Maintaining Your Guitar Playing Ability In Your Teens

I guess this has become a little series of doing "guitar stuff" in your teens. I never intended it to become this little series but hey, I need to keep writing for the sake of my English grades (don't ask). I would once again like to point out that these ideas are spawned from my personel experience, don't be mistaken that I have no background from which these were created.

I guess that these rules could apply to anyone, but teenage guitarists are limited by several factors which adults are not. First and formost is money, but also practice space, angry famillies telling you to turn down that racket and a brain more likely to get carried away or quit.

This specific article is pretty much a list of miscelaneous tips. If you read Starting Guitar In Your Teens and Being In A Band In Your Teens you may, by now, be a decent guitarists who plays a gig with your band once a month or so. Here's how to keep it up:

01. Ask for other peoples opinions on your playing

Your own judgement can be clouded when making an opinion on yourself, so get other people to make one. Familly are the best, as they won't try to patronise you, nor try to make you feel full of yourself. Friends can be a slightly less reliable source. Obviously I don't know your peers, but I have found that those who don't play are easily impressed, whilst those who do may get jealous if your better than them. Teenagers, particularly boys, always want to appear as the best when it comes to guitar, because in the boys case, it can often mean more chance of pulling. I have been a victim of this kind of thing, and it may be part of the reason why I have been single for almost a year and a half. :P

02. Save your money

If your really serious about your instrument, and your often stuck for cash, don't waste your money. You will need it to constantly maintain and improve your gear. Maybe set aside a guitar fund every month. Obviously I'm sure that everyone has their loves and hobbies, so you will want cash for these, but it's just a thought. Another idea, but not a nessesity, is don't take up smoking etc, because it will eventually mean a constant overhead in your cash. Of course if you want to, do, your loss I guess. Work to a budget and try and minimise waste in it so you can constantly be inproving your gear, your sound and ability.

03. Get material

By material I mean tab books, and a guitar magasine. Mags contain various information, help and tab which constantly keep you updated about guitar news and history. Know your instrument, and read these mags as a constant source of help and advice when your stuck with something. Tab books also will give you a good repertoire of songs to play to impress or to cover, and open yourself up to a wider range of audience.

04. Play Play Play

Keep playing everyday. Play two or three songs along with a C.D. everyday, play a few scales, improvise over a track or in free time and practice new songs. Be commited just like you would be with a piano, clarinet or any other musical instrument. If you slaken off, your ability will go downhill and you may forget useful knowledge.

05. Look like you know what your talking about

Not so essential this one, but it may improve your reputation amongst other teen guitarists. Also, it can be great fun when you see confused looks on other people faces. Think of it this way, about 85% of young guitarists will name Jimi Hendrix as the greatest guitarist ever. Whether you like him or not, it can not be denied that Jimi "wasn't bad". However out of these 85%, i bet that less than a quarter actually own a Jimi Hendrix album, and maybe a third havn't even heard a Jimi Hendrix song. However, it is general concensus now days that Jimi was the greatest, he comes top in almost every listing, poll and contest. If you disagree with this, it is likely that a lot of people will give you shit for it. Agree with what is "cool", but come up with new ideas about the guitar, just don't make them too radical. Also, know the difference between rosewood and maplewood, a singlecoil and humbucker. Know which EQ settings work, and judge guitars. Of course this is not essential, so don't give me shit if you disagree.

06. Finally, the number one rule: have fun playing If you don't enjoy guitar, quit

Enjoy....

Comments

[TheEndHasNoEnd]

woooo 1st, nice article

[ATHForce]

2nd!!! not bad 4 *s

[dancing_jesus]

3rd cool-not too bad-good series of stuff though

[KrazyLilFairy]

pretty good stuff - i like it

[liam177lewis]

yeah i am one of the 25% that disagrees..... great article man.

liam x

[green_day_gal]

kool article, 4 stars from me

[backinblack478]

umm... Isn't it 15% that disagree, not 25?
Anyways, good article, I like the series.

[kornrules09]

great article. I love you.

