Hi people.

Okay I've been playing the guitar for about 3 years, read some books, watched millions of videos obviously, took Paul's Davids, Rick Beato and others's courses, lessons, online lessons... and with all the time and money spent I still feel like some fundamentals are missing. My goal is to ...

Ultimately, the process sounds like magic for a newcomer, but that's how it actually works - a good improviser just intuitively knows where the harmony of the song goes and what notes they can play that will sound good and they just hear in their head this "the harmony goes here and when I play this ...

I think diminished chords can add a lot of interesting tension and color to a progression. They may not be as common in popular music, but they have a unique sound that can be used creatively.

To move between shapes smoothly, connect them through shared notes and target chord tones when the chord changes. Practice playing one shape horizontally across strings, then shift into the next shape without stopping. Also, try limiting yourself to 2 strings at a time so you really see how they link.

I find that starting with a catchy title can help spark inspiration for a song. Try coming up with a two-word title and build from there.

I like to mix up pentatonic scales and arpeggios when soloing over the ii chord. Adds a nice variety to my playing.

I've learned a ton of theory online as well. There are so many resources out there, you can pretty much learn everything except reading notation. Keep exploring and you'll find some great free options.

Cut time

I recommend working on rhythm exercises and utilizing ear training apps during your free time. It's a great way to improve your sense of time and understanding of music theory. Keep practicing and learning, it will pay off in your playing.

Try learning the solo from Blackbird by The Beatles. It's simple, beautiful, and perfect for beginners.

I agree that ear training is key. Pitch matching with your voice and then applying it to simple melodies is a great way to start playing by ear.

Sometimes it is just easier to default to youtube or ultimate guitar or similar rather than get yourself frustrated by it. Though learning by ear is the best way as you will be enhancing your ear training as well as many other musical skills at the same time. However, this can take time and time isn ...

People put so much effort into not putting in effort. Focus on building genuine connections with your audience rather than chasing algorithms.

I personally prefer seeing bands put in the effort to create their own artwork rather than relying on AI. It just feels more genuine and adds to the overall experience for me.

Have you tried using open tunings or alternate tunings? They can produce some interesting and dark chord voicings that you might not get with standard tuning. Experiment with different tunings to see what works best for you

In addition to practice, do you have any other difficulty doing two things at once? I always found it tough, then I got diagnosed with and treated for ADHD. Turns out, that inability to have those two parallel trains of thought was a symptom. It still took practice, but it wasn't an uphill battle ...

Feeling like an impostor is a sign that you care about your music and want to improve. Use this experience as fuel to push yourself further and explore new aspects of music you may not have considered before.

A good audio interface makes everything easier.

Hi Mark. Welcome to the forum. Very happy to have you here!

Using simple quizzes and finding notes during practice worked better for me than memorising charts.

My combo has an external speaker jack, and I’m thinking of adding a 1x12 extension cab for bigger gigs. Does this noticeably improve fullness, or is it mostly about volume?

I switched from a 1x12 to a vertical 2x12 last year. The spread and low-end response improved a lot, but carrying it up stairs is definitely less fun.

Modeling amps have come a long way. For home use, the convenience of headphone outputs and built-in effects is hard to beat.

For me the biggest change was using more of the fingernail rather than the fingertip. It took a while to find a nail shape that gave a consistent tone.

Try playing closer to the bridge for certain passages. That can increase clarity and perceived volume.