If I Can't Play the Intro to Heart's "Crazy on You" Am I a Bad Guitar Player?

I always credit Ann and Nancy of Heart with my becoming a songwriter. It was my failure at learning Heart songs that directly led to my channeling that energy in another direction. I'd love to be able to play the introduction to their hit "Crazy on You" or any song Nancy Wilson, the blonde sister, can play, note for note, the way she plays it. I used to keep plugging away and I'd get close, but no cigar. When I recognized that it might not be something I can play, things changed. Finding the balance between what I wanted to do and what I was capable of doing was critical for me to be able to progress as a guitar player and songwriter.

I wish I could say my creed is "failure is not an option" but I live in the real world and I've had plenty of failure notches on my belt. There's nothing wrong with failure; it's what you learn from that failure that is important. There is no shame in failure. The shame is in the not trying.

Many times over the years I revisit "Crazy on You" and try but fail to play it exactly like Nancy Wilson. Then one day, as I was going through a lot of Heart bootleg records, I realized Nancy doesn't even play it exactly like Nancy every time. I come close. It's recognizable. I can live with that. What I learned from trying is that I have limitations. Recognizing those limitations has helped me improve dramatically with the things I'm already naturally inclined to be good at like rhythm, chord structure and lyrics.

For example, I know I'll never be a great lead guitar player. And it's not because I'm a girl, as so many male guitarists like to imply. It's not because I'm not willing to exert the extra time and effort to become a great lead player. It's how I hear music in my head. Melodies aren't my strong suit. There has to be a certain melodic element in the lead or it doesn't work for me. I can attempt to play someone else's lead far better than I can play something I came up with myself. The leads I've played that I like aren't great, but they're melodic and they fit the song. I'm sure a better lead player would come up with better lead guitar parts and the songs would improve. For now, they live as they are, with potential to be more in the right hands, certainly more capable hands than my own.

The point is, maybe you're like me and you're never going to nail that guitar part that's been dogging you all these years. I'm not saying to give up and admit failure. But once you recognize your limitations and work with what you realistically can do, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish.

Take heart, though. There is a silver lining in that cloud of limitations. Once you accept your limitations, you will start down your own path to discovering the player you were meant to be and you will find your confidence slowly building. Eventually, you will revisit that song that's been nagging at your musical desires for so long. When you do, don't be surprised when it's easier to play this time around. Confidence has an amazing domino affect and it will show in every aspect of your playing.

The most important thing of all is to keep playing through the frustration. Maybe you can't play everything. But you can get better at the things you can play and that's success in my book.