7 Amateur Mistakes Intermediate Guitarists Still Make

Summary

Key Points

• Many intermediate guitarists neglect developing solid rhythm guitar skills, often rushing the beat, which can be improved by playing along with great rhythm sections from artists like Motown or the Wrecking Crew. 2:24
• Shaky or uncontrolled vibrato is a common telltale sign of less experienced players, and developing a controlled, expressive vibrato similar to singers or cellists is crucial. 4:29
• Bending notes out of tune is a frequent issue, and players need to develop a feel for the required tension to accurately bend to pitch, practicing both whole and half steps across the fretboard. 5:38
• A nervous habit of sliding up the last note of a phrase, often done when performing live, indicates discomfort and can be overcome by embracing silence and letting phrases breathe. 8:02
• Guitar solos that ramble without clear phrasing or pauses can be less impactful than those that tell a story, inspired by vocalists, allowing listeners to digest the musical ideas. 8:54
• Playing chords out of tune due to excessive fretting pressure, especially on unwound strings like the G string, creates undesirable 'beats' and can be fixed by lightening the grip. 10:50
• Professional guitarists constantly check their tuning, even accounting for microscopic changes like string temperature affecting pitch, to ensure accuracy. 11:57
• Overuse of effects like reverb, delay, and high gain can cause a guitar sound to get lost in a mix, and dialing these back to an 'edge of breakup' tone often leads to better clarity and sustain. 15:13
• Guitar tones that sound great in isolation are often too muddy for a band mix; reducing low-end, increasing treble, and using less reverb and gain can significantly improve clarity in a mix. 15:15