I study music on my own but may be I will give up, I am having to many comments telling me that self instruction is not good, someone told me it was futile. I can not afford instruction, nor I can follow classes rhythms - they learn too fast for me…
I am totally self taught with music. I play guitar and make my own music. Been doing it for 11 years. Nothing wrong with teaching yourself.
5 Likes
Great @lostinthespace, that encourages me. Thanks. 
1 Like
Don’t give up! If anything it’s still fun. Maybe you won’t ride to professional level without guidance unless you’re a prodigy but you can certainly learn how to make music you enjoy and that your loved ones can enjoy.
I haven’t been able to take lessons for a number of years now and haven’t played in band for a couple years but I still play for my own enjoyment.
2 Likes
Good to know you like music too @Anna, specially that you play music. What is your instrument? Do you still practice?
It is very complicated when you rely only on your own and can not get proper instruction…
Many thanks for the stimulation. Everyone should continue with goals in mind, even if simple.
I play the flute, piccolo and a tiny bit of violin. Mainly the flute. I do still play, not as much anymore but I do.
If you want you could try joining a community band or a church band or something. People will have varying levels of experience there and you would have a conductor and structured band to help you learn!
2 Likes
Thanks for the idea @Anna. Maybe I can join a choir, there I could learn sight singing. This helps a lot according to my readings. But only experience could tell me more about if it very beneficial to a guitar player. There are many things to study in music, musicianship is important, then if you are willing to play better you need a lot of technique. I play the electric guitar, but I started in a classical guitar. If it was today maybe I would choose cello instead, electric guitar is not well “recognized”, only in the Jazz perspective, where I live. If you play electric you can join a band, but if it not Jazz you can not enrol studies, not even in Blues nor Rock. The only thing we have where I live is something like “Rock School” diplomas, but they are only good to get credits in some foreign Universities. Our guitar is “Portuguese” Guitar! 
Everything I know, which is not a lot I learnt from magazines with CDs and listening to some music I like. I did not know you had so many musical talents. Usually I read some posts from you mostly about the mind and neuroscience, right?? Nice that you have replied.
1 Like
I know with the regular guitar you could still play for a community band probably! Not sure about electric. Choir is a great way to be musically involved too, I did my church choir for a bit but I am really too shy about singing in front of others for that! 
Whatever you decide definitely continue to follow your passion for music, it is such a relaxing and therapeutic pasttime, I was very sad when I no longer had time for band in my schedule.
I am a neuroscience major but I have a very creative side too. I love playing music and am pretty good at it I like to think, and I also love writing stories and poetry and drawing as well.
1 Like
That`s a lot of activity @Anna!
I got sick very young, I was a teen starting an engineering course at the time and playing the classical guitar too (I had lessons at that time to begin), then things were never the same… I am shy too, I never left my room to play for a public, I recorded some songs just to have a memoir of how it was like for me playing and learning music with this disease. I am not very good learning nowadays, but I try my best! I think I won`t give up, I want to leave behind a better musical “legacy”, I am too basic at the moment! Let improve some aspects first… Thanks a lot for giving me hope.
I love to hear when someone has success here! That`s great!
1 Like
I’m trying to teach myself the guitar. Its slow going without a teacher.
1 Like
Hi @Skims! What are you learning right now?
I used to play by ear, only with very basic notions of theory. Now I am re-learning concepts as triads and practising basic ear training (intervals and triads). Between I read diverse topics. My technique is in progress.
Good luck learning guitar playing!
1 Like
I started learning chords by watching https://www.justinguitar.com/. Then my bf bought Mel Bay’s Modern Guitar Method book 1.
1 Like
If you want to exchange ideas about guitar and Music please feel free to message me! I do not know about that specific book. I was here today but I have not good memory http://www.thecipher.com/four-triads_lefty_guitar.html
and I am also doing the basics here http://tonedear.com/
1 Like
I’m going to seventy in July, and I am teaching myself to play the piano. It is hard, but its so good for your brain. I have bought several teach yourself piano books at the used book store. I noticed that they have many more teach yourself guitar books than piano books. I am teaching myself to read music. I am certainly no prodigy. It’s really challenging but fun.
2 Likes