Why I Almost QUIT Guitar Playing

Why I Almost QUIT Guitar Playing
This is part one of a series, How I Learned to Play Guitar, and I think this video is something most of us can learn something from. I almost quit guitar playing before I even started. In the end I did find my motivation, but that was partly luck.
I hope you enjoy this story, and learn something from it.
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[@MrPolevaulter]

Please check out some of my music: kzbin.info/aero/PLNaLwTdlpQNHKlg8ALZfM3AINC20WMp8s Or get ALL my music, lessons, and exclusives at: www.patreon.com/elmojk

[@sixstrings4568]

I started to teach myself guitar when I was 51. I came to the conclusion pretty quickly that I'd never be a shredder and got frustrated when I'd see these little kids making mincemeat of the fretboard. I realized the importance of really good rhythm playing and now I'm quite happy being Malcolm to someone's else's Angus. Oh, I'm now 65 and still love playing rhythm.

[@matthewblack7206]

Just when I was starting to make good progress on guitar; I may be forced to give it up because of arthritis and peripheral neuropathy in my hands. NEVER take your health for granted, guys - keep playing and shred on while you still can!!

[@daniellarson3068]

Wise Reminder - To be honest, I didn't know what peripheral neuropathy was and had to look it up. Good luck with your ailments. I thank you and Elmo for the advice.

[@MrPolevaulter]

True. That's why you should enjoy what you do. It might end tomorrow.

[@jimmyjames2022]

It's a different thing, but I quit playing entirely for 10 years after all my rig was stolen from storage while moving. Finally I got back into it, but by then all my band friends were living somewhere else. Now age related health issues are slowing my playing ability, and I can't use amps where I live. So I've adapted to playing slower lead styles through headphones with VSTs and doing some recording, and it's tons of fun and very rewarding. If you find joy in playing hang in there despite any obstacles, no matter what experience level.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Good to hear you're enjoying it :)

[@trevorgwelch7412]

You are an amazing - Intelligent person based on your words of your experience . Live Long and Prosper . God Bless . Be Healthy . 🌃🏘🏢⛵️🎸🎬🎼

[@Henry-kn9zg]

You inspire me to keep playing guitar till I die, and heck maybe even learn more than just guitar 👍

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks man! Glad I can help :)

[@Aidenbro-s2k]

Good to hear from you again, professor! I remember what made me want to quit was hearing my improv solo recording for the first time. I wanted to throw up. I wanted to cry. I apologized to my wife. I repented. But then I realized “Hey. Isn’t that the purpose of recording yourself? So you can really hear yourself and, therefore, be honest with yourself? Then allow that honesty provide the determination I needed to keep practicing, recording and being honest with myself?” The answer to all of these is ‘yes’. I promise, there is something you gain when you ALLOW YOURSELF TO HEAR YOURSELF SUCK. It’s painful! But you get through it and you get better and then you may not mind hearing yourself play so much.

[@tomflynn2912]

Interesting Elmo, makes me remember my start, which was very hard for me, learning songs i hated! Looking forward to part 2!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@chrislovesstamps]

Solid advice. I quit two years ago, same reason as you. A combination of me and a teacher who said the same as yours did. Now I have been watching several Of your videos and it inspired me. I am now in the proces of buying a guitar. Thanks for your videos, you help people a lot!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Glad to be of help :)

[@Wabin22]

Like Tommy Wiseau would have put it: Haha what ey story Elmo! :D I'm not a guitar teacher, I'm just a guitar player but when people come up to me and say that they want to learn how to play I always think it's important to let them know that the important thing is that they learn to play something that they like. They are in charge of what they want to learn, it's their inspiration and if you take that away.. well then people won't have fun learning the guitar. Like our old friend Dave Murray said: Learn to play stuff that you enjoy listening to. Playing guitar should be fun.

[@DaveWestGuitar]

Elmo, 99.9% of your videos are very informative and helpful. I watched this thinking it was about quitting after years of playing. I think everyone that learns guitar suffers the first year. I thought the strings were going to cut my fingers it hurt so much. I also had a teacher in year one that tried to start me with sight reading and memorizing intervals. Then I found a rock teacher instead of a jazz purist. All in all, maybe this is a good think to know about the first year, but it seems ubiquitous. If you survive year one and want to keep going, I think the worst is over. Pretty standard experience. God Bless, and keep on making great videos.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@friedrudibega6384]

Glad you kept playing. Never let anyone turn you off of your goals. There’s plenty of great teachers and mentors out there.

