How long to learn simple riffs

[Big Daddy]

Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". Is it something you
guys pick up in an hour or so and play it cleanly? Days? Weeks? And how
long of playing did it take you to get to that stage? And do you just
practice it over and over again for hours of doing nothing else but that 1
riff?

Reason I ask is I've been playing for about a year (though admittedly not
"hard", just tinkering mostly) it seems to take me forever to get anything
"up to speed". I've been on that crazy train riff for about 4 days now, and
it seems like a very easy riff (just a few notes, no bends, etc) and I'm
getting faster but still not near full speed. And it's 1 simple riff...if I
think about learning a whole song from start to finish that isn't just 3
chord changes, it would take me a year.

[Rufus]

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". Is it something you
guys pick up in an hour or so and play it cleanly? Days? Weeks? And how
long of playing did it take you to get to that stage? And do you just
practice it over and over again for hours of doing nothing else but that 1
riff?
Reason I ask is I've been playing for about a year (though admittedly not
"hard", just tinkering mostly) it seems to take me forever to get anything
"up to speed". I've been on that crazy train riff for about 4 days now, and
it seems like a very easy riff (just a few notes, no bends, etc) and I'm
getting faster but still not near full speed. And it's 1 simple riff...if I
think about learning a whole song from start to finish that isn't just 3
chord changes, it would take me a year.

There comes a point that you will sometimes just wake up in the morning,
grab your guitar, and start playing something you heard on the radio the
day before without even thinking about it. Years ago I woke up one
morning and had a week where I could play the entirety of the slide work
from Zep's "In My Time of Dying" start to finish...then I lost it and
haven't been able to do it since...let alone play any passable slide
guitar at all...how long does it take to get to that point? Can't
say...varies from individual to individual.

What I do nowadays is to "burn a song into my head" by just listening to
it over and over again, then I can generally wake up and play it one
day. Or I start by playing something similar to, or based in what I
want to eventually get to. I played Crazy Train a long time before I
could play it through (the rhythm part, at least...) passably with a
band. Now I can hold up the rhythm of the whole song all the way
through, but I have to admit it's been long enough ago that I forget
just when that happened.

Guess what I'm trying to say is that your pace is your pace...just keep
at it and please yourself first. Don't concentrate so hard on one riff
(you can do that, and it can get in the way) - try several things at
once. Walk away for a couple days and see what happens...

[Nil]

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take
you to learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". Is it
something you guys pick up in an hour or so and play it cleanly?
Days? Weeks? And how long of playing did it take you to get to
that stage? And do you just practice it over and over again for
hours of doing nothing else but that 1 riff?

Everybody's answer will be different, depending on their experience and
how developed their ears are.

In my case, I spent hours listening to records over and over and over
to pick out the guitar parts. This was back in the days of vinyl, and
I'd repeatedly stop the record with my hand, turn it backwards, and
then let it go so I could hear a riff again. I'd play my LPs at 16 rpm
so the notes wouldn't go by so fast. I'd make a cassette of the same
song repeating several times so I could play it again without stopping.
Over time, I got better at it, to the point where in the bands I played
in I was always the one who would learn the song and teach it to the
other guys. I think I've always had good ears, but it still took a lot
of work.

One thing that helps is to learn some musical theory. Among other
things, you will learn why certain combinations of chords tend to be
found together, why a particular chord often follows another. You'll
learn why certain combinations of musical elements sound harmonious,
and why others sound dissonant. You'll learn to recognize common
patterns that occur all the time. You'll soon recognize those patterns
in the music you're trying to learn to play.

Stick with it. It takes practice and time. Every time you manage to
pick up music by ear will make it easier for you the next time.

[Greg Cisko]

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". Is it something you
guys pick up in an hour or so and play it cleanly? Days? Weeks? And
how long of playing did it take you to get to that stage? And do you just
practice it over and over again for hours of doing nothing else but that 1
riff?

Once you have enough experience, it will come really quick once you
see what the riff is snd can learn it. Get back to us after 4 months and
I am sure you will have it no problem.

