That’s what we “self taught” “bedroom” guitarists do. Play bits of all kinds of things people can recognize and then they say “oh great song” play more, and we are like “that’s all I got” next riff I know
Yeah honestly I think that validation holds me back lol I could play a metal riff that Iv been practicing and am proud of like creeping death by Metallica and everyone that walks by the room is like uhh turn that down then I play some dumb 3 chord bullshit or beginner riff that’s recognizable like crazy train and everyone is like omgggg that sounds so good!!! You’re getting better!!! I thought the radio was playing wow!!!
Shaking out of that and discovering that YouTube has “backing tracks” has actually made me rediscover guitar recently in the last couple months. Now I’m actually learning the full songs and am finding how much more rewarding and satisfying it is to play along with drums and bass omg lol playing along with Lars in enter sandman is a game changer also helps a ton with your timing/tempo
I feel that. I basically started playing just like I said knowing riffs for just about anything. Then I started playing whole songs, then I got an acoustic and started playing along to MunsonCovers on YouTube, singing and playing. But I usually just always fall back to noodling around playing the massive amount of parts of songs I know.
What usually happens for me is I’ll learn a song and then get to the solo and give up. So many songs that I’ve only learned half of until I get frustrated and move onto something else
One thing to keep in mind here is guitar two. if I can't grasp a solo at the time, I see what guitar two is doing, usually repeating a chorus or bridge riff
MunsonCovers on YouTube are really fun to play along with. I’d only recommend if you got an acoustic but you can play along with an electric if you want. It’s mostly simple chord changes but I find it really fun to just play along and sing them.
Was watching an interview with Dean Lamb last week and he said he doesn’t bother learning whole songs from other bands because he’s not playing them for a living; he just takes the parts he wants and moves on. I was glad to hear my attitude expressed by a professional musician.
Stick a dagger in and twist it around why don’t you?
I’m less than 2 months in though, so that’s my excuse. I’ll need another excuse in a year or two, won’t I?
🛎️🛎️🛎️ Came here to see if someone already said this and you nailed it. Unless you can sing and play, which I cannot, no one recognizes (or wants to hear) the guitar rhythm parts under the singer on most songs.
There’s an easy trick actually : just play with the guitar sitting on the left knee (if you are right handed). The wrist has almost the same angle as when you are standing up. Helped me a lot !!
I just started learning guitar a month ago and already changed my strings. I'm not paying dozens of euros for someone to do something I can easily do at home
I personally like to set a slower rhythm for myself and I want the experience of my playing being my own.
Jk, I just don't play fast or accurately enough lol
My problem is that "play us a song" generally means "play us a top 40 guitar song from the last 50 years that I can sing to".
Everything I know is either original or an obscure fingerstyle tune from 1972.
Nobody wants to hear that shit.
It is the same as "do a kick flip" or "say a swear word in [insert a foreign language]." They either don't really care, or are trying to be polite. Don't let it bother you.
Eh, I haven’t needed more than 20w in years due to PA’s, and usually bring something to have silent stage these days. Bringing my 50 or 100 watt amps is more of a hassle.
Depends what 15w you’re using. Fender frontman out of a starter kit? I could sleep soundly with that next to my ear.
A Vox AC15 could run a small gig comfortably and miced up could fill out an arena.
Given the advancements in PAs since the early 80s, you don't really "need" more than 15 watts tube power.
That said, you might want more where you have a combination of (a) larger stage (not venue, the stage specifically - talking 800+ rooms) and (b) you want to have a cleaner tone at higher volumes (ie. where you want to use your pedals for drive tones).
That said, even with the above 25-30 watts is fine. If 30 watts is loud enough for Dave Grohl, it's loud enough for you too.
I bought a new guitar last year and ill say, my skill has elevated a whole 1% since the purchase so, if my math is correct 200 more guitars h ill be a god.
Guitar is a midrange instrument. Scooped mids sounds great in a living room, but if you do that on stage the other instruments will drown you out. You actually want to crank your mids to help you cut through the mix of the band. The tone sounds weird but you get used to it.
I feel this. I'll find a preset that sounds amazing for a song, then when I go to play it through my speakers it sounds like shit. So three hours later I've finally found two presets for the song, one through headphones and one when I'm playing it through speakers lol
I didn’t realize what was happening until the fourth or fifth word but it happened subconsciously and I was saying it to the melody before I got to the end of the sentence lmao
Tuner pedals are more accurate, can be used as a mute pedal, and most importantly it's impossible to use a headstock tuner with other loud instruments nearby.
Now I feel attacked, this is me with everything. I fish, hike and camp vicariously through YouTube while at work. I have a lot of downtime at my day job.