[@vfamily2406]

EJK, you are a breath of fresh air. I have been in the doldrums lately due to some spinal issues and my beloved Les Pauls have sat quietly and neglected in the corner. You have inspired me to keep at it. Thank you!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Glad I can be of help :)

[@mike1967sam]

Hey Elmo, it's Mike from Portugal, I've been watching your channel for about 2 years. I'm 54 and I started playing in 1986 when I was 18 and my son was born in 2001 and I stopped playing around 2002 and I only picked up the guitar again in February of 2013, believe me if I could get back those 11 years I lost, wow, I wish I could. So never stop.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, stopping is a bad idea.

[@christian-van-e]

Seriously: I started playing guitar in 1986. I was 11 years. I practiced and practiced, and thought at 14, 15 years: there is no better guitarist of my age in my town 😂 and then, I saw Gary Moore live, on his Still got the blues-live tour. I went home and was so blown away by this man, his live accurate playing… and thought: I can’t play shit…

[@MrPolevaulter]

I think we've all had similar moments at some point or other. And he was GOOD.

[@christian-van-e]

@@MrPolevaulter sharp as a knife, but… there were too much releases the last years: didn’t coop with everything in the end, just like Bonamassa: he releases too much (of the same)

[@iberiksoderblom]

I needed this. Have had the guitar standing inactive in my livingroom for 6 month now.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Glad if I could help :)

[@mike1967sam]

Hey Elmo. As soon as I saw your title I immediately clicked on the vid. I'm 53 years old. I began playing guitar when I was 18, I started late but in the span of only 5 years I had become a professional guitarist and signed to a major record label in 1991 which was BMG Ariola. I had my stint as a pro musician in the big leagues at least here in Portugal but for very personal reasons I left the pro music scene. At the age of 34 I decided to sell all my gear and I gave up playing and music for 11 years. It was only at the age of 45 that I decided to pick up a guitar again and it brought tears to my eyes because I could barely play simple chords - So here's my advice to all you younger people, if you love music never give up playing. I could be a far better musician today but I can't get back those 11 years I lost. Never give up. Mike.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, that's the same advice I'd give. Never give up. You can take a break, but don't sell your gear. You'll end up wanting to play at some point again.

[@eltigre8978]

This is a great story Elmo. So glad you shared it. Your story applies to so many "teachers" or "people in positions of power" that can influence our lives in good or bad ways. A counselor in my high school told my parents "I wasn't college material", well, I went on to get a masters degree in art so I guess he was wrong lol. On the other hand, I had some GREAT teachers in my life that truly impacted my future. Your channel is very inspiring and it's already influencing my playing and my attitude towards how good I may be able to get. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thank you very much. Cool to hear about your master's degree :)

[@eltigre8978]

@@MrPolevaulter Thank you so much Elmo :)

[@LookingForEntertainment112]

Yeah, an abusive and shitty teacher made me put all instruments down for 10 years. I had been playing for 4 years at that point, but the fear and anxiety of making mistakes and the consequences made it a terrifying experience. It still pisses me off, 30yrs later. Thankfully a friend was starting a punk band and convinced me to buy a guitar. Playing what I wanted, with other people and for the fun of it totally changed my view on what playing an instrument and making music is all about.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Sorry to hear, although better late than never.

[@oldmanofcotati]

Just watched this after watching the second in this series. Elmo you are a loving person. Thank you for giving so much of yourself.

[@MrPolevaulter]

And thank you :)

[@sergiorojas4291]

Love this one, I've returned to play a few months ago after 9 years of non playing because of desmotivation. I totally agree with you, we have to play what we want to make real progress. Nice video. Thank you, greetings from Argentina!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Gracias :)

[@mrscary3105]

I have been in a rut for almost a decade. I play but not often, and it's because my peer group moved out of the area. The joy of guitar for me is the zone of being part of a group. (Your best video in a long time, when your heart is in it, it's great every time brother. )

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks man!

[@maselbas]

I had a horrible teacher early on too. I brought in a Children of Bodom cd and wanted to learn how to play like Alexi. This teacher was a jazz guy, a wine and cheese jazz snob. “Well why would you want to learn that. I can’t teach you, and I don’t think anybody can” Asshole. Then I started lessons with George Bellas. Changed everything. A great teacher, and insane player. I learned a lot from him.

