Skills Problems

**Cobra** · 10-07-2006, 10:40 AM

Hey,
Recently, I've been having quite a few problems improving my guitar skills, even though I've been trying to practice as much as possible for me. Anyway, I've been getting really bad back pains because it feels like my guitar is sitting way too low for me to play properly, and to solve this slightly, I usually have to get a block of wood or box too raise my legs, bringing the guitar closer too me. I think this is one of the reasons for my skills not really improving, including my room being a complete dump, where I always trip over things and creates even more frustration, and then I won't want too play guitar. It's getting to the point were I'm seeing practicing the guitar a chore, and not fun, which obviously doesn't help. Does anyone know of any practice routines I could use? Anyone know of some sort of 'guitar stool'? I think we've established I need some help too keep me playing.

Thanks

Cobra

**Jammin'Jarhead** · 10-07-2006, 11:26 AM

Skills?!? What skills? I'm a complete hack!

Anyway, I'd say you need to clean your room for a start

.

Here's some guitar stools:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/home/...q=guitar+stool

Try not to make your playing all about improvement for a while...enjoy yourself, that's my worthless opinion. Get back into the actual playing and the skills you can worry about later.

**Tuttermuts** · 10-07-2006, 11:43 AM

I've actually found that guitar stools aren't so helpfull at al. When I started using one it was comfortable, but then after a while I started having also having a bit of back pains(my room was quite a mess as wel, but I don't think it's got anything to do with guitar stools

). Try to position your guitar as if it were a gibson V over your right knee. Does the trick for me nicely.

But in the end try a bit of everything until you find your natural position. Good luck, I know what a drag those things can be, but once you find your way out, you'll find yourself flying

But that's just my take on that.

**KramerTamer** · 10-07-2006, 12:43 PM

This may sound weird, but I like to practice laying down, like on my bed propped with pillows. The reason is, I can be in a comfortable position and hold my guitar low like it's hanging with a strap. So basically, your standing with your guitar wherever it's comfortable but your horizontal. Works for me, It also helps you to not look at your hands as much and learn feel.

**TommysGs** · 10-07-2006, 12:52 PM

Get a guitar strap and play standing up.
You are going to have to learn to play standing eventually anyway.
With a strap you can position the guitar at a comfortable hieght for your reach and you won't be hunched over it.
You can also wear the strap sitting down to hold the guitar up.

As far as skills are concerned Guitar lessons from a good instructor can help you progress by leeps and bounds. Even Tiger Woods has a coach.
An instructor can help you prevent developing bad habits that will hold you back from progressing.

**amerturk** · 10-07-2006, 01:00 PM

Your first mistake is "Pratice"

Don't practice the guitar, "Play" the guitar.

**Cobra** · 10-07-2006, 01:11 PM

Thanks for the replys all, really helpfull! It's worth a try if the guitar stool is only $29.

**RockStringBender** · 10-07-2006, 01:15 PM

Have you ever exercised yourself? Are you in shape. Are you elderly? Are you a healthy individual? Lots of raesons you may be experiencing pain but if you a re young and healthy that would not be normal unless you are sitting and playing for hour after hour after hour...

**Cobra** · 10-07-2006, 01:30 PM

I do try and play hour after hour, I genuinely want to become a more complete guitarist. . .

**Rippin Rod** · 10-07-2006, 01:30 PM

Are you buzzed when you practice?

If so, try playing sober. You're technique and understanding will improve dramatically (spoken from experience).

**atomicholiday** · 10-07-2006, 04:04 PM

Here are a few more tips.
1) Like Tommy said, get a strap and play standing. Another point that goes with this one is - don't play with the guitar hanging down to your knees. Keeping it up higher lets you play much better. May not look as cool, but you'll look much cooler being able to play well with it high than if you suck because you can't reach the guitar. Look at Lynch. That dude keeps it high and just blazes.
2) Split your practice time up between working on your technique and just jamming or another aspect of playing that is more fun to you. This way you don't get burned out. Also, take breaks from it once in awhile. Quit for 15 min and go eat something or watch a little tv or whatever. Then get back in there and go at it again.
3) CLEAN YOUR ROOM!

