I just read comments to a blog that generated a similar marketing discussion except that site was about "regular" music (you can stop laughing now, I will edit and add the link to it later) and I have to admit that this thread has way more substance, but most of you have failed or refused to answer the OP's question.
My download figures are skewed because my releases are on archive.org and I don't trust its site hit counter; but I thank everyone for the downloads all the same.
On a Rainy Day outdit my first release's download count on its first weekend, and surpassed a thousand downloads on the archive.org counter very quickly, but has since cooled. In reality, I think that's more like a hundred downloads or so. You may compare that to Release Zero's 700ish in one year, which is probably more like 70.
Release Zero also had pay versions, though, because it was an RPM Project which requires a physical unit be sent in. I sold four at the only show I played. I have one full album pay download through CD baby and a half dozen single track downloads from Amazon, iTunes, etc; all for the track Geocache.
Does that mean I have to make a thousand tunes that sound like Geocache? I certainly hope not.
Laugh at the big gulf between freebies and sales if you want; the fact is, I just wanted to see what would happen. I don't have enough reputation to put a price tag on my music, and to be honest my most scarce commodity is time.
I maintain a partial interest in marketing for the sake of reaching listeners but otherwise, I'm weary of it. I have a job that usually makes me happy, and that's something to keep in mind as you plan your career- as already mentioned, music is way too much work and stress (and sometimes expense) to hate the result, so make sureyou like what you're doing first and foremost.
I'd like to add that I think 10k officially understands how indie music works. Even if he doesn't make your kind of music, his bullet points should be commited to memory, because they are the word of (insert name of favorite diety here, or substitute "10k" if you are an atheist).
Finally, if you are unhappy with the quality of releases, please counter it with high quality releases of your own (and vocal endorsement of others' high quality releases) and before you know it, there will be lots of good new music all around you.
There is no formula for success, which lies in the eye of the beholder, and nothing is perfect, so you can only do what's best for yourself.
There's no "guitar music".
