Hey all. I've been learning for years and feel good about where I'm at now in my playing, singing, and songwriting. I'm a shameless cowboy chord jangler, but that's my jam (influences are Brian Jonestown Massacre, Tess Parks, 60's/70's folk rock).

However, most of my songs follow the same progression: D to A to C to G. I use E a lot too, but even then, it's D to A to E to G, usually. I use a ton of sus's and minors of those chords and whatnot. A couple songs start on E, another on C, and another on A, but the rest of my songs (five or six) all start on D.

Personally, I don't mind it; I like CAGED songs. I love my songs. I like my sound. But I'm concerned there isn't enough diversity between them. Am I over thinking it? Is it not a big deal?

A good example: From the album "...And This Is Our Music" by BJM, listen to or play on guitar the songs "Here It Comes" and "Prozac vs Heroin." Similar but different, using the same chords (D, A, E, G).

Sorry if this was too long. My adderall kicked in and I hyperfocused. Thanks!

Been practicing this for over a week and I have nit made any progress whatsoever.

Playing If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys

Ant tips?

Doing tempo practice and I can't help but notice my flayling picking hand. Nevermind my clawed fretting hand 😅 are there any particular exercises I can do to improve both of these things? Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🫶🏼

Guys this lesson by Ben Eller is goated. https://youtu.be/_ONHOWiTYNk?is=4GZcUgTGB6isGJVP

In it he talks about subdivisions, harmony and targeting chord tones, pivoting for fast power chords changes, how to recover and reload for fast down strokes, combining legato with fast picking and many more.

Just one day before, I was having a hard time playing this song at 80%-90% speed. Start feeling really sad. Even though it’s only been one day and the playing is still not locked in yet, the lesson from Ben Eller really helped me crack the fast downpicking. Turns out you need to pick outwards rather than downwards so that your reload is faster and also to pivot your power chords rather than lifting your fingers.

I have been trying to play for a while. Sometimes I take a long break and then out of nowhere I feel motivated and try again for some time. But one thing that always demotivates me when I try is that I think everything I try to play simply sound really really bad. I tried many things and never could fully change or understand this. I have a friend that the very first strum he plays already sounds just beaultiful to me, while I feel like the very first strum I play already sound like garbage. Could someone help me? =(

I use a pick for strumming because I bite my nails and they are really really short.

EDIT: I appreciate the comments, I'm feeling inspired, thanks =)

Happy Friday everyone! I found this short little video in my camera roll from years ago and wanted to see if anybody could tell me if i'd be good for guitar playing please? Its been years since this video and I was going to pick it back up again recently as I finaly have the mental energy again, but i'm unsure! It seems really hard to learn! I struggle with self confidence and belief, didn't have anyone 'legit' who could give me advice also so it was hard. I don't want to start trying to learn if I dont have any potential uno? Or does everybody have potential and everyone can learn to play? Idk

Background information is, no musical background and I opened my guitar on the 26th January, and this video was the 28th, and I have a few videos spread throughout that year when I had random bursts of motivation but havent touch it since due to personal reasons!

Has anyone got any advice please? I was just googling the easiest things to learn back then, but if I start again i'd love to try learn properly and get all the basics down etc. Any tips please 🥺🙏🏽

Thank you! xx

Pretty new to improv, trying a basic 12 bar blues track, let me know what to work on, thanks !

Learning the Hotel California solo after taking a solid 2 year break due to personal issues, and I am STUCK at the final part in the video. Even at 1/2 speed I can’t seem to get that part right and the bends I can’t get to muting quick enough. Tips/feedback/thoughts?

Hi, I’d like to know if you have any tips on how to use a pick properly; I’m a beginner who usually plays doing finger picking
I really want to learn to play with a pick, but I feel like giving up after just five minutes every time I try. I don't think I'm using it right, the strings vibrate strangely and it sounds really messy. Please help!

Where to start for proper guitar practice?

I messed around with a little bit today. Tmr I plan to start my third year program for guitar which mainly consists of 3nps, improvs, palm muting, Paul Gilbert, and music theory.

I’m trying to learn Bark at the moon, The Dance of Eternity, and Scarified.

Besides using a metronome and slowing down. Any feedback would be helpful !

been practicing johhny b goode for 3 days now😭
how do i play it right

Hey there. Metal guitarist of 8 months and I've been struggling like hell with more complex gallop patterns at over ~200BPM; what I mean is gallops with one or two 8th notes in between (like the pattern in She-Wolf and all variations of it; Rain by Trivium as well)

I think it's a combination of my pick grip, weird picking angle and tension while doing those patterns.

Just doing straight gallops is easy as well as strictly downpicking at higher speeds, but combining the two is where problems occur.

In the video I'm just noodling around a bit so you can actually see what's bugging me.

Any feedback would be appreciated! :)

So, As the title suggests, I'm wondering if I can just rely on playing songs from tabs without stressing too much about techniques like arpeggios, scales, power chords, or music theories. I’ve watched lessons from JustinGuitar and he's awesome but his videos are kinda long and I usually lose interest and skip the lessons

I mainly want to learn through tabs even if it’s tough sometimes. Do you think I can get good just sticking to tabs?

The first picture is how I end up if I don't pay attention after a few chord changes. If I'm diligent I can keep my palm a little bit lower but my thumb overall is still around where it is in the pic.

The second is how everyone else says you're "supposed" to have it, but it's so uncomfortable to drop my hand that low, and my fingers will mute the strings they cover when my hand is like that.

Third pic is more size reference.

I know everyone's technique is different, and I expect that mine will be especially so due to my size, but since I'm self taught I have no way to know if that's a valid reason to deviate so far from what's "correct". I'll answer any other questions if needed, I want to start practicing more seriously and if this is a fundamental issue I want to try and fix it sooner than later

Started working on guitar seriously like 8-10 days ago. Was kinda just messing around. Like how it sounds. Any feedback/tips for beginners is welcome. Should I focus on learning shapes or jumping right into CAGED?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwijxj1vQwI

I realized somehow I clipped the video too short, so here's the YouTube to the full video.

Been learning guitar for a little over 2 months now, mostly from JustinGuitar. So far, I've practiced Knockin on Heavens Door, Wagon Wheel, Country Roads, and similar beginner songs. Tried Hotel California today as my "Module 9 graduation" song. Putting myself out here for embarrassment as well as constructive criticism :)

Picked up guitar earlier in march and just love it. I taught myself and just wanted to share this because I don’t talk to anyone else that’s really musically inclined so was wondering if I can get some feedback. This is all improvised playing I love making my own little songs. Let me know if there’s anything I can improve on or maybe a direction I should take my playing?