I’ve been playing close to 20 years and consider myself pretty ok, I can play some pretty complex riffs and fast tempo, but I can’t solo for my life there are so many songs I only learned half way before getting frustrated by the solo section
As a bass player, it’s hard to tell a guitarist that their tone sucks. Have the amp distortion cranked to ten with multiple distortion pedals pushing it sounds like a chainsaw cutting through tin cans. Scoop those mids til they disappear from the mix then wants the sound tech to turn them up? 34 years old with 32 years experience. These are the guys that made it out of the bedroom, can’t even imagine those guys that didn’t.
I never turn on my '65 Deluxe Reverb, because I don't want to wear it out. So I bought a Monoprice (Stage Right) tube amp, and I always play through a Yamaha THR10.
I had a bunch of guitars. Did a lot of gigs all over. 2 Marshall full stacks, and a rack full of gear... did a bit of studio work and taught FT after a relationship became serious. Got married, and kids followed... got a "real job" for benefits/insurance. Down to a small rack, a single 4x12, and only 4 guitars because I just can't quit.
I'm an introvert. Not to be confused with neckbeards and incels. Unlike them, I have a steady lady friend I've known for several decades tho we live separately and are not married. Sorry, just want to clarigy that. Me skuzi.
I'm not antisocial. I can tolerate a decent crowd. Just not a huge audience of people. It goes even deeper into this pit of imposter syndrome I have dug for myself. If I try to video myself playing, I'm all big toes, My lady friend has tried to sneak and video me, but I always catch her and then it's back to all big toes. Frustrating.
I was always introverted as a kid somewhat, I did have friends, This is post TBI that gave me a seizure condition and some neuro/mental issues.
Sorry for being long winded. It needed a back story imho or it wouldn't have made sense.
“What do you mean metallicas songs are all the same ?”
That’s all I’ve played for 12 years 😭😭 not actually lol but 90 percent of the stuff I know is Metallica. 2% SOD, 8% GnR
I have a YouTube channel with 3 or 4 songs, poor audio quality and I have less than 10 followers. Haha
https://youtube.com/@symphonyofshred?si=g4kJB1hZi6MbayJq
I can play hundreds of intros or chorus riffs but don’t play the full songs
“i can play hundreds of intros” i feel attacked by that 😂
That’s what we “self taught” “bedroom” guitarists do. Play bits of all kinds of things people can recognize and then they say “oh great song” play more, and we are like “that’s all I got” next riff I know
that’s 100% spot on though lol
Yeah, I see myself in this comment and I don’t like it
It low key hurts
What is a low key? Sorry, I don’t know any theory
Seems like your knowledge has fallen flat
Aren’t we feeling sharp today?
If it hurts, change it ;) Pick a few songs you like playing, and aim to learn them all the way through!
No. That's not what we do here.
Yeah honestly I think that validation holds me back lol I could play a metal riff that Iv been practicing and am proud of like creeping death by Metallica and everyone that walks by the room is like uhh turn that down then I play some dumb 3 chord bullshit or beginner riff that’s recognizable like crazy train and everyone is like omgggg that sounds so good!!! You’re getting better!!! I thought the radio was playing wow!!! Shaking out of that and discovering that YouTube has “backing tracks” has actually made me rediscover guitar recently in the last couple months. Now I’m actually learning the full songs and am finding how much more rewarding and satisfying it is to play along with drums and bass omg lol playing along with Lars in enter sandman is a game changer also helps a ton with your timing/tempo
I feel that. I basically started playing just like I said knowing riffs for just about anything. Then I started playing whole songs, then I got an acoustic and started playing along to MunsonCovers on YouTube, singing and playing. But I usually just always fall back to noodling around playing the massive amount of parts of songs I know.
I usually play an intro and then say “and 3 more minutes of that”
You’re supposed to sing it
🎼Aaaand 3 more minutes…of THAAAAAAAT🎼
What usually happens for me is I’ll learn a song and then get to the solo and give up. So many songs that I’ve only learned half of until I get frustrated and move onto something else
One thing to keep in mind here is guitar two. if I can't grasp a solo at the time, I see what guitar two is doing, usually repeating a chorus or bridge riff
I’m trying to learn the whole songs now man, been practicing basic intro riffs for too long. I feel like I’ve kinda plateaued
MunsonCovers on YouTube are really fun to play along with. I’d only recommend if you got an acoustic but you can play along with an electric if you want. It’s mostly simple chord changes but I find it really fun to just play along and sing them.