[thesums4eva]

good article, fairly short, but got to the point, thanx for the tips

[ultradogfromhel]

good article, the one thing i wouldnt agree with is when you ask your family memembers to tell their opinions on how well you play. i dont think your mom's gunna say you suck if you do. ya know just one of those things

[Maet]

I have a problem with number 3. Tab books are great, but they seriously limit your knowledge. If you're really serious about your instrument, you should boycott tabs and work with manuscript and sheet music. Especially if you plan to branch out to another instrument such as piano where tabs are all but useless.

4 stars though.

[oddling8]

You make it seem as though knowing what you're talking about, and skill is most important. This article was pretty bad, 1 star.

[darkstar9814]

kick ass article. i also love u.

[GuitarJunkie]

I have a problem with number 3. Tab books are great, but they seriously limit your knowledge. If you're really serious about your instrument, you should boycott tabs and work with manuscript and sheet music. Especially if you plan to branch out to another instrument such as piano where tabs are all but useless.


Yea...no offense, but being able to read music has no representation on how dedicated you are or how good you can become...just ask Jimi Hendrix or Slash ...they couldnt read sheet music...and well, they are among the best ever

[dnjoe]

good article, however parents arebad to ask. Also dont ask friends, they dnt know what they're talking aboutunless they play guitar. guy in my school can play a C G and a couple of other basic chords and everyone thinks he is great. easiest way is to get a guitar teacher, hell be able to tell you if you suck or not.

[s_fall20]

good article, but parents are terrible because they don't want to discourage you and in my case don't have a clue what they are talking about. My friends are my best critics because most play and some are better then me.

[cryan2]

an ok..article not really crap!

[EV0L]

Agree with what is "cool"? Thats pretty s**tty advice to me buddy...

[VectorminatoR]

not too bad... 3 stars

[lacey_the_crazy]

Not too bad, but I really disagree with your last paragraph...You can't tell people to just agree with everybody else in order to look smart. And it really is your business if you have a "radical" opinion...Jimi Hendrix was considered quite "radical" in his heyday.
I assume that all you meant was that it helps to know your stuff and actually showcase an intelligent opinion about music? In that case, I do see where you're coming from. 4 stars I suppose.

[Pyro128]

Boycotting tabs entirely isnt always smart, but figuring out a song entirely on your own is a great way to learn (I'm not talking about figuring out some Blink-182 song for yourself and being proud of it.). I think learning how to play RHCP songs on my own is a great way to progress

[black_sabbath85]

Ok article, nothing special or exciting. 3/5
btw, its magazine and not magasine.

[white_waltz]

Boycotting tabs entirely isnt always smart, but figuring out a song entirely on your own is a great way to learn (I'm not talking about figuring out some Blink-182 song for yourself and being proud of it.). I think learning how to play RHCP songs on my own is a great way to progress

Thats pretty smart but i disagree. I read tabs all the time so dont callme hypicritical for telling this, call me weakminded:
I know this kid who picked guitar around 7th or 8th grade. All he did on some day was sit alone ( no leassons or anything, just a few lesson books and chord shapes and the such) and would listen to the radio in the dark. No matter what song wa spalying he'd try to match it as the song was playing. In the beginning months he'd be lucky to get a note. But after a while (since we all know radio has a tendency of repeating the same songs) he could paly pretty much every song that came up. He then moved on to albums and the such int he dark and nowadays hes one of the best guitarists around here. He plays in a jam band that would blow people away with their talent. Completely unplanned 30 minute solos where they no they play 5 measures then the next guitairst gets the next 5 and so on. They never miss a beat switching between rhytm and lead and the 2 guitarists always know the last note the other played on the last beat of the solo jsut by ear. Learning without tabs can be waht makes you greater than anyone else.

[hellsaga]

dude....great article...I read all your other articles but i gotta admit this was'nt your best

I do agree that playing sheet music will be helpful, but you gotta enjoi what you're playing right?? I alwaz play the songs I love, if you gimme a song i don't know or hate eg. simple plan, i would just give up....3 stars anyway, you can do better

[Maet]

Yea...no offense, but being able to read music has no representation on how dedicated you are or how good you can become...just ask Jimi Hendrix or Slash ...they couldnt read sheet music...and well, they are among the best ever

Since when should being a lucky idiot be rewarded? Knowledge is power. So why not learn?