As with just about any question asked in this group, experience and
practice are the number one consideration.
--
***@hotmail.com

The Pentatonic Scale Explained
http://bluechainlightning.net

Post by Big Daddy
Reason I ask is I've been playing for about a year (though admittedly not
"hard", just tinkering mostly) it seems to take me forever to get anything
"up to speed". I've been on that crazy train riff for about 4 days now,
and it seems like a very easy riff (just a few notes, no bends, etc) and
I'm getting faster but still not near full speed. And it's 1 simple
riff...if I think about learning a whole song from start to finish that
isn't just 3 chord changes, it would take me a year.

[Steve Tew]

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". Is it something you
guys pick up in an hour or so and play it cleanly? Days? Weeks? And
how long of playing did it take you to get to that stage? And do you just
practice it over and over again for hours of doing nothing else but that 1
riff?
Reason I ask is I've been playing for about a year (though admittedly not
"hard", just tinkering mostly) it seems to take me forever to get anything
"up to speed". I've been on that crazy train riff for about 4 days now,
and it seems like a very easy riff (just a few notes, no bends, etc) and
I'm getting faster but still not near full speed. And it's 1 simple
riff...if I think about learning a whole song from start to finish that
isn't just 3 chord changes, it would take me a year.

Maybe it seems basackwards, but learn rythm and structure first. Once you
have a moderate skill of the box system and a feeling for the movement of
the chords in a song you will find that picking out riffs and leads is a
little easier I think.

If you go a bit overboard and get the full chords, including the variations
of the open and barred chords up and down the neck, then subtract from that
arsenal until you have a basic skeleton of the number worked out, the leads
and riffs will come easier.

Oh, and practice slow to build speed. Oh, and listen to Chet Atkins pickin'
Windy and Warm. :o)

Steve

[Jack Wagner]

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". Is it something you
guys pick up in an hour or so and play it cleanly? Days? Weeks? And how
long of playing did it take you to get to that stage? And do you just
practice it over and over again for hours of doing nothing else but that 1
riff?
Reason I ask is I've been playing for about a year (though admittedly not
"hard", just tinkering mostly) it seems to take me forever to get anything
"up to speed". I've been on that crazy train riff for about 4 days now, and
it seems like a very easy riff (just a few notes, no bends, etc) and I'm
getting faster but still not near full speed. And it's 1 simple riff...if I
think about learning a whole song from start to finish that isn't just 3
chord changes, it would take me a year.

Repetition is king. I find I learn something new by going at it for a
few minutes then playing something else then go at the new bit for a
few minutes then play something else etc etc.

Really there is no shortcut for putting the time in. The more you have
burned into your fingers the easier the new bits become because you've
likely already played something similar - so it's just a matter of
getting the timing and phrasing down.

That said - I feel the "how long will it take for me to be able to
do..." question is a valid one, but there's no real answer other than
the time spent to learn something new will be in inverse proportion to
the amount of time you've spent practicing. If you want to get better
at learning new stuff maybe it's time you get serious about practicing.

[sycochkn]

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". Is it something you
guys pick up in an hour or so and play it cleanly? Days? Weeks? And
how long of playing did it take you to get to that stage? And do you just
practice it over and over again for hours of doing nothing else but that 1
riff?
Reason I ask is I've been playing for about a year (though admittedly not
"hard", just tinkering mostly) it seems to take me forever to get anything
"up to speed". I've been on that crazy train riff for about 4 days now,
and it seems like a very easy riff (just a few notes, no bends, etc) and
I'm getting faster but still not near full speed. And it's 1 simple
riff...if I think about learning a whole song from start to finish that
isn't just 3 chord changes, it would take me a year.

I usually work on several things at one time I play each three times through
then put the guitar down for at least half an hour and do it again. I play
each thing I am working on at least once per day.