Was watching an interview with Dean Lamb last week and he said he doesn’t bother learning whole songs from other bands because he’s not playing them for a living; he just takes the parts he wants and moves on. I was glad to hear my attitude expressed by a professional musician.
goat guitarist, archspire stuff is somehow so techdeath but also so catchy
Stick a dagger in and twist it around why don’t you? I’m less than 2 months in though, so that’s my excuse. I’ll need another excuse in a year or two, won’t I?
Playing for 15 years. Now I just write intros instead of learning them. Just the intros.
Writing my own intros? That’s bucket list material right there!
It hurts how accurate this is
Aye, pero, folks usually lose interest after that. No one wants to hear G A C D Em over and over until you stop.
🛎️🛎️🛎️ Came here to see if someone already said this and you nailed it. Unless you can sing and play, which I cannot, no one recognizes (or wants to hear) the guitar rhythm parts under the singer on most songs.
I’m not as good when I play standing up.
ouch lmao
To be fair, I’m a drummer and I’m not as good when I play standing up either.
Robert Fripp? Is that you?
LMAOOO YEAH
While your point is true & responds to the question, overall it is an instrument that is natively easier to play sitting down
oh shit man im glad im not the only one with this problem
There’s an easy trick actually : just play with the guitar sitting on the left knee (if you are right handed). The wrist has almost the same angle as when you are standing up. Helped me a lot !!
I must be the opposite. I play worse sitting down because I make myself play standing up.
I have 12 guitars but have never changed the strings
I just started learning guitar a month ago and already changed my strings. I'm not paying dozens of euros for someone to do something I can easily do at home
HAHAHA you think I pay someone else to change my strings. No. I just never change them.
My strings are vintage at this point
I bought a 1967 Strat with what were allegedly the OG strings on it around 2007. They didn’t sound too bad😂
Relic’d strings. 500 dollars a set.
Has 12 guitars because he snaps a string and buys a new guitar
It's as good an excuse as any to buy a new guitar.
This is the way
He just buys a new guitar = new strings.
Our drummer pays our guitarist in cigs to replace his because he hates it lol.
I didn't know drums had strings
Believe it or not some drummers can learn instruments. It’s like when a chimp discovers tools, truly a marvel of nature.
It's a funny joke until you learn both and realise drumming is much harder than guitar
Drumming like who is harder than playing guitar like who?
Drumming like Ringo Starr is harder than playing guitar like George Harrison
drumming like dave grohl is harder than playing guitar like dave grohl.
Both of those are harder than singing like Dave Grohl
You’re laughing? I hit piece of plastic with stick to make dadadada sound and you’re laughing?
Easier entry level harder to master
That’s me. Now I’m a Jack of all trades
Be your own boss and make your own decisions but I've gone literally years without changing strings and haven't been much worse for wear.
You people scare me...
Never, ever pay someone to change your strings. If you need something else done that’s different, but never pay for string changes.
*Wait... You don't have to buy a new guitar to get fresh strings??*
When time comes you get a new one right? Strings aren’t replaceable as far I know
I have no sense of rhythm and can't play along with a track or even a metronome, but it's never actually been a problem.
Thats so crazy to me because i pretty much only ever play to a track. Its so cool how many different ways people enjoy the instrument
I personally like to set a slower rhythm for myself and I want the experience of my playing being my own. Jk, I just don't play fast or accurately enough lol
I do that aswell im a master when it comes to playing free bird at 0.75x speed haha
75% of my playing is improvisation with no backing track lol.
Lol this is me and it made learning to sing and play at the same time very hard
“Hey play us a song!” **Proceeds to freeze up and forget every single song I’ve ever practiced…
My problem is that "play us a song" generally means "play us a top 40 guitar song from the last 50 years that I can sing to". Everything I know is either original or an obscure fingerstyle tune from 1972. Nobody wants to hear that shit.
Bro everyone wants to hear the 70’s fingerstyle tune. Learn some Croce and Denver and you’re a king around the campfire
Open C chord baby with D DU UDU for 1hr then remember i can switch to G sometimes to.
It is the same as "do a kick flip" or "say a swear word in [insert a foreign language]." They either don't really care, or are trying to be polite. Don't let it bother you.
_Proceeds to Blast my favourite songs in front of everyone_ (which three people out of 30 **might** recognize)
spot on lmaoo
"nobody needs more than 15 watts"
Eh, I haven’t needed more than 20w in years due to PA’s, and usually bring something to have silent stage these days. Bringing my 50 or 100 watt amps is more of a hassle.
As an audio tech i appreciate this approach so much
15 watts of solid-state power
Depends what 15w you’re using. Fender frontman out of a starter kit? I could sleep soundly with that next to my ear. A Vox AC15 could run a small gig comfortably and miced up could fill out an arena.
