Instructional DVD's and other advice...

[boyle]

I was wanting some opinions on good instructional dvd's that I could possibly buy to help me on my quest to becoming a better guitar player. I've only been playing for 5.5 months and have absolutely no previous history with musical instraments.

I also want to make sure that I'm not alone w/ my frustrations. I can play a couple of songs, not all the way through, but a good portion of them and my rhythm just doesn't match. To the laymen like myself, when I play w/o the cd, it sounds pretty decent, then when I try to play w/ the cd, I realize how different it is. Does this just take time to aquire the feel of the strumming pattern, and if so, how long does it usually take to aquire this.

Guitar is the most frustrating thing I have ever done before. I play for 5.5 months, couple hours a day and know that I'm getting better but don't really feel like it, I always feel like I run into big brick walls.

One last thing, I have had to take a break from my guitar for the last 6 weeks b/c of a broken wrist, I still try and fool around on it with barely any luck. The cast runs all the way up to my shoulder w/ it also stabalizing my thumb, so I can barely play a D if I capo the third or fourth fret, and I can also barely play a little bit of Good Riddance, but this is really getting frustrating. Next wed. I get it taken off and have another put on for another 6 weeks, but I will actually be able to bend my elbow, so I'm hoping that I can play a few more chords. I'm also going to ask the doc if he can get a semi-circle around my index so that's not so limited, but assuming that I still can't do anything.......

Any suggestions on things I can work on. I frequently sit around and just work on my fingerpicking to get a better feel for the fret board and also silence the strings to work on my strumming rhythm and make sure that I keep my hand continously moving. Is there really anything else I can do?

[jared]

maybe start learning scales... learn where the "roots" of scales on the fretboard. Seems a lot like schoolwork, but i hear that once you memorize them you can solo over anything. There's a good flash site out there with the scales and roots.

5.5 months... in a year's time you'll definately be suprised how much better you've gotten. good luck with your wrist man

-Jared

[rockinfingers23]

I've been trying to get better as well. People tell me to practice more. I have a hard time since I play left handed so it confuses all my friends. I want to get really good. I've been watching a lot of other famous guitar players....more suggestions will be helpful!

[jared]

http://www.looknohands.com - scales references

Fatjack could probably suggest some good books. I'll do some searches and see what i can find

[HumbleMonkey]

welcome to dmbtabs. http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=10798

check out those

[Tranman66]

no need for scales if you wanna be a rhythm player. Learn some dave, some jack johnson, get down the barre, fingerpick some tristan prettyman, tune your guitar to DADGAD for fun,

if you're not serious about playing lead and soloing/improvising, scales would be a waste of time. I would in your case keep learning songs with greater difficulty and develop a style of your own.

[jared]

welcome to dmbtabs. http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=10798

check out those

wow, been here a while, never saw that... thanks man!! lots of good links

one more thing - try watching some good acoustic performances. there are a lot of good ones at http://www.claypigeons.net and AOL sessions. check them out (yellowcard, dave, mayer, etc.)

[a1075dd63aa12]

no need for scales if you wanna be a rhythm player. Learn some dave, some jack johnson, get down the barre, fingerpick some tristan prettyman, tune your guitar to DADGAD for fun,

if you're not serious about playing lead and soloing/improvising, scales would be a waste of time. I would in your case keep learning songs with greater difficulty and develop a style of your own.

disagree, scales can help you build riffs and give you a better sense of theory overall