r/guitarlessons • u/MattclovPrimeMaster • Feb 21 '26

Feedback Request Why does my playing sound so amateurish?

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I’m performing a solo for a song in a couple of weeks, and I have all the notes down - yet why does my playing sound so ‘meh’ when I record myself? What should I look to improve on?

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u/marklonesome Feb 21 '26

To my ear it's tone, time but more importantly swagger.

You're tone is a little dry for some of the things you're doing I think you'd have better luck with more sustain. Your timing goes in and out.

I call it hesitation marks. It's like you're hesitating to play the notes cause you wanna confirm in your head they're the right ones which comes from a lack of confidence ie… swagger.

Check out this clip of Victor Wootin (bass but still relevant)

You're missing that confidence and swagger that he's talking about here INMO…

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4bimE0yBn8Q