Just kidding.

Although, a messy room can be a distraction. Or worse yet, you can trip on something and impale yourself if you've got a pointy headstock.
Just make it fun for yourself and add a little variety.

**Lightningdan** · 10-07-2006, 04:27 PM

I play sitting down, but with a strap and I shorten the strap way up so the guitar is in the middle of my stomach where it'd be if I were standing. Its very comfortable that way.

And.. This might really help inspire you to practice more if you have an electric.

GuitarPort

I have it and I play all the time now. Its awesome. You get backing tracks, tabs, hundreds of lessons, and tones and amp models to play with.

**TommysGs** · 10-07-2006, 04:42 PM

Thanks for putting up that link Dan.
That looks like an awesome tool.
i will be looking into that.

**Cobra** · 10-07-2006, 05:25 PM

I already own a guitarport, and I can reccomend it to anyone! It's great, keeps me going and interested!

**WAR IN D** · 10-07-2006, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by TommysGs

Thanks for putting up that link Dan.
That looks like an awesome tool.
i will be looking into that.

Tommy, that thing will impress the Hell out of you!! Believe me when I say, for the money.. I don't think you could find anything better than the Guitarport. I was completely blown away by it at the Expo. Really cool piece of equipment!

Oh, and Cobra.... Cool guitar in your avatar!

I used to have an Ibanez RBM..

And you'll find that Reb Beach get's much respect around here.

**atomicholiday** · 10-07-2006, 06:00 PM

+1 on that guitar port. I had a subscruption that I used with my pod xt. Very cool stuff.

**Cobra** · 10-08-2006, 04:15 AM

Originally Posted by WAR IN D

Tommy, that thing will impress the Hell out of you!! Believe me when I say, for the money.. I don't think you could find anything better than the Guitarport. I was completely blown away by it at the Expo. Really cool piece of equipment!

Oh, and Cobra.... Cool guitar in your avatar!

I used to have an Ibanez RBM..

And you'll find that Reb Beach get's much respect around here.

Thanks, and so he should, he really doesn't get the respect he deserves. I wish he hadn't moved from his RBM series to these Suhr's, I know there good, but it makes it pretty damn hard for us guys to afford his signature models. And, if you guys go out and buy a Guitarport, be sure to get the Rifftracker version, which is essentially brilliant recording software with the brilliant amps and effects of Guitarport; unfortunately I've only got Guitarport seeing I bought it before Rifftracker was released. But it's easy enough to buy the upgrades off Line 6's website, including 'Model Packs' which add plenty more amps and effects to your arsenal!

**lefthandedshredder** · 10-08-2006, 05:16 AM

I have a few tips

1. Practise in a room you feel comfortable in (lighting does so much! for example I can't play in rooms with flourescent light, it makes me feel all depressed, i prefer halogen, shades or normal bulbs)

2. Find a position you like playing in, stick to it.

3. Guitar playing is NEVER a chore, for me it's THE thing, it's my life if you know what I mean so for it to be a chore is not cool.

4. Be fit...you can be an angry bastard (some of the best songs come out when you're a dickhead) but just try to keep your body in check, nobody wants to be alternate picking with arms the size of toothpicks.

5. Always play the music you like, and when 'practise' becomes frustrating or boring, put the guitar down and come back to it.

6. Have off periods, for me if I play for long periods of time day after day you almost feel burnt out and uninspired (happens with anything) so if you take a break for 1-2 days you will be shredding that neck begging it for forgiveness that you left it for so long

7. Sit down with your guitar and play while you watch tv....I've gotten to the point where I can completely follow a TV storyline and also play songs the whole way through. And try to jam along to jingles e.t.c....you'll get a better ear within a week.

