Stuck in a rut

Crevs,
Rut no more! I've been "playing" for three years and I still suck. I don't sing and don't play in public. You are a guitar GOD compared to me so keep at it and, who knows, maybe you will inspire some else along - like me!
dj

YOUR DOING GREAT. I HAVE BEEN PLAYING 20 YEARS AND STILL SUCK!  I have only played infront of ppl at church and that was in a setting where i did not have to be perfect. I dont sing and I cant play lead.

If you need help with theory,, I suggest you check out Marty schwartz on you tube, he sells an incredable package for that. (and he is fun to learn from) or Doug Marks Metal method.  Lots of stuff in both items!

this book is good also.   http://www.amazon.com/Arlen-Roths-Heavy … 0028700104
I xeroxed the whole thing,, but it was an earlier version. (pre-scanners!)
It will get you whre you want to be,,,If not you will get some good fundamentals from it.

Guys, I'm far from gifted or even good, I just about manage to hold my own when playingin the band.  I'm proud that it's putting in the hours and shear hard work as made me progress to the situation I'm in now.   I would advise any person whatever their level who aspires to play in a band to join one or find other musicians to jam with, the progress you make by doing this is uncomparible to practicing on your own!  And believe me you will never feel ready to take the plunge.

Cheers tubatooter1940, your exactly right, I'm not doubting my progress I'm I'm far from dissatisfied.  I'm just at that fork in the road and I don't know where I want to go let alone which direction to take.  You have made me think tho and I've always been drawn to good old blues, I like old stuff by Hendrix and Clapton and newer bands like The Black Keys and The White Stripes.  I've always been facinated by slower players who can make one note sound like ten.  I guess that's an obvious road to take and I guess it's mastering scales is the starting point.

Cheers I owe you all a beer!

You'll astound yourself Crevs once you work on how relevant chords, scales, key signatures are to 'getting it' and then
improvise soloing. You already have great finger dexterity because you are now playing lead, you just need more tools
to be expressive without learning lead parts in a canned sense. Practicing finger patterns up and down the neck that
belong to a certain chord will help a lot. Learn the scales for each open chord. These open chord scales will go far while
soloing. Hope I haven't confused you. There are a lot of ways to learn theory out there. Dive in head first!!     Mike

crevs.1972, you got me thinking. I have been told my several players that when they knew not where to go, they went back to the blues.
Thinking back, I have found myself back into the blues for various reasons on several occasions. Don't know why. Just wound up back there. Always took me to a good and better place in my music.
toots

+1 on the Plateaus and the blues.  Maybe warm up the band before starting the practice of your "songs" with a blues progression anyone can comfortably play.  Then take a few turns on some made up solo improvisation.  No need to sing or complete the song, it's just a warm up.  What I think you'll find is your mates will come up with some catchy lyrics just to goof off.  Another idea is see if you all like a song that's out of the genre of most that you play.  It may come out as a fresh sound.  Good luck as it sounds like you're doing all the right things.

Just because it bears repeating....

Then, take all that, stop playing songs, and start writing them.

I agree with Zurf.  Learn some scales, like pentatonic, Am, stuff like that.  The internet can add some spice check out youtube, Marty Schwartz, he is enthusiastic.  Music theory will really get you out of the doldrums.
Been playing 30 years and music theory is what opens your eyes and peels back the mystique.