What's wrong with my guitar playing?

Dude, I used to play no less than 5 hours a day and if we had a gig 7 to 10, depending on if we had time for rehearsal as a band.

I would say this before anything, it sounds to me like your warm up isn't right.

I would start very slow (especially in these cold months) go through traditional chords (on an acoustic) work your way into some jazz and "cowboy" chords, it'll strengthen your hands and also start those muscles working.

Next if you are moving on to electric, go through those same chords on your electric (we all know about the difference not only in neck size and fret action but the size of acoustics and the strings we put on them), after that simple pentatonics up and down the neck, move on to pentatonics in 3rds, run your other scales and modes you know, hit some arpeggios, and you should be pretty loosened up.

If you are staying acoustic just run your major/minor scales and any runs you might need to use in the night that would give you some trouble, you should be good.

I'd take about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours depending on how you feel.

There are other things you should look at also. Have you changed your lifestyle lately?

Maybe there is a factor that is using up your energy (got a new girlfriend?) and you aren't able to give as much.

Maybe something has gone on in your life that might have your mind occupied.

Hope this helped a little and I hope it is just warming up or being preoccupied, there are medical situations like carpal tunnel and nerve problems that might affect your playing as well, like I said I hope this helped and it isn't serious.

Wow, some really neat answers here. This is just one man's opinion but have you considered writing your own songs. Then it's not a question of how many notes you can play at once but more a question of just what notes get into the song... after all guitar can get pretty lonesome without somebody else to sing along.

What I do is buy another guitar. Something way over my head. I save the cash and look forward to my purchase with glee. When I get it, new stuff comes out of it, stuff I didn't know I had in me and so far I like my stuff this way.

You could have a condition of some kind that any Licenced Physician could tell you about... Maybe stop off at your family Doctor and tell him what you told me.

Anyways something else comes to mind and that's this: it takes about a year to comprehend what you're playing at the speed you're playing it so by now your mind is used to the pace and can spot imperfections a lot better.

Translated by Won Won

Victoria Bc

Few things you should do: 1. Check that your guitar is in tune 2. Make sure you strum the notes right. For example, in the d chord you do not strum all 6 strings. 3. Make sure that when you press down the strings that a. You press hard enough b. Your fingers don't touch other strings that may affect the sound<--- Will be a major problem when your playing harder chords in the future :)

You aren't focused and perhaps your hands are cold. If you've been over eating and not getting as much sleep because of the holidays, or if you've been drinking or doing drugs, that will effect it also.

You aren't interested right now or you wouldn't be making the mistakes! I've played the piano for 43 years and the same thing happens to me sometimes. Just give it a break until you are dying to play then you'll do better.

Your mind is on other things and you just need a break!

I'd say give it at bare minimum...6 or 7 days off. Give your body and mind a rest and when you pick your guitar back up again in about a week, you can try to break the cycle. You might be overpracticing. You have the work ethic and the desire to do well, all you need is to reinvent yourself

Best wishes and good luck!

If you are smoking or drinking regularly STOP IT!! If you don't eat or sleep enough that would be the answer. If you have a problem with your girlfriend, or just some heartaches because of something that happened to you, try passing over it... i don't know any other reason... cos if you was good before, these might be the only reasons.

Well, there is a such thing as too much practice. Calm down. You're awsome at guitar by now. Your body probably feels over worked. I play clarinet and when I practice to much my head hurt ans I can't hit notes and my fingers play random notes. take a couple days off from praticing so much. Then you'll probably get back to playing like you usaully do. DOn't work yourself too hard. I understand music is my life too.

chillax homie

it's just a phase

or physically, your fingers are tired

just rest for a bit

you don't have to practice playing guitar 24/7 to be great

personally, I think it should just come to you

and if it does, you'll be fine

put the guitar down for a minimum of a week, I recommend two and then go back and you should be right back to normal. I know you don't want to try it, but it will work.

You should take a break, eventually it will come back to you. It happened to me a couple of times. Just stay calm and everything will be back to normal