lets be honest about our playing.

ravendouglas

ravendouglas

New member
whats more important to you? picking up your guitar and playing no matter how bad ,or good you may be,or impressing people? whats my point?...i have been asked to provide clips here but i am embarressed to do so....the last one that showed up here was the source of much laughter...so i was always hesitant about putting anything up after that because the fear of being your joke of the day. i am not a good guitarist. i have to play in drop d because of a lack of finger dexterity and coordination. i have never taken lessons because frankly i just didnt get it. i didnt start messing around on the guitar for more than a hobby till around 2008 or so. i cant read music or tabs, i dont play covers because i cant. what i can do is hear things and sounds in my head and bring them out. so if i put up something please try to remember that i just have a passion for music and enjoy playing my guitars as much as you do..i just dont have you guys skills. i am in my very first band project...ever and im 45 years old.
 
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Re: lets be honest about our playing.

I write really good songs IMHO and my rhythm is pretty good... but my soloing ability is lackluster. Currently working on it. ;)
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

Andrew Lamprecht said:
I write really good songs IMHO and my rhythm is pretty good... but my soloing ability is lackluster. Currently working on it. ;)
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i dont even want to solo....not that i could anyway...but i enjoy writing riffs and playing what i would call rythym guitar.
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

Never let another person discourage you from enjoying your guitar.
If you enjoy what you are doing, that is the main thing.
 
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Re: lets be honest about our playing.

So you're saying, the stuff I play is supposed to sound good?

I should have quit a long time ago.
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

guitarrob said:
Play for you man, Nobody else.
If you enjoy what you are doing, that is the main thing.
Click to expand...

Sound advice guitarrob!
good for you doing a band project! I understand fully! I WANT to be a great player, but I have bad hearing, NO natural abilities and little time to play. Ive finally given up on being Satch, but Id like to be able to hold my own and write my own songs.. I cant post clips, and if I could, id be embarrased to do so, cuz there is so much talent here. I sometimes think Im the only one who struggles cuz I see all these kids on you tube, stores, bands, etc that are a fraction of my age, smoking me. I have to just keep plugging away. Some are not so good, and I give them props for having the guts to try and to put it up.

IMO, never should anyone be negative toward others when they do post a clip. If they ask for critique, offer positive feedback. If you cant say something nice, dont post. I think MOST of us here follow that rule, but Ive seen one or two occasions of negativity. Play to please yourself and someone else is liable to be moved by what you are doing...
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

I've been playing for a number of years and I can pretty well hang at a jam session, but these days, I'm so busy trying to earn a living and raise a couple of teenagers that I don't get nearly enough time to try to grow musically. So, I wind up falling into the old trap of just endulging myself with the same old familiar stuff for 20 or 30 minutes, then hanging it up until next time--nothing new and no growth. So, back a couple weeks ago, I was actually going to have the house to myself for a couple hours, so I made up my mind that I was going to learn something "new" (to me anyway)--Hocus Pocus...remember Focus with Jan Ackerman? Well, I found that their was plenty of tab available to kind of get me in the ballpark and also some pretty good footage on YouTube so could cop the fingerings. All in all, I really got some very satisfying time in learning a lick that I should have picked up years ago. I guess my main point is that there has never been more and better tools available on the internet for growing musically than there is now. Just try if you can to put aside some time once a week if that's all you have to stretch yourself a little. I think you'll be glad like I was. Lastly, don't be so hard on yourself raven...you have bandmates to jam with which is really cool. I sure wish I still did....
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

IMO I need A LOT of work, but I'm ranked #2 guitarist at the largest fine arts school in the state next to this 30+ year old japanese dude that can out-jazz a lot of the staff... think he's just doing it to stay in the US... but that's besides the point.

I guess it's always important to remain critical of yourself, I mean if you're not aware of your faults how could you ever address them? But on that note... gah this is gonna come off slightly arrogant, but i hear A LOT of bull**** from A LOT of players about why they're not as good as they could be. I think modern society has become too bull**** oriented, i mean most people can learn to bull**** their way through most things, but music isn't one of those things. You have to work your ass off--that's it, there's no other way. If you don't have the drive to make time for a serious practice schedule then you don't have the drive to reach your full potential, that's it.

