Need some guitar help, quickly!

[Dinnesch]

I need to play an acoustic version of Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green day tomorrow at school.
I've already tried a lot, but it just sounds horrible and I don't want to embarrass myself.
These are the tabs I need to play:
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/g/green_day/boulevard_of_broken_dreams_acoustic_crd.htm

Could someone PLEASE try to help me by video chat(skype, msn or something else) and tell me what I'm doing wrong? Please post here/PM me and I'll PM you my MSN/Skype. Watching Youtube videos didn't help me.

Thanks,
Dinnesch

 

[Stigmata]

How does it sound horrible? My first instinct is that you're not pressing down hard enough on the frets, leading to a lot of buzzing. But I have no idea how good you are at guitar.

I'd help out on webcam but I only play in passing, plus I have to go to work soon. Good luck D:

 

[Vegeta897]

Looks like Dinnesch really got himself into a bad spot this time!

Stay tuned to find out what happens!

 

[Stigmata]

During the break, we secretly replaced Dinnesch's guitar with a 17th-century porcelain vase. Let's see if he notices.

 

[Yorick]

At first I figured it sounded horrible because you weren't using the Capo, but I just tried it without one and it still doesn't sound that bad. I'm not sure there's a better tab out there (in all actuality Green Day has pretty simple music and that's probably exactly how they play it) so the problem must be on your end.

The best advice I could give is not to wait until the last minute next time. To work with what you've got, though, go slow, strum each chord twice, and get the placement of the chord changes right. Then worry about doing something more fancy with the rhythm, and getting it up to speed.

Capo on 3 also gives it a lighter sound. Depending on the pitch of the person singing, it might sound better that way.

 

[Dinnesch]

How does it sound horrible? My first instinct is that you're not pressing down hard enough on the frets, leading to a lot of buzzing. But I have no idea how good you are at guitar.

I'd help out on webcam but I only play in passing, plus I have to go to work soon. Good luck D:

I think I press the frets hard enough, I've tried pressing down on them as hard as I can, but there was no difference.

I think my main problem is the way I hit the snares, it just doesn't sound smooth, no matter how soft I hit them. Here is the beginning played by me, please don't make fun of it
http://mp3upload.ca/files/17830/gitaar

edit: @Yorick: I tried it with a capo, and it improved the overall sound alot, thanks. But it still sounds terrible

 

[Yorick]

What kind of guitar / strings / pick combination are you using? It sounds super uneven.

Your strumming pattern (Down DownUp (chord change) Down DownUp) is a good one, but I wouldn't say really fits the song. I would stick with strict eights (downup downup (chord change) downup downup) or straight quarters (down down (change) down down)

I can record a quick version of how I would play it, if you think that would help.

[EDIT] Yes the tabs say Capo on 1. Capo on 1 or 3 definitely works for the song.

 

[Stigmata]

I think I press the frets hard enough, I've tried pressing down on them as hard as I can, but there was no difference.

I think my main problem is the way I hit the snares, it just doesn't sound smooth, no matter how soft I hit them. Here is the beginning played by me, please don't make fun of it
http://mp3upload.ca/files/17830/gitaar

edit: @Yorick: I tried it with a capo, and it improved the overall sound alot, thanks. But it still sounds terrible

Oh, I think I see your problem now You're probably letting your fingers touch nearby strings, muting them. Make sure each finger only touches one string.

 

[Dinnesch]

I'm using a old, crappy guitar with a new(1 week old) set of nylon snares, and I mainly use a Dunlop 60mm pick, or a Fender medium
You're right about my strumming pattern i think, think thats the most important reason it sounds so bad. i tried yours and it sounded a lot better.
Just found out I have another week before I got to play, so theres enough time for me to practise.
Thanks alot for the help Yorick

EDIT: @Stigmata: I think you're right about that, guess I just need to practise a lot for that

 

[Dog--]

Use the tips of your fingers for f*ck sakes!

My old music teacher used to yell this at me.

 

[Yorick]

Yeah, what Dog and Stigmata said are very true. Good technique is incredibly important. My teachers used to say to imagine each finger was like a Pointe Ballet dancer.

You're right about my strumming pattern i think, think thats the most important reason it sounds so bad. i tried yours and it sounded a lot better.

Just found out I have another week before I got to play, so theres enough time for me to practise.
Thanks alot for the help Yorick

Oh, good. And the next week should make a big difference if you keep up with it and practise carefully. Perfect practise makes perfect. Poor practise makes, well, garbage.

Let me know if you end up wanting me to take another listen or if you have any other questions etc.

 

[-Psy-]

You're tempo is a little all over-the-place.

Make sure you play the chord progression at a speed that you're most comfortable with. Sure, it might not be as fast as you'd like it to be at first but starting out slow is a lot better then playing sloppily.

 

[Adabiviak]

Looks like Dinnesch really got himself into a bad spot this time!

Stay tuned to find out what happens!

During the break, we secretly replaced Dinnesch's guitar with a 17th-century porcelain vase. Let's see if he notices.

oh man, that's the funniest thing I've read on these forums in a while. :cheese: