The Reality of Learning Guitar (Battling Boredom)

You've decided you want to learn guitar and be the next Jimmy Page. But you start lessons or online guitar learning courses like Guitareo, Guitar Tricks, or Fender Play and you soon feel uninspired. How do you get around the slump? Well, grab your Strat or your Les Paul and come on a journey with me as I try to find something interested to learn, work my way back to inspiration, and reignite that old guitar flame.
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00:00: Discovering Guitar
01:01: Getting Guitar Lessons
02:28: Bit By The Bug
03:10: The Dying Flame
04:21: The Plan To Reignite The Flame
05:03: Diving In To Guitareo
07:00: Fighting Boredom
09:55: The Most Interesting Scale I've Ever Learned
12:49: First Attempt At Improvising
17:41: What I Learned
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[@Starlit-Music]

11:15 As someone who has been improvising throughout their whole music journey, this is genuinely the best way to learn to improvise. Find or record a short chord progression, loop it, and just play whatever on top of it. For beginners who aren't comfortable just diving in like that, here are 3 tips to make improvising more approachable: 1) Stick closely to a scale: It's best to do this when starting out because it's more likely to sound "accurate" and bad notes tend to discourage people from improvising, so lean on a scale that fits the song loop/song 2) Repetition Legitimizes: If you think a run you did just sounded "eh" or "alright" try playing it a 2nd or even a 3rd time. When you do this, whatever you played no longer sounds or feels random or like an accident, but feels intentional throughout, both for the player and the audience. 3) Approach the improv as small sections rather than one long solo: If you're using a 4 bar loop than instead of trying to play one long cohesive solo over it, maybe just improvise for 4 bars, let it play through on its own for another 4 bars, then try to refine what you just came up with for the next 4 bars. Approaching it this way can make improvisation feel more digestible while also giving you a more concrete way to hear how you improve. At the end of the day, improv really is just string together a bunch of rifts and melodies you've played a thousand times over, so don't worry about originality or perfection, that'll come with time. For now, just focus on getting some notes out, cause that is always the hardest part. Hope this helps make sucking at improv a little bit more enjoyable.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thanks! I definitely found a lot of what you mentioned here while I was exploring a little bit later on in the video. One lesson that I remember from a long time ago was “if you hit a wrong note, keep hitting it until it sounds right,” and that definitely ended up being at the core of areas where I’d get tripped up. And if I got stuck I would just hit a bunch of weird wrong notes on purpose so until my brain could catch up and land back on the scale. I’ll definitely keep these suggestions in mind as I continue to explore improvising :). Thank you for the tips

[@sideshowblob]

Silly question...how do you match the chord progression to a scale?

[@okrosoup1164]

​@@sideshowblob If the chord progression is for example in the key of A minor, you can play an A minor pentatonic scale or the A minor scale. Or if the chord progression is in the key of A major, you can play the A major scale or the A major pentatonic scale(which is also the minor pentatonic but in different positions).

[@johngallaghermusic9777]

The most effective way I've found to open up soloing on the neck is to learn the triads. These are the chords that you would already know, but finding them with different fingerings and places all the way up the neck. What happens is the scales and chords don't get separated two different sets of info and the more you learn them , the more it connects up in your mind. Triads unlike scales because of the different positions and fingerings have far more melodic variety which create more interesting lines. Additionally ,abit of basic theory works wonders in understanding what set of notes will work over certain chords. The guitar is difficult but all those videos you showed fragment the info making it harder and understandably frustrating . Stick with it brother. 🎸🎶

[@reeceryan1600]

tip 3 is huge! once you find some fluency having distinct sections can make something that would feel meandering feel very focused

[@aaronbouquet644]

Started a month ago. I learned 10 chords relatively easy. Feel trapped doing the same thing over and over. Not “making music” is brutal. Jammed with two other guitars yesterday and BOOM! Reignited.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Yes!

[@janinee6733]

Thank you for stumbling around and not hitting every note in the perfect place at first try. It`s like with drawing, most people just show their perfect solos/sketchbooks and never the work (including struggle and failure) behind it. This is so valueable!!! Love your channel! ❤

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

I’m glad you found it helpful! Thank you for checking it out :)

[@tristanedmunds5934]

I couldn't agree more

[@kreavixminis8272]

Great editing! Great storytelling 👌 Very relatable issues 😅

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Haha thank you!

[@sebarus8108]

You have no idea how much I needed to see this video right now. Yesterday I saw another video about "the things you need to be a musician". It was very much from the viewpoint of the elitism of classical music. The demand for unattainable perfection of "you need to start when you're three years old, you need to sacrifice everything, your hobbies, relationships and your health. You must be ready to do anything, you have to be willing to move countries at a moments notice", etc. It made me anxious, and while it did get me motivated to practice, all I did was get frustrated over not being good enough. You showing your boredom with the monotonous sides of self-expression and showing yourself in the process of learning something instead of the perfect final product we so often see, is so refreshing and actually motivating. The importance of "embracing the suck" and just having fun is what I need to remember. It's all about the journey. So, thank you. I'm gonna go practice some scales now.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

That video you were watching sounds like terrible advice 😂😂😂. From my view, that type of perspective is A recipe for constant dissatisfaction. Yeah, if you want to be a musician you need to love it, but it should never come at the expense of you or your life. It should add more color and context to your life. I started when I was 5, and yet I know people who started way later than that and are much more adept on their instruments. It really is just about the time you put in and how open you are to learning and continuing to push yourself. And enjoying that process is the key to sustaining it. I’m glad you found this video motivating… how did your scale practice go? :)

[@Lalairu]

My God who the hell uploaded that? Was it really serious or a joke? xD I can get that if you want to be a classical trained musician it might be tough, and you may have to spend a lot of time practising and studying, like any uni mayor. But you can't ruin your health and social life over it! If you want to be a professional musician you will have to take things seriously, but please take care of yourself and enjoy the journey. Give some love to those scales, hugs from Spain :D

[@ganglestank]

Guitar was never boring for me. I always played because it was fun, and because I wanted to express ideas that were stuck in my head, so when I started to succeed it was extremely rewarding. I just copied the sound of existing songs at first and there was no tedious or boring part because I would just mess up a few times and then succeed.

[@dave7922]

Sounds like you’ve got some talent. You should push yourself, play some way harder stuff, get bored a little, lol.

[@ganglestank]

@@dave7922 That's just not the way I practice. I do play hard stuff, I constantly learn things that are on the border of my ability, but to me it's fun because I'm not just learning a lick, I'm learning an idea and applying it to many different ever-changing licks. Idk if you've heard of guthrie govan but he one time said that he's never once sat down and drilled in a lick, he just played for fun and got that good as a direct result. What's fun to me might be boring to others also. Who knows? I don't even think about it like practice, I don't usually do things like the spider routine, I just play as hard as I can and focus on things little to no other guitarists have honed.

[@webmonkey6533]

@@ganglestankyou sound like me honestly. I’m probably a bit behind you in terms of skill but that’s how I feel every time I pick up my guitar. I play and practice some stuff I already know and then learn something new. I’m glad you are having fun with it, and I’m glad I am too, so let’s keep going and maybe we’ll be the next oasis! (joke,lol)

[@ganglestank]

@@webmonkey6533 Hey, never say never lol

[@_TwoDot]

@@ganglestank I’m guessing when he talks about boredom he means boredom because he can’t get to what he wants to fast

[@baronvonwinkle1470]

Chris your a breath of fresh air. Like others have mentioned, you put out thought provoking content and your not afraid of admitting your weaknesses. Very much a man of the people! Keep doing what your doing buddy!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thank you :). That means a lot. I’m glad these videos are connecting the way they are, it’s cool to be able to share this journey with you all!

[@jsuntres1]

Chris! I cannot get over how an elite musician like yourself in plagued with self doubt. And admitting to the need to improve only bolsters your integrity in my eyes at any rate! It’s so inspiring for us, shall I say, far from elite musicians! Even the great BB King said in an interview before he passed that you can learn something new about the guitar every day! And you played an awesome solo!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Haha oh yes, self doubt is ever present. I’m really glad these videos have been connecting with you. And thank you! It was a lot of fun to explore :)

[@SouthMeckStunna]

This is funny because I basically had the opposite guitar journey as you.. I started out learning scales and improvising over backing tracks/looper pedals. I wanted to be a lead player, so I thought that’s just what you did! But then I reached a point where I realized I was playing the same licks over and over, my rhythm and timing skills were shit, and I couldn’t write anything comprehensive. Now for the past few years I’ve been going down the music theory rabbit hole. This video was super relatable, thanks for sharing!

[@amidtownfarewell]

I feel you so deeply my man! I’d been playing for about 20 years when the love started to fade. And one day in 2009 I decided I was going to put down the guitar forever. It was a sad day, like breaking up with your soul mate. Then one day my friend showed me a video of a finger style guitar soloist named Andy McKee, and his song “Drifting”. I’d never seen a person play the way he did and I learned about open and altered tunings. This blew open the doors of my mind and my soul, i immediately began consuming everything I could to learn about this fascinating technique. Finally the staleness was gone and it was like I was learning about the guitar for the first time. And I’m happy to say I learned the finger style and continue to write my own music today. And thankfully, I’ve fallen in love all over again. Love your video bro. Thank you

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

That’s amazing. That moment where you’re taken back to the magic of it is hard to describe. I’m glad you found that spark again :).

[@Reiichiful]

Fantastic video yet again. It is so refreshing to see an experienced and skilled musician get in that mental space of "alright, I'm bad at this, let's roll". I feel like I can see on your face those moments exploring the scale of "Oh? That sounded cool" that I get doing minor pentatonic practice over random spotify backing tracks. Thank you for this, yet another reminder for us to embrace the suck ✊

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Haha thank you, this comment put a big smile on my face. You pretty much nailed the experience and the feeling :). Embrace the suck!

[@LifeOfGuyYoutube]

This was the first video I've seen in 6 months, since I got serious about guitar that has helped me. Every other one starts with someone showing off, then endlessly plugging their channel, click subscribe, ring the bell etc... The Josh Homme channel is my next click... Watching you take that concept from loop to improv, slowly finding your way into it is so imspiring. I haven't seen anything like this, it's not perfect - and you know it... Exactly how I will be when I try it... Well done, and thank you..

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

I totally get you. I’m glad you found this video helpful :). Feel free to share your thoughts after exploring the scale too! I’d love to hear how you feel about it after messing with it for a bit!

[@johnnyclifford9423]

Fun story man. I experienced a few of the things you spoke about early on and giggled a little. You are right, guitar is not an easy thing to learn and can be very frustrating. I believe everyone is different and you should try find out who you are and play to your strengths. My story: I'm 65yo and have been playing since 12yo. The bug bit me when I saw The Beatles on Ed Sullivan and specifically John Lennon. Seeing him up there singing and playing that Rickenbacker with all those fans going crazy was a life changer. Before I even had my first real guitar I was drawing electric guitars on boxes with a magic marker and posing in front of a mirror while I jammed to my favorite songs. Yep, I wanted to be a star. For my 12th birthday Dad bought me a beginners electric and small amp. I didn't leave my bedroom until I was 15yo. I got Alfred's Basic Guitar Method Book 1 and went through the lessons. In the back there is this great chord diagram that I learned all the chords from. I did take two random lessons in which I learned Stairway (how cliche) and My Love by McCartney. Other than that I listened to my favorite bands and learned how to solo by working out my favorite solos note for note as best I could. I joke that I was taught by Tom Johnston (Doobie Brothers). A surprise to me early on was there were a couple people who said I was a natural guitar player. This shocked me because I was not very good. I really struggled. I had to make up my own way to play F and D chords. But I never gave up. I figured if I couldn't really play I could always be a singer/guitar guy like David Cassidy. After about 5 years all of a sudden I took a leap. I remember it clearly. I'm like "wow, I can do this". I got into a band and I've been in working bands since and have had a modest career playing locally and still do. As a player I was never fast,. My fingers still don't move very fast. So I learned how to play melodies. I don't know any of the technical scales by name but I basically play what works and sounds nice. There's notes out there. Go get em. I don't really jam. Not my strong suit. I like to play organized structured music. You have to improvise a little but I don't want to hear myself play the lead to Freebird. While everyone else my age was copping Eddie Van Halen I was becoming Johnny B Goode/Keith Richards. I found out what I was as a guitar player and embraced it. The guitar is so versatile and everyone should try to find their own place. I'm grateful for the guitar. I cannot imagine life without it. Good luck everyone with your guitar adventure!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

