Do you ever get frustrated with your instrument? Do you get that feeling that it's really just not your calling, and that no matter how hard you try, you just can't get the grasp of a more professional level of play? But you still love doing it and dreaming of being something worthy...?

I got my first guitar when I was 13 and I would sit next to the tape player playing along with metallica songs. I'd buy blank tapes and just fill them with riffs, and keep logs of tabs to correspond in a note-book. I got a warlock when I was 17 (99?), and I started really improving with my friends... covering black metal songs, black sabbath songs, and our own stuff. Then high school got out and I just stopped... now I'm 27. I play a bit more now than I have in the last 7-8 years, but my guitar is so old and crappy, I don't have any gear any more... and maybe its just the lack of group motivation, but I feel I missed my window when my brain was still young, and I just don't any better. I get more practiced yes, but not better per say.

Am I alone with this feeling?

You're not alone. There's always the feeling that I could be better at my instruments, even when I'm doing really well. I haven't had to many opportunities to feel group motivation--was a concert pianist (stopped performing a year ago) and haven't played too many shows as a guitarist (wish that would change). Most of my musical experience came in composition, so my craft was often to make sure other people produce what I want them to, given my music. And there were lots of "not good enough" sentiments there, as well.

I don't know if you missed your window. Hell, I feel like I missed mine and I'm a fucking infant (20). But that doesn't mean we have. Who knows?

Keep playing, man.

No worries, man, I'm younger and I've got teh same feeling. (Gosh, I'm a down 18 year old, eh? xD)

It's just a matter of getting back into it. I primarily play drums, but my band fell apart, and I've barely touched my kit in nearly five months. I'm one of those people who need a band or a group to get the blood flowing. Maybe you're one of those people too. xD

No! There is no window! Seriously, don't ever think that. It sounds cheesy, but really, your entire life is a 'window' to learning anything you want or need to. A frustrating amount of people give up or stop learning after deciding they aren't the right age or not good enough beginners (which is silly). Personally I don't worry about being excessively proficient or playing at a 'pro' level so long as I am able to express myself musically... That said I often reach plateaus in my playing as well. How do I get past them? Eh, just... keep playing, I suppose! I just forgot to worry about it and kept making music, really. And of course, it's good to always challenge your playing somehow. Play things you can't all the time.

~Josiah

I wouldn't say I'm on the same level, but the group motivation thing would be an awesome and welcome change for me. My problem is that I cant come up with anything I actually like anymore. Its usually just a riff here, a riff there...but nothing ever falls into place like it used to for me. I could write a whole song in a few hours, but now I just cant do it! I honestly do think I need that outside, group inspiration to get back into my groove.

[djskrimp]

I started playing when I was 17, and I'm currently 35. I am in NO WAY as good as a lot of people who have been playing a 1/2 to 1/10 of the time I've been playing, but I don't care. I love playing, and can't imagine stopping permanently. Just stay on the wave...the crests will come again.

Me playing not so well, but loving it, anyway:

[youtube]ieLaxsIEjBU[/youtube]

do you know any music theory? Cuz once you learn any music theory, guitar becomes more interesting and it can become easier to play; well at least for me. I'm 17 right now and I've been playing for 5 years and I used to feel that way all the time. I looked up to some guitarist in my school who was INSANE at guitar and I felt I could never play like him no matter how hard I tried. Try practicing also on a consistent basis. It's more beneficial AND fun to play half an hour a day, instead of just 3 hours on the weekend.

I have some or another guitar since I was 19 (it'll be ten years soon), and I'm pretty confident in my lack of skills. I don't think I could do much better, I completely lack imagination and my fingers are stiff (and I don't think I could awake my non-existent musical imagination in ANY window of time). Only things I regret is I didn't met anyone to badly play with (I'm that crap with meeting people with similiar interests - best I can do is meeting someone over the internet and noticing he lives hudred parsecs away). But still, I like to record stuff ("write" is too big word), it's incredibly absorbing and gives little bit of satisfaction at the end. Don't see the reason to stop doing it if I have time and it makes me feel better for a moment.

Seriously, mixing something for 40th time and having it still sounding bad is VERY absorbing, I love it.

I have some or another guitar since I was 19 (it'll be ten years soon), and I'm pretty confident in my lack of skills. I don't think I could do much better, I completely lack imagination and my fingers are stiff (and I don't think I could awake my non-existent musical imagination in ANY window of time). Only things I regret is I didn't met anyone to badly play with (I'm that crap with meeting people with similiar interests - best I can do is meeting someone over the internet and noticing he lives hudred parsecs away). But still, I like to record stuff ("write" is too big word), it's incredibly absorbing and gives little bit of satisfaction at the end. Don't see the reason to stop doing it if I have time and it makes me feel better for a moment.