[@LookieChannel]

This was sooo good to know, listen and understand. Thanks for sharing. And BTW I love the bloopers!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MrJingles021]

You said something so significant. That you need to play the music you want to play. I played guitars in standard tuning for years, but I always loved metal. I wasn't sure about how to go about downtuning with proper strings and all the guitar stores questioned and scoffed at why I would want to downtune. So for years I didn't play what I wanted for 12 of the 13 years I've played guitar. Then I explained this to my fiance, and she said I should just try it. My guitar playing has improved more this year than ever, because I'm playing music I want to play finally.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool bananas :)

[@Madchris8828]

This was a great talk. I almost quit for just about the same reason as you did.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thank you :)

[@billbeckley1474]

I can totally relate and totally agree. In 1981 I was 16 years old and wanted to play like Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. My second guitar teacher was like cool, if you want to play like them then you're going to need to learn some scales and that put me on the path. Great videos, man! Keep up the great work.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@philnicol8072]

Quit in 2002. Later down the track I heard John Mayer's guitar playing on his 2008 live blu-ray 'Where The Light Is' * Then I re-picked up the stringed instrument.. No quitting on us now Elmo... You could play a 3 hour 'Virtuoso' gig in your sleep, plus encore ! 🎶

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@potblacksg]

This was helpful and encouraging. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼

[@MrPolevaulter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@shanewalton8888]

Everything I play I am learning off of KZbin. Wish I could find a proper Metal guitar teacher in person here in Japan.

[@PooNinja]

Marty Friedman is there somewhere, not sure if still he gives lessons ?

[@Madchris8828]

One of my problems is everyone I find on KZbin plays music I don't really care about. Then they teach in standard tuning. And yes some of it applies to drop tunings but some of the chord changes can make it pretty confusing

[@LeifPalmin]

Interesting, thank you for sharing. I am a 54 year old beginner. I played, realy played for a bit more then a year. I paktise for 2-3 houres every day and love that time. I like blues style, and Red Hot Chilli peppers, and this week Greta Van Fleet.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool!

[@guyfromnj]

It’s all about finding the right teacher for YOU!!! Everyone plays for different reasons. Your first teacher would of been great if your aspirations were to be a gigging working musician playing covers at weddings and small bars etc. nothing wrong with that at all. Not everyone wants to do that. Not everyone even wants to play for others. There are all kinds of reasons people play and all kinds of genres that they like. Finding a like minded teacher helps. It’s hard to teach something you aren’t into so if you want to play thrash metal or neo classical don’t go to a teacher that specializes in top 40 pop. That’s very important to know when you are starting out because having a teacher that doesn’t let you focus on what your passionate about will totally kill your aspirations.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Absolutely.

[@medicinemann8844]

Gud Mrng, E. I got my electric and acoustic guitar stolen. 😞 so heartbreaking. I want to save up for another. I've been playing off and on since 1980. No teacher, just by ear, rewinding cassette tapes. Ha! I like to keep going, "It's a long way to the top if you want to Elmo! "👍🏻🎸🤟🏼

[@MrPolevaulter]

Sorry to hear that :(

[@j-venom616]

Great video! I remember my start at age of 12 "Mom, I want a guitar!" - "You won't get any, you didn't like music school younger, why would you want a guitar now?" ...then I "secretly" put an ad to Keltainen Pörssi and of course, my parents landline phone number to it. Someone saw it and called and my dad answered to phone "No, we don't have an ad in magazine.." I ran to him and "we do!" ...500 Finnish marks and I got my Ibanez EX Series. Had to wash my dads car for a year to pay it in full. All my free time I (and if I didn't have free time, I made it happen by skipping school) I spent jamming along to records and learning songs by ear - later on I have really regretted that I never took any lessons. Knowing actual technique would make many things much easier..

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, a good teacher can give you a head start.