What a great story, thank you for sharing :). I can definitely relate to your message here. I started out thinking I wanted to be a rockin guitar player. I even went to musicians institute to study guitar but dropped out after one quarter. During my time there I realized I wasn’t interested in being a guitar player in the way that my other fellow students were. Many of them seemed to be driven by the idea of being able to stand at the front of a stage under a spotlight and pull out a rippin solo to a screaming crowd. Whereas I was more interested in the guitar as a songwriting tool, and less as a solo lead instrument. So that’s what I focused on. Guitar became somewhat of a supporting compositional instrument for me, a smaller part of a whole production. Then, a few years ago, right around the time that I felt I had topped out my knowledge and wanted more, I started playing in the only non-original band I’ve ever been in, occupying the musical role of a guitar player who’s much different than I. And learning to approach the instrument from that perspective sparked an interest in learning more about guitar as its own instrument. :) I think what I’ve learned is that as with so many other things, who I am as a guitar player has changed and evolved over time. And what I wanted from it has gone through many different iterations. Whether it’s the desire to be a guitar hero, learning I like it better as a compositional tool, discovering a love for effects and tone exploration, and so on. My relationship with it ebbs and flows as I grow as a person :).

[@unnicornmusic89]

A couple of things that helped me get over boredom. 1. Discovering Nick Johnston, Chris Buck and Julian Lage a few years ago. 2. Thinking in intervals and focusing on the major scale since everything is mostly derived from it. Also, shout outnto Brian Kelly's Zombie guitar channel. No nonsense approach to music theory. Very underrated

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

I’ll have to check them out! Thanks for sharing the knowledge :)

[@Melloommusic]

Said it on one of your older vids, I'll say it here. These videos are so beautifully made man, the way you create them is awesome. So happy I stumbled across your channel man!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thank you 🙌

[@TheUltraGamer98]

I love this video so much! Not many people talk about the strugles of learning an instrument. Much less having the courage to show these struggles. Such a breath of fresh air. I am currently not wearing a hat but I would tip it to you sir! Next time I wear a hat I'll do it!

[@musicfromakido]

I always forget to enjoy the process. Thanks for the reminder!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

That’s the most important part! :)

[@anti_gravity8446]

As for myself, I felt lately that writing songs got me out of the rut and feeling burnout. I am not a good songwriter nor I am aiming to be but the fact that I am letting the sounds in my head flow through something really excites me. Glad I stumbled on this video. I think we need more guitar videos like this. Internet is saturated with technical lessons but lacking with this kind of wisdom. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and wisdom with us!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

I’m glad you found something to battle the burnout! I’m a bit on the opposite end of the spectrum. I’ve done nothing but write songs for decades at this point and I’m a little bored with it. Part of the reason is because I feel like my songwriting has hit the limits of my knowledge, so this exploration is to try and expand those limits :).

[@gianlu4357]

i looove what you're doing with this channel, i recently started learning guitar and it helps having someone that shows the boring/tedious/annoying side of learning music, it's worth it sticking through that side of the learning process and your videos help a lot with that. thank you.

[@ETHANSKI11]

these videos genuinely help so much! it’s refreshing to see someone who explores the mental approach to these concepts as well as the actual learning. most youtube music tutorials/videos don’t really click with me but your style clicks and it’s great seeing these pop up on my feed! thanks for making these 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

I’m glad it connects for you :). It’s definitely nice to be able to explore the mental emotional aspects of playing music, it’s such a big part of the whole thing :). Thanks for hangin in there with me 😁

[@jwhite3389]

Josh Homme is an absolute wizard when it comes to writing and improv. Kyuss and QOTSA for life 🤘

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Oh yeah! Hes got such a unique way of thinking about music too… it’s super cool

[@izdapwn]

I love this series and seeing your process and discovery. I have played piano, trombone and bass guitar for years now and took scales for granted for a long time. Learning from folks online and trying out improv sessions like this shows just how valuable and fun it is. Thanks so much for this!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thanks for checking it out! I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos :). It’s nice to find something interesting to reignite the flame, it’s especially interesting to do it on camera :P

[@MashaT22]