Bob

[sycochkn]

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". Is it something you
guys pick up in an hour or so and play it cleanly? Days? Weeks? And
how long of playing did it take you to get to that stage? And do you just
practice it over and over again for hours of doing nothing else but that 1
riff?
Reason I ask is I've been playing for about a year (though admittedly not
"hard", just tinkering mostly) it seems to take me forever to get anything
"up to speed". I've been on that crazy train riff for about 4 days now,
and it seems like a very easy riff (just a few notes, no bends, etc) and
I'm getting faster but still not near full speed. And it's 1 simple
riff...if I think about learning a whole song from start to finish that
isn't just 3 chord changes, it would take me a year.

[jthread]

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". Is it something you
guys pick up in an hour or so and play it cleanly? Days? Weeks? And
how long of playing did it take you to get to that stage? And do you just
practice it over and over again for hours of doing nothing else but that 1
riff?
Reason I ask is I've been playing for about a year (though admittedly not
"hard", just tinkering mostly) it seems to take me forever to get anything
"up to speed". I've been on that crazy train riff for about 4 days now,
and it seems like a very easy riff (just a few notes, no bends, etc) and
I'm getting faster but still not near full speed. And it's 1 simple
riff...if I think about learning a whole song from start to finish that
isn't just 3 chord changes, it would take me a year.

the main licks about a month but the song i'll never play like rr and i know
that. i might of picked the main licks in less than a month but i still
don't know the solo. it's a very difficult song. there is some amazing sh$%
goin on in that tune. it's a bit spooky.

[Derek]

Lots of views. Here's mine.

Learn to sing the lick/line first. When can sing it, you get it in
your ear well.

Block it out first on guitar, without any consideration for speed or
phrasing, just get the moves down in an effecient way.

Work on singing it slowly as your fingers play it. By singing it
along with playing it, you get the timing and phrasing down faster
imo.

I find this method accellerates my learning new lines.

Finally, imo one of the big differences between a hobbyist and pro, is
a pro gets a lot of mileage out of any lick they learn, whereas a
hobbyist just applies that lick to that tune.

By playing that lick in every key around the circle of 4ths, and
finding it in every position, you will OWN it, and can whip it out in
any tune.

You will be able to modify it at will so that it becomes the
springboard of a multitude of other licks.

If you play it spot on, some will recognize you quoting an Ozzie tune
while playing another, and find that cool. Many players do this.

Or, you could just learn it well enough to play it for this tune.
Everyone is different in how long it takes. Good luck

[Alai]

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train".

I actually thought that opening riff to be particularly tricky, especially
when you start to play back and forth rapidly from the bassline A strings to
the next 3 strings simultaneously strumming with the pick cleanly and
recognizable.

You can start with something really easy, like Smoke on the Water from Deep
Purple.

[Tony Done]

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". Is it something you
guys pick up in an hour or so and play it cleanly? Days? Weeks? And
how long of playing did it take you to get to that stage? And do you just
practice it over and over again for hours of doing nothing else but that 1
riff?
Reason I ask is I've been playing for about a year (though admittedly not
"hard", just tinkering mostly) it seems to take me forever to get anything
"up to speed". I've been on that crazy train riff for about 4 days now,
and it seems like a very easy riff (just a few notes, no bends, etc) and
I'm getting faster but still not near full speed. And it's 1 simple
riff...if I think about learning a whole song from start to finish that
isn't just 3 chord changes, it would take me a year.

I don't have a lot of trouble learning them these days, but remembering them
is a major problem.

Tony D

[jthread]

Post by Tony Done

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". Is it something you
guys pick up in an hour or so and play it cleanly? Days? Weeks? And
how long of playing did it take you to get to that stage? And do you
just practice it over and over again for hours of doing nothing else but
that 1 riff?
Reason I ask is I've been playing for about a year (though admittedly not
"hard", just tinkering mostly) it seems to take me forever to get
anything "up to speed". I've been on that crazy train riff for about 4
days now, and it seems like a very easy riff (just a few notes, no bends,
etc) and I'm getting faster but still not near full speed. And it's 1
simple riff...if I think about learning a whole song from start to finish
that isn't just 3 chord changes, it would take me a year.