[@skinnykarlos710]

You're one of the last people that I would imagine having a motivation struggle. It just goes to show us how the guitar is a wonderful but stern taskmaster. Always telling us that our desires are always going to be just out of reach. If you find that you're totally satisfied with one's progress and ability that's maybe the time to hand up the axe. Great insights, Elmo. Great episode.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@kipponi]

Lyhyesti. Play what you really like. Of course in cover band play what audience want. Ultimately be you. Not Yngwie, Eddie, Gary etc. My story shortly: guitar about 14 year old. Classical guitar teacher 22 then on my own. So 44year of playing just like therapy guitar playing. Now I try to do own songs. As a Singer/songwriter ha ha. I have okay home studio with Zoom Live trak 16 and different instruments etc.

[@Guaz65]

I am 55, I stopped to play guitar for some years due to life things , then I started again, I follow Elmo he give me a big trust and motivation ! As how yjm gave me in the 80/90’s. I play only one hour at day ( not always) but I still study to shred , I still believe to become a shredder ( ahaha motivation effect) Ps : I also try to learn to make the Elmo’s faces of death !

[@MrPolevaulter]

Haha :D

[@stevetamv68]

As a one time Music Teacher myself, I often asked my students what direction they wanted to go on their instrument they play, so I looked up (If I wasn`t familiar with that musician or genre) that musician and then transcribed that material and learnt the techniques they used and then passed on that information to the best of my ability at that time... I remember wanting to give up playing or changing instrument, on many occasions myself... The main reason was that IMAGINARY wall we as musicians ALL hit at one time or another... The trick is to give yourself realistic Goals... As you are well aware Elmo, trying to achieve a Malmsteen-esque techniques doesn`t happen overnight, nor does that very desirable speed and articulation... Determination and Desire is the key to succeeding in those areas, if you only get close, you have still achieved something...

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, you have that big goal, which you then break down into manageable goals.

[@cupidstunt66]

I started in my early 20s but quickly gave up after being told to learn stuff like Greensleeves. It was not till 20 years later and the discovery of KZbin that got me back into it. Now I can learn anything I want to play and without leaving my house. How awesome is that.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool!

[@Mr.5hady]

I started playing as an adult, but I did actually have the same type of problem with teachers in the beginning. Now I have a Blackmore nerd as a teacher and tech, so it’s all good now😎

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool :)

[@jolzwartxd5435]

Nyt oli kyllä kova video

[@MrPolevaulter]

Kiits :)

[@trailerparkstudios7938]

Elmo's creative genius can"t get beyond constantly playing "I'll see the light tonight riff" from over 30 fucking years ago!

[@MrPolevaulter]

You seem to have anger issues. Besides you also seem to be very familiar with my music. I'd link to it, but I doubt you'd check it out anyway.

[@trailerparkstudios7938]

@@MrPolevaulter maybe misunderstamd

[@trailerparkstudios7938]

I am a Blackmore guy, so forgive me, but I do love your gear analysis, god bless you, fellow guitarist

[@trailerparkstudios7938]

BTW I changed the diods on the DOD 250

[@irf888]

Hi. Yes about the guitar teachers. Most are a distraction. Yes Gary Moore. And he practiced all the time. A virtuoso. Tonight I’ll try and play some of his solos in honor of this very insightful video! Do it for yourself! As you are the primary listener when you play. Regards. Ps. Listen to Gary’s After the War album I think a lifetime of study in that one album. And listen to the full 8 minutes of Blood of Emeralds - probably one of the great rock masterpieces of all time. Full of emotions and virtuosity. Elmo had great inspiration.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers! Yeah, great album.

[@dcbluez4883]

That scalloped neck all the way down is something for sure. I bet it was hard at first to not get out of key on notes and chords with that neck. Do you find it easy? My first player I wanted to play like was Johnny Winter and after many years I am able to play like Johnny a good bit. Its a good idea to have someone in mind that inspires you to play. Gary Moore was great choice but I started way before he came out.

[@MrPolevaulter]

It's easy these days, but took a bit of getting used to.

[@PaleCaretaker]

I'm stills trying to learn but i can't get through some lessons on Yousician (Playing using pinky) so everyday im closer to give up. I have really stiff hands and I'm only 26yo. Maybe when i buy electric guitar, it will be easier but i doubt that.

[@MrPolevaulter]

If you have stiff hands, maybe try stretching them. That might work. But be careful, you don't want to injure yourself.

[@jogmas12]

Well for me my goals are somewhat lofty which keeps me motivated. Be the best session guitarist ever? Maybe. Nevertheless I completely understand that progress is not going to be immediate. It may take 60 days for me to improve on something. My mindset is that I’m in it for the long haul.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Good mindset.

