My sob story (Page 1 of 2)

First, those people did NOT treat you in a Christian manner.  To humiliate fellow Christians or people thought to have sinned is NOT in Scripture, and especially not in the New Testament where Christians must focus our attention (though we must understand the Old Testament to have any chance at understanding the New Testament).  Exactly the OPPOSITE instruction is in there, which is to speak the truth in love.  They did not speak the truth, and they did not act out of love.  So, the very most important thing of any of this is to recognize that those people should not reflect Jesus' love for you in your eyes.  Do not seek vengeance.  Do not seek equality.  Just forgive them, though they haven't asked for it, and move on.  For we humans, forgiveness is meant for the peace of mind of the forgiver far more than it is for the forgiven.  This is very, very important, and it does relate to your guitar playing. 

How does forgiving those people relate to your guitar playing?  Well, you have to get past the fact that what they did to you was out of their own error and none of your own.  There are other benefits too. 

Now, once you have reconciled yourself to the fact that you CAN play the guitar, that those people do NOT define your talent or interest, and have taken a deep breath and maybe had a little fresh Peppermint tea with honey, the first thing to do is clean your guitar and tune it.  Don't worry about the stickers.  Youthful indiscretion.  Forget about it.  Besides, stickering up a road guitar is tradition.  I think heading to Texas and home again with you qualifies it as a road guitar.  Clean the dust off it, maybe put on some fresh strings, and get it tuned up.  Approach it with dignity and respect both for yourself and for the guitar. 

Now you're ready.  Forget everything you learned before and start fresh.  The best place I know to do that is to go to www.justinguitar.com and learn about some basic skills you'll need.  Further, Chordie has a relationship with www.jamplay.com, which is well-regarded by those who have used it.  I can't give a personal recommendation, but it is another good place to consider going.  The price is certainly affordable and a low-risk option to try.  Finally, the chord charts and tabs available using the Chordie search engine are fantastic.  Pick some songs you know and like and try them.  Don't worry if you don't sound exactly like the original artist.  First, precise covers are over-rated.  It's far better to express yourself with your playing than to follow someone else's expression.  Secondly, those folks are professionals with many years and decades of practice and developed skills.  They are set apart with exceptional talent.  That isn't to say that you aren't talented, because I think you must be to be so driven to stick with it.  It is to say that many of the long-term pros are rare exceptions with the quantity of talent they have and the amount of time and training they have had to develop that talent.  You won't sound just like them right out of the chute.  Don't try. 

One final word.  Practice is practice, and playing is playing.  You have to do both to improve.  Justinguitar.com has some excellent practice routines to develop your skills and abilities.  These practice routines are not supposed to be music.  They might include some music, but they are intended to expand your possibilities and develop skill over time.  Note that I said OVER TIME.  Playing songs is making music.  It is intended to be fun and to bring pleasure to you and hopefully those who hear you (but mostly to you).  There is a wide gray line between these two things, but it's important to know when you are practicing (for instance running scales) and when you are playing (for instance, laying out a sweet blues lick based on the scales you learned in practice). 

Best of luck.

A long answer to a short question with a long intro. 

- Zurf

I could give christains a bad name..as well as jews, muslims, hindus,sieks,bhudisits, mormons, jahova witnesses as well as myself

could resist that.

humiliating anyone no matter who or what they are is a bad thing.

Anyway, Zurf has just about covered anything I was going to say so his post is good for me.

Ken

Stick around here.  You'll get as much kindness and support as you can handle. 

I couldn't care less what you think of other Christians, even though I'm one myself.  I care a great deal how their awful treatment of you reflects on your opinion of and relationship with Jesus.  (Sorry to get theological here Ken.) 

Hey speaking of kindness and support, has anyone heard from Lena lately?  Is the Old Doll alright? 

- Zurf

Seersha, don't let what happened in the past affect your  future. Like the old saying goes - "Today is the 1st day of the rest of your life". Now that you have found CHORDIE you are amoung friends who will try to help you in any way they can. Don't think it's too late to learn - I started playing about 4 to 5 years ago, have a song list of over 70 songs I can play well, play with a group of musicians every weekend, (not sure if its my playing ability or my wife's singing voice that keep us being invited back but we are having a great time doing this) and I will be 58 years old the end of this month.