Best video I’ve seen in ages. Well produced and presented, funny, and brutally honest as you start exploring with improvised playing. I can relate as I’m a self taught bedroom guitarist (meaning no traditional teacher), and I also have physical disabilities, medical issues, and a Traumatic Brain Injury working against me. The matter makes me zone out a lot, so a variety of engaging content with a lesson plan seems to work best for me. I’ve heard people say they learn from KZbin, but that’s mostly supplemental for me since there’s no direction/goal overall and the quality of the lessons vary drastically. I use KZbin more for learning a specific song or trying to get some other techniques/ideas regarding something specific that I’m interested in exploring or improving more. I’ve mostly used a variety of mobile apps and websites to help me learn and practice - and yea, I can read tabs and genuinely play much better than I ever could have imagined since I use a variety of apps. Fender Play’s free three month pandemic trial helped get me going enough to see that I was actually making progress, and then I started using the following in addition. As far as these educational apps, they’re all very different. If you’re not into traditional lessons, perhaps you’d have fun with a more gamified approach. Gibson and Yousician will be too easy for you unless you start at the higher levels, but it’s still fun to play and compete like guitar is a game. Rocksmith+ was also literally just released on mobile (also PC/Mac). Sometimes I’ve gotten a lot more out of using apps like this collectively because it challenges me - but they also give me neat ideas in be try small bites. The videos are relatively short if there is one, but most of the content is following the chords alà the old mobile Tap Tap games (only using an actual guitar). You might like to explore what those have to offer for you, if anything. Even if some it it is too easy for you, sometimes the lessons and practice content still has little valuable nuggets, and it’s really fun besides. KZbinr Courses with Advanced Content: I love Justin Guitar whose content is mostly free on his website and fun/interesting/relatable. I’ve never been bored by his lessons. His mobile app only goes up to Grade 3, so use his website. You may also really like Guitar Super System from MusicIsWin’s Tyler Larsen - he literally has a course called The Art of Improvisation. Tim Pierce also has tons of advanced lessons content. Both of these guys are super experienced and fun, so I can see you gelling with one or the other based on the snippets I have seen of sample lessons and their KZbin content. I’ve never tried either Tyler or Tim, but I hope to someday. I’ve only heard amazing things about both. There are other apps and content I’ve tried and dabbled with. Ultimate Guitar has been a mainstay, mostly for chords and tabs. They have lesson content since last year, but I don’t find myself meshing with it like everything above. But above all, an app based approach that uses a variety of presentation styles that is engaging has really taken me far. The Gibson app has helped me most with exploring soloing and improvising. I really suck, but I’m making headway and having fun. I’ve been loving your videos. I’m so glad KZbin helped me find you. You’ve become a fast fave of mine! Thanks so much! 😇🙏🏻🤘🏻🎸🔊🎶

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thank you! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the videos. And thanks for these great suggestions 😁

[@robjornayvaz8178]

Gosh this video is so awesome! Thank you for making it and spending all the time you did making it!

[@VoidOmen]

You inspire me to keep working and learning in music. Thanks for sharing this content! Also props for the production quality and the gags. Love it!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

I’m so glad to hear that :). And thank you! It’s definitely a labor of love.

[@RMS12.2]

Wow! This video has been so relatable. Ive had a music teacher and although he's really good I come out of class feeling uninspired many times. I've also tried learning on KZbin and just get bored. I do best when I just explore on my own.

[@Kutomaru1]

3:42 I’m dying 😂😂🤣 The whisper at 8:25 scared the balls outa me lol. I was like i didn’t know I was watching a ari aster movie 😱 I find it crazy that some people can match the guitar strings to the sound of their voice. They can “ba ba bee da dooo la be da doo be da boo” a few notes with their voice and know EXACTLY what parts of the strings and where on the fret board they are at. For me that is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I know it has a lot to do with ear training. But i really do believe that it is like a super power. Thank you a lot for this one. Was really looking forward for one with the guitar. I might try to improvise over that scale you played. I also really liked you interpretation of it. It sounded dope!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Hahaha it actually caught me off guard a couple times too while i was editing… I kept forgetting that I put it in there. Yeah! It’s pretty crazy. Although I bet it’s less difficult to achieve than it might seem. Like… if you’re noodling around on the pentatonic scale, you could probably sing a like out loud and if you played that lick enough times before you can go straight to it. It’s kind of like learning individual words and then learning how to string them together into a sentence. And yeah! You should, Josh’s scale was really interesting and different and it was a lot of fun to mess around with.

[@brieslew]

Love the way you make videos. They are so relatable and the fact you filmed yourself learning something and kept all the mistakes in sets you apart from most guitarist youtubers. You also show that even when you've been playing for a lifetime there are always gaping blindspots that need to be addressed and sometimes you gotta get creative to do that. Been playing almost a year now, haven't dove into any boring theory yet. I just play songs I like and brute force try to learn them through repetition and careful listening. Its awesome so far. Thanks for the videos.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

That’s how I learned for the most part too :). There’s a lot you can take away from that approach, the most important part is to keep the joy and curiosity alive😁

[@jogmas12]

I never get bored while practicing guitar because I fill my one hour practice session with a variety of drills and songs, mostly songs that when I finally finish I feel I accomplished something that gets me one more day closer to getting really good

[@matthewmaki]

I find playing around with different scales over jam tracks on KZbin are a fun way to practice

[@kosaiapita4390]

So true😢 We are both the same, I stopped playing guitar 9 months, but I came back to it, cause I love to share music to everybody❤

[@matthewprice1950]

That was a really brave video. Not many KZbinrs would go through that process with mistakes etc. they’re usually happy enough to show you something they’ve spent hours working on. The hardest thing about improv is the phrasing. My teacher gave me a tip: Make your phrasing match a song in your head. It can be anything usually something completely opposite to what style your playing. Stevie wonder songs work great as he’s all over the place. Try it and see.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thanks! Yeah, I think getting that bridge between my brain and my fingers will help with phrasing a lot. As a songwriter I can hear things in my head but there’s a bit of a lag there, so I end up just kind of defaulting to instinct. But I’m looking forward to practicing more :)

[@Paulskirocks]

I enjoyed this. I started playing as a teen in 1980, learned basics, wrote songs, tried to become a rock star, and ended up as an electrician instead! Anyway, when I gave up trying to have a band, I started doing more open jams, and it occurred to be that I kind of sucked at really knowing the guitar. That's when I started trying to really learn, and although I really am still a mediocre guitar player, I have gotten comfortable improvising. I was thinking of making some videos on my simplistic way of seeing the fretboard, not that I am a guitar teacher, but because I think it might help folks. Keep on jammin.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

You definitely should! My view of the fretboard is incredibly simplistic too, and I feel like it would be great to see more videos of people that I can relate to :)

[@davidweier]

Thank you Chris! This is exactly what I'm trying to explore right now. My fear of stepping out of my comfort zone has stopped me as I'll go back to play the same songs I'm comfortable with playing but not growing from just doing that.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

You’ve got this! Don’t be scared of the unknown :). There’s gold out there

[@kelizabethg1]

This is so helpful! Love the storytelling and editing too.🙌🏻

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thank you!

