Looking for lots of constructive criticism...

[anecdota]

I just created a soundclick account last night and just did some stuff then and after school today. I'm only 16 and I've really only been PLAYING since the fall of '03, before then I had a guitar but just downtuned and played helmet chords in open tunings and maybe touched the guitar one to every 3 months - knew nothing about what notes were what on the guitar...didn't know scales...whatever...just hit a couple chords every once in a while. Now I practice atleast 3 hours a day, but I have serious hand problems due to a child accident...blah blah blah...i have no clue...that's my sob story.

http://www.soundclick.com/chrisgilbert

Note that the parts that I have bentnotest0sharp or not sharp enough...i know that...and parts where I accidentally dropped out of key...i know that as well.

Give me criticism and suggestions on ways to improve things...whatever..

[Anton]

Hmm dude , in your post you've made a point of telling us you haven't been playing for long , and on each song on your webpage you have a caption below with excuses / reasons why they might not be as good as you would like them to be. Just be yourself man , don't give a damn what other people think , guitar isn't a competition , just enjoy the instrument and have fun , thats the main thing

[anecdota]

true...I like to cut myself down on playing and that's a main reason why I don't play my best..., but once I get to a lesson and play at a music store around people and they compliment my playing and such...my selfesteem and playing does so much better...i guess it's my guitar-esteem. Thank you for pointing that out for me to notice more, that helps.

[pdx_matt]

Dude, here's a tip from someone that has been playing since he was 4 (now 37). If you have any pride in yourself your never going to be as good as you want. You will always think that you could have phrased something better or used a technique better. That's the beauty of music, there is always something that you don't know or don't do well. So in the eternal words of ... someone, Shut up an PLAY!

[Algiman]

If you enjoy it, it's good.

I'm also a firm believer that you can learn huge amounts by listening to recordings of yourself, and you are already off to a flying start on that one. You'll notice more of your mistakes than anyone else will, and you are the only one who knows what you intended to play!

For the short time you say you have been playing seriously, I'm impressed - there is a confidence in your playing that isn't reflected in your self critisism.