My advise would be to forget what you used to know and start all over fresh. Set some goals, go slow, establish a good practice schedule and practice, practice, practice. Go back and read some of the past posts that have been made concerning the "how too's", and "why too's" of playing guitar. Ask questions when you need too, do your homework, use the chordie resources and it will not be long before you will begin to see some results.

And ZURF - WELL SAID!

Nela

I'll cast another vote here for justinguitar.com.  Also, if you're truly wanting to change some bad habits, you should take a look at guitarprinciples.com and the book "The Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar."  I'm not affiliated in any way, but I can tell you that it works.

Welcome to chordie, and good luck.

check out"  folkjam.org " in you area

Hello Seersha,
     Desire, and never giving up, or giving in is the important part of learning. Everyone has to work hard at being proficient at the guitar. As the proverb says, " a trip of a thousand miles, begins with a single step." You've probably heard the story of Eric Clapton, locking himself in a room for a year, to better his guitar playing. This was AFTER he was already famous! George Harrison, played over and over until his hands bled. No one is suggesting you do the same. The point is, what is often taken for musical genius, is nothing more than much hard work, coupled with desire. You will learn much from Chordie, most importantly, that the people here care about each other. The only criticism I have ever read, is when someone uses self-depricating humor. Know that we are here for each other, and will help in whatever way we can. Come to think of it, that sounds like a Christian concept to me.

The only advice I would give you, is to start slowly, at your own pace, and be patient. Playing music is a skill, that requires repetition. Golfers swing clubs, batters swing bats, we swing guitars...oops I mean we practice scales and chords. No magic here, just the love of what we are doing. Sorry this is not technical advice, maybe in a later post.

Good luck and Godspeed,
Temple

There's a story about Eric Clapton and Pete Townsend watching Jimi Hendrix. It's one of the first times he's played in England and Eric and Pete's jaws are on the floor. Pete Townsend starts to leave and Eric stops him and says something like 'where you going Jimi's not finished yet'. Pete replies 'after seeing that, I'm going home to practice'!

Sounds like you played before an audience before you were ready Seersha. People can be real nasty sometimes, christian or not. I can guarrantee you though that inside some of those people were really thinking 'Wow Seersha has real guts, I wish _I_ could play guitar'.

Taken me 5 years to be playing my local folk club and that's a very friendly place. There's lots to learn playing live and part of it is just steeling yourself for it. Is it silly for me to wear my lucky T-shirt? Maybe, but if it gives me just a tad more confidence...

I'm going to have another go at that club on Friday. One song I'm practicing is 'I Can Hear Music'. Maybe I'll fail to make that opening note and the song will flop. I keep practicing it every night, but eventually I'll just have to go out and shoot for it...

We all will be judged wrongly and will have thoughts of quiting what we love if we let our peers get to us. We just have to remember why we love it to begin with and go with that. Everyone else have given you more wisdom than i could on playing. Just one question. What song was it that you played? Reason i ask is even a three chord song can be hard and it could be that the church didn't like the style of music that it was. Follow your heart inside of God's will and you can't go wrong. Good luck with your restart.

Well said Zurf!

Seersha...I've often found that if you just practice some basic scales and chord patterns that pretty soon things will smooth out and get much easier... get a metronome, set a tempo and just strum away...

Seersha (such a pretty name),
Welcome and congratulations for getting past a traumatic (for anyone) humiliation.
It's all about the music. You seem to be drawn back to it again.
You are fortunate to have a talented and supportive mate. I'm sure he will help you find your way back.
Music is rarely do or die. It has to be fun. As a player you can please others and yourself and really make a party.
So, take your time, ease into things at your own pace and never lose sight of the fact that it must be fun for all concerned.

Lots of good messages above. I couldn't add anything much to them but just wanted to wish you the best. I think everyone goes through a spell where they feel lik THEY won't be able to learn the guitar....not like "real" guitarists....I certainly feel that way plenty. However, I think it helps to remember that everybody had to start somewhere.

Play as much as you can and you WILL improve. No question about it.

Just have fun with it all and you'll do grand. And good on you for not letting your old church friends beat the ambition to improve yourself out of you....