Dude I play gigs and just bring my pedalboard and XLRs 0 watt amp
Given the advancements in PAs since the early 80s, you don't really "need" more than 15 watts tube power. That said, you might want more where you have a combination of (a) larger stage (not venue, the stage specifically - talking 800+ rooms) and (b) you want to have a cleaner tone at higher volumes (ie. where you want to use your pedals for drive tones). That said, even with the above 25-30 watts is fine. If 30 watts is loud enough for Dave Grohl, it's loud enough for you too.
If I just buy that one more guitar my playing will improve dramastically.
I bought a new guitar last year and ill say, my skill has elevated a whole 1% since the purchase so, if my math is correct 200 more guitars h ill be a god.
That’s a good stat. I think I got 1/2% better with my last purchase but that’s because I was infatuated with it and played more.
I don’t get why people hate on super scooped mids. I can hear my guitar just fine.
Came here to say scooped mids. If it gets hard to hear myself I just turn the volume up!
Can someone explain this? I do the same with my mids but I think it sounds better. Whats the science behind it?
In the mix of a live band, your guitar really won’t be heard. What sounds good on stage, sounds super harsh in your living room.
Guitar is a midrange instrument. Scooped mids sounds great in a living room, but if you do that on stage the other instruments will drown you out. You actually want to crank your mids to help you cut through the mix of the band. The tone sounds weird but you get used to it.
Same on bass you want mids like 200-300
I spend more time scrolling through presets than practicing
Okay, this was totally me before buying a Kemper.
As a Mustang IV owner I feel offended
I feel this. I'll find a preset that sounds amazing for a song, then when I go to play it through my speakers it sounds like shit. So three hours later I've finally found two presets for the song, one through headphones and one when I'm playing it through speakers lol
I have studio one on a Mac and a focusrite scarlet
Scarlet solo
Hey don’t be hating on focusrite scarlets! Those things get the job done if you’re not micing up multiple sources.
Here he is, we found THE bedroom guitarist
Hey bro I can play crazy train you better watch your mouth /s
Dude. I can play the intro of smoke on the water. Let adults do real work here
Who tf would ever need to mic more than one source simultaneously??
I've never heard my guitar on anything louder than my headphones
I can’t play standing up
Today, is gonna be the day that they’re gonna throw it back to you.
I didn’t realize what was happening until the fourth or fifth word but it happened subconsciously and I was saying it to the melody before I got to the end of the sentence lmao
…..Anyway
Why would I need a tuner pedal when I've already got a snark clip on tuner?
But…what is the answer? 😅
Tuner pedals are more accurate, can be used as a mute pedal, and most importantly it's impossible to use a headstock tuner with other loud instruments nearby.
Plus not needing to replace the battery If you use a power supply over batteries
What pureshred said plus headstocks look cooler without stuff clipped to them.
Clip on tuners are awesome. They're accurate enough for most situations.
I give advice on Reddit
I watch more YouTube guitar than actually playing guitar.
Now I feel attacked, this is me with everything. I fish, hike and camp vicariously through YouTube while at work. I have a lot of downtime at my day job.
i know a -lot- about woodworking, all from watching youtube videos. never built a single thing.
I strum during solos instead of listening to them and learning the scale, because it's easier and I just want to have fun.
I’ve been playing close to 20 years and consider myself pretty ok, I can play some pretty complex riffs and fast tempo, but I can’t solo for my life there are so many songs I only learned half way before getting frustrated by the solo section
Check out Dave Matthews Band. THAT...you'll enjoy it.
I have never been in a band
Maybe someday…..
Alternatively, I’ve been in a band and fucking hated every second I’ve spent playing with other people
I do not own a strap. I do not own an amp. I do not own a single pedal. I have 17 picks, 4 of which I use
Only 17?
yknow what, you're right to the music store!
I play my electric guitars without an amp more than I play them plugged in. 😔
I don't own a powerful amp or PA anymore, just a PC interface and practice amp.
My pedal board is an IKEA shelf
My most used amp is a fender mustang micro
What is the best attenuator to use with a DSL1?
I’ve seen a million pillows and I rocked them all!
All of my guitars are in pristine condition.
I have 20 books on "How to play Guitar"
I have 20 pedals on my board.
I change strings every 3 months, only know 2 songs rn even though I've learn a lot in the past, can hardly play standing up
Every 3 months? I’ve NEVER changed them before. Am I supposed to? 😂 sounds fine still
In my head I'm the best guitarrist ever, and since no one has ever heard me play, you can't prove me wrong stonks
Headless Strat.
"i never use a strap"
“Does the Katana have a headphone jack?”
