How can I improve my guitar playing? - Music Banter Music Banter

Go Back   Music Banter > Artists Corner > Talk Instruments
Register Blogging Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Welcome to Music Banter Forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with over 70,000 other registered members. After you create your free account, you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 1,100,000 posts.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-27-2017, 05:26 PM   #1 (permalink)
Music Addict
 
RJDG14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 157
Default How can I improve my guitar playing?

I've owned an electric guitar for over 3 years, however I don't think my skill has improved a lot even though I practise for a few hours over the course of each week. My style comprises of power chords and strumming (almost in a way reminiscent of the late 80s Wedding Present stuff, with a tendency for the strumming to speed up at the end of a sequence), plus individual strings of chords played in a sequence, since I find this is more melodic than some experimental guitar solo, plus it's way easier. Normally I use a distortion pedal with a small amount of reverb, which creates a slightly jangly distorted tone similar to the old Mission of Burma material. I actually kind of like the way I sound but I still feel I'm not very good and that I'm a little out of sync at times (despite some people I don't know personally saying they found my stuff interesting) and I also can't think of anyone else that sounds exactly like me on the guitar. I have no idea how to play solos or anything that doesn't involve basic chords.

Not for song critique purposes, but for reference to give you an idea of how my guitar playing sounds, here are a handful of awful demos of original songs that I made between 2014 and now:

Victim Of The Modern World (2017)

Hours Division (2017)

Dublin Skies (2014)

I don't want to sound like Yngwie Malmsteen, since it would take a lot of practise and I don't even find him enjoyable - in other words it's money for nothing.

One thing I've found is that I find using a guitar pick gives a very scratchy sound, and so I strum with my index finger and pick out strings with my thumb, which works fine for my playing style.

I really don't know why I sound the way I sound (most people, even players of a similar ability level, sound different) and why I struggle emulating other styles, even after 3 years. Can people please critique my existing guitar style and more importantly suggest ways that I can/should improve.

Last edited by RJDG14; 08-27-2017 at 05:43 PM.
RJDG14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2017, 05:51 PM   #2 (permalink)
SOPHIE FOREVER
 
Frownland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: East of the Southern North American West
Posts: 35,548
Default

Noodle.

If chords are what you're good with, dig deeper into them and learn how to add more dynamic to them. It was a big step for me when I started playing with chord structures and picking style as a way to sound like multiple instruments were playing at once.

I would learn songs that I want to emulate so that you can build a sort of muscle memory in a style of playing that you enjoy. Fwiw I think you approach jangly chords well. Maybe playing around with your tone more (or even trying out a couple of different guitars, if possible) can help you explore and expand the way you play if you feel like you're in a rut.
__________________
Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Frownland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2017, 05:57 PM   #3 (permalink)
carpe musicam
 
Neapolitan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Les Barricades Mystérieuses
Posts: 7,710
Default

I can sum it up in three words: practice, practice, practice.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by mord View Post
Actually, I like you a lot, Nea. That's why I treat you like ****. It's the MB way.

"it counts in our hearts" ?ºº?
“I have nothing to offer anybody, except my own confusion.” Jack Kerouac.
“If one listens to the wrong kind of music, he will become the wrong kind of person.” Aristotle.
"If you tried to give Rock and Roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'." John Lennon
"I look for ambiguity when I'm writing because life is ambiguous." Keith Richards
Neapolitan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2017, 09:23 PM   #4 (permalink)
Music Addict
 
RJDG14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 157
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Frownland View Post
Noodle.

If chords are what you're good with, dig deeper into them and learn how to add more dynamic to them. It was a big step for me when I started playing with chord structures and picking style as a way to sound like multiple instruments were playing at once.

I would learn songs that I want to emulate so that you can build a sort of muscle memory in a style of playing that you enjoy. Fwiw I think you approach jangly chords well. Maybe playing around with your tone more (or even trying out a couple of different guitars, if possible) can help you explore and expand the way you play if you feel like you're in a rut.
Why do you think I approach jangly chords best in your opinion? Just wondering.
RJDG14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2017, 09:29 PM   #5 (permalink)
SOPHIE FOREVER
 
Frownland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: East of the Southern North American West
Posts: 35,548
Default

Mostly your guitar tone, but I think it's also the way that you sustain your chords along with how it sounds like you're playing all or most of the strings when you strum.
__________________
Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Frownland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2017, 02:29 PM   #6 (permalink)
SOPHIE FOREVER
 
Frownland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: East of the Southern North American West
Posts: 35,548
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by elphenor View Post
chorus
__________________
Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Frownland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2017, 03:05 PM   #7 (permalink)
SOPHIE FOREVER
 
Frownland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: East of the Southern North American West
Posts: 35,548
Default

Chorus is a crutch and not even a cool one like delay.
__________________
Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Frownland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2017, 04:24 PM   #8 (permalink)
SOPHIE FOREVER
 
Frownland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: East of the Southern North American West
Posts: 35,548
Default

Use low gauge strings and pick close to the bridge.
__________________
Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Frownland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2017, 05:00 PM   #9 (permalink)
Zum Henker Defätist!!
 
The Batlord's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Beating GNR at DDR and keying Axl's new car
Posts: 48,216
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by elphenor View Post
"jangle chords" are literally just open chords

you can get a capo to raise your pitch while still getting the open strings

you want to turn your treble up and bass down, generally use chorus+delay, adjust gain depending on how much attitude you want

the single note parts are picked apart cowboy chords usually so majors with 7ths

(generally speaking)
What does any of this have to do with the mob?
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by J.R.R. Tolkien
There is only one bright spot and that is the growing habit of disgruntled men of dynamiting factories and power-stations; I hope that, encouraged now as ‘patriotism’, may remain a habit! But it won’t do any good, if it is not universal.
The Batlord is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Similar Threads



© 2003-2024 Advameg, Inc.