I regret buying a guitar, I can’t even do the simplest shit on it according to YouTube… I dunno if it’s laziness or just being tired of sucking so much and not being able to play the music that I like… Maybe a mix of both?

  • anon6789@lemmy.world
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    24 days ago

    Yesterday there was another AskLemmy about what was the easiest instrument to learn and I felt like anyone asking that question without already having a clear vision in their head of what they wanted to be playing as far as instruments and music was just going to waste their time and money, but even trying to be very polite I thought it was too negative so I didn’t post it.

    I think people think music will be a fun relaxing hobby, but it’s really like training to be an athlete. You won’t get any good unless it’s something you truly want to do because it’s a ton of work and a good instrument is expensive and I feel you should really start by taking lessons so you didn’t waste time on trial and error figuring out what to learn instead of learning how to do it.

    Craigslist and eBay are full of gear that was barely touched because music is hard. It can be very rewarding, but you will still hate it at times. I tell my teacher all the time that I hate her 3/4 of the time because she constantly challenges me, but by the end of that week, I’ve put in enough time to master the lesson, and then I’m so happy and feel the rest of the time was worth it. It’s like some people love going to the gym and getting those endorphins or runners getting a runners high. Some people live for that, but for others, it’s just hell.

    It sounds like you don’t enjoy the time and money you’ve spent. Just live and learn. Maybe come back to it later in life and see if things change. But don’t force yourself into hating it.

  • juliebean@lemm.ee
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    24 days ago

    trying to start any kind of art as an adult sucks because inevitably by that point, you’ve got a fair head start on your art appreciation skill, which makes you perceive your initial attempts at art creation as particularly heinous. if you start as a kid, you’re less capable of recognizing how bad you are, and you aren’t having to compare yourself against peers who’ve got twenty years of experience on you.

  • For me, the practice wasn’t enjoyable. I’m the type of person that cannot stick to things for their rewards if it’s not enjoyable. That’s not to say I can’t stick to things, it’s just the doing itself has to be enjoyable. I’ve been doing a martial art for over twenty years now but I just kept showing up because I enjoyed it.

  • eezeebee@lemmy.ca
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    24 days ago

    Guitar is hard. It takes months or years of practice to even develop the finger strength and speed to play some things. I always had fun learning in my early teens, because I wanted to, even though I was terrible. Then after 2 or so years of playing every day it became really fun and I was able to get the ideas from my imagination to my fingers.

    It’s like a lot of things worth learning - you have to really want it, and it’s never as easy as it appears.

  • lolola@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    24 days ago

    I think I’m one of the lucky ones with a natural aptitude for music, but I don’t quite take it seriously enough to really hone my skills and become an expert at it. Whenever I’ve tried, I’ve found it to be more stressful than it is fun. I’m not trying to make it a side hustle, so if it stops feeling fun, I back off of it.

    I guess it also depends on the instrument a bit. I mostly play solo, and some instruments don’t seem to lend themselves well to that for me. Piano is my instrument of choice these days.

  • Nefara@lemmy.world
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    24 days ago

    That’s ok. I like to play music but guitar just isn’t that fun for me either. I have trouble remembering fingering and chords and it’s hard on my squishy delicate nerd fingers. The musical instruments I’ve been able to keep with and practice I did so because I just liked messing with them and making nice sounds. Did you make this post hoping people would encourage you to keep at it? You don’t have to keep at it if it’s not fun, you can sell the guitars to some local aspiring musician. What I would recommend is trying out some other instruments, maybe at a music store. Something drove you to try out guitar, maybe that creative spark just needs a piano, or a glockenspiel, or a zither or something else instead. Just… try before you buy next time.

  • WhiteOakBayou@lemmy.world
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    24 days ago

    I’ve played and given up the mandolin several times over tge past several years. Longest continuous before now was maybe three months. What I’ve learned through my own learning process is:

    1. Practice in time. Even if it’s slow.
    2. Playing with backing tracks helps a ton
    3. Posture is key. On my current streak of playing I was able to go from playing the melody of kids songs to the rhythm of some grateful dead songs (at 80 bpm instead of 140 bpm) after spending time watching videos of how to hold and sit. I then had to relearn all my fingerings but it didn’t take nearly as long this time.
    4. Sucking is just part of learning anything new. I guess one either enjoys the act of improving independent of the current result or one doesn’t.