[@lvn4x]

This might be my new favorite person. Never seen someone so honest about this kind of stuff.

[@stenmartens7179]

once again an amazing video. even though you're older than me with more experience im amazed at how much i can relate to you. as a singer/guitarist myself this video was actually 1:1 with my experiences of playing guitar and where i am now

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Glad to know I’m not alone! 🙌

[@paulbartell38]

This is great Chris. Getting in the right “head space” regardless of technique is the whole deal. Your technique is spot-on, Chris. Very relaxed,articulate right hand❤️🎶🎵🎼💐

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

I agree, headspace is everything :). And thank you!

[@marcosbenhamu3915]

That was pretty cool! Suggestion: learn diminished scales and pepper minor pentatonics with that. Another trick I was taught is to introduce limitations: only play on these two strings and within these frets. It forces you to add rhythmicity into your playing because you're limited as to what you can do melodically. Thanks for the video; I needed the inspiration.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

I’ve heard about the limitations thing before, I’m keen to try it. Thanks for the tips! I’m definitely going to check out diminished scales too :)

[@rrwilllive5668]

Learning the diminished scale without knowing what chords to put it over is useless, learning the major scale is more useful as thats 80% of what western music is

[@trtorbelfort]

This video is fantastic dude keep it up well earned subscription

[@MrTimdriver]

Extremely enjoyable and, as others have pointed out, relatable video. Subscribed sir, well done.

[@lazarsorak9589]

Instant subscription! Charisma is through the roof, brother.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thank you 😁

[@noahhhh46]

In a time where there is so much content to consume and we're constantly looking at other artists and their perfect performances on KZbin, instagram or tiktok. It's very refreshing to see someone share the reality of playing guitar and the struggles of practicing so openly. Sure, some youtubers have made video's on this in the past but i've always felt like they were way more advanced which made me not able to relate. This really came at the right time, i'm also trying to take the step from being an intermediate player with no knowledge about scales etc. to being a better improviser. Theory makes me feel uninspired and bored, or when it gets too hard it's overwhelming. keep up the great videos man, this inspires and shows artists that it's normal to struggle and hit a wall every once in a while!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

I’m glad you’re finding inspiration here :). And I’m glad to know I’m not alone! :P

[@igotbit9454]

I’m just beginning but your current hurdles at your level is inspiring to watch. Guess there’s always room for improvement regardless the level!

[@stevelankford7087]

New sub, thanks for honest no bs look at your process and journey. Looking forward to the next!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thanks for coming along on the journey!

[@JohnShewbolt]

My man! I just want to say how awesome it is that you started this series. I'm in a similar boat as you-I started playing guitar because I heard the guitar greats of the 70's, but it was much slower than I anticipated. Started playing bass afterward and ended up with a lot more time sunk into that instrument. A few years after that, drums stole the spotlight. After not playing music for awhile, I'm starting to dive back into it on all 3 instruments AND vocals. As you said in "The Art of sucking at Music," people hardly ever show their mistakes, so it's immensley refreshing to watch someone actually struggle. It's even better you still make progress from it. Please know this series is inspirational, and we, the community of people who openly suck at music, hope you continue.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thanks for this! I’m really glad to hear that these videos are connecting. And congratulations on wading back into the music pool. It’s really cool to try and spark it up again and find different ways to approach it :). I look forward to hearing more about your journey!

[@masumasumasu]

We will watch your channel's career with great interest my man. Keep on practicing, I will too!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thank you! Glad to have you aboard :)

[@johnnymonster1394]

Honestly, you did a great job. I understand more now about the whole thing with confidence. When I would hear you went out of groove, you’re expressions made it so that you wouldn’t get back into it. If you played through with the same confidence, I probably wouldn’t have even noticed you playing a missed note. Love the series!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Haha yeah, my face has always given everything away 😂😂. And thank you! It was the most fun I’ve had playing guitar in quite some time :).

[@BigolBoyd]

I was just putting up my guitar from doing exactly what ur doing in the vid and i was feelin jus bored of guitar because its all just starting to sound the same no matter how much I practice. Its refreshing to see im not the only one who feels this way about improv. On another note, ur quality and editing is crazy for a "smaller" channel, you just popped up on my reccommended and im glad you did, keep shredding brotha!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Learning can seem monotonous sometimes for sure. But stick with it, the breakthroughs usually happen gradually :). And thanks! It’s still early days with this whole KZbin thing but I’m having fun with it.

[@kylepetersen6520]

It's so awesome that you are starting to improvise, I'm a young guitar player but learning to improve is tedious but it also gives you something to always improve on and knowing there is always more to learn and that's what gets you through the tedious part. I am lucky enough to be going to school for jazz so I have an advantage and I acknowledge that.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Jazz is something I’m definitely interested in learning about and experimenting with more. I’ve spent most of my life playing rock but I loooooove jazz :)

[@later_daze_4080]

Nice Gretsch! These are great videos, on all levels, with great production. Really enjoying them!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thank you!

[@fytakytemusic]

Once again - great video! Confidence is vital for improvising. I found the most powerful confidence builder was a good SOUND… and by that I don’t mean the tone of the guitar or amp (although that helps too), I mean the sound of the actual notes you play - learning how to play them so that they “sing” rather than just “sound”…While many courses focus on what notes to play, very few, if any I’ve come across deal with the physical act of making a guitar note sound good.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Yeah definitely! I think a lot of that comes with time, learning to make a note sound expressive rather than just playing it :).