[@purplerocket666]

Dear Elmo J Malmstarlainen. I it get's you you will never gonna stop. I am playing for 46 years now. Ten years ago I took a break of two years and sold everything. What a stupid (and expensive) idea. My tips if you're stuck or bored: - take a -little- break - go to a teacher or a guitar school, - start a fucking band and get impulses from other musicians - BUY new gear (my kemper, my amps, my plugins help me a lot staying motivated - watch elmo's channel

[@MrPolevaulter]

All good tips...although I am a bit biased when it comes to the last one :D

[@jakenogard9667]

I can play guitar even though i never had a teacher but i would love it if there is someone can teach like James Hitfield does that can play fast riffs and can sing at the same time🤘🤘🤘

[@jarppa7689]

I remember my first teacher, who was an older guy and wanted to stick with 50's, 60's and 70's songs. Samba Pa Ti and if he really wanted to shred, Chuck Berry Johnny B Goode (strictly from the notes - no improv!) I just wanted to play Napalm Death and learn March of the S.O.D :D

[@MrPolevaulter]

:D

[@modscientist9793]

Gteat points, thank you Elmo.

[@mikaashton2152]

I started playing at 10 years old after a year of bugging my parents ,they bought me a basic acoustic and I started lessons .My teacher was great he was Spanish and asked me do you want to learn Spanish guitar or Blues?? I picked the blues. Three years later I was playing a lot of blues and jazz, quite well. Then my dad bought me an electric!!!! For whatever reason I gave up my lessons . I wanted to be a rock star or whatever and I was 13 and thought i knew it all. And it was ´91/92 great years for music. I wanted to be James Hetfield or Richie Blackmore... Long story short. My teacher cried and begged me to continue.. I was having nothing of that. He was a great teacher I was lucky. The funny thing was after stopping lessons I practiced more than ever 3/4 hrs a day) until I was about 19/20 then my career took over. but I agree a good teacher makes all the difference.

[@HardToBeSomeone]

A good Guitar teacher should not discourage anything when teaching.young pickers to master Guitar playing. It’s all good. If a student has a quirk, that quirk could turn into their own personal signature. The important thing is that they have the fever to want to become a Guitarist no matter what it takes. When I was 17 I painted neighbors houses to buy my first pro quality Electric Guitar and Amp. I was possessed. Nothing could stop me. Great thread as always Elmo👍🏻

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@EricTViking]

I gave up guitar playing when Elmo was mean to the Marshall Code. 😂 Only kidding, I'm a grown up.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Haha :D

[@michaelk5507]

Okay... interesting. I adored the guitar. Loved the guitar always. Then I got the wrong type of guitar when I was 11 years old. A spanish guitar that seemed to have neck like the deck of an aircraft carrier! I never got it in tune. There were no cheap digital tuners back then. I never succeeded in learning the guitar. More than fifty years pass... sigh. All that time I still wanted to play guitar, but didn't. Then I decided to teach myself guitar, after fifty years of feeling frustrated that I didn't do what I always wanted to do, play guitar. Now, two years later I'm getting much better and the TC unitune has made a massive difference! Now at least the guitar is in tune. This made learning and playing at lot easier. I decided to buy an acoustic guitar that had a really good sound by itself almost regardless of how poorly I played it! Then I learned a few simple chords and just practiced and practiced, for hours and hours changing through those ten or twelve chords, in lots of different ways, mostly strumming them backwards and forwards, over and over and over. I'm pretty old now, into my 60's so my fingers are a bit stiff and look nothing like Steve Vai's snake fingers at all! Mine look like sausages! Anyway, I'm getting really good at changing chords smoothly and musically. People and family comment on how much better my playing is now. Hurrah! I think too much theory can discourage too many people in the beginning and too many chords. Staticially only a small fraction of those who start on the guitar ever learn to play it and give up after a year or two. That only around 3% learn to play shows that something is wrong with the way people learn or are taught the guitar, doesn't it? I've always been rather good at teaching myself stuff. Skills and educationally. I'm now playing electric guitar too. Which I'm really enjoying at lot. A telecaster. I live in the country so I can make as much noise as I like! My fingerpicking is improving as well. I think, at least it worked for me, that people should learn to do a few simple things really well on the guitar, rather than too many things not well and getting discouraged, so frustrated that they stop playing completely.

