I have respect for musicians

I know you're going to get about a million replies to your note and I can tell you now that there will be one key message. Practice practice practice!!!

Seriously, there is nothing more frustrating than trying to learn to play guitar, but as you seem to have realised, it is soooooo worth it.

Keep doing what you're doing. Practice as much as you possibly can and don't get dis-heartened. When I was learning I got to the point where I thought I'd never be able to play anything and then suddenly, bang! A tune came out of nowhere. You'll experience that too, just be patient. There will be loads of milestones that you'll pass as you learn. Nailing that chord change, getting a new strum pattern down, playing your first entire song. Then as you progress, getting into your barre chords, singing along with the guitar, playing without looking. Believe me, none of this will be too far away, just don't try to run before you can walk and keep at it. Everyone on here has either gone through or is going through what you are at the moment. And absolutely everyone on here is still trying to learn something to do with playing. That's what makes it so great!

But if support and helpful advice is what you need then one thing's guaranteed: You're in the right place for it.

Good luck!!

You'll get there.  Take it easy with yourself.  You NEVER stop learning guitar or music.  Last year I was at a campfire with some buddies and one of the guys there was new.  The old traditionals were playing guitar and swapping songs.  They invited me to play a couple songs, which I did, even after only eight months of playing and things were VERY rough  but they were kind.  One fellow was kind enough to say, "You stick with it D.  It's working out for you." 
But then the new fellow was asked to play a song.  He went into what I can only describe as rock and roll jazz metal acoustic riffs and licks and everyone, including the two fellows who have kept everyone entertained for years, sat slack jawed.  Then one of them got up and moved to the other side of the campfire.  He had been sitting next to the new guy.  Someone asked if he was jealous.  He said, "Heck no!  I just want to see how he's doing this!"  This was said by a fellow with three albums and immeasurable pub gigs to his name. 

Anyway, you're certainly in the hardest part of it.  Stick to your practice, especially the theory and scales.  I wish that I had stuck to them earlier on (I'm only into guitar a year and a quarter at this point).  Those who have have accelerated past me rapidly.  Russell Harding and Jerome ONeill are FANTASTIC theory coaches.  They are willing to share, and that makes this forum a better place.  Then there's other folks who are great with strumming and how to read tabs and all sorts of things.  The folks on this forum have helped me along in ways I find hard to fathom. 

Anyway, it's worthwhile.  Stick with it.  Take time at each breakthrough to stop and have a celebration moment.  If you're by yourself, what the heck high five yourself.  If you like, come on here and tell us.  Lots of folks just taking up guitar on the forum.  We can commiserate and share what we've learned and be a support net for one another. 

- Zurf

As mentioned by "BUD" practice, practice, practice and when your tired of practice practice some more. You have to see the end of the road right now you've just started your journey it is well worth the time and efforts. Keep on practicing and don't get discouraged If you walk versus running you still get there just takes a little longer and your not as tired.

Good luck!

Bootlegger.

hang in there work hard,enjoy your progress a year from now you can look back and have a good laugh but it dosn't stop there it always begins each day

Hi vhagopian,

What you are doing with all this practice, practice, practice is training your finger muscles and tendons  to immediately go to a certain position each time you think to play a different chord and it does take time for this to become automatic.

I have been playing a number of years (my first guitar used dinosaur gut for strings ) but I still come across a song with a chord I do not normally use and have to spend time learning it. OK, it comes easier with experience but it is never instantaneous.

So keep at it, everyone's progress is different, but the rewards make the effort worthwhile.

Roger

Hi vhagopian and welcome to chordie!

Something that helps me tremendously is using a metronome while practicing chord changes. For me anyway, the ability to track my progress and see daily improvement is a wonderful motivator. I have a small korg metronome, but also use this free on line one frequently.

http://www.metronomeonline.com/

Your fingers will cry, but your guitar will sing - if you keep practicing. It's amazing what you can do if you are persistent.

My daughter had been learning a few weeks and had a few chords. She made up a song with two of those chords and invited her friends around to form a band! To get around the chord changing problem she showed one of her mates ( who couldn't play at all!) how to play a D on one guitar and she took the other chord on another guitar. When a D was needed her mate would play and when a G was needed she would play.

It actually sounded really good - but, then as a parent, I'm biased.

Another thing, vhag...

if you know 10 chords, there are a multitude of songs that you will be able to play.

You might want to find a song that you like that has chords in it that you know, then learn to play that song. It will teach you changes, and learning a song is motivation. Hearing all those lonely chords come together into something you recognize is certainly a revolution!

Like said above, don't give up.Practice, paticience,persistience. I went thru the same thing.We all did.
only two years ago I didn't know a chord and now can do 20 plus songs without book in front of me. I also started to play the guitar on my lap which is fun to do. Stay the course it does get better.

Have a good one...Badeye.

So true G S E, I know a guy who plays 5 chords and in awesome.
I think I was eight when I started.  A friend would play a note, and then I would play same note, then it was 2 notes and 3, pretty soon before I knew what was happening he had taught me to play a simple boogie woogie key of A D and E.  then he would add other stuff.  I learned a few chords maybe 4, and then tried playing along whenever he was around.  Man I was a pest, but never quit.  The F chord may have took me several years to feel good about playing it.  I play some songs now with ease that really took me more then 5 years to learn.  (Man am I slow or what?)

I have aslo been playing now for 40+ years, and there are some who have played 1-2 years that blow me away.  whew...

It is not all about technical ability (for me)  There is style, class, grace, wisdom, it all needs to be wrapped up for a true preformer to catch ones attention.

ghanlon