8. Eat well, being tired, hungry and mal-nutritioned isn't going to do ANYTHING for your playing.

9. Have as much fun as possible and CLEAN YOUR ROOM....bad Feng Shui

**Cobra** · 10-08-2006, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by lefthandedshredder

I have a few tips

1. Practise in a room you feel comfortable in (lighting does so much! for example I can't play in rooms with flourescent light, it makes me feel all depressed, i prefer halogen, shades or normal bulbs)

2. Find a position you like playing in, stick to it.

3. Guitar playing is NEVER a chore, for me it's THE thing, it's my life if you know what I mean so for it to be a chore is not cool.

4. Be fit...you can be an angry bastard (some of the best songs come out when you're a dickhead) but just try to keep your body in check, nobody wants to be alternate picking with arms the size of toothpicks.

5. Always play the music you like, and when 'practise' becomes frustrating or boring, put the guitar down and come back to it.

6. Have off periods, for me if I play for long periods of time day after day you almost feel burnt out and uninspired (happens with anything) so if you take a break for 1-2 days you will be shredding that neck begging it for forgiveness that you left it for so long

7. Sit down with your guitar and play while you watch tv....I've gotten to the point where I can completely follow a TV storyline and also play songs the whole way through. And try to jam along to jingles e.t.c....you'll get a better ear within a week.

8. Eat well, being tired, hungry and mal-nutritioned isn't going to do ANYTHING for your playing.

9. Have as much fun as possible and CLEAN YOUR ROOM....bad Feng Shui

Room is now cleaned, feels much better to be in here now, I'll start playing later, need to crack on with the Crazy Train solo. . .

**pel666** · 10-08-2006, 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by TommysGs

Get a guitar strap and play standing up.
You are going to have to learn to play standing eventually anyway.
With a strap you can position the guitar at a comfortable hieght for your reach and you won't be hunched over it.
You can also wear the strap sitting down to hold the guitar up.

Fully agree, that's what I ended up doing years ago. Playing standing up improves overall handling, and that's the way you would perform on stage as well!

**lefthandedshredder** · 10-08-2006, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by pel666

Fully agree, that's what I ended up doing years ago. Playing standing up improves overall handling, and that's the way you would perform on stage as well!

Yep no doubt about it, I'll be honest that it kind of feels wanky standing there, you cant help but put on expressions and run around

If you are someone who rehearses with a band / jams with a band you'd usually get your standing practise there (i do)

But if you're a bedroom shredder you're missing out on many skills, one of them being able to play just as well standing as you do sitting.

**Dr. Greenthumb** · 10-08-2006, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by Lightningdan

I play sitting down, but with a strap and I shorten the strap way up so the guitar is in the middle of my stomach where it'd be if I were standing. Its very comfortable that way.

And.. This might really help inspire you to practice more if you have an electric.

GuitarPort

I have it and I play all the time now. Its awesome. You get backing tracks, tabs, hundreds of lessons, and tones and amp models to play with.

Does the GuitarPort work with basses the same way? I mean I am sure it will "work" just by plugging into it, but does it have any specific lessons or backing tracks geared towards playing bass, not 6 twangers?

Oh, and I always use a strap when I play even if I sit. It is much more comfortable...and basses are a tad bit meatier than guitars.

**Cobra** · 10-08-2006, 11:43 AM

As far as I'm aware guitarport doesn't have bass tabs, but you can get the bass model pack. I've just bought the tripple model pack guys, I'm super rigged now with something stupid like 50 amps, I'll give you my verdict later on tonight. . .

**atomicholiday** · 10-08-2006, 01:48 PM

There used to be a 30 day free trial for GuitarPort online. Not sure if there is anymore or not, but it's def worth checking out.

**Lightningdan** · 10-08-2006, 11:41 PM

There's a 30 day free trial still. Now you download "Gearbox" instead of the guitarport software and gearbox works with everything even guitar port, the pods, and TonePort. Rifftracker is nice, but its very spendy. I don't have it I just record with audacity which is free.
Yes there's bass pedals and effects and tones with the bass expansion packs, which you have to buy. I don't really know about lessons for bass though.

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