[ryebread646]

Good article. Good ideas. Good sense of humor 5 satrs.

[Mispeled]

Yea...no offense, but being able to read music has no representation on how dedicated you are or how good you can become...just ask Jimi Hendrix or Slash ...they couldnt read sheet music...and well, they are among the best ever

While I'm not going to say that some great guitar players don't know how to read music, learning how to read music will improve your musical theory knowledge quite a bit. Thinking of songs as being composed of notes rather than fingerings will make you much better at song writing, soloing, etc.

[johash]

i am also one of the 15% who disagrees. jimi was awesome but he wasnt the greatest. in my eyes its SRV who is number one, just think SRV #1 coming from a 16yr old.

[metalhead8976]

Agree with what is "cool",

Yes kids, it is best to conform with everyone around you to make them think you know what you are doing, that is what mr hendrix would say ... um no

[chris5150]

hey awesome article, just wot i needed after that 'losing incentive to play" article.

[undeaded]

Always ask a friend. MAke sure they play guitar. Better if he's more experienced than you!

Good article, kind of common sense stuff though.

[mr.lame]

nice article. yea money is really a big thing. lol. thats what sucks too. like my dad doesn't want to buy me a new guitar and bass and amp as well. coz he said i still have one. like its been crappy and i have been playing for 2 years now. particularly bass. what you said about asking people for their opinions works. like we asked our friend who plays guitar. and we also let other guys watch us practice like chris' sister. and their advice made us do things right. listen to other's opinions and try them out. for they're your audience too.

[gtr-dude'n'a1/2]

jimi was good, but i think that clapton (dont give me crap if u disagree) was one of the best, if not the best... **** stars

[Dark_Sanity]

Jimi Hendrix? What about Randy Rhoads, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Jimmy Page, Dimebag, Zakk Wylde, or Van Halen?
Good article though

[BigBassFishing]

Ok article...Too bad you've been single for a year and a half haha.

[pozzobon13]

Jimi Hendrix? What about Randy Rhoads, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Jimmy Page, Dimebag, Zakk Wylde, or Van Halen?
Good article though

Yes.. But those are also more common choices between guitarists. There's more out there - Warren Haynes, Allan Holdsworth, Jeff Bond, Joe Perry.. Lists go on and on, nobody can judge, it's all in your opinion. :cheers:

Good article, few good points, didn't keep me very interested though. Still 4 stars.

[partyinmymind]

do what i do...forget about having a life and just practice your ass off.

[classicrockdude]

good article i agree with the jimi hendrix thing i dont like him but hes not bad.

[bennie_2006]

Jimi is considered (IMO) the best not because of sheer ability and technique. sure Steve Vai or Dime or Zakk Wylde and SRV and others could probably outplay Jimi...but he will forever be the greatest because he started it all, he created and revolutionized everything that all of the aformentioned guitar players are about...thats why hes the greatest.

[Purple Haze123]

do what i do...forget about having a life and just practice your ass off.

Thats my mato sometimes, but then I might get bord or distracted. I agree on both tabs and learning by ear. Learning by ear is great for building technuiqe, and tabs are great if you want to learn a cool songs that might be a little tough. Either way, as long as your practicing, it's all good. 5 stars.

[Sterbob23]

Uhmmm... guys, i believe you are forgetting one main guitarist, one which jimi hendrix said was better than he was. TERRY KAHTH! IMO the best guitarist of all time, jemi hendrix was good, yes, but terry could do more things with a guitar that hendrix never dreamed possible.

Good article, i liked it.

[risingtide]

great article,
cheers

[allenm]

Jimi Hendrix? What about Randy Rhoads, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Jimmy Page, Dimebag, Zakk Wylde, or Van Halen?
Good article though

Yeah, but just because you can play super fast and pul off heaps of fancy techniques doesn't mean your the best. those guys are great at PLAYING guitar, but not all of them write very good music for it.

Good article man, i like it how you don't force your opinion on us, so if we disagree, we can just ignore it. good stuff.

[WilliamVN'R]

Just to clear this, slash is the greatest guitarist ever, not jimi hendrix! Great article man!

