Hi guys, I’m a 26f and I’ve been playing music “for real” since the beginning of 2022. I’ve always had an interest in music and have always sang but 2022 is when I picked up the guitar.

Fast forward to now and I’ve manage to scrap up a band and have played live shows/play and performed original music. I even have a studio in my home. I’m an English major and I’m great at lyrics and my mouth organ is my original instrument. Music theory is not how I think about music. I know the basics to get by but im really just searching my instrument for the sounds I wanna make.

And I’m feeling really behind compared to my peers in a lot of ways. Singing and playing an instrument is something I’m always working on. I play bass for my band so I can get away with just having to play a few notes so it’s not as hard but I want to do more now.

I have a music mentor but he’s a drumming instructor. I went to him because I wanted to understand rhythm more and learn about the instrument/learn about song structure but we just kinda cover different topics sporadically with no structure. I still struggle with keeping time. (I just need to break up with him lol but I really enjoy him)

I’m feeling a bit stuck because I want to get my chops. I want to put in the time in. But I don’t want to go to school (no money for that lol). I could get a better instructor but I’m also pretty smart and have taught myself a lot in the last 2 years. I always just pick something like learning a song or a new concept then just end up writing my own stuff. Do you guys have any suggestions on how I can start honing in on my struggle points? And programs you’d suggest?

Thanks for reading if you made it this far!