Quote (Phisherman @ Mar 28 2011 04:44pm)
I started playing about 5 months ago. I want to get good, therefore I practice a lot...normally 3-4 hours a day. You won't feel like you're getting better, but trust me you are. I can play better/know more than a few guys I know that have been playing for over a year. I think I just practice more then them. 10,000 hours is what they say to master an instrument, right? I plan on getting there eventually.
One tip I can give you as a fellow novice guitar player is that if you can't figure something out or play whatever you're trying to play, take a break. Put the guitar down for a few hours or wait until the next day to try again. I've found that sometimes I can't play something just because I'm getting frustrated. If I walk away from the guitar for a while and try to play it again later a lot of times I can play what I couldn't before simply because I'm relaxed.
Another tip I have is don't worry about playing fast when you first start. You're not going to be able to, so don't get frustrated with it. This is especially important when you start learning scales. I think a lot of people try to play the scale as fast as they can because they think it means that they're better, but when it comes time to actually put that scale into use they have no idea how to apply it. Play scales slowly as first. Tune your guitar every time you play. Pluck each string in a chord. Let the notes ring. REALLY listen to them. Learn them.
Like I said, I'm a beginner too so I'm still in the early stages of learning. But I think even the intermediate/expert guitarist on this forum will agree with my advice.
Advice is appreciated, but from what I've heard you never truly master an instrument; there will always be a different series of notes to arrange and learn.