Anyone else try to learn an instrument on the net but get distracted?

powlesY

powlesY

powlesY

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It seems like every day i've got free i'm like "right, gonna play some guitar using youtube and other various websites". Before i know it, i've checked the array of forums i visit, posted far more than i intended too, had a long and pointless conversation with someone on facebook and thought about maybe playing a game but never do and then before i know it - it's too late to play guitar.

After this post, i'm going to grab my guitar. Okay?
 
Unless you are really dedicated to it, learning an instrument yourself via the internet/books is unlikely to work out well.

You're better off paying for lessons or getting a friend to teach you, at least at first. Then you can get an idea of whether you "actually" want to learn or just think its a cool idea.

Another idea if you are set on self teaching is to get a few decent books and go sit somewhere else or turn your computer off for an hour every evening.
 
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Well I get all my drumming resources off the net and always have, I haven't had a problem with it. The only reason I don't get to play much is because people are in the house working! (Office right below my room)

However when people are out it's all I do...
 
Fenris said:
Unless you are really dedicated to it, learning an instrument yourself via the internet/books is unlikely to work out well.

You're better off paying for lessons or getting a friend to teach you, at least at first. Then you can get an idea of whether you "actually" want to learn or just think its a cool idea.

Another idea if you are set on self teaching is to get a few decent books and go sit somewhere else or turn your computer off for an hour every evening.
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I'm definitely into it and at a decent "beginner" level now. I'm learning it in memory of my best mate who died last year at only 23 and loved the guitar. I can play the likes of "No Woman No Cry" with the licks included, "Wonderwall", "Heart of Gold" with the licks and a bunch of other songs. I've been learning more on theory side and chord changes rather than learning full songs though.

Tibbz2 said:
Well I get all my drumming resources off the net and always have, I haven't had a problem with it. The only reason I don't get to play much is because people are in the house working! (Office right below my room)

However when people are out it's all I do...
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Same situation with my brother. It was alright when he had an electric kit, now he's got his own vintage set from the 70s that my Dad sold for over a grand 30 years ago and bought back for £600. Worth almost 4k now. He's not bad at them but i get fed up of listening to the same songs every day that he's trying to perfect.
 
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daz.rathbone said:
Have you looked at Doug Marks' "Metal Method".

Best value I've ever spent on guitar instruction, by MILES!!!
So much fun to learn, and progress is fast.
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Is it all metal music though? Doesn't really play well on acoustic does it? Not to mention i'm not the hugest fan of metal music. I'm ill-educated though. If it's quick learning then i can't complain.
 
powlesY said:
Same situation with my brother. It was alright when he had an electric kit, now he's got his own vintage set from the 70s that my Dad sold for over a grand 30 years ago and bought back for £600. Worth almost 4k now. He's not bad at them but i get fed up of listening to the same songs every day that he's trying to perfect.
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Haha, yes I'm afraid that's the problem with acoustic kits, big loud and just make banging noises that gets on everyone's nerves :D At least with guitars you can practice in almost silence so people won't hear the same things over, unfortunately it's kind of impossible not to hear drums within a mile radius :p
 
I taught myself to play the synthesizer via the internet, at first i got so distracted, but as i started learning how to make different sounds via the settings and fade sound in and out etc it got really fun and i started paying a lot more attention to learning the instrument :)
 
powlesY said:
Is it all metal music though? Doesn't really play well on acoustic does it? Not to mention i'm not the hugest fan of metal music. I'm ill-educated though. If it's quick learning then i can't complain.
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No, just the name... it's all rock/blues (and some metal too). Worth looking at as it teaches you all the right exercises to build strength, goes through the theory you need to know in the most unboring way I've seen, and you can apply it to whatever you want to play. Really good.
 
Okay, cheers. I'll look it up.

BTW guys, i haven't touched my guitar today. :/

Ended up making some food after this post, then took a delivery and been posting on forums since. Another wasted day. Still a few hours left till it's too late. Maybe i still will. :)
 
I find it easier to watch a YouTube tutorial for a song I like, a few times, play it a little so I've got the basic jist and then scribble the chord structure down on an a4 pad, I find that better than having to refer back to videos constantly.

Guess the same would work for scales or whatever too.
 
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Downloaded some jam tracks too, of a bunch of classic rock stuff, basically just drums and bass which is good for timing, I find it helps keep time so with these I focus on that rather than accurately hitting every little note/bend
 
Guitar especially is really hard at first. You've got to simply grind through the early part because it's the hardest. It just feels weird, your hand feels awkward and your finger tips hurt. It feels like it's impossible to be fast and accurate and its so frustrating because you can barely string chords together without fret buzz or bad notes.

Then something happens, after awhile you start getting used to the fret board and your technique naturally improves. Playing chords and a few licks become much easier and it becomes less about technique and playing slow steps, and more about the actual music.

I'm no expert but I've been playing now for about 14 years. If you have the drive to learn and its not just a passing fancy then you'll get through it. If possible I recommend either getting lessons or if you have the option, play with people that are better than you. You'll be surprised at how much you come on when you're surrounded by good players.
 
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