    Post script: The reason I quit when I do is because I become frustrated with plateaus. I now believe a lot of these plateaus came from bad mechanics. My pinky could not reach the 7th fret no matter how much I practiced. I could not switch chords without destroying my rhythm or muting extra strings etc.

  • makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml
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    24 days ago

    I’ve been learning traditional art for nearly 2 years now. I suck constantly.

    Then very rarely I paint something I like.

    I find I paint things I like more often now than previously.

    This stuff takes time. Stick with it.

  • Apytele@sh.itjust.works
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    25 days ago

    My middle school music teacher was mean so I didn’t take her class again. There were a lot of authority figures who felt I needed to toughen up in one way or another and I gave up on a lot of things because of that mindset.

  • demesisx@infosec.pub
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    23 days ago

    Reading your replies to comments here, it’s definitely your attitude that prevented you from learning guitar. Put it down and learn piano or keyboard. However, this time, try to somehow have a positive outlook.

  • Zelaf@sopuli.xyz
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    23 days ago

    I started playing recorder in 2018 and have been practicing ever since, bought a couple different instruments after that and it’s been great. I joined a recorder ensemble too and we do local plays every now and then!

    Since I started learning I learnt the alt recorder and tenor recorder too. Then I had a ukulele laying about I started to learn as well. I also bought a trumpet but learning that has been slow, I also got a Venova, kalimba, accordion and melodica laying about that I play on occasionally.

    I think it’s a mix of finding the right instrument and inspiration to get a goal of. The only reason I started practicing recorder was because of this meme from VRChat

  • BlackRing@midwest.social
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    25 days ago

    Guitar is the only hobby I acquired that never took. I wanted it to take, but did not have the funds to pursue lessons.

    I could not get over the beginner hurdles of how to strum, how to really hold the pick, and so forth. If I could have taken lessons or gotten past that I might have learned and still be playing today instead of seeing the case just sitting there collecting dust.

    • CYB3R@lemm.eeOP
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      25 days ago

      The strumming is a nightmare I agree, but even the simplest songs that only require 2 strings without wide strumming are impossible, accidentally muting the strings, not pressing enough, moving the fingers fast, using your pinky… Is such an impossible instrument

      • teamevil@lemmy.world
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        25 days ago

        Dude it’s just practice… Id suggest spending 50 bux on a classical guitar, the nylon strings and far enough apart and gentle on your hands. You’ll be amazed.

            • CYB3R@lemm.eeOP
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              25 days ago

              Months. Not years, I would NEVER try anything that take that long, not even videogames

              • zelifcam@lemmy.world
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                25 days ago

                You must think people pick up guitar and are touring with their bands in “months”? Sir, that’s not how it works. That’s not now ANYTHING in life works. The fact you brought up video games for some odd reason makes me think you must be a kid. Practice and hard work is what’s going to make up your whole life. Guitar may not be for you but many things in life are going to challenge you.

                Best of luck.

                • CYB3R@lemm.eeOP
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                  25 days ago

                  The typical “hur dur videogames are for childs” in what decade are you living, the 80s?

                  Sucking for months isn’t fun, that’s it. Also bands are literally doing THEIR JOB. Of course they can’t be doing and practicing that for just months.

  • orcrist@lemm.ee
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    23 days ago

    How many hours did you practice? What did you practice? These are fundamental questions for any new instrumental hobby.

    If you are doing everything solo, it’s easy to have misplaced expectations or a bad practice menu, or even worse, no solid practice menu at all. Screwing around is cool once you have a basic level of proficiency.

    But also, it’s OK to try it and later realize that you don’t like it.

  • Vanth@reddthat.com
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    25 days ago

    I pick up and discard hobbies frequently. I do hobbies for entertainment; once it’s no longer enjoyable, I move on. Some hobbies I find I don’t really like, some I get tired of when I hit some level of mastery, very few last me for year over year. I basically treat trying new hobbies as a hobby.

    If guitar isn’t fun for you, move on. Definitely don’t let feelings of guilt and laziness in, that’s not the point of a hobby.

    • Oka@lemmy.ml
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      25 days ago

      I’m exactly the same. Hobbies just don’t stick, and I can’t commit to the grind of getting better at them.

