How good at you on your instrument & how long?
Discussion
Been playing saxophone for about 18 years on and off. Let year or so I have been making an effort to find 20 minutes a day. Coming together now and the 20 minutes often turns out to be an hour or so, my face gives in first 
I find it more therapeutic and my tones improved loads. Seems little and often works really well for me.
I find it more therapeutic and my tones improved loads. Seems little and often works really well for me.Not trying to troll in the slightest, but honestly, I think it's up to others to judge how good you are, not yourself.
I don't think I am very good at all, but the last open mic event I played, I got massive applause and even a hug from one listener, which felt amazing.
We are all s
t guitarists compared to Tommy Emmanuel.
I don't think I am very good at all, but the last open mic event I played, I got massive applause and even a hug from one listener, which felt amazing.
We are all s
t guitarists compared to Tommy Emmanuel.Guitar: Started aged 18, played about 3-4 hours a day for the first year, then about an hour a day for the couple of years afterwards, so about 1500 hours in total. This got me to the point where I could play most rock solos pretty well (but not trickier stuff by Satriani, some Slash etc), and pretty much all rhythm guitar parts I came across. I wouldn't say I was "good" per se, it's just that most rock music isn't that hard. I had a lot of weaknesses that weren't really exposed by what I did. I played in bands for about ten years after that and never really got much better, but it didn't really matter for what we did. I also wrote and recorded my own album. I've not really played for the last ten years, so I can now pick up a guitar and strum chords or play simple solos, but that's about it.
Cello: Started aged 30 and got to grade 4 (similar standard to the guitar, but obviously rock is les virtuosic and demanding than classical). I played I guess about 30-45 minutes a day for 3-4 years, so about 500-600 hours. Ultimately got bored practising on my own; didn't fancy beginner orchestra (did a few sessions and didn't enjoy it) and wasn't anywhere near good enough for chamber music. Haven't played for a few years now. I'm about grade 1 now if I sit down for a 30 minute twiddle.
Clarinet: Started aged 11, got to grade 2/3. I can play about grade 1 standard now. Horribly uncomfortable instrument to play, thus me stopping and I've got no interest in returning.
Cello: Started aged 30 and got to grade 4 (similar standard to the guitar, but obviously rock is les virtuosic and demanding than classical). I played I guess about 30-45 minutes a day for 3-4 years, so about 500-600 hours. Ultimately got bored practising on my own; didn't fancy beginner orchestra (did a few sessions and didn't enjoy it) and wasn't anywhere near good enough for chamber music. Haven't played for a few years now. I'm about grade 1 now if I sit down for a 30 minute twiddle.
Clarinet: Started aged 11, got to grade 2/3. I can play about grade 1 standard now. Horribly uncomfortable instrument to play, thus me stopping and I've got no interest in returning.
Edited by RobM77 on Monday 9th December 11:44
Nik Gnashers said:
Not trying to troll in the slightest, but honestly, I think it's up to others to judge how good you are, not yourself.
I don't think I am very good at all, but the last open mic event I played, I got massive applause and even a hug from one listener, which felt amazing.
We are all st guitarists compared to Tommy Emmanuel.
It's possible to stick to objective measures though, such as grades or by stating what sort of music you can play (e.g. repeating solos by which guitarists).I don't think I am very good at all, but the last open mic event I played, I got massive applause and even a hug from one listener, which felt amazing.
We are all s
t guitarists compared to Tommy Emmanuel.Chicken Chaser said:
You could be the worst musician. What matters is you enjoy it. Plateaus are natural and it's more about how you work at that to overcome them. Some take years if you don't try something new, and some guys are just ridiculously talented!
Plus it depends what you want to play. Not all music is virtuosic. For example a folk guitarist could have a very fulfilling and successful career without ever being outstandingly good, especially if part of a band with very good key members.enjo said:
crofty1984 said:
2 questions really.
How good (honestly) are you on your instrument and how does that compare to how long you've been playing?
I play guitar. I'd say I'm a good rhythm guitarist, I can wang out a blues solo if needs be (and a few metal riffs) but I'd not call myself lead. I do the odd open mic with decent sucess and local gig (very rarely) but for the last few years I've mainly just been strumming along on my acoustic doing covers. Been dusting off the old electric recently too.
Trouble is, I'm no better than I was 10 years ago. I started playing at about 15 and I'm 35 now. If I'd practiced really hard for 20 years I'd be amazing! Now I think if a 15 year old picked up a guitar and had proper lessons and practiced they'd probably be at my level in 3-4 years max. Though maybe the basics come more naturally to me through years of use.
What about you? Continuous improvement over many years, or have you plateau'd?
You've basically described me exactly in your post although I am 3 years younger so there is still time...How good (honestly) are you on your instrument and how does that compare to how long you've been playing?
