Did you ever feel like you suck at anything you do?

[Wis Redz of Silvanost]

I'm sorry for another topic like this but I felt the other one was not adressing my problem the way I feel about it. Now you could be saying why do we have to hear(read) your problems, well you don't actually. It's just that I wanted to write here.

C.Thep says he's now out of it, I'm never out of it. I constantly think that I'm not where I could be. Not only guitar, piano, school etc. It seems I never get out of it. And please don't think I'm a self satisfied prick, sometimes you know you got something in you and I know I am talented in music. I suck on relationships with people and stuff like that but music is where I'm strongest. My piano teacher tells me this as well. When I was having a fit of pitying my performance, she told me that in the three months that I've been playing I was a lot farther than a student she's been working with 2 years. When I started playing guitar 3 years ago, I was determined to play For The Love Of God. In 1 year's time I played it on concert with my friends who were playing a lot longer than I have been, the crowd really liked it and all.

(Please don't think I'm showing off, this is what I think every second of every day. this in my opinion shows how much I suck)

But when I pick the guitar to play something, I just can't play that something. My tone sounds like crap, there's no aesthetic in my playing at all, my fingers feel sloppy. I don't hear what I want to hear. Then I get angry, put the guitar in its case and wallow in self pity again... I know I should practice and all that but all of a sudden there's no motivation to play.

Some day I decided I wanted to play the blues, and I still do. I don't care about recognition but I like it when the crowd cheers when you play good. The important thing is that I should have fun. I begin to learn a new song and drop it when I'm halfway through it.

I cannot say the same about piano when it comes to practicing, I practice. But I have to, because I don't want to look like a stupid each time I go to my teacher's. She has been giving me the same exercise for the 3rd time and she definitely insists that it's because exercises are getting harder now we're progressing and they definitely are. But I feel like I'm not going anywhere. It's like I'm in a deep hole and never can get out of it. I pick up my guitar then put it back down.

You see, this leads to depression as well. I'm not exagerating. The music is the only thing that I can compete in besides mathematics. This notion that I'm sucking at whatever I'm playing gets my morale down. I listen to music every second of my day and analyze the sound, the composition. I get some nice ideas but theya re just that, ideas. They never form into something solid.

I did try to play in bands, but there are some problems with that as well. Unfortunately there's no friend of mine that is interested in playing the blues, or Steve Vai kind of stuff. Come to think of it there are only 2 friends of my that I can talk about classical music. The bands (my age group, mind you. There are a lot of older guys who play the blues and do it well. I'm 18 btw) are interested in playing metal or some local stuff that I find has no musical value, but rather financial value, they are popular here. Like Britney Spears's music.

I dunno why I wrote this, perhaps this is the only place that I can talk freely about this stuff. Anyway thanks for taking the time to read my self-pitying post.

[Davey]

Originally Posted by Wis Redz of Silvanost

The music is the only thing that I can compete in besides mathematics.

Mate, it's not a competition. You are only ever gonna get good if you practice and plow through the feeling that you aren't getting anywhere. Stopping learning something halfway through does nobody any favours

[Eggy]

You're 18 therefore you have no understanding of patience and without patience and the wisdom to be objective you'll end up doing your own head in.

Relax, you've got plenty of time yet.

Ben

[jemplayer55]

Originally Posted by Wis Redz of Silvanost

I dunno why I wrote this, perhaps this is the only place that I can talk freely about this stuff. Anyway thanks for taking the time to read my self-pitying post.

Well there sure is a lot of "I's" in that whole post!!!!! Maybe that's the problem. Stop worrying about that "I" guy and remember it's about the music not YOU!

If you're not getting satisfaction out of the music then don't play. But since you go on and on about the "i" guy so much, and how it feels good when the crowd "woo's" you, or your teacher compliments you. Dude they are cheering for the music!

Besides if your conversations with your friends revolve around you...... no wonder you feel more comfortable posting it here! Now go kiss the mirror and make up! Don't expect..... you won't be disappointed!

I suck,
I'm great,
Me, My.....

Jeez.......Give it a break!

"I"= 47 (that didn't include "I'm", "me" or "my")

[Wis Redz of Silvanost]

Jesus Christ. You got the wrong way around. Everyone likes it when they are complemented. The crowd cheers the music because you played it well. And of course I get satisfaction from playing music, it's just that I don't feel it's up to scratch.

And I generally can't talk when around people that's why I'm not a good communicator in that sense, and even if I make it through the disconcerting meeting perioud I generally listen to what other people say. I'm a long way away from being a narcist, so stop attacking me.

[jemplayer55]

The crowd cheers because they were entertained....... DUH! It's not an attack. Go read your own post again. You're concern is two fold, how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you!

[Wis Redz of Silvanost]

OK, OK, Jim or someone please remove this post...

[jemplayer55]

LOL...... dude just relax! Who knows, you may get several viewpoints that truly help! You give up too easily when it isn't going your way. Look at "Eggy"s post! He's pretty darn eloquent about it. I would hope your post here was to learn something. (like it or not)

[RG_76]

Here's my advice, take it or leave it:

I don't know where you live, but get an acoustic guitar (not sure if you have one or not) and head out of town a bit to some place quiet. Hell, a park would work too.

Take some paper and a pen, sit with the acoustic and start playing something that is of your own creation. After you pick something out, start making up some words to go with it.

I can't say that I have been through what you are going through. I can tell you that many great songs are written during periods of emotional strain, and it seems you are going through that right now.

Take your playing to the roots of music, the acoustic guitar can free your mind from trying to find the perfect tone. The instrument has it's own natural tone and you can change that tone with your playing.

Let your emotions flow on the paper, and when you are done, do what you want with them. You can keep them, or you can tear them up and throw them away. The beauty of the whole thing is that you control what is happening and what you make of it.

Hope this helps. one last thing, don't try and play something uber technical, just pick out 4 to 6 basic chords and vary your strumming and picking. Keep it simple =)

Best of luck =)

[supermau]

Sounds like you could use a few beers. Lighten up. Music is supposed to be fun no matter what your skill level. I've wasted 20 years being a bar-room guitar hero and the truth is I'm not all that great (maybe 'not all that GOOD' would be more apt). BUT. I had, and continue to have a great time playing, especially now that I'm actually taking lessons again and learning all the stuff I should have learned at your age.

Don't take it all so seriously.

[andy7jem]

Originally Posted by supermau

Music is supposed to be fun no matter what your skill level.

BINGO

[Eggy]

Originally Posted by andy7jem

BINGO

+1 !

Ben

[mi2tom]

Originally Posted by Eggy

+1 !

Ben

+ another 1 = 2 , whenever I play like sh!t I just say to myself, no matter how sh!t I am, I'll play the guitar till the day I die

[supermau]

Also, if it's really that big of a drag perhaps you should put it down for a while. We all reach a point where we level off and it feels like were not making any progress. Give it a rest for a week or two. You may find some new inspiration after a break.

Sometimes when when my playing goes stale and I get humbled by how much I suck I'll put it away for a while. Then, one day I'll fire it back up and rip and have a blast and realize maybe I don't suck as bad as I thought. Although I doubt you'll ever see me on a G3 tour.

I think trying to be the best you can be is a good thing but in the end music is about joy and should be fun and inspiring to YOU. Your own joy carries over to the crowd. Don't mention the word "compete" when talking about your playing. Not that there's anything wrong with some friendly competition but if you look at the whole thing like that then it's always gonna be an uphill battle. You don't have to compete with anybody but yourself.

Stop and smell the coffee, then throw a few beers down the hatch and rock.

This has been your moment of Zen from your local bar-room guitar hero.

[fettouhi]

Originally Posted by mi2tom

+ another 1 = 2 , whenever I play like sh!t I just say to myself, no matter how sh!t I am, I'll play the guitar till the day I die

A true rocker .

Regards

André