How do I know how good I am at guitar?

I know this really doesnt matter, but I'm just curious. How do you know how good you are? I've only been playing for ten months and I can play songs like
"Welcome Home" by Coheed and Cambria
"Helena" by MCR
"Blackbird" by the Beatles
"Broken" by Seether
"Never Too Late" by Three Days Grace
"I Caught Fire" by The Used
"I Will Follow You Into the Dark" by Deathcab for Cutie
"Hey There Delilah" by Plain White T's(haha, I know, but girls dig it)
the majority of "My Curse" by Killswitch Engage
and "Slaughter of the Soul" by At the Gates
Rhythm parts for "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden
"No Rain" and "Change" by Blind Melon

I don't know how good I should be, but I think I'm doing pretty good for 10 months. But anyways, what are milestones that would constitute being good.

I think that if you can actually play those songs and play them good or bad you are doing pretty good for 10 months. I would have to either hear or see you play to give you an idea. But from your list it sounds like you are making great progress.

far two good for ten months, i think youve been practicing a lot.
but as macandkanga says, its easier to determine how good are u by hearing u play

How would I go about letting you hear me? And what should I play?

ye matters what they sound like.

Can you record a video of yourself on youtube and upload it?

Ok. this isn't any of the songs I listed, but its a little of a song I'm working on.

http://www.youtube.com/user/reallyhotdude08



theres it is. If you need any more footage, let me know.

u are good, u sound like youve been playin 4 20 months

yep. youre pretty good for the time u been playin. keep at it and ull be twice as good in 20!

I said song I'm working on earlier, I meant song I'm writing.

You have an interesting way of holding the pick.

The question you should be asking yourself Aterrell, is:

"How good do I want to be?"

When you find that out, that's when we'll really be able to help you.

Yeah, I hold the pick with my thumb, index finger and middle finger. I feel like it gives me more control over the pick, especially when tremolo picking. And about how good I WANT to be: I know this probably sounds cheesy, cliche and terribly self-centered, but I want to be the best... ever... period. I want people to look at me in the same light as Van Halen, Hendrix and all the other guitar legends. But I've got quite a ways to go.

You're holding your pick the same way I used to when I first started. It's OK up to a point but you'll find it puts limits on your technique ie. you may in the course of time wish to try hybrid techniques that require you to use a couple of your fingers to pick out the higher strings whilst picking the base with your pick ( check out Deep Purple - Woman from Tokyo). Also, you may find it will eventually slow you down, so try to get into angling your pick between first finger and thumb. You may drop it once or twice while you get used to it, but who's going to know?
Otherwise, I think you're doing pretty damn good. Keep it up!

Accurate and nice. Especially ive noticed the vibrato. I think you are better than me so you can become famous :D

That's how acoustic players hold their pick, it's good and easy to control, but for electric guitar it's pretty limited.

The best in what genre? I'm pretty sure everyone on this forum wants to be the best, too. So you'll enjoy hanging out with us! :D

We've all got really good lessons, too. So check them out when you can.

You mean something like this. This is a bad recording but if you listen you can hear the B and G strings.



@Jazz: I think if I'm going to be the best, I have to be fluent in a lot of different genres. I think it would be awesome to be able to play funk, the blues, rock, punk, folk and metal. It would be even cooler to start a band that played all that stuff. I don't think anybody out there is playing everything. But I might just be ignorant.lol

Good to hear. Keep at it then and I'm sure you'll improve with ease.

Well, I think if you want to be top class, you should learn everything on one genre and be top class on that genre. Like Hendrix did, SRV did... all the best are mostly playing "their stuff" except few exeptions.

Alas, its though cool and fun learn different genres, ive did too. Ive recorded (not complete songs tho) Rock, Heavy metal, Blues, funky and jazzy stuff and also mixed heavy metal guitars on orchestral backgrounds... it have good sides for learning creativity, but it takes time away for practising to be "top class" in something.

If we think this more, are you goin to be top class in rhytm or lead? or both? I think if specializing in solo's can help you to become virtuoso.

just my 2 cents
Cheers!

Haha, honestly, your defenition of good will keep changing to something just a little better than you are right now :)

@ aterrell

Yes, it sounded like you're on the right track though I couldn't see your right hand in action (camera position out).
Also, if you want to become a 'multi-genre' guitarist, it might be a wise move to do a couple of years serious classical guitar. It will get all of your fingers working the way you'd like them to, teach you all the theory you'll ever need to know, teach you an important little trick called 'thumb independence' and, perhaps most important of all in developing speed, it will teach you how to get around the fretboard as economically as possible. I started playing nearly 40 years ago and I dearly wish someone had given me this advice back then! Good luck.