I play guitar. I'd say I'm a good rhythm guitarist, I can wang out a blues solo if needs be (and a few metal riffs) but I'd not call myself lead. I do the odd open mic with decent sucess and local gig (very rarely) but for the last few years I've mainly just been strumming along on my acoustic doing covers. Been dusting off the old electric recently too.
Trouble is, I'm no better than I was 10 years ago. I started playing at about 15 and I'm 35 now. If I'd practiced really hard for 20 years I'd be amazing! Now I think if a 15 year old picked up a guitar and had proper lessons and practiced they'd probably be at my level in 3-4 years max. Though maybe the basics come more naturally to me through years of use.
What about you? Continuous improvement over many years, or have you plateau'd?
never been one for structured learning (grades etc.) and i've never had a guitar lesson in my life. picked up my dad's guitar aged around 6 and had a stuttery start but was obsessed with it by 8. 45 now so been playing for 39 years.
learned the odd song here and there by ear but was always, from an early age, far more interested in writing my own songs. i went through all the usual stuff having a band from my mid teens and it was always original material, never covers unless i could transcribe something interesting ( a heavy rock band working out a cover of "like to get to know you well" by howard jones seemed pretty cool to me back in the mid 90s)
i've dabbled in all sorts of playing styles ( nylon acoustic fingerpicking, normal acoustic/12 string strumming style etc) but i was always into electric and having a huge, heavy sound (i've got fender strats, esp 8 strings, allsorts but my go to guitar is always a gibson les paul)...but was never a traditional "metal" player. i have footage of my very fist proper live show from back in the early 90s and i'd like to think the finger dexterity on show in 1 or 2 of the solos was pretty impressive ( i was a big megadeth fan
) but it didn't take me long to grow tired of trying to play faster and flashier solos.... it all seemed a bit naff to me by my late teens.
far more interesting playing to me is rhythmic dexterity and unusual chords/chord progressions. i haven't played a guitar solo in 20 years and probably never will again.!!
we packed in being in a band in 1999 after narrowly missing out on a couple of record deals ( i was quite pig headed back then!!) but after a 20 year hiatus i managed to get all the original members back together this year as i was determined to get a full album written and recorded... i never stopped playing in the 20 year gap so there had been no skill erosion for me but it has been quite good fun getting everyone else back up to speed after such a long break.....
gotta say.... i'm better at writing songs now than i was 20 odd years ago... my playing is more controlled and rhythmically complex and my song writing, chord developments and structuring of the movements within those songs is better than it used to be.... maybe its a an age thing
so.... we are 3 demo tracks in (minus the singer as he was the last one i managed to convince to come back) with another 14 to whittle down to get the best 9 or 10 recorded..
it's an ever evolving journey this being a musician lark.....you're never complete, always learning..... one thing i can tell you is this though....i can't ever imagine not picking up a guitar 5 or 6 times a week for a fiddle. it's been so long that it has just become a part of who i am, i can't ever imagine the day coming where i tire of it.
learned the odd song here and there by ear but was always, from an early age, far more interested in writing my own songs. i went through all the usual stuff having a band from my mid teens and it was always original material, never covers unless i could transcribe something interesting ( a heavy rock band working out a cover of "like to get to know you well" by howard jones seemed pretty cool to me back in the mid 90s)
i've dabbled in all sorts of playing styles ( nylon acoustic fingerpicking, normal acoustic/12 string strumming style etc) but i was always into electric and having a huge, heavy sound (i've got fender strats, esp 8 strings, allsorts but my go to guitar is always a gibson les paul)...but was never a traditional "metal" player. i have footage of my very fist proper live show from back in the early 90s and i'd like to think the finger dexterity on show in 1 or 2 of the solos was pretty impressive ( i was a big megadeth fan
) but it didn't take me long to grow tired of trying to play faster and flashier solos.... it all seemed a bit naff to me by my late teens.far more interesting playing to me is rhythmic dexterity and unusual chords/chord progressions. i haven't played a guitar solo in 20 years and probably never will again.!!
we packed in being in a band in 1999 after narrowly missing out on a couple of record deals ( i was quite pig headed back then!!) but after a 20 year hiatus i managed to get all the original members back together this year as i was determined to get a full album written and recorded... i never stopped playing in the 20 year gap so there had been no skill erosion for me but it has been quite good fun getting everyone else back up to speed after such a long break.....
gotta say.... i'm better at writing songs now than i was 20 odd years ago... my playing is more controlled and rhythmically complex and my song writing, chord developments and structuring of the movements within those songs is better than it used to be.... maybe its a an age thing
so.... we are 3 demo tracks in (minus the singer as he was the last one i managed to convince to come back) with another 14 to whittle down to get the best 9 or 10 recorded..
it's an ever evolving journey this being a musician lark.....you're never complete, always learning..... one thing i can tell you is this though....i can't ever imagine not picking up a guitar 5 or 6 times a week for a fiddle. it's been so long that it has just become a part of who i am, i can't ever imagine the day coming where i tire of it.
