I hope this isn't a dead thread already, but I thought I would give it a shot. I've been playing guitar for a little over four years now, I think, and I'm still only a decent player. I wouldn't say I'm bad, but I just want to get better. I usually play songs, practice bits and pieces, and work on figuring out songs (which I do with varying degrees of success). I know, I should practice scales more, but my scale book is confusing and boring, so I still only really know the major scale and minor petatonic, which is embarrassing. What do you guys recommend? I was considering getting a metronome and just practicing scales until my technique was cleaner and faster, but I can't see that improving my chord playing too much. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

I wouldn't be surprised if you get you get some responses, going to move the thread down to the office thoguh.

Ah, thanks Spastic. I wasn't thinking! I saw "music" and I went "ah, that's the ticket". Yeah, I figure after 4 1/2 years or so you can't play the solo from That's Really Super, Supergirl with expert ability you need a few tips..

Thanks PA! That's pretty much what I've been doing, aside from playing with people. I figure I must need to practice my scales more since I'm still a bit slow. I can play the fast bits from Yacht Dance okay, but I'm still struggling with solos from songs like Real By Reel, Supergirl, etc. I'll get there eventually I suppose, thanks for the advice!

Well, I can kinda play the solo from Supergirl, but my classical guitar has no cutaway, which makes it a bit harder. And I only have 19 frets! Haha. Darn those cresendos, or whatever they are.

Well, I don't want to shred, per say, but I'd like to be able to play as good as Dave Gregory, Jimmy Page, Johnny Marr, George Harrison, etc. I don't want to be like Steve Vai, but yeah, I suppose I'm somewhere in the middle. I like to play along to my favorite tunes, but then again, I also listen to jazz and XTC! Certainly not the two easiest "genres" to play in terms of chord construction. I don't forsee this as being a career, I gave that up in art school, but I would still like to be top guitar player before I'm over the hill.

Thanks Persephone, I'll try to get my hands on a good chord book. I've not bad with chords and substitutions, but I'm not great either. I find that most people get easily confused when it comes to properly naming chords, especially diminished, augmented, 6th, 9th, etc. I'm not even that great, I usually just figure it out the best I can by ear, but I know I'm probably missing the bigger picture.

I doubt I'll find many to jam with (or the time), but I'll try. I have before, back in art school and that was great.

I play everday, hours at least. Usually I play so much it bothers even people who enjoy my playing, but I suppose that's part of it?

I think I have a decent ear for music though, but it's only as good as my playing ability I think. Maybe after I figure out some more I can finally knock Where Did The Ordinary People Go on the head and figure out the last couple of measures!

Four and a half years and "still only a decent player"? Crikey, lad, I've been playing over thirty years and I'm still shite! I'm all for the paranoid android approach: just enjoy yourself, but probably Persephone is right if you want to be technically 'better'. Playing with other people is very important. Just remember that Keith Richards is* one of the best guitarists in the world, and Steve Vai is, by and large, indescribably boring. Setting a target of Dave Gregory is certainly aiming high. Good luck, and remember it's supposed to be fun!

*Perhaps was, now.......

Well, I can play decently I think, but it's not as fluid or solid as I would like. I can stumble my way through a good number of say, Led Zeppelin songs, but I'd like to play them better, haha. Which reminds, Peter Green's version The Stumble, classic. Haha, Keith Richards is certainly a figure to admire, he was something of a talent. Vai is dull, and so is Satriani, Malsteem, and all those other goofs. My opinion of course, because they can play. I never do anything half ass, so that's probably why I aim so high. I enjoy playing so much, that I usually get frustrated when I can't play it perfectly. What gets me the most is when I can't play along to song because I can't figure it out, haha. Thanks Bimble, and everyone else for the responces.

I will now start an XTC chords thread because I'm too scared to submit any chords to chalkhills for fear or not getting them right, haha.

I played guitar for years, then not for years. It's not like riding a bike. You do forget, well I did anyway.

I don't think I'll ever stop playing, I just pick up new instruments. I've improved my piano playing, and I'm trying to pick up drums too. I'm scared if I stop playing by the time I reach 50 and my fingers have become stubby it will be too hard to learn again.