I don't have a lot of trouble learning them these days, but remembering
them is a major problem.
Tony D

if it ain't on paper forget it.

[Tim C.]

Post by Tony Done
I don't have a lot of trouble learning them these days, but remembering them
is a major problem.

God, tell me about it! :-(

[General Specific]

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train".  Is it something you
guys pick up in an hour or so and play it cleanly?  Days?  Weeks?    And how
long of playing did it take you to get to that stage?  And do you just
practice it over and over again for hours of doing nothing else but that 1
riff?
Reason I ask is I've been playing for about a year (though admittedly not
"hard", just tinkering mostly) it seems to take me forever to get anything
"up to speed".  I've been on that crazy train riff for about 4 days now, and
it seems like a very easy riff (just a few notes, no bends, etc) and I'm
getting faster but still not near full speed.  And it's 1 simple riff...if I
think about learning a whole song from start to finish that isn't just 3
chord changes, it would take me a year.

Randy Rhodes practiced his scales...a lot. So, if you want to play
like that, you need to practice scales. Sure you can learn that riff,
but it will never be second-nature to you like it was for Randy.

That's the challenge for those of us who learn covers. The original
artist practiced theory and technique until they could fluidly compose
within that framework. We come along and expect to play those pieces
without practicing the framework. Tough stuff.

So, when I learned the Crazy Train intro, I messed around with it. I
looked for the underlying scale. Played that scale like crazy and
then came back to the CT riff. It was much easier once I had taught
myself where the notes are.

Scales are great for training your ear and your hand. Once you
connect the two, you start discovering that you can recognize and play
a lot of music. The breakthrough came for me when my wife was
listening to some new age celtic BS. I picked up my acoustic and just
started playing it. She knows I hate that kind of music, and asked
when I had bothered to learn it. I hadn't, I just recognized what it
was.

You can too. Start practicing scales.

[Pt]

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". I

Usually I can play a riff after hearing it a few times but I have to
play it with the recording.
I can also forget it just as quickly.
The trick to remembering riffs is to get and keep them in your head.
One riff I am doing is four eight notes and 4 quarter notes.
If I keep that in mind I can remember it.
Best way to learn riffs is to count them out.

Pt

[Pholtron]

Post by Pt

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". I

Usually I can play a riff after hearing it a few times but I have to
play it with the recording.
I can also forget it just as quickly.
The trick to remembering riffs is to get and keep them in your head.
One riff I am doing is four eight notes and 4 quarter notes.
If I keep that in mind I can remember it.
Best way to learn riffs is to count them out.
Pt

Understanding where the riff is from
How is it that the writer chose those notes
the key
the scale,
the chords
associated notes
The song must make sense to you, if that makes any sense
you get into it, play the riff from different positions in the same
scale, move it around, work it in didderent ways, like playing to the
music, untill you can switch from lead to rhythm , rip off a run at
will from different spots.
Play it in different keys, so the interval and not the dots on the
fret board are remmbered
Then you have it down, because you used it in ways that worked your
brain
An isolated lick, takes what a few minutes to ge the notes down,
another 5 minutes to make it sound good , But it has no meaning to
you , it is a riff floating out in space, At 10 minutes you can learn
6 riffs in an hour and be able to play only the ;ast two you learned

you did not tie it to anything , if you know the scale and then
transpose it mentaly and play it in different keys, that could take 4
at leasst 45 minutes ,and you were thinking hard to be able to move
it to another key or positina , you incorporate it into a song you
are playing,

I don't know but I assume music is a lot like learning anything

To learn a chapter of an anatomy book, and have it in long term memory
you need to cover the material 5 times separated by a day in
between

so you read a chapter in a book one day, a unit of study, like an
hour at least 20 minutes ,
skip a day,
then read it the following day again , it goes quicker
skip a day
Read the notes from class
skio a day
go over the notes again
skip a day
look through the chapter again
and you have it in long term memmory