I wonder if Hendrix or EVH ever said that they wanted to be the best ever and be guitar legends...

or if they simply wanted to make great music and work hard to perfect their art...

That's something to think about, maybe don't concern yourself with how good you are for the amount of time you've been playing, maybe just work hard and make the best music you know how.

@mattmurray: I don't constantly think about being the best or anything. Like when I'm writing music, I don't worry about any of that. Just when asked how good I want to be, I'd like to be the best. And honestly, the more I play, the less i think about it. I appreciate what you're saying though.

@sixtiesguy: I've been seriously considering classical guitar. i just haven't got around to it yet. I think the guitar I get after my next one will be a classical guitar... or a 12 string acoustic.

If you want to be the best, stop your ego right now. Its not wanting something that earns you it, its hard work, and some natural talent. Wanting it is only 1% of becoming a good guitarist. To be the best you have to compete with: steve vai, tommy emmanuel, jason becker, guthrie govan, trace bundy, sungha jun, hendrix, steve kimmock, and thousands more.

Another thing to remember if you get frustrated and want to give up: Being the best doesn't mean technicality, or how fast you can play, or how many songs you can play; its about feeling and talking through your guitar, soul, and melodic phrasing. I suggest you take music theory, because you won't come near any of the above virtuosos if you don't know your fretboard.

Good Luck man!

The more I play, the more its just about playing guitar than becoming the best. In fact, the thought has never come to me WHILE I was playing or writing. Thanks for the input, ShredGuitar17.

Good to hear. It's fun being in competition, but don't think it's neccessary to win. Like what I said in my profile:

" It's never about who can become the king or queen of the hill, it's about the longevity of the music."

Well... best guitar player... I have many favorites that I think "that is best guitarist evar", but... time goes...there comes another and I think "woah! that is best guitarist evar!"...guess how many times Ive been through this?

Defining the best is a case we never complete. Most people think that Satriani is a best. Im kinda behind that too, but but but... Im still not sure. What is consept of best? Is it only what you can play or is it influence you did for guitar playing globally. Is it both? is it both + your charisma? Tehnique? Soul? Attitude?...list is endless...

dont get me wrong. I remember listening your playing in some post. It was nicely played. here is list that you can play... well... How you can play them? How do you interpret them?, do you add there something that makes them unique? Can you play them one after another straight like being a gig without any rhytmic or notation errors?

Can you play almost any song by ear? The way being atleast that few people think you are the best, Is a long, long way. Do you do anything else that practise or play guitar? like 10 hours a day?...

Im sure you have a talent, but keep it realistical. Its good to have goals, but there are still reasonable thinking that should be done.

anyway, this post is how good you are at guitar. My answer is quite promising. Good luck to you and dont take this as an offence or anything.

Humm... I was only able to see one video. I supose it's your best shot, since you choose that "song".

Well, you're not very good, but I believe that you will improve with time and practice.

Anyway, I don't believe some day you will be "the best".

@ jbalreira - "I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen, the parade has been cancelled due to rain".

@Ozzfan486: He's right though. I've definitely got some work to do. I have a lot of theory to learn and my technical skill is nothing to shout about.

@jbalreira: that "song" is something I'm working on and in no way shape or form is anything meant to flaunt my playing. I chose it because I wanted to post a video in a short amount of time and I had been constantly playing it trying to think of something else to go with it. I appreciate what you said though.

Whatever man. I think if can learn some tgheory I'd be better off too. [Don't tell Jazz I haven't been studying....unless you'd like me to mysteriously have a sniper bullet in my head lol.] j/k.

WHAT?!?!?!

watch out jazzy!

Rofl at both of your posts!

shes a mod...which means she prob not gona be banned...which means..........................what does it mean? o ye. we take her out at sunrise. (or sunset i always get those comfuzeled. well if in not where the squirell gathers the acorn then you came at the wrong one.)

Mwahaha

Ph34r t3h m0dz p0w3r!

And you gave my mohawk kitty a little scare, so he ordered ninjas...




LOL

(ALRIGHT! I'll control my random posts now...)

haha

@ Ozzfan, DUCK!

@Jazzy, Look at your bad self taking the comedy risk! very funny!

@ BBT, now that's funny! bravo

@ Elliott, sundown, sunup, yeah a lot of people get those two confused! Put down the drink! LOL

@ Me, Is that everyone? Yup, I think so.

Phip

dude nice for 10 months
i havnt been playing that long myself around 6 months seriously

and ive been prqactising heaps
so yeah
keep it up

Good times my friends, good times.

hahaha i luv it "specially ninja cat"
but on a serious note to be great takes practise practise n more practise you should check out andy mckee on you tube
my personnal favourite.but for 10 months r so you aint doin to bad at all. keep it up