Well done tuscaneer
A friend of mine, now 70 has returned to guitar after about 45 years. He knows I'm trying to learn and he reckons he's hit a plateau. He's about 250 mile away but coming up for a 4 week hol over the Christmas. Suggested we meet up for a "jam" session. Might help both of us improve.
A friend of mine, now 70 has returned to guitar after about 45 years. He knows I'm trying to learn and he reckons he's hit a plateau. He's about 250 mile away but coming up for a 4 week hol over the Christmas. Suggested we meet up for a "jam" session. Might help both of us improve.
I've been playing with my instrument since I was about 12. I had to have break for about 6 months when I was 14 as I was playing so enthusiastically I suffered from soreness.
I've since gone on to be a self proffesed expert. Even the Mrs now says I can handle my instrument with aplomb although she has said on occasion if it was slightly larger the extra volume would significantly improve my performance.
I've since gone on to be a self proffesed expert. Even the Mrs now says I can handle my instrument with aplomb although she has said on occasion if it was slightly larger the extra volume would significantly improve my performance.
Skyedriver said:
Well done tuscaneer
A friend of mine, now 70 has returned to guitar after about 45 years. He knows I'm trying to learn and he reckons he's hit a plateau. He's about 250 mile away but coming up for a 4 week hol over the Christmas. Suggested we meet up for a "jam" session. Might help both of us improve.
cheers fella, yeah there is something really satisfying to me about writing 2 or 3 part guitar pieces that sound texturally quite different but when pieced together have a whole other take...getting all those ideas then locked in with the other 3 in the band and polishing that pebble in the recording studio can lead to some really cool things, no matter how much i "think" i know how it will come out hearing the final piece recorded properly is so satisfying.A friend of mine, now 70 has returned to guitar after about 45 years. He knows I'm trying to learn and he reckons he's hit a plateau. He's about 250 mile away but coming up for a 4 week hol over the Christmas. Suggested we meet up for a "jam" session. Might help both of us improve.
a 45 year lay off is some gap!!
i bet it'll come back to him quick enough though...he will be throwing you tips after half an hour back in the saddle!......Been playing guitar now for three weeks and I sound like I've been playing... about three weeks....
I practice pretty much every day for around half an hour or until my fingers hurt! Any hints and tips are welcome!
I was gig standard on drums up to my early twenties (45 now) but haven't picked up any sticks for a good few years now.
I practice pretty much every day for around half an hour or until my fingers hurt! Any hints and tips are welcome!
I was gig standard on drums up to my early twenties (45 now) but haven't picked up any sticks for a good few years now.
Andy_mr2sc said:
Been playing guitar now for three weeks and I sound like I've been playing... about three weeks....
I practice pretty much every day for around half an hour or until my fingers hurt! Any hints and tips are welcome!
Well that's your first mistake.I practice pretty much every day for around half an hour or until my fingers hurt! Any hints and tips are welcome!
As every fool knows, you needed to play until your fingers bled.
Andy_mr2sc said:
Been playing guitar now for three weeks and I sound like I've been playing... about three weeks....
I practice pretty much every day for around half an hour or until my fingers hurt! Any hints and tips are welcome!
Just keep going, it will hurt for a while, but you will develop callouses and your fingers will cope better before long.I practice pretty much every day for around half an hour or until my fingers hurt! Any hints and tips are welcome!
paulguitar said:
Andy_mr2sc said:
Been playing guitar now for three weeks and I sound like I've been playing... about three weeks....
I practice pretty much every day for around half an hour or until my fingers hurt! Any hints and tips are welcome!
Just keep going, it will hurt for a while, but you will develop callouses and your fingers will cope better before long.I practice pretty much every day for around half an hour or until my fingers hurt! Any hints and tips are welcome!
I've been playing drums on and off since I was 13.
40 years later I'd consider myself competent, but no more than that. Perfectly happy to sit in with anyone and busk.
I can keep a beat, but don't expect any fancy solos or musical wking. The occasional flourish is the best you'll get out of me.
Wish I'd spent more time learning the rudiments, but counting to 4 seems to have covered most bases.
40 years later I'd consider myself competent, but no more than that. Perfectly happy to sit in with anyone and busk.
I can keep a beat, but don't expect any fancy solos or musical w
king. The occasional flourish is the best you'll get out of me.Wish I'd spent more time learning the rudiments, but counting to 4 seems to have covered most bases.
deckster said:
Well that's your first mistake.
As every fool knows, you needed to play until your fingers bled.
I would but I don't want to get blood stains on my shiny guitar!As every fool knows, you needed to play until your fingers bled.
I can feel my fingertips are starting to harden up. I'm very impatient and want everything yesterday though.
GetCarter said:
Try writing music for a living... I had to get past my ears bleeding!
Well you obviously got through the pain barrier and became very successful at it!!Edited by Andy_mr2sc on Tuesday 10th December 17:26
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