Posted by kb2dhg on Saturday, October 8, 2011
Well, I am on my 8th month and really feel like I am not getting any better and some days I just can't play at all?
I am fighting with this dam motor control problem with my right hand and it is really starting to frustrate me... Anyway. I would just like to know if any of you have platowed for a long period of time and how long did it last or what can I do to help improve myself?
8 comments on “hHas anyone just felt as though they are not getting anywhere?”
beetlegeist Says:
Sunday, October 9, 2011 @4:34:57 AM
OH yes, I go for months and make no progress what so ever. To beat that problem make small goals for yourself such as learning a new break or just a few notes, learn how to read some sheet music not just tab or just listen to how others play a tune. It all comes together to help you.
Texasbanjo Says:
Sunday, October 9, 2011 @5:23:57 AM
I think everyone has those times -- sometimes lasts a few days, sometimes weeks or months.
When I hit a plateau, I usually try to learn something new -- gives me something new to work on and gets me working harder and practicing more. Don't know if it'd work for you or not, but you might give it a try.
kevinwholmes Says:
Sunday, October 9, 2011 @5:27:17 AM
Everyone stalls once in a while. What style to you play? Maybe you would like to try another for variety or you might discover a different style works better with your hand problems. I started out to learn claw hammer and ended up playing 2/3 finger and some guitar style. I've taken clawhammer and 3-finger Scruggs classes since for interest, and I could play them, but decided I prefer the styles I play now.
n1wr Says:
Sunday, October 9, 2011 @7:21:12 AM
Lou - hang in there. We all hit the plateaus. What I do is re-assess where I am, and try to take a couple of weeks of focused work - to get me back on track. I commit to 1 hour a day practice. I start out warming up by playing through the breaks that I've learned. Takes about 1/2 hour. Then I spend 1/2 hour on a new song. I work the new song until I have it committed to memory, then move it to my first half hour list and start on a new song. If I feel like going more than an hour I play along with an itunes songlist that I made up. I have four or five itunes songlists - I went through my itunes bluegrass music and sorted them out by key (put the key e.g. G or C in the comments block of the info, and then sort on the comments field), and created the songlists from that. Its like playing in a jam - but you don't have to fiddle with the capo.
Getting into a jam session is another way to get re-energized, if you haven't done that yet. Which brings up another part of this. Someone posted somewhere that playing banjo is 90% backup. If you haven't focused some of your learning/practicing time on backup ... well, you know the rest.
Sometimes I feel learning banjo is like learning morse code. I struggled with it initially. Back in the early sixties I wore the grooves off a CW practice record. Just takes persistence. Today I can run with the best in the DX contests.
73, Wayne
janeway Says:
Sunday, October 9, 2011 @8:24:49 AM
Hi Ian, I have been there and still do, I only started playing just over 17mnths or so, I don't have a teacher,there are none round were I live,but am learning via free lessons off the internet, There were weeks I thought I can't do this,I don't seem to be getting anywhere,Why the heck did I choose to learn banjo ?? Sounds familiar hey ? Well like you I came on this site and was grateful for the advice I got, I would just change my practice routine,try something new, make a video of my self playing then watch it a couple of weeks later and believe it or not I was making progress, I joined a jam session,even though I am still only a newbie,being able to watch expert players in person helped and they were very kind and showed me the best ways to make easier chords so I could play back up etc Even they have told me I have come on in leaps and bounds. I suffer with Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and sinivitis in my wrists but I decided I wouldn't let that stop me from learning an instrument I have always loved ever since I was a child. Please don't get down, you will have times when you think you are not getting anywhere but believe me you are probably achieving more than you think. Try what I did,make a video of yourself playing now and look at it in a few weeks and you will see the difference, also find a tune you may have tried at the beginning of your learning and I bet you can play some of it now, if not all of it. Best of luck,remember as I was told by a wise man on here, It's all about having fun as well. Enjoy your pickin
janeway Says:
Monday, October 10, 2011 @9:52:20 AM
sorry wrote Ian instead of Lou my apologies
george pereda Says:
Monday, October 10, 2011 @4:23:30 PM
I have been playing guitar for 45 yrs and there were 5 year periods where i did not get any better-
practice --thats the secrect. Been plaing Banjo for one year-no picks so my fingers really hurt.
DrBob Says:
Friday, October 21, 2011 @7:08:27 AM
Lou, so glad you posted this topic. There are many ways folks get through a plateau, which we all experience, but I find the following little tricks to get me on the other side: set an egg timer and limit yourself to a certain period of time to practice each day (I try for an hour if I can); evry other day is just simple chords and simple songs...so I boost my sense of accomplishment a nd just plain enjoy it; get a routine together for warming up the left and right hands before each session; go for a drive and listen to inspiring bluegrass...without having to play it yourself yet; and definitely play with others...
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