[@MrPolevaulter]

"That only around 3% learn to play shows that something is wrong with the way people learn or are taught the guitar, doesn't it?" That's an interesting stat. Where'd you come by it?

[@michaelk5507]

Well... it's not an absolutely accurate 'scientific' statistic, sorry! However, I have read it several times, though I can't remember where exactly. It is, unfortunately, reasonably accurate.

[@Alfredo78666]

"You'll never be a guitar player", that was the final words of my drunk first guitar teacher

[@MrPolevaulter]

He was drunk? Seems he took teaching seriously :D

[@shanewalton8888]

The best part of this video is this face 2:18

[@MrPolevaulter]

:D

[@tiagocandeias1979]

Good advice for almost everything in life... Not just playing guitar

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@philw8049]

You aren’t wrong that a teacher can ruin it for learning an instrument. My 1st teacher I told him I wasn’t interested in learning to read music, I just wanted to learn to jam a bit (big srv fan). So of course my first lesson I show up and he breaks out a beginner book and starts going over how to read music 😡😡 I didn’t play for years after that. I eventually found a great teacher that showed me how to play in a way that kept me interested!! If I had met him at the beginning I would probably be a professional musician right now. Your right about your goals changing too, back then I didn’t give a damn about theory or any of that but now that I know a bit i am very interested in learning theory. Don’t let anyone tell you theory will take the “soul” out of your playing. That is total bs! If you can play with soul then theory just opens up what you can do with it.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Spot on.

[@gtrjoe68]

I average about 15 minutes of practice a week.

[@glennhughes2664]

I thought this was a great topic, before covid the live scene was limited but at least I could play live still . Since covid hit there's no live music. Session playing while lucrative is a very trying profession ,playing everything from Jingles to rich kids with no money trying to be the next Marilyn Manson but they can barely play there instruments, they literally spend more time putting make up on than practicing there instruments.......theres so many of these kids with no talent coming in to do a demo I play the guitar parts then go bang my head against the wall as our drummer mikes his kit to play there drum parts feeling the same way as me. I play guitar for the feeling of playing live, anyone who plays an instrument proficently playing live is your goal. I miss it so much , I don't know about my future in music Ive had a long rewarding career especially if music puts a roof over your head, you know you've achieved something while doing what you love, that doesn't happen very often its such an evil business . Take care

[@trailerparkstudios7938]

HMMMM I will just spend my life being a Malmsteen hack, I got tired of being a Malmsteen hack, Now I am back to Malmsteen hack, very inspirational life story

[@650thunderbird]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@svenzia]

This is a scandal, Elmo, you almost quitting. OMG. Glad you continued, Suomi!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@svenzia]

@@MrPolevaulter Hurrah!

[@PooNinja]

Because you wanted to have a job that pays??? Answered before watching. *edits At every skill level there is still more to learn or improve upon. Getting a teacher who actually cares if you learn is important. Putting in the work is important too. No one can practice for you.

[@MrPolevaulter]

"Because you wanted to have a job that pays???" :D

[@jaywells5283]

In the words of my gay friends; GIIIIIRRRRRRRRLLL, yes! I couldn’t have said it better myself! I mean I understand learning the basics at first, but my thing is this; explain it to me like a child! How does this “Mary had a little lamb” bullshit, connect to playing like vai or malmsteen?!?! Teachers should be more opt to LISTENING to what you ultimately want to play, and where you would like to be in ….. say two years, than thinking they know what’s best! Then again, should I have expected anything less than you talking about the common sense approach, you usually talk about?!?! Hahaha! Thanks bro!

[@MrPolevaulter]

And thank you :)

[@douglasnisbet1189]

You talk about it like it would be a bad thing for the guitar world if you quit 🤔

[@MrPolevaulter]

If I quit, you wouldn't have anywhere to write. Might be you'd actually learn to play then.

[@douglasnisbet1189]

@@MrPolevaulter I'm pretty happy with my level. I'm not brilliant but I know so and don't pretend to be better than I am. I'm not Anton Oparin or Paul Gilbert that's for sure. Baby level shred though Yngwie style is not a problem

[@shadykitty7493]

i quit cuz no one else plays anything

[@MrPolevaulter]

:(

[@trailerparkstudios7938]

Yngwie style is so dead, get with the times