so I had to produce. So I can relate, because there was a time in my life where I did put it down for about 10 years, after already playing for 10.(I had reached a plateau at one point in my playing where I wasn't improving.) Some of the guys I was showing how to play, where getting better than me, and I was jealous. Hey...what can I say? Anyway, something had drawn me back to the guitar after those 10 years, and it seemed like I hadn't missed a beat. Not as rusty as I thought I'd be. Since starting back up,I decided this time to learn more about the instrument I played. Not only did I pick up where I left off, I got into the repair aspect of the guitar. I'd was already into tube amp repair so why not? I enjoy it all. Now I play for fun, with occasional studio work. I guess sometimes a break can do wonders for some. I'm glad I came back. Play on y'all!

Hi All

I'm a 18 year old guitar player from
Portugal , I play guitar for about 2 years almost everyday and I can say , I worked hard and now I have good results , I'm in a band with people that I love to play with. Now I have an important question to you guys , who certainly are much more wiser than me , How do I know that I have Natural Talent? I have Hard Work , sometimes I think I have talent , sometimes I don't , I Have a good music hear , I can feel almost always the vibe , the beat , the spirit of the music , but I still don't know if I have any natural talent at all , How can I know that? is There any signs? "symptoms"?

cheers

hey man its encouraging to hear someone say this. every where i turn to take my playing to the next level it just seems like its impossible. im to the point where the basic through intermediate is to easy but the advanced is to complicated. ive felt like giving up so im just sayin thanks for the inspiration. oh and any help on my problem would be much appreciated.


rock on man

Robert,

I have to agree with everyone else, you are an amazing player and have one of the best guitar websites around. You have proven to me that I too can and will become as good of a guitar player. I just got the sunburst color of your same guitar. AWESOME!! I havent played sence I was 12, I'm almost 25 now and luckily I still remember everything that I learned when I was a kid (not much) Again you rock and keep up the good work.

Thanks for the insperation

Ryan

How did you transcribe the solos, by ear??? Reason I asked, is because i want to transcribe some of your solos!

Robert,

This is a great post! You are the first person I have ever heard admit that getting good at guitar is not just about natural talent. In fact, this type of skill set requires woodshedding everyday. For those of us who love to play that's not a big deal however, there are still many moments where I feel as if I'm spinning my wheels. The great thing is that if you're paying attention you find that you're improving and substantially so. So Cheers to you Robert for saying what NONE of the "guitar" magazines will say!

I started to learn to play when I was 35, which I think goes to show that it isn't too late.

I have now got to the stage where I can Jam along down the local pub with fellow musicians and can play most of my favorite Pink Floyd songs.

It has just been down to shear practise. Half an hour a day every day with out fail.

Playing the guitar has also helped with my singing and I am now learnin g to play both the sax and piano.

If you fancy a laugh check out this youtube link, it is a classic British Comedy Sketch involving some famous guitar and bass players.

British Guitar Humour

All the best

Cheers

Headstock

Totally Expert

Amen, it's attitude, desire, determination and dedication. For now I play in the my bedroom in the basement, I've only been playing for 4 weeks (played 30 years ago, just goofing around as a teen). I have progressed in the last 4 weeks way past what I ever was 30 years ago. Mainly due to my determination. I don't care if it takes me 5 years to even get decent. I love playing, it's fun and because of sites like this there is all kinds of help and encouragement. The internet can be a beatiful thing. I play at least 1-3 hours a day...yes I mean it and the time just flies by. I WILL be good...maybe not an Eddie Van Halen but a really good Ronnie P. Thanks Robert, this is therapy...good therapy.

Mike, I am not sure if it's clear how much I appreciate comments like these. It is very rewarding for me to know that I help inspire people.
Thanks so much, Mike and everyone else who supports what I do.

Robert,

I feel like you wrote that so I could read it! I've recently started (again) to play the guitar and as much as I get inspired by some players (yourself included) I also get discouraged. It's that instant gratification thing. I see where certain cats are and THAT'S where I want to be. Thanks for the reality check and pointing out that things ARE attainable in life ... you just need to work for it! You are living proof. Thank you for a wonderful blog entry and putting together THE BEST instructional web site for guitar that I have found on the web!

Your information is very informative, articulated well, thorough and you are one HECK of a player!

Now get back to work on that Blues DVD so I can buy it! =)

Take care,
Mike W

you said it I totally agree with you!!

Keep it up!

Thanks Don, I am glad to hear this!

Robert,

That has to be one of the most thoughtful and truly useful pieces of written work that I have ever read regarding what it takes to be a musician.

I've been playing for over 30 years with no professional success at all and I found your article to be inspiring.

I want to dust off some instructional material that I have been 'saving' and get to it. But first, I think I'll start with your recent chicken pikin' lesson!!

Well done!
Don

Thanks Rylan, I appreciate hearing that.
Sounds like you've got some more great gear, come over and show it off and we can jam a bit.

Man this is great. Between just coming over once and checking out this website, I've got to say that with anything musical, you have the most encouraging things to say than anyone I know. I'm gonna hafta drive out to Camrose again when the roads aren't stupid and show off my Gretsch and POD X3 I've bought since this summer. I also went with a Dimarzio Virtual Vintage for the replacement on my strat...now it WORKS! (and with a pull pot for turning extra pickup settings, I can get the bridge+neck, and all 3 at once)

Let me know if you have a free chunk of time in the near future.

Later,

Rylan