If music is the same, i would think it is similar somewhat
it is hard to skip a day if you practice every day,
then you would need to be learning at leadt two songs
Learned this way it will stay with you for many years, It has to be
associated with other memmories like scale and a song
And relearned 5 times, because you remember parts but not all the
second time you relearned the stuff you forgot, so by the 5th
session., you have most of it down already and it is a quick few
minutes to cap off the last details,

The day off in between is important why? I don't know exactly,
It is conscious and subconcious problem solving,
On the day in between, you are analysing what you remember from the
previous day and integrating it in with all prior knowledge into long
term memory. It is being interpreted and compared to what is similar
and finally stored in long term memmory,
Since to load long term memmory with things that sre not logically
associated, would mess up your abilty to recall, and would redult in
BS being pumped in,
Memmories have to pass certain tests before the brain can accept it
as bonafied info and not just head trash

If you instead load it into short term memmory again or practice
again too soon,, you just cover the old short term memmory with a
fresh short term memmory and have not allowed it be accepted and
properly related as long term .
If you miss a good nights sleep it may not get integrated and may
be forgotten, unless it was on your mind all the day in between.

It seems sleep and dreams are memmories that are being activatesd to
see how new information relates,
Some of these older dream memmories are related to survival and
danger awareness , so they are weird, if remembered upon awaking


associating it with things, even in your sleep , fitting it into a
logical frame work.
If you relearn it the next day , it has been put back into short term
memmory, without being fully accepted as valid.


Pholtron
(Go-Bot)
<--====-->

All learning -
begins in darknesssssss,
and ends, in the lighttttt.

[Charmed Snark]

Pt expounded in news:d8f4266b-8fa4-4531-a715-

Post by Pt

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". I

Usually I can play a riff after hearing it a few times but I have to
play it with the recording.
I can also forget it just as quickly.
The trick to remembering riffs is to get and keep them in your head.
One riff I am doing is four eight notes and 4 quarter notes.
If I keep that in mind I can remember it.
Best way to learn riffs is to count them out.
Pt

Here's a slightly different memory related question:

How many people here have the problem of completely forgetting what a
particular song sounds like?

In a band situation, hopefully the lead in with the drums and bass might
be enough of a memory prod but songs that start out with guitar in bar 1,
might be rough if you get a total memory block.

It doesn't happen often, but I get these memory blocks now and then. I'd
think this would be a solo artists worst nightmare:

"I am going to play 'Clear de Room'... Ummm.. we'll move onto something
else, because I can't remember how it goes right now."

I suppose you could just play "Hey, hey we're the Monkeys!". I recall a
gig where they could play almost anything. But when they did get stumped,
they would play the start of the Monkeys tune for a laugh.

Snark.

[Rufus]

Post by Charmed Snark
Pt expounded in news:d8f4266b-8fa4-4531-a715-

Post by Pt

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you

to

Post by Pt

Post by Big Daddy
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". I

Usually I can play a riff after hearing it a few times but I have to
play it with the recording.
I can also forget it just as quickly.
The trick to remembering riffs is to get and keep them in your head.
One riff I am doing is four eight notes and 4 quarter notes.
If I keep that in mind I can remember it.
Best way to learn riffs is to count them out.
Pt

How many people here have the problem of completely forgetting what a
particular song sounds like?
In a band situation, hopefully the lead in with the drums and bass might
be enough of a memory prod but songs that start out with guitar in bar 1,
might be rough if you get a total memory block.
It doesn't happen often, but I get these memory blocks now and then. I'd
"I am going to play 'Clear de Room'... Ummm.. we'll move onto something
else, because I can't remember how it goes right now."
I suppose you could just play "Hey, hey we're the Monkeys!". I recall a
gig where they could play almost anything. But when they did get stumped,
they would play the start of the Monkeys tune for a laugh.
Snark.

Yeah - that happens to me at least once every practice...that's why I
try to spend a lot of time listening to the tracks of what we play to
"burn them in".

