Guitar aficionados please.

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Hi,

I am teaching myself the guitar. I started on Saturday so bear with me. I have learnt to tune and have started reading tablature. I am getting there with my guitar lingo

My question is, for any of you who struggle with executive function(maybe this description is incorrect. I mainly refer to being able to keep a rhythm with the right hand plucking the strings and pressing on the strings with the left to hold a note, in other words, trying to do 2 things at once with out being able to look at both things at the same time)

I am particularly struggling with open notes. It is like when my finger leaves the fret board on my left hand to play an open note, my right hand does the same, hence, no note is played. Unless both hands are on the guitar at the same time, I do not play the note. Have I totally confused everyone

I do not have a problem with keeping a rythym or tempo (I can tap it out no problems on the sound board) but as soon as both my hands are moving together, I get caught up with one process, not both. If you struggled with this, how long did it take for you to become comfortable and proficient with it? Did you become frustrated? Did you overcome it with lots of practice?

My father, who is a musician, says that eventually it will become a subconscious skill. Did you find that it became second nature for you?

Help and encouragement would be wonderful

Thanks for your time.

Mics

This might sound really stupid, and feel even stupider actually doing it, but trust me, it works.

Ever try to pat your head and rub your stomach in circles at the same time? Then switch?

It's the same thing really. Getting your right and left brains to do two different things at the same time. Try it to a metronome or drum machine, if you have one.

Are you doing fingering or rhythm exercises? I know they're boring, and I hate them too, and don't do as much as I should, but it doesn't take that many of them to get the same right half - left half brain thing going on. It's better in my opinion to do that kind of thing with exercises because you aren't distracted by a melody. Once you can repeat some exercises like that, and can feel your right and left hands starting to operate independently without having to think about it, and without feeling as though you have to be able to watch them both at once (which, of course, is impossible), you'll be ready to try it with chord rhythms and melodies.

The main thing is, don't expect it to just happen right away. It doesn't work that way for anyone. Okay, maybe it does for one in a million, but for most of us, it's a struggle at first. Just don't quit. And don't spend too much time at it every day either. Spending hours at a time at it does nothing but tire you out, and can cause bad habits to become ingrained and harder to get rid of. Start slow. A good rule of thumb is, in the beginning anyway, if you play for fifteen minutes and nothing is working, set it down for the day, and don't pick it up again until tomorrow. Trust me, it helps. There is NO point in pushing yourself if your mind and body aren't ready. They will be. Just do it every day as long as you can, but probably no more than an hour at a time, if things are going well.

The most important thing is BE PATIENT!

when I first started I was like this. over time however I got completely used to it to the point it became second nature. The only time I have to adjust anymore is if I switch to a 7 , 8, or 12 string guitar.

I never had the issues with rhythm keeping though.

I recomend just practicing with your right (picking) hand. Just play 4 or 8 notes per string then drop to the next string. For example start on the low E (open) pick 1-2-3-4 then drop down to the A and do the same. Keep going untill you run out of strings (high e) then work your way back up. A metronome (set very slow!) will help with the timing. You definetly want the right hand to be automatic. It will come.

I am all for teaching youself how to play ( Thats basically what I did) but I would recomend getting a dvd or getting lessons to help with the mechanics of the instrument. Once you develop bad habits its very hard to unlearn them. I was lucky. I have a lot of musical family members that could help with that.

I am going through the same thing right now. I am trying to learn the steel guitar ( 1 thumb pick and 2 finger picks).

Enjoy the process, the product will come.

I don't play guitar but I do play bass and piano and own a guitar...
All musical co-ordination problems are eventually overcome through diligent practice.
If you can learn to read and write I don't see why you can't learn to play a musical instrument: it's all a matter of breaking down your actions to the simplest level until they become effortless. I try and impress this upon all my students when teaching. If you're having trouble with your picking hand, practice it separately from your fretting hand, and vice versa. Then slowly try and coordinate the two.
You need to let go of any other considerations, i.e. rhythm, while concentrating on a particular aspect until it becomes effortless and then move onto incorporating the next aspect. Even the most technically advanced musicians frequently practice the most basic aspects of their instrumental technique and break practice down into the simplest exercises to be able to reach an effortless level of control over their instrument.
Having a good teacher is of course the easiest way to develop a structured approach to practicing you instrument. It's a lifelong pursuit and one which I have been involved in for 15 years, and I feel I've barely scratched the surface!

It does become subconscious. It just takes repetition. Eventually it clicks. I completely agree with the previous poster, do exercises/scales
and work slowly.

I don't remember how long it took me, but I do remember practicing obsessively, which I don't recommend (I don't think it works). It also made playing sometimes a less than pleasurable experience. An hour a day / every other day will do just fine, it allows you to step back and absorb what you've learned. Also, be sure to warm up, fingers, elbows, shoulders. Take a look at some guitar magazines if you aren't already and check out some guitar related forums. Lots of info to be found.

Yeah, really the most important thing is regularity. Habit. Play for a set amount of time each day, and don't push it. It's about developing habits you don't yet have. Getting your body to do something automatically it's not used to by forcing it really doesn't work that well. Remember, your not body "building" where forced exercises actually help. You're building coordination, which is totally different. Forcing that beyond your limits usually means repeating mistakes, which is teaching the mistake as a habit to both your brain and your body. If you start getting frustrated, it's time to stop. Try it again a day or so later, or even a few hours if you're able to get back to it that often.

When you find yourself repeating the SAME mistake six, seven, eight times in a row, stop. Otherwise you'll ingrain that mistake and just keep repeating it.

And by the way. Shhhhh! I'm not really a virtuoso!

I'm just a hack that can play enough to be dangerous!

I started learning by myself 2 years ago, i cannot give this site enough praise, it is the best free guitar lesson site on the internet Justin Guitar you will find lessons that refer to your specific problem

well, a quick tip
A big mistake I see a lot of people make, even some well known guitarists, is that the bring their thumb up and over the fingerboard. It can be likened to a posture issue really tho IMO.

I'm not sure if it fits under executive function or whatever but the main thing I find I ever have trouble with is repetitious lines* but even then, everyone is different. Don't even start to think about any limitations until you've got a few years under your belt and in your hands. Attack everything full bore.



*Like when the metal guys do those three note riffs really fast and it's the same three notes. I can do it to start off with but my fingers get tongue twisted/dyslexic after a bit.