[@joshuajaimes121]

Great realistic video! Thank you

[@gaberox1]

This is crazy to me I spent countless nights playing until the sun came out and beyond without a second thought to anything other then how the playing felt. I actually wish I would of started focusing on learning songs way sooner but expression and feeling was always easier if I "just played". Cool video.

[@SoundSensei]

Dude... our stories are different... but so the same... thank you so much for making the content that you make... it's so what I need in this moment... synchronicity.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

🙌 I’m glad it struck a chord with you. :)

[@clubandfang2571]

More of this 🙌 One of the most relatable guitar videos I’ve viewed

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

🙌🙌

[@teegleason8044]

Love your channel dude. I struggle with this music shit, but it has taken over my life Ur channel helps

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

I’m glad you find it helpful :). And congratulations on getting hit by the music bug… it’s a unique lifetime relationship 🙌

[@d.nakamura9579]

I love the look on your face at 1:34. Priceless! Great video

[@__officialtony__]

Hey bro thank you! This video helped me a lot. I get so frustrated. We all have that demon from our past with our music. Mine was quitting and dropping out of jazz school. It haunts me sometimes, and every time I touch a guitar. Yet I had so much love for it. Anyways I’m trying to jump back on the horse! 🤘🏼❤️🤘🏼

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

I hear you, you can do it though :). Just find the bits about it that you love

[@speakerftd9788]

This video was so insightful, entertaining and honest! I'm subscribing for sure.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

[@captainprivate3768]

I like these videos a lot. You have such a nice way about you.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thank you :)

[@decastring]

Oh man, you're speaking right to my heart! After a 25 year "break", I'm trying to re-learn guitar and piano. It's so frustrating. My fingers used to know what to do but my brain is so f-ing bored waiting for them to catch up! Pianote (sister to Guitareo and Drumeo) and TAC (Tony's Acoustic Challenge) both help a little, but I just can't seem to keep up the enthusiasm and momentum. It's reassuring to know other musicians face the same struggle. Thank you for sharing your story!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

So glad to hear I’m not alone! It can definitely be tough to get your mind back into it, but stick with it and find something you enjoy learning! It’ll come back to you. Congratulations on taking the leap back into music after such a long break, that’s a win in and of itself 😁

[@crowdrums]

Thanks man, I really enjoyed this.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@doc319]

Awesome video first one of yours I've seen there are great videos on this platform that helped me greatly. There's a panhandle shape that once you wrap your head around you can go all up and down the neck without memorizing the whole pentatonic scale (stitch method) the house of blues shape is versatile and just learning your favorite solos and build your "lick vocabulary" from those. You seem like you don't need it but these tips unlocked my confidence in jam sessions.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

This is awesome advice, thank you :)

[@KrustyDong]

I really appreciate the longer shows, it’s a welcome distraction. I heard you play a QOTSA song in one of your video... such a cool band.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

One of my favorites :)

[@crescentfresh8001]

I think what's keeping me going while in the frustrated beginner stage is the sheer joy in playing a riff (no matter how simple) accurately for the first time and hearing it melt right into the song I'm playing along with. It's just enough of a taste of potential that it gets me through the moments of "Jesus, this is impossible...", lol. But seriously, enjoying those little successes goes a long way for me. Same with singing, which is my main focus: Frustrating, difficult, time-consuming, costly, filled with "What am I even doing here?" self doubt moments, but so worth it.

[@johnnyshae2601]

GREAT Video!!! Thank you 😊

Backing tracks in all sorts of keys, chord progressions, time signatures, and tempos. And all genres. Then go to town! I’ve been doing this for 30 years and it’s made me a stellar improviser over the years. I learned theory way late. Probably 20 years into playing, and you’re right, it’s boring, dry, and very hard to digest. But I wanted it, and now I understand it relatively well now. I started that theory journey about 12 years ago, and I’m glad I did, because now I can narrow down what I’m actually doing.

[@22leaves]

Thanks for Sharing, love this Kind of Videos dude

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thanks for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed it :)

[@calebdavies8746]

You did so well, I’m also very new to improving

[@AnonymousAutumn]

Awesome video Chris. good editing and thesis!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it 😁

[@kenmunozatmmrrailroad6853]

Man buddy, gotta applaud you for having the balls to hang that shit out there so raw.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

😂😂😂 thank you

[@blakemosses513]

just came back to playing after like 10 years was in a metal band but never really learned to play properly went to a music school and was bored like u said and i actually learn like u do just by some basic knowledge and messing around till u find something that works. so ur video really helped me understand that and b comfortable in taking it my way and improving from where i left off. thanks man great content and inspiration to get back on the horse. not planning on being in a band again dont have the time but would love to b good enough to do some solo stuff and maybe some funny stuff like steven lynch the comedian.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

A kindred spirit :). I’m glad you found inspiration in this video.

[@mariogarrido]

Thanks for making these videos!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thank you for watching!

[@Messihaz]

How do you only have 15k subs? This is one of the best guitar related videos I've seen on here, the editing and production value are top notch.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Haha thank you, a lot of love and time went into making these. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Tell your friends!