      Have you been diagnosed with adhd by chance? I haven’t, but I suspect it’s one symptom.

      • Vanth@reddthat.com
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        25 days ago

        Nope, no diagnosis and I don’t think I am ADHD. I’m a middle-aged woman though so my historic understanding of ADHD pretty much excludes women by default.

        Where I come down on is I don’t think I care if my hobby hopping is a symptom of ADHD. I enjoy the variety, it gives me the entertainment or sense of accomplishment that I seek from hobbies. Same with work and other spheres of life, I don’t feel a negative impact so am not motivated to look into a formal ADHD diagnosis. My take on my personal situation, obvs, and not meant as a blanket statement about ADHD or other neurodivergent people. Maybe there’s a little lack of acceptance on my part that I might be ADHD, but that hasn’t risen to top of priority list with my therapist yet 😛

        I also like that I know a little bit about a ton of hobbies so when I meet new people I have a wealth of conversation topics that are deeper than weather or work.

  • BertramDitore@lemmy.world
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    25 days ago

    I believe there are 3 kinds of musicians. Keep in mind I have no evidence for this, it’s just what I’ve experienced through a life of playing music and being around lots of musicians.

    #1 is someone with natural ability, these are the people who seem to be able to pick up any instrument and intuitively understand how to make it sound like music. This is the rarest kind of musician.

    #2 is someone with a little bit of #1’s natural ability, but like 70% of their skill comes from honing it through sustained, long-term practice. It’s hard, and can be incredibly frustrating, but also very rewarding. I’d say many if not most successful musicians fall into this category.

    #3 is someone with none of #1’s natural ability, but a passionate desire to learn. With grueling long hours of practicing the basics, studying some theory, and intentional instruction, #3 is perfectly capable of playing an instrument beautifully, but it will be a lot more work for them than it would be for #’s 1 and 2.

    It’s probably pretty similar to sports. Some people are naturals, but almost anyone can learn to be really good at them, it just takes a shitload of work.

    • snooggums@midwest.social
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      25 days ago

      It’s probably pretty similar to sports. Some people are naturals, but almost anyone can learn to be really good at them, it just takes a shitload of work.

      Being a natural at something is being good at pattern recognition, whether it is music, sports, cooking, writing, or pretty much anything prople can be good at. While the vast majority of people can get good at things through practice, there are people on the opposite end from the people where it comes naturally that won’t be able to do better than a beginnger even with a lot of practice.

      There are the equivalents of being tone deaf for pretty much everything humans do.

    • constantokra@lemmy.one
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      25 days ago

      There are people who have natural ability at every instrument, but it’s much more common for it to be with one or two types of instruments. Them a little (enjoyable) practice will get them to whatever level of mastery they’re happy with. They can be totally hopeless at other instruments, and average at others. The ones that will blow your mind are those who are total naturals at one, but choose to pursue an instrument they have no natural ability at.

    • bstix@feddit.dk
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      25 days ago

      I’m a #4 then. The one who knows all the theory but don’t care about practicing. I can play a lot of different instruments badly.

      Now this is not necessarily a bad role, because if you want to perform live it’s absolutely necessary to simplify things in order to ensure that you can actually deliver something and not get thrown off by imperfections or getting bored with certain parts.

      • Jarix@lemmy.world
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        23 days ago

        Honestly. Start playing guitar hero and rock band. Not even joking.

        They teach help you coordinate your two hands together in a very fun way… Assuming you enjoy the music in those games.

        More importantly though is what are you trying to do by learning guitar? Are you just wanting to sing a few songs around a campfire? So you want to be a lead guitarist leading those wicked solos or a classical virtuoso with amazing technique?

        Musicians come in many forms what is your purpose? What does success look like to YOU?

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpqAz0ZNQaY

        • CYB3R@lemm.eeOP
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          23 days ago

          Already finished world tour and warriors of rock 10 years ago. Is a damn toy and not playing for real.

          • Jarix@lemmy.world
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            23 days ago

            Ahh no i didn’t mean as a substitute. If you already played them then they arent going to help you.

            If you enjoyed them, you might then want to check out rocksmith as it uses your real guitar. I however cant wrap my head around the UI in that one so its rough for me, but you might have a way better experience with it than me

            Also a friend who is an amazing musician did a lot of content on yousician but i havent used that personally so cant attest to it