[killer_mop]

I hate everyone that says jimi is god, he wasnt god and william you dont know what your talking about slash is not the best ever, the best ever is defently Steve Vai Or Joe Walsh

[psychodelia]

Regarding sheet music/tablature...

Tabs are good with regards to fingerings, and yes it can be a pain in the ass to learn chords from sheet music in the beginning.

However, learning solos from sheet music can be extremely helpful. Tablature only gives fingerings, not note names. Many guitarists can play scales of all kinds, but have no idea what notes they're playing. If you are improvising, unless you are doing a one chord vamp (which, unless handled properly, can be extremely boring) you will need to know what note each fret is.

[Volkl]

Jimi is god killer_mop and don't forget it. Although most people will think I'm like the rest of 'em who just say that to be cool I am infact a hardcore Hendrix fan and Jimi got no lessons or anything. He was a natural man.

Oh yeah, good article

[Valhalla]

All my friends think Keith Moon is the greatest guitar player.

[TommyWIg]

good stuff. stuff i already knew, but still good. i have been doing all those things on my own, though i know most people dont. most of the kids i know that play dont do any of that.

[Rock agnst Bush]

I know this kid who picked guitar around 7th or 8th grade. All he did on some day was sit alone ( no leassons or anything, just a few lesson books and chord shapes and the such) and would listen to the radio in the dark. No matter what song wa spalying he'd try to match it as the song was playing. In the beginning months he'd be lucky to get a note. But after a while (since we all know radio has a tendency of repeating the same songs) he could paly pretty much every song that came up. He then moved on to albums and the such int he dark and nowadays hes one of the best guitarists around here. He plays in a jam band that would blow people away with their talent. Completely unplanned 30 minute solos where they no they play 5 measures then the next guitairst gets the next 5 and so on. They never miss a beat switching between rhytm and lead and the 2 guitarists always know the last note the other played on the last beat of the solo jsut by ear. Learning without tabs can be waht makes you greater than anyone else

Who is this magical person you speak of?

[knotilus]

i like to play

[Ace_Ventuora]

Nice article, could have been a little deeper, but good 4 stars.

@white_waltz: Who is this person? Whats the name of his band?

[dwnbowden]

Brilliant article 5*s

[Blues Stringer]

nice article....I dont care for Hendrix really...he is a good guitarist, but i just dont like his music much...Clapton, SRV, and EVH are the best in my book. i cant pick just one of the above...Clapton for his wonderfull improv, SRV for his Speed and Eddie for his tapping and great lead. Just my opinion. no flaming please.

[kylewhalenscool]

GET A LIFE IF THERE WAS A -3250731285705 STAR, YOUD GET IT YOU SUCK MAKE A NEW COLOUMN!!!!

[kylewhalenscool]

sorry i never actually read it i just wanted to say something mean 5 stars

[WeirdMariachi]

A kid who got really good by listening to the radio and playing in the dark ? Seriously I wanna know who this guy is cus he sounds good. Maybe I should start listening more to the mainstream radio *rubs chin*

[gonzosrevenge55]

good article. but it would've been nice to actually tell people the difference between rosewood and maplewood. (yeah, i know they're different colors, but is there a difference in tone or playability?)

[cantshreddave]

i dont think i even know the difference, i just can tell one from the other, which gets me by i guess, be nice to know i guess, wouldnt hurt

[Guitarist132]

that was pretty good

[eddiefan001002]

yeah im 61st wooo.. nice article at least u didnt insult me in the first paragraph

[put_it_on_mytab]

good article man,i like all your stuff,and yeah smoking beats the *** out of the music fund

[put_it_on_mytab]

hey they edited me,well i'm a newbie,shoulda known!
FECK

[imamusician16]

nice lil bit of stuff you got there...

[AC/DC Dude8]

5 stars my friend, an alternative to tab books (if your short on $) would be this site. ive learned to play at least 5 songs in the last month on here. And your right, i do get a lot of s*** for saying that Slash is better than Hendrix.

[metaljunkie]

w00t! 65! but yea jimi is awesome, but people need to get into basses...nothing against guitars, but the bass is just as varied...there are bassists out there that should get some mainstream credit...not just flea...but like the bassist in Iron Maiden (dont know his name off hand) but he is amazing he is the reason anyone should listen to metal or Maiden...