[jthread]

Post by Charmed Snark
Pt expounded in news:d8f4266b-8fa4-4531-a715-

Post by Pt

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you

to

Post by Pt

Post by Big Daddy
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". I

Usually I can play a riff after hearing it a few times but I have to
play it with the recording.
I can also forget it just as quickly.
The trick to remembering riffs is to get and keep them in your head.
One riff I am doing is four eight notes and 4 quarter notes.
If I keep that in mind I can remember it.
Best way to learn riffs is to count them out.
Pt

How many people here have the problem of completely forgetting what a
particular song sounds like?
In a band situation, hopefully the lead in with the drums and bass might
be enough of a memory prod but songs that start out with guitar in bar 1,
might be rough if you get a total memory block.
It doesn't happen often, but I get these memory blocks now and then. I'd
"I am going to play 'Clear de Room'... Ummm.. we'll move onto something
else, because I can't remember how it goes right now."
I suppose you could just play "Hey, hey we're the Monkeys!". I recall a
gig where they could play almost anything. But when they did get stumped,
they would play the start of the Monkeys tune for a laugh.
Snark.

Yeah - that happens to me at least once every practice...that's why I try
to spend a lot of time listening to the tracks of what we play to "burn
them in".
--
- Rufus

"Pink Hairdo Pink Plastic Boots" by Bob Dylan.

Play it Loud!

Jim

[Pt]

Post by Charmed Snark
How many people here have the problem of completely forgetting what a
particular song sounds like?

I always make up a cheat sheet on a small posterboard and keep it on
the floor behind my amp.
It has the titles of the songs and their keys in proper order.
That is usually enough for me.

Pt

[Greg Cisko]

Post by Pt

Post by Charmed Snark
How many people here have the problem of completely forgetting what a
particular song sounds like?

I always make up a cheat sheet on a small posterboard and keep it on
the floor behind my amp.
It has the titles of the songs and their keys in proper order.
That is usually enough for me.

You do this at band practice and at gigs???

[Pt]

Post by Greg Cisko

Post by Pt

Post by Charmed Snark
How many people here have the problem of completely forgetting what a
particular song sounds like?

I always make up a cheat sheet on a small posterboard and keep it on
the floor behind my amp.
It has the titles of the songs and their keys in proper order.
That is usually enough for me.

You do this at band practice and at gigs???

Got a big one hanging on the wall where we practice and a small one on
the floor at gigs.
Hey!
I'm getting old.

Pt

[Derek]

I keep a solo set list with keys also.

I don't forget the keys, but I want to make sure I don't play the same
key two tunes in a row.

Helps me remember to mix it up some.

[Greg Cisko]

Post by Pt

Post by Greg Cisko
You do this at band practice and at gigs???

Got a big one hanging on the wall where we practice and a small one on
the floor at gigs.
Hey!
I'm getting old.

Well as long as it is fun what the hell. But I have never done this at all
at band
practice. My band now has close to 30 songs. I know them all forward and
backwards and certainly remember the key. I would expect everyone else
in the band to as well.

Lyrics for me are a different story. Seems like I cannot remember them
worth a crap.

[m***@gmail.com]

Post by Big Daddy
Just curious for the more experienced guys, how long does it take you to
learn a fairly simple riff, say like "Crazy Train". Is it something you
guys pick up in an hour or so and play it cleanly? Days? Weeks? And how
long of playing did it take you to get to that stage? And do you just
practice it over and over again for hours of doing nothing else but that 1
riff?
Reason I ask is I've been playing for about a year (though admittedly not
"hard", just tinkering mostly) it seems to take me forever to get anything
"up to speed". I've been on that crazy train riff for about 4 days now, and
it seems like a very easy riff (just a few notes, no bends, etc) and I'm
getting faster but still not near full speed. And it's 1 simple riff...if I
think about learning a whole song from start to finish that isn't just 3
chord changes, it would take me a year.

I'm right there with ya and I've been playing for 2 years now. When I
first start trying something my fingers just can't follow along. It
amazes me when I finally get it and the fingers become almost
automatic. But actually playing things clean seems like forever. I
just keep practicing all the riffs I know and then just clean up over
time.

I'm the same about learning a song. I try and record parts and paste
it together with a lot of editing.:)