Seriously, mixing something for 40th time and having it still sounding bad is VERY absorbing, I love it.

I've noticed with mixing, the more you experiment the better everything ends up sounding...at least for me...

My last 2 or 3 pieces i've put up have been only a few hours of recording and mixing. I've kind of got a method to get the quality I get, but I'd like to have better. I still dont know how Bulb gets the quality he does and I've asked him personally, a few times!

I have good days and I have bad days. To me, playing guitar is a lot like life, sometimes it kicks your ass and you wanna quit, while other times you're on top of a fucking mountain and nothing can slow you down. The trick is to keep with it when you suck, because at some point you'll break through and it will all be worth it.

I've noticed with mixing, the more you experiment the better everything ends up sounding...at least for me...

Yeah, but on the othe hand it's very fatiguing for the ears and you can lost track between lots of different mixes. Requires plenty of longer breaks to listen to stuff with fresh approach, I guess. Really plenty.

My last 2 or 3 pieces i've put up have been only a few hours of recording and mixing. I've kind of got a method to get the quality I get, but I'd like to have better. I still dont know how Bulb gets the quality he does and I've asked him personally, a few times!

You got that super low sound right, love that remade song of yours from fan arts forum.

And Bulb is indeed amazing, perfect modern sound, bright with ass-stomping low end. Aside of being excellent guitarist and composer he just knows how to make tracks sound perfectly selective. Strong kung fu.

I've noticed with mixing, the more you experiment the better everything ends up sounding...at least for me...

Yeah, but on the othe hand it's very fatiguing for the ears and you can lost track between lots of different mixes. Requires plenty of longer breaks to listen to stuff with fresh approach, I guess. Really plenty.

My last 2 or 3 pieces i've put up have been only a few hours of recording and mixing. I've kind of got a method to get the quality I get, but I'd like to have better. I still dont know how Bulb gets the quality he does and I've asked him personally, a few times!

You got that super low sound right, love that remade song of yours from fan arts forum.

And Bulb is indeed amazing, perfect modern sound, bright with ass-stomping low end. Aside of being excellent guitarist and composer he just knows how to make tracks sound perfectly selective. Strong kung fu.

Thanks haha.

Bulb lost his touch in my opinion. Periphery has turned into something it shouldnt have. He used to write awesome polyrhythmic pieces with that Sikth vibe. Now he just ends up writing Sikth type pieces with some polyrhythmics to it.

He can still write, and can still mix down a track a thousand times better than me, but I think he lost the touch he used to have.

My problem is lack of inspiration. Nothing I listen to, watch, or read has inspired me for anything as of late. The only thing that has sparked some kind of inspiration was the new Mastodon song "Divinations"...I really need their new album to come out soon!

i feel like that on the guitar.
I can actually get one, search around a little and create little bits and pieces that make some kind of musical sense, but i just can't grasp the playing as a whole. Which really sucks for me, cause i'm a drummer (who plays like once a year, after not playing for like 3 years ) but i can arrange stuff in my head just by hearing it, and i feel like learning this piece of wooden crap would make my life easier and i'd have to stop supressing the music in my head

And this is like the 10012094th time i rant about this around here, sorry

But yeah, i have to agree that there's this general rule about everything in life: if you don't have a ton of talent, you gotta compensate that with a ton of effort.
I hate me for not being more disciplined and being able to study the guitar, but i also don't have time for it, so i blame it on my college education and job, and feel better about it

I freaking suck, I always have and I always will...but I've come to the conclusion that that shouldn't stop me enjoying myself

I was a professional musician until I was 27, then quit the music business and didn't touch an instrument or even buy an album pretty much for the next 12 years. Then i picked up a crappy acoustic just to strum nursery rhymes and stuff to my children... and within a short space of time had a house full of guitars again, and find myself practising scales a couple of hours a day, getting up early on Sundays to run through the Petrucci exercises from beginning to end and so on.

I can safely say I have absolutely zero intention or ambition to ever do it professionally again. Just not interested. But my passion for playing is probably stronger now than it has been since I was 13 or something. The enjoyment I get from it as well. And my theory and technique are way better than they ever were, even if my cheekbones aren't as pointy anymore.

Window, Schmindow.

If you are stuck on a plateau with your learning, try something different. Study some jazz technique, or work on your chicken-picking. listen to a style of music you normally don't and work out how its done. You may not decide to become a C&W guitarist but it will break you out of your rut and give you a new perspective. And probably teach you some new tricks you can incorporate into your own playing that'll vibe you up again.