WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!!!!

ok, I have been playing for around 11 years now...I have played in numerous bands, even backed people signed from Nashville...AS a rhythm player. I cannot get better as a lead player, I practice and get frustrated, Because I will spend hours practicing and still sound terrible on lead! I go to guitar center or somewhere and pray no one is in there, and I have played for thousands of people at a time....is this guitar players block?!...also this may sound weird but, I never learned Theory playing guitar, I picked guitar up myself and just started playing, when I look at circle of fifths or theory I get lost and even more pissed.

Well first thing is to chill

music is supposed to be fun, if you're not enjoying it then, honestly, it probably isn't for you. If you still do have fun out of it and are just facing what i like to call "the wall" we musicians face all the time then just get back to breaking the wall down.

Theory is very very helpful, and like anyone else, you can start at anytime. It might be a little more confusing to you though since you've spent so long playing by ear, which isn't a problem either.

If you've been signed and do backing and play infront of sh!t loads of people like you have, then you're honestly fine, just a serious critique like most of us are. The important thing is to not let it hinder you and pull you back.

The point is to constantly improve, really we only have enough time to pat ourselves on the back and get back to work because there's just so much to learn and do.

Also, if you think you're so bad at being lead, maybe you're just better off being backing and perhaps add some singing? Everything has it's role to play.

I have a question, what are the differences between rhythm and lead? is it that the rhythm plays most of the riffs while the lead play some solos and stuff I mean I need some details

in metal there are melodic lines sometimes that are 1 octave higher and when the guitars harmonize the lead plays the harmonized parts, that and the lead solos also

@nightmare i was going to write something but why when somebody else has said it better

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_guitar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_guitar




I'm mean this in all respect but that's your problem. I know alot of people have done it by ear but after 11 years I sorry but the ship has sailed. So now it's time to hit the books unfortunately all the good books i know need some basic theory and to read notation

That's a incredibly good point as well and a lesson some people have trouble with

yea and for everyone I have backed I sing for..I can learn solos and stuff no problem and play them just fine. Its just the making up stuff on the spot and theory I cannot grasp. I appreciate all of your inputs.

That takes a lot of time, just keep playing backing tracks, play your solos over and over constantly playing a new idea. It's just down to practice really.

well killswitch doesnt have a lead cuz they switch around

That doesn't help Apollo at all.

I would say take a break. you never realy know how much you love playing until you go without. that way it will let your fourarm muscles rest up. and your ideas will flow better.

you are simply 'over-thinking things' .. slow down , enjoy.

If You Cant go Lead,be a KILLER Rythm Player,they're more valued and more searched of...

Thanks, I should have searched have searched in wikipedia before asking.

If you spend a part of that frustrating practice time learning music theory you'll be much further ahead.

After 40 years of playing the guitar I don't need anyone to teach me 'how' to play a song but I sure pay attention to the way they 'approach' a song. That's where theory and creativity come in. I learn something new every day on Youtube listening to someone 'explain' a song. One can take a common rock song that's been played a million times and, with a little bit of theory, add a new dimension to it.

Also, we all instinctively play a certain way. I'm not a fast player so I'll substitute a few chords or even change the key of a song to let me make my changes quicker. When I was a young lad I'd spend hours with my fingers in some wierd contortion trying to play some impossible chord...today I just say the heck with it and 'do it my way' using a bit of theory.

When playing in a group, you'll find you're of much added value if you can plough through some obstacle in the arrangement by drawing on your knowledge of music theory.

Hey Apolloshredder, not sure what kind of music you play but i think Carl said it best "over-thinking things" just slow down.

Now is sounds like your theory challenged so spending some time with music theory will help some things.

now to slow things down even more take a very simple progression like a 12 bar blues in E or something, and play some pentatonic scales over it and see if you can create some leads and solo's from that.

I've said it before but i used blues you can use to really get me into lead playing. I didn't really even like the blues but the author is really good at explaining rhythm, scales and the tieing it all up with a solo.

This says it. It is a neverending journey through knowledge. Take some basic guitar classes even if it is far below your skills. It never hurts to get back to the basics. Knowing what you know now you may find something that you missed the first time around. Everyone learns in different ways but once i hit my "wall" after playing by ear for 10 years i went back to begin learning theory again. Now that i have a greater understanding of the science behind playing my guitar it makes it easier for me to play faster, more advanced music as well write my own. So in short, like everyone else said, LEARN THEORY!

I hear that all musicians gets a "initial creativity block". The best thing to do is walk away from your instrument and just come back rather than trying harder because it just doesn’t work, but i don't know if that's true.

There is more than one kind of lead guitarist out there Apollo, and I can't help noticing that you've added 'shredder' to the end of your handle. I don't know if that was significant but maybe, like me, you're not built for the high speed stuff. I'm quite old and slow but I still consider myself to be a fairly good all round 'melodic' guitarist. I'll never be a Blackmore or a Malmsteen but I can still play some really good tunes with loads of feeling. Maybe look at broadening your horizons? Just a thought. Good luck anyway!

You may want to try playing good. Sometimes it really helps.

i agree wiht this guy cuz i have bene playing for four months and i took a brief break and i came bak better than ever. im more creative and rdy for music theory!

Bro, you gotta chill out. Just listen to ideas in your head and draw from your influences.

If you teach yourself how to play, and you cant learn to play solos, you either seek professional help, or you play Rhythm guitar.
Rhythm guitarists are dying out! Everyone wants to play lead. Keep us alive! Rhythmist Power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you can learn to play solos if you teach yourself, (special thanks to the internet!) but you will learn alot faster with a proper teacher

i learn to play solos by playing solos form other songs and then coming up wiht my own