I tried, but I just can't...and it's so frustrating!!!

@adnileb (5276)
Philippines
May 15, 2011 1:47am CST
SO, there are two frustrating that happened to me this day. Firstly, I decided not to mylot today. But here I am now, posting my frustrations. I took my guitar out and decided to learn some chords AGAIN. Because, as you want to know, I'm NOT a guitar player. And I can't even remember a chord after my lessons. So, I searched YouTube and other sites for chords and guitar lessons. I searched for "Leaving on a Jet Plane" as they say it was easy to learn. And YES, just by watching the tutorials, it WAS EASY. So, I tried, BUT, I don't seem to sound good. I tried, and tried, and tried, and tried. But I failed. And it was so frustrating. I tried it many times already. Now, I think of quitting to learn how to play a guitar. *sigh* Okay, I'm out for learning it right now. Maybe I need to study everyday for me to learn. So.... Secondly, okay, this is it AND this was my second post. I was about to finish on my first post about my guitar lesson when I suddenly hit on some keys I don't know what happened next. ALL THAT I TYPED WAS GONE. I tried to undo (Ctrl+Z) but it didn't help. So, I typed it all again. How about you lotters? Do you have some things that you thought you can do but you realized that you just can't? Or some frustrating things maybe that happened to you recently? Please share your views. =)
2 people like this
11 responses
@allknowing (136095)
• India
15 May 11
The fact that you do not like what you hear is a good sign which shows that you have a good ear for music!. Some people need tutors to tell them that. You have already passed the first test and that is to know when the tune is right or not right. The second step is just to play it right, till you get it.And this step every single guitarist goes through. So at it now - the second step!
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
15 May 11
Hi allknowing... YES, I do. I really do have a good ear for music BUT I just can't play ANY instrument. I think you can be my tutor. Thanks for saying I PASSED the first test and I don't think how long it will take for me to pass the second test, "to play it right". Can't wait to be a guitarist though.
@allknowing (136095)
• India
15 May 11
Every guitarist even the one who does not have a ear for music is able to play only because he has practised and what about the one with ear for music. For them it is cake walk. Take it as a challenge and record a piece for me through youtube.There is no substitute for hard work. Good Luck.
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
15 May 11
Yikes! Record a piece for you???!!?? That's impossible. Well, okay, I'LL TRY. But you have to wait for a couple of months.
@jennyze (7028)
• Indonesia
16 May 11
After a year of learning Chinese and Korean languages I thought I came to time where I feel it's stagnant and I ran out of ideas how to improve myself. If that can be categorized as a frustration, yes it;s really frustrating. I have a target that after two years I can speak and write those two languages well. I am way way far off that target, of course... here are only two things to do when we are at this stage: to work harder or to leave it for a time until we have a boost of motivation to learn more...
@jennyze (7028)
• Indonesia
18 May 11
Yes, I am lazy too. But this is a kind of my dream that I think I can materialize it. So, after a couple of weeks, I would drag myself back to those languages. You are working in a Korean company, you should learn of the language more, so than you have a better opportunity to be the head of the company...
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
18 May 11
I'm learning bit by bit. But I'm not that serious in learning. I'm just up for the basic. So you still know/remember what you've learned?
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
16 May 11
Wow, I want to learn Korean language too because I'm working on a Korean company, that's why. But not as serious like you really want to learn. Well, some basics are enough for me. To work harder is much more important I think because when we leave it and wait for the time until we have a boost of motivation, maybe we'll get lazy. Well, that's me. I get lazy sometimes and don't want to continue anymore.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
16 May 11
It's not that easy to learn how to play a guitar. I know some basic chords and I learned it with a lot of practice. You can't learn a song in just a day. It takes patience and a lot of practice. The latest frustration I had was I couldn't wear a bikini when we went swimming. I was only able to wear the upper pair and not the lower pair. It's because of these fats in my belly! ..
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
17 May 11
I tried the sit-ups before. I used to do 10 every morning after waking up. I just got tired of it. Yes, you can do it! If you really want to then you can definitely do it!
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
17 May 11
Try the sit ups wherein your knees are bended and then you will try to reach your knees using your forehead. Sounds hard but I think that's a lot easier than the original sit-ups. You can have 3-5 every morning then you'll get used to it, add another one, then two, and so on. Don't get tired. As for my guitar lesson, I know I can do it. I all I have to have is PATIENCE. Which I'm running out of it.
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
16 May 11
Yes, A LOT OF PATIENCE. I'm getting used to it since yesterday. Just finished my 30-minute lesson with the chords. I can do this!! Can't wear a bikini? That's really frustrating. Me, I NEVER tried it. And never it entered my mind to wear one. Maybe you should start doing sit-ups to lessen your tummy fats. I started that 15-minute sit-ups too. Try it.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (23148)
• United Kingdom
16 May 11
Hello Adnileb! I am also learning guitar and I also find it really hard. But lucky for me, my sister is really good in guitar playing. My first guitar lesson was also Leaving on a Jet plane. Haha. But my master piece is "FEARLESS" by Taylor Swift (this is also easy). The thing is, when I first started it doesn't sound good too. Try practicing your strumming pattern first. I use (down, up, up, down, up, up, down. If your strumming pattern is good it will definitely sound good. Then make sure you practice the transition from chord to chord. Just practice how the chords look like with your own hands and try transferring without strumming first. Just get the feel of it until the transition is easy. Also check that you are pressing the strings well. Lastly, ask someone to sing for you. Tell her to follow your lead even if your playing is slow. The guitar actually sounds better when you pair it with a voice. And since in my experience it's hard to strum while singing so ask someone to help you out. After you mastered it try singing while playing. Try one more time my friend. I think this will be a test of your patience. GOOD LUCK and I hope this helps a bit.