[@sageboatman]

As someone very early on my musical journey- being mostly self taught I've spent a lot of time familiarizing myself with music theory, scales, etc- I've spent a lot of time improvising. I feel like it has gone a long way in terms of allowing me to be confident when I want to just pick my instrument up and play. Having music theory as the foundation of whatever I'm playing has given me a great mental framework to both play and internalize music, and I honestly can't recommend it enough. That said, I totally hear you about boredom. Even now as I try to revisit different scales I find myself just totally uninterested- I spin off and start improvising. Given that, I appreciate what you said about making sure that what you're learning is sufficiently difficult to keep it from being boring- definitely plan to incorporate that into my own practice.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

That’s great that you’ve been able to build that solid foundation. I feel like it might have been easier to do had I started with it at the beginning rather than trying to go back and learn it now. Major congratulations on taking those first steps on your musical journey too, choosing to allow yourself to explore it is half the battle :)

[@Acousticeg]

Sucking at guitar is what I do best. I can relate very much with what you share in your videos. I started out improvising. Because there was no You-tube then where you can find thousands of videos on how to play your favorite songs. So I can jump in and land on my feet most of the time in a impromptu Jam. I would sit with my guitar and learn by ear to play little tunes that I heard on tv, movies and my favorite cartoons. I believe improvising isn't necessarily something that can be taught. It's something you just have to jump into doing. in doing so you will also find your own voice and style of playing. 🎸

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

That’s pretty awesome that that’s how you learned. My experience was similar, except I would sit down and pick out my favorite songs. It’s pretty cool how your early experiences kind of shape your path with it. I’m really excited to be venturing into improvising though. It’s the most fun I’ve had in a while and it feels really freeing.

[@azbluesdog]

About 15 minutes in I could swear I was listening to my own self getting "loopy" on a dark and stormy night...

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

😂😂😂

[@paulcooper5748]

This is spot on.👍

[@gardenerofthegalaxy]

Loved your improv man, I felt it and would listen to it on its own. I appreciate real musicianship over overly produced "perfect" or quantized music.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

🙏

[@kosmiche93]

Very inspirational and healing video. The solo may not be the most technical or mindblowing stuff one can get on an instrument, but it oozed fun, surprise and love for music. A real pleasure to listen to. I, a 30yo who loves music but just can't get himself to become a somewhat decent guitar player, decided to quit my guitar lessons after six years and try to get in contact with some other musicians to put togheter something nice n fun. Don't think I'll ever become a more proficient player than what I am right now, but playing is so damn fun. Don't care if all I can do is power chords, minor pentatonics and some other basic stuff. My teacher supports me in this.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

I think it’s a great idea to play with other musicians. I’ve always found that that’s where the most growth happens :). All of the work you do on your own gets amplified when you start putting it in the mix with other players.

[@nyx1417]

I just got my guitar today! My parents bought it for me since I begged them for years to buy me one lol. However, now that I've got it, I just got scared all of the sudden lmao. I'm scared that the string will suddenly break etc to the point that I'm hesitating if I should continue learning this like I've always wanted to before. That's why, I'm glad I found your video. This made me realise that it's okay to be bored, scared and just do nothing but still continue learning and just have fun with my instrument! Thank you and Godbless to you for sharing your experience ❤

[@nickweaver3343]

Great video man! This really speaks to me a lot. I used to play a little from age 14-24, and then I went in the military and while I was gone my guitar had gotten sold. I didnt pick guitar back up for 20 years after that, so basically until a year and a half ago. Chords and some songs and strum patterns and other things came back to me really quick, and I tried fender play, but got bored so ridiculously quick. I knew I had probably forgotten a lot so I tried to start at the beginning, but I knew too much to be at the beginning and it was like someone was reading me a lecture about physics…. I would end up having these internal conversations in my head and zone out. For me, I feel stuck, but I try to find something small, on youtube, or from a friend, and learn that. If I try to go all book knowledge in big chunks, I just cant do it. I get bored to tears. I find I practice by ear a lot and make up my own crap, because I like figuring out how sounds work together. I am starting to create my own riffs, and I have no idea if I am following proper rules, but the sounds all work together. I feel like I am learning the whole fretboard this way, and I suppose it is the hard way, but it is definitely not boring for me this way. I do remember a little tiny bit of scales from 20+ years ago, but not anything that I would say makes me any good, but it probably does influence how I am teaching myself to put sounds together. Wish I was a better and more studious type, but I just dont learn from a book very well, in any aspect of my life, whether for work or for guitar. I tend to learn by doing, feeling, seeing and hearing how things work myself.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

That’s awesome that you’ve picked it back up :). I can definitely relate to what you’re saying about learning. It can be kind of hard to back and learn basics when you’ve already got certain things under your belt. Finding the right amount of challenge and intrigue can be a weird balance to strike. But it sounds like you’ve come across a way of exploring that works for you :). I’m still figuring it out, but it’s a lot of fun to find something that catches your ear and teaches you something.

[@nickweaver3343]

@@ChrisHayzelmusic I definitely feel it can be really tough balancing learning and keeping things interesting and fun. In any case, thank you for your great content.

[@user-fc9od4cr2t]

Refreshingly raw and honest, I can definitely relate to some of your journey.. Guitar practice ISN"T fun, it's a discipline..Well done

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

💯 very well put

[@Thorned_Rose]

I have studied human physiology, evolution, psychology, anthropology over the years (I was studying towards a PhD in Psychology once upon a time but abandoned it when I realised it wouldn't achieve what I wanted to get out of studying psychology but I digress). One thing I have learned is that what most people think of as "teaching" and "learning" is not how humans evolved to learn physiologically. We learn by watching others, having others assist us, experimenting, trying different things, and learning by doing. Think about what we did way way back before schools were a thing. We were all simultaneously teachers and learners. We interacted with each other to learn new skills in a really dynamic way. We did this for tens of thousands of years and it helped us survive and be what we are today. 'Schools" and school like learning has only existed for less than 10% of human existence. So many people struggle to learn by 'normal' methods and learning by rote and memorisation because we're just not built to learn that way. That's not to say that people can't learn that way effectively (clearly we can) but that for many people who feel like failures or find it boring AF, it's not because you're a failure, it's that this way of teaching fails people. Learning should be enjoyable. We should WANT to learn, not feel like we're being beaten over the head by it. That's not to say physiologic learning and learning by enjoying the process is going to be difficulty and frustration free - even things we love can f**k us off sometimes. But it's the enjoyment that helps keep us motivated. I think we also need to disconnect the idea that because something is hard and frustrating that it equates to being boring. Just because something can be hard and frustrating doesn't mean it can't still be enjoyable - something being hard can make it even more enjoyable and gives more of a sense of accomplishment. EMBRACE the frustration and roll with it! Mindfulness is so great for overcoming frustrations because we get to feel our feels but not let them hold us back. But if something becomes boring, demotivating, even hateful, we need to start looking at HOW we're learning something - to look for a way or journey that's resonant with ourselves, that's in keeping with how humans naturally learn and that props up our enjoyment of the process and by extension motivates us to keep going. :) (Sorry for the dissertation lol! Loved this video, as always! I really appreciate you show the bad times with the good. FWIW, I really enjoyed your exploration.)