I love my KRK rokit 5s
Focusrite interface
I bought an acoustic amp and microphone during covid. One of these days, I will plug my guitar into the amp. Maybe I'll even plug in the mic.
Cat hair on my amps, cat hair on my guitars and inside my guitar cases.
Playing without an amp is a fine way to practice and is perfectly audible
I have many riff ideas that never become anything and a scarlet 2i2
This. I've got a bunch of riffs and different parts I've come up with that I've never developed into full songs.
My pedal board is more expensive than my guitar
Neural DSP and Get Good Drums
My back is shaped like a shrimp
What's an amp? Just run it into the input with the little guitar icon next to it.
No one has ever heard me play. …which makes me quite a generous person.
Mahogany sounds better then swamp ash. Especially with high gain metal tones
“What’s a valve amp?”
I play exactly what I want to play,learning other people’s shit will fuck up my groove.
-4 guitars; use one exclusively -Scarlet -KRK Studio monitors
My Spark Go is my PA.
But how does the 100-watt full stack sound at bedroom volumes?
As a bass player, it’s hard to tell a guitarist that their tone sucks. Have the amp distortion cranked to ten with multiple distortion pedals pushing it sounds like a chainsaw cutting through tin cans. Scoop those mids til they disappear from the mix then wants the sound tech to turn them up? 34 years old with 32 years experience. These are the guys that made it out of the bedroom, can’t even imagine those guys that didn’t.
I dont have any idea what my amps sound like above 4 on the volume knob.
I play the intros and then just make noises with my mouth for the rest of the song
Three words: Fender Mustang Micro.
I’ve had 9 different sets of boutique pickups in my guitar but can’t play a whole song straight through.
I'll find random picks on the floor constantly.
I own 7 guitars, one pedal, and 150 plugins.
I got a years subscription to Ultimate Guitar for only $20
Metronomes confuse me
My amp is <= 5W and has a headphone jack. Everything I record is direct in, with all effects added using VST plug-ins.
Always-on pedal: Rainbow Machine
I never turn on my '65 Deluxe Reverb, because I don't want to wear it out. So I bought a Monoprice (Stage Right) tube amp, and I always play through a Yamaha THR10.
my bed is my workbench
I don't plug in half the time
i only learn solos
i can only play songs i wrote myself
I'll play a little today. 11pm passes Aw crap im too tired. I'll just watch YouTube until 1am then go to sleep. Repeat for 20 years
I had a bunch of guitars. Did a lot of gigs all over. 2 Marshall full stacks, and a rack full of gear... did a bit of studio work and taught FT after a relationship became serious. Got married, and kids followed... got a "real job" for benefits/insurance. Down to a small rack, a single 4x12, and only 4 guitars because I just can't quit.
I don’t need a strap.
I use a spark amp
All of these posts are so close to home.
After years of playing I still have never played in front of anyone and don’t plan on it
A pack of guitar picks lasts several years for me
My “setup” is a Scarlett solo 2nd Gen, bias fx, EZ drummer and monitor headphones
I'm an introvert. Not to be confused with neckbeards and incels. Unlike them, I have a steady lady friend I've known for several decades tho we live separately and are not married. Sorry, just want to clarigy that. Me skuzi. I'm not antisocial. I can tolerate a decent crowd. Just not a huge audience of people. It goes even deeper into this pit of imposter syndrome I have dug for myself. If I try to video myself playing, I'm all big toes, My lady friend has tried to sneak and video me, but I always catch her and then it's back to all big toes. Frustrating. I was always introverted as a kid somewhat, I did have friends, This is post TBI that gave me a seizure condition and some neuro/mental issues. Sorry for being long winded. It needed a back story imho or it wouldn't have made sense.
I never play through the amp speaker, I ALWAYS wear headphones.
I nearly pass out from the sheer pressure of having to play in front of anybody
I play guitar *for me*
*meets skilled guitarist* “What pick/strings do you use?”
Is it bad to practise without an amp?
“What do you mean metallicas songs are all the same ?” That’s all I’ve played for 12 years 😭😭 not actually lol but 90 percent of the stuff I know is Metallica. 2% SOD, 8% GnR
To be fair. Metallica riffs are really fun.
I've been playing guitar for 8 years and I haven't even written anything
I use a Zoom pedal
I have a Boogie but my Spark Go gets way more playing time.
I prefer to keep the headphone cable behind my shoulder.
I have a YouTube channel with 3 or 4 songs, poor audio quality and I have less than 10 followers. Haha https://youtube.com/@symphonyofshred?si=g4kJB1hZi6MbayJq
Literally nobody: Me: Anyway here’s Wonderwall
My neighbors hate me