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
16 May 11
I searched on Fearless, and yes, it SOUNDS easy. But as my first lesson, I have to memorize the chords and how to switch in between them as fast as I could. Bad thing is I don't have a mentor so good for you that you have your sister. I'll get to playing the songs soon. For now, I'll concentrate on the chords. Do I really have to memorize them? I mean the chords... Um, I think so. But thanks anyway for you advise. It surely helped me a lot.
@flapiz (23148)
• United Kingdom
17 May 11
Well frankly speaking I haven't memorized all chords yet. Hahaha.. Keep on trying. Have a nice day.
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
17 May 11
It's alright... At least you can play. Wish I can play too. ...I'll keep trying.
• Philippines
18 May 11
when I first touched a guitar, I knew it wouldn't be that easy to learn and master but I tried and tried and tried..until now I'm still trying.lol juz kidding..fortunately because of "Patience" I am now mastering the technicalities of the art. Patience is really the key to achieving things.
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
18 May 11
Patience is a virtue. ...and whenever I get frustrated or mad at some things, I keep repeating that line to my self until I get calmed down and resume to whatever it is that I'm doing (and which frustrates me too).
• South Africa
15 May 11
Hey Hey Hey! well, im not sure what happened regarding your "text disappearing" but i know for sure that all you need is practice :) i too play guitar, and have been doing so for around three years, it isnt very long... but i know that no what your playing, you need practice. It can take weeks to learn a new peice, espicially learning it well. Proffesionals dont just pick up their guitars and learn a new peice in 1 or 2 hours! Even for them it takes weeks to learn it well enough to perform them.. so dont worry! dont get frustrated, all you need is some more time :) try practicing your song for at least 15 minutes a day, and before you know it, you wont be able to recognise the difference between yours, and the one your learning from on youtube!!! :D
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
15 May 11
Thanks! I just made my week schedule a while ago and I included a 30-minute guitar lessons from Monday to Wednesday. Hope this one will work. I know it's not easy but with all the 4 comments I read, I am a encouraged, so thanks a lot. Since you said you play guitar too, can you give some advise or tips then?
• South Africa
15 May 11
well, as i said practice is everything!! and soon you will be seeing the same cords in different songs that you play, so you'll already know them, making it a lot easier to learn your new song! yes those lessons sound perfect, but you have to practice at home aswell! just to give you that little edge.. and dont think to yourself "oh no, i have to go practice now" you gotta be positive! think "yes! a few more minutes and i'll be able to play this without looking:D:D" think of playing as a good thing, not as if its work! because its not, its just a fun thing to do hope i helped
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
16 May 11
Well, that was a BIG help actually. I do practice by myself so I think it will take me a long time to really learn. I forgot to say, "welcome to mylot, duncan!!" Thanks!
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
16 May 11
I am now where near musically gifted..lol. I am artistic, but just not in that way. I like to write and I might be able to write a song..I have never really tried..but as far as music..not me. My b/f is a musician and he plays anything with strings...lol. We go to the music store and he just starts picking stuff up and playing it. I tried to strum his guitar a bit...but I don't hear it the way he does.
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
16 May 11
That's my problem, it doesn't sound the way it should be. If I were you, I'll keep practicing. You're lucky because there is someone who will teach you, your boyfriend. I think you should try again.
@vandana7 (100249)
• India
16 May 11
I dont know how to play guitar, never learnt it. :) But I do have some moments like that now and then. :)
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
16 May 11
Frustrating moments are really normal nowadays...
@obe212003 (2299)
• Philippines
15 May 11
Don't let frustrations bring you down, just keep on trying and trying, and the fun part of this is when you've overcome whatever have frustrated you, then you would just realize how much you have learned, lol!
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
15 May 11
Thanks for that wonderful encouragement. I'm really looking forward now to LEARN. And hope I can do it. I just can't help it but to get frustrated when I just can't hit the right strum and tune.
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
16 May 11
First off, you have to practice everyday to learn something like playing the guitar. Secondly I learned that there is something I am not good at, getting married. I did it, married for 17 years, she left, no reason. So the lesson is, do not get married. Keep learning the guitar and get real good at it. It will be your best friend.
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
16 May 11
I'll try to practice thrice a week. 30 minutes per day. Hope I can do better everyday. Can't wait it to be my bestfriend because I really love music but that's just so sad I can't play any kind of instrument. Why did you say you're not good at marriage? Everything has a reason. Maybe she has a reason that you just don't know why she left. So you're alone in your life right now? Or do you have kids? Sorry to hear that you and your wife already separated.
• Indonesia
16 May 11
Hei there, I'm very frustated for this two days because my computer is breakdown. It got virus and I cant handle it. So I send my computer to the service centre and hope it will better soon. So to reduce my frustation I tried to go to Warnet ( Internet Center ) to browsing something and fresh my mind. I wish I'll spend enough time to have lotting in mylot. I was there for five hours but didn't get what I expect about. I didn't know whats going on but I cant loggin to mylot. I try several time but still can't. I just open the homepage of mylot but after login it's always failed. It's totally annoying. Five hours, ten more tried always failed ( can't somebody tell me why??). I just feel more brokenheart and dissapointed
@adnileb (5276)
• Philippines
16 May 11
Have you put the right password and username? But I can see you have logged in now. And I hope everything's fine now. Is it? Or you're having problems still? Hope I can be of great help BUT I myself don't know either.