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

This aptly explains my experiences with learning over the years. Most of what I learned was through being in bands, playing with people I admired, and so on. I always learned so much from application and exploration with others. :) This is a super cool perspective, thank you for sharing it.

[@lovelauracp]

i got to say ,, finding you Chris Hayzel is like finding a genie in a bottle . I will follow you from now on, you have given me the confidence, the hope and the faith that I will someday be able to play beautiful music with my new Fender Telecaster. Thank you with a thousand notes .

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

First of all, congrats on the new Tele! And thanks for coming along for the journey :). Glad to have you aboard

[@MonserratFoster]

I find it super important to get a teacher that you click with and that you can work on things that motivate you. It makes such a huge difference. I've had lessons in a few instruments with different people but I only recently found the guy I clicked with. I definitely need to work on music theory but my God it bores me so much. I can learn songs just fine, but going to the theory of it, and analyzing it... Numbs my brain and kills my motivation.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Hahaha it can be hard to work past that boredom 😂😂

[@Robert-Smith]

Also a little bit of advice I heard somewhere was play then break down what you play with theory makes it more interesting.

[@euginchristo4396]

Hey Chris, I've just started out playing guitar and I'd like to know how you play guitar while singing at the same time. This was a really fun video and you taught me a lot. Can't wait for the next one! Cheers!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the video :). As far as singing and playing, it’s honestly just practice. It’s almost the exact same as when you’re learning to separate your right and left hands and coordinate them, except now your coordinating them with your voice. Pick a song that you want to sing and play, and just practice it over and over and eventually your hands and voice will find the pockets and the ways that they fit together. It’s kind of like a puzzle :)

[@esamsayeed1860]

I hope you get more views and subs honestly this is a great music channel ive been starting a lessons studio teaching people how to play drums piano guitar vocals and production and for some reason the entire town thinks that music education is worth zero and have been having a hell of a time getting things off the ground but i hope this gets bigger your videos are great

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thank you :). It’s been going pretty well so far, I’ve only really been at it seriously for about 6 weeks. And honestly, it’s getting comments like this and reading about everyone’s experiences that is the really cool part about it. Congrats on starting your lessons studio. I know how hard it can be to get something like that off the ground, but it’s a really wonderful thing that you’re trying to do, and I know you’ll find students who value it. 🙌

[@esamsayeed1860]

@@ChrisHayzelmusic thanks man lol we've been putting on public programs and teaching guitar and different instrument and production lessons for free and setting up after school programs and its insane how little the schools actually value these art programs because they're not "high art" like band and orchestra and students have a tendency to start out with crude pieces as they hone their craft people are pretty turned off but I'm desperately working to make these lessons entertaining and social so students have some motivation to get past the part where music starts to feel like work how you describe in your lessons and actually build people who are capable of writing and improvisation and not just playing music others have written even though I think it takes a lot of artistry to do any of it

[@trotters2247]

This is the most relatable video I have ever seen

[@chasedyer5950]

I started a year ago. Constantly battling Boredom to experience rare moments of bliss and achievement. About sums up my journey so far.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

I can definitely relate :)

[@swatchcovers5401]

This video was great. As a lack luster improviser myself. I’m always trying to write solos over songs I like that don’t normally have them. When I do come up with something cool I write and record it. It helps because I can sing it in my head and remember those little ideas.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

That’s awesome! What a great idea :)

[@hotrodjones74]

@Chris Hayzel I highly recommend mixing together different modes, like a classic minor blues and a Dorian scale. It's awesome! Learning the modes and mixing and matching them in jam scenarios is the best way to learn improvisation. Plus it's the most fun way to do it. I'm far from a skilled improviser or player, but I went from guitar zero to guitar hero doing this. Even joined a little garage band with these skills. We recorded our own album when the pandemic was waning back in 2021. We still couldn't play out so we recorded instead. Keep on rockin' brotha!

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Thanks for the tips! I’m definitely excited to explore more :). And congrats on the band/recording! That’s awesome, I’d love to hear it

[@Robert-Smith]

What I took from this video was you just have to go for it sometimes have fun let your ear drive the playing. Thank you! great video.

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Yes! That’s what I took away from the experience as well :)

[@Argodux]

One of my favorite parts about guitar is the kind of philisophical question of why does this sound good or evoke a certain emotion and it's very difficult to describe ironically the next most interesting thing is the scales and keys and chords side, the heavy music theory. In the beginning it was very boring for me to not be able to achieve those high hopes of creating and improvising while typically most players gravitate towards songs. This video is a great perspective for me as i'm starting on new instruments and is something I kind of forgot...

[@redherronrecords]

That homme scale has the spice, awesome vid 🙂🤟

[@ChrisHayzelmusic]

Oooooh yeah, love the Homme scale :)

[@JV_LD]

11:48 ah yes, finally a guitar player whose improvisational skills I can match effortlessly. But in all honesty, it really helps to see I'm not the only one struggling with this. Great video.

[@jonahtompke5210]

Great video!

[@youngman850]

So, ultimately play around and find what works for you. Got it. I grew up similarly to you where my Mom pushed me to learn more and more with the voilin. Learned a lot of motor control with that. I'm wanting to transition to guitar now tho, I'm hoping to stick with it.