Should I skip "Wish you were here" as a grade 2 song - I don't like it?

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This is probably sacrilege but I strongly dislike this song. Not that I have a bad memory associated with it. It’s I just that I don’t like the vibe and sound of most of the Pink Floyd songs, especially this one.

The thing is. Beginners course 2 grade 8 offers it as a lesson and it’s undoubtedly great for learning. It looks like I’d need to spend quite some time on it and listening to the original recording as well.

I like all of the other suggested songs. But as for riffs it is the main big deal in this stage.

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Yes definitely skip it. Indeed it’s a very bad idea to practice music you don’t like, it will demotivate you. There are other riffs throughout the beginner course which are a good substitute for this.

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Hi Johan,

:joy: … sorry :blush:

Yes, definitely skip it if there are such sharp negative feelings, we do it for fun that guitar learning thing :grinning_face:… I have to say that I have learned many songs that I previously thought I never wanted to play/hear, but then you could almost always change the ‘vibe’ by just using the guitar and no other instruments that makes it just became fun (Baby One More Time by Britney Spears always comes to my mind) …and some parts - riffs / licks of songs I forgot now .
… with WYWH it is difficult to make it “your own” and different … so yes move on to the next one …

I skipped it the first time I came across it because I found it too difficult and got stuck… only about 2 years later (?) did it become a favorite of mine, and recently it was improved again with a new tutorial from Justin…

In the months and even years that followed when start this song, I learned a lot from it… there was so much more to it than I initially envisioned… :sweat_smile: :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

Greetings ,Rogier

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Hi Johan, I love the album and song, though have never had a desire to play it.
Play what you enjoy and skip it. :grinning_face_with_big_eyes:

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Like others have said here before… .don’t like it? Skip it!
No sense in practicing something you don’t like. It won’t work.
However, that being said, i remember a little piece i had to learn (Light Whitening, an piece written by Jean Ghesquire, in the same style as the Dire Straits), thinking to myself: “yaikes, i’m not liking this at all”.
But, since i like a challenge, i learnt it anyway, and i must say, the piece got more fun to play as i went along. (And i learnt a thing or two as well).

So these days, whenever i think; “Ugh, this song gives me the creeps” or something like that, i’ll still take a closer look. Because you never know what you can find, that you didn’t see before.

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I would definitely recommend trying to find songs that you actually really like playing. So for sure, skip this one and find something that’s more to your taste.

Play music that you don’t enjoy is a short fire way to lose interest on the instrument

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Thanks for your response.

A song or riff can certainly grow on you while working on it :slightly_smiling_face:

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I agree. Luckily I’m quite eclectic and thoroughly enjoyed all the riff lessons of the earlier modules!

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Thanks Justin, that’s reassuring!

I’ll put the effort into learning Free falling instead, which is one of my favorites :slightly_smiling_face:

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Doesn’t like Pink Floyd music :scream: :scream: moderators can you ban him please :rofl:

Think I metioned in a recent post, find songs that resonate with you, no point in playing songs you dont like. You wont find me playing an Elvis song :rofl:

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Bohemian Rhapsody, hideous song.

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:scream:

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Skip anything you don’t like. I played it and don’t care for it either so won’t play it again, even though most people like it. One size doesn’t fit all.

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Been watching the responses here, even from the boss @JustinGuitar ! Good to see an abundance of posts this year sir, way more than last !

I’ll take a contrary view of what’s been said so far ie “skip what you don’t like in abundance” it would seem. If you don’t like it don’t play it ?

That is the narrow approach.

Yeah its great to play all the songs that you like and avoid the ones you don’t. BUT
and as I have probably posted here countless times for over a decade, you are learning to play the guitar and not just songs. Not just individual songs the whole instrument !!

Learn to play the whole instrument and you can then play any song. Simples.

You learn songs to play songs and you play songs to learn songs. BUT learning songs that don’t float your boat ain’t a bad thing. It is actually a good thing. It pushes your boundaries !

Mentally you might not gel with these songs but from a practice/learning perspectives there are no negatives You are progressing, You are learning new/different progressions. And learning the foundation of rhythm. That is the core of everything.

And that is where its at.

To play anything - rhythm or lead - you need to understand and lock INTO that rhythm.

And that is why I sucked it up in the old Beginners Course days and played some Spears and some Swift. Not because I liked it but because it teaches THE framework of core rhythm.

Take a stab at Taylor Swift Back To September - or search how many times I’ve made the same sugestion to folks down the years - Its a huge mix of sections and a real challenges to get your head around for a what should be a simple song.

It’s songs like this, whether you like it or not cement those strong foundations. And without that foundation your musical journey will be built on sand.

As my daughter frequently says “suck it up butter cup” and my rider ? Coz it will pay dividends in the future.

#hitmebaby
#backtodecember
#ihatepopbutitmademeabetterguitarplayer

Simples
Simples270×187 7.01 KB

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In this specific example there are several other exercises throughout the beginner course that teach the same skills as in this riff. I would still recommend skipping it if you don’t like the song.
However I take your point. Lately I’ve been doing a lot of practice just changing between the 4 shapes of barre chords. Even though it’s not a very exciting exercise I know I need to do it if I’m going to get better.

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Well, I have sort of learnt some songs I don’t like, but had a go at them just for the technique never really put a lot of effort in but as I am coming to the end of grade 2, I may try a bit harder in the consolidation phase, I’m not keen on country, blues, or jazz but if it’s in the course I will give it some time.
my interest is rock n roll, rock, pop, from the 50s to the 80s.

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Toby @TheMadman_tobyjenner
I totally agree with your line of thought, I am about learning to play the guitar. At home I will choose songs I like or have a particular technique that I am working on. But at the guitar club I sometimes get chords sheets for songs I have never heard or not my cup of tea but I get on and do my best, I am sure in time I will be a more versatile guitarist whether that means a better guitarist is open for debate.
Michael

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Similar to most above I also learned a lot of songs that I didn’t like (PF - wish you were here being one of them) in order to learn / improve a particular technique.
I liken it to a lot of other disciplines, sport being one example . We all love to play the games on Saturday afternoon , however to get there we need to show up to practice on a cold and wet Tuesday night.

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Try and find a song you DO like that teaches you the same skill/techniques/chord forms as the lesson song, and you’ll be good.

Finding a suitable replacement can sometimes be harder than just learning the song you don’t like.

YMMV

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I too had an one on one instructor that strongly insisted I learn a song I disliked. I chose enjoyment over a shorter learning curve and that instructor is no longer employed by me. I’m 65 and I’m never going to be a rockstar, That ship has sailed a long time ago, I play for my own enjoyment.

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