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Eh, don't worry, I'm the exact same way. I've never been a "natural" but if I practice the tabs a few times, then once I get the hang of it, I can play it well. My best friend, on the other hand, is a "natural," I made him buy a bass when we were in middle school, so we could start a band (ah, wasn't middle school fun?) and he immediately picked it up, and got bored with it and started playing guitar, now he's better then I am (although I can still play faster, he's more gifted melodically).

well yeah, i can play songs given enough practice.

but im really bummed that i can't play by ear.

anyway... when we had a band, i was on rhythm guitar. my gifted friend was the lead. that's another reason why i didn't bother too much since im not the lead guitar anyway.

i was also the vocals. which i like since i get the most "say" in what we play.

but when another close friend wanted to join the band... i had to give up the guitar and just be on vocals and tambourine.

we only formed a band for fun so we mostly just cover songs. my friend, who is very gifted at playing, was not so much gifted in writing songs but don't tell him i said that.

Personally I'd approach playing an instrument the same way I did typing. Just keep picking away again and again and again. Sooner or later you'll pick it up. Then you work on making it faster, and better.

Sevulturus wrote:Personally I'd approach playing an instrument the same way I did typing. Just keep picking away again and again and again. Sooner or later you'll pick it up. Then you work on making it faster, and better.

yeah, like i said, i can train my hands.

so if i want to learn a song, i look up a tab and read the tab and then practice and practice.

but i can't train my ears, and i've tried. im not even fast at tuning my guitar by ear only.

what i would have liked is that if i can figure out a song on my own just by listening to it and not by reading how to play the song.

You can train that too, it just takes longer.

Start by just closing your eyes and listening to a single in tune note over and over "ting ting ting." Now try to replicate it on your guitar.

When you're training your hands what you're really training is your brain. Now you just need to train a different part. You can do this.

Sevulturus wrote:You can train that too, it just takes longer.

Start by just closing your eyes and listening to a single in tune note over and over "ting ting ting." Now try to replicate it on your guitar.

When you're training your hands what you're really training is your brain. Now you just need to train a different part. You can do this.

yeah, you're probably right.

but i don't have the motivation for guitar anymore. i picked it up a while ago since i liked a song i heard and it's easy enough play that i dont have to spend a lot of time practicing.

i had a band before, now i don't. so motivation is really low.

plus, i'd rather practice more on my bike skills rather on my guitar skills.

Was anyone else amused by the evolution of this post....

1: I miss hearing music when i ride
2: Here are a few solutions to your dilema
3: FLAME WAR
4: I play guitar....
5: How can you train a musical ear?

You know...now that I write it out, I see the common thread...oh, and I played Jazz trumpet for about 3 Years in high school, studied piano for far too long and I couldn't pick up the guitar...now that could be because of the whole school thing, but I would be willing to say its just because the guitar is harder than it looks...speaking of which, anyone want to buy a Squire? I'll trade it for brake pads...oil....saddle bags....

RegalSwan wrote:Was anyone else amused by the evolution of this post....

WELCOME TO TMW!

VermilionX wrote:....i didn't become very good since i was discouraged when i figured out that i don't have a good ear for sound.

...... i just gave up too early and settled on just becoming a casual guitar player.

Sniff, sniff, sniff.... I think I smell a re-occurring pattern here....

BuzZz wrote:
Sniff, sniff, sniff.... I think I smell a re-occurring pattern here....

you mean my riding career?

riding feels like something i can work on unlike my ear for music.

but who knows, i want to race someday... but maybe im just not gonna be up to it for whatever reason like money, accident *knocks on wood*, or just lack of talent.