[Gotrix]

ZAKK WYLDE RULESSS..!!!..

[ibanez-gnr14]

Slash kicks ass!

[lost_it_again]

another good article, keep em coming, 4 stars

[Robo_Hobo]

your beter off asking your friends.you mom/dad/cousin/micheal jackson wont tell you you stink

[5:15_Whofan]

the "confused look on peoples' faces" game is also easy to play when it comes to zeppelin or the who. Memorize a few choice bits of info and look for someone adorned in a t-shirt of the afore mentioned bands and leave them in awe. it's really quite fun.

[Robert_Terry]

thats a good peice for beginers, thats stuff iv been doing for my teenage years, especialy the bit about saving for good gear, save up for the gibson/marshall tone (i may not have been out getting drunk as much as my freinds, but i will be playing in bars where orginizers give you booze for free (as i have been doing recently) and practice, practice pracitce practice. good artical

[Wikad Guitarist]

This is a very good article and haha its true about the percent of jimi stuff i mean i was tlaking to a friend the other day and purple haze came the radio and i was like he is the best guitarist ever and my friend (also a beginer guitarist) was like yea i love his stuff and i waited a lil while and asked did he here the song called "the wind cries marry" and he said naw whos that by? and i jues like *dummy smack* but awesume article \m/ rock on

[dooda]

angus young shits all ova jimi hendix. Gr8 article

[HiGuy04]

I don't care WHO you are, Jeff Beck is the best guitarist...ever...period
Great article

[monkeysims]

I think Jimmy Page, Angus Young, Eric Clapton (he had some great memriable riffs), SRV

[omega_storm]

I know this kid who picked guitar around 7th or 8th grade. All he did on some day was sit alone ( no leassons or anything, just a few lesson books and chord shapes and the such) and would listen to the radio in the dark. No matter what song wa spalying he'd try to match it as the song was playing. In the beginning months he'd be lucky to get a note. But after a while (since we all know radio has a tendency of repeating the same songs) he could paly pretty much every song that came up. He then moved on to albums and the such int he dark and nowadays hes one of the best guitarists around here. He plays in a jam band that would blow people away with their talent. Completely unplanned 30 minute solos where they no they play 5 measures then the next guitairst gets the next 5 and so on. They never miss a beat switching between rhytm and lead and the 2 guitarists always know the last note the other played on the last beat of the solo jsut by ear. Learning without tabs can be waht makes you greater than anyone else

sounds like something hendrix would do... if he wasn't dead

[elroy629]

who...is...SRV

[sh[a]dy}{m[o]nk]

I know this kid who picked guitar around 7th or 8th grade. All he did on some day was sit alone ( no leassons or anything, just a few lesson books and chord shapes and the such) and would listen to the radio in the dark. No matter what song wa spalying he'd try to match it as the song was playing. In the beginning months he'd be lucky to get a note. But after a while (since we all know radio has a tendency of repeating the same songs) he could paly pretty much every song that came up. He then moved on to albums

sounds like somthing i do now, i'm like forgot about having a life and i practice close to 12 hours a day

[warlockmaster21]

flip yeah! im number 80. o well nice article. i know the difference between maple and rose wood. heheh. who doesnt. but what else besides color differs among these two?(wow, i used smart words)

[waters#1]

srv is stevie ray vaughan, evh is eddie van halen just incase u were wondering bout that too...your leaving out ppl like dave gilmour, pete townsend and mark knopfler, just listen to comftorably numb, shine on u crazy diamond or sultans of swing..the guitar in that is just awesome

[ruberducky]

happy birthday me!

[Stealthbass]

nice one, kinda funny too.

good effort in this one 8.87.10

[stuntg12]

i really liked this article. its very true.

[druz15_UG]

Good article. But not the family thing. I'm reasonably good but my sister and dad always tell me I suck, so I play the stairway 2 heaven solo and that shuts them up.
My mum appreciates my skill tho.

[mp3stalin]

LOL! funny and good advice. especially that last one.

[blazingchaz]

Interesting..