Not saying everyone should devote 4+ hours a day to practicing (REALLY practicing and learning, not just playing the same recycled riffs you have been for the past however many years), i mean I get that it's a hobby for most people. But, if you treat it like a hobby you're gonna perform like a hobbyist. Not saying that's a bad thing, but... you get what you put into it, I guess
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

I enjoy playing and some days I don't sound so bad. Once in awhile I'll get a nice compliment from someone at a guitar shop, and my brother constantly tells me I need to be in a band (he plays as well) so I guess I'm not too horrible. But I need to practice alot to approach the skill level of what I consider very average.

I don't have nearly as much time to practice these days and unfortunately my RSS/CTS makes it even worse. So I'm well below average :D

I hate my clips as well- most of them sound awful. But I leave them up to listen to now and then to remind me about the things I need to work on...mainly, not worrying so much about how it sounds. Nothing drags my playing down more than knowing someone with a critical ear will be listening to me. Its why I don't play out anymore-I got serious stage fright when i was younger. I can handle a casual jam with folks, but.. :shrug:

I however am a Guitar GAWD in my basement, so that amounts to something, right?? :headbang:
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

I think that just might be part of playing music....we understand our actual skill level better then anybody else so we are our toughest and most accurate critics. I think no matter how good you get, you still think you need to be better and I guess that can be both good and bad.:)
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

I have a friend he owns 50+ guitars. He has zero sense of rhythm (and thats being kind) He doesnt know a single song all the way through from start to finish. Oddly enough he is very good at tapping and doing speed runs. And hes happy with this. The guy likes guitars he likes buying them and having them then he sits in his basement and does turkey fight solos reminiscent of Kerry King but hes happy as a clam.

Music is different for everyone it holds a different spot in their life if your happy with yours... go with it. Theres no set of rules that say you should be X good at this point in time.

I know im much farther behind than I could be. I play alot but its the same stuff ive known for years if i sat down and worked at it I could be a better player but Iam happy with where iam at and what I do with my music.

Thats how i see it
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

JeffB said:
I however am a Guitar GAWD in my basement, so that amounts to something, right?? :headbang:
Click to expand...

Reminds me of a post I saw once I think it was on the HC forums the guy said "I have played a lifetimes careers worth of sold out shows to the posters in my bedroom" Me too
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

Edgecrusher said:
Reminds me of a post I saw once I think it was on the HC forums the guy said "I have played a lifetimes careers worth of sold out shows to the posters in my bedroom" Me too
Click to expand...

LOL! Same here. I've jammed with some of the best guitarist in the world. They just don't know about it.
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

ravendouglas said:
i have never taken lessons because frankly i just didnt get it. i didnt start messing around on the guitar for more than a hobby till around 2008 or so. i cant read music or tabs, i dont play covers because i cant.
Click to expand...
Stop saying "i can't"
and start saying "i can't....yet"
music is a language. You never stop learning.
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

jammertom said:
I've been playing for a number of years and I can pretty well hang at a jam session, but these days, I'm so busy trying to earn a living and raise a couple of teenagers that I don't get nearly enough time to try to grow musically. So, I wind up falling into the old trap of just endulging myself with the same old familiar stuff for 20 or 30 minutes, then hanging it up until next time--nothing new and no growth. So, back a couple weeks ago, I was actually going to have the house to myself for a couple hours, so I made up my mind that I was going to learn something "new" (to me anyway)--Hocus Pocus...remember Focus with Jan Ackerman? Well, I found that their was plenty of tab available to kind of get me in the ballpark and also some pretty good footage on YouTube so could cop the fingerings. All in all, I really got some very satisfying time in learning a lick that I should have picked up years ago. I guess my main point is that there has never been more and better tools available on the internet for growing musically than there is now. Just try if you can to put aside some time once a week if that's all you have to stretch yourself a little. I think you'll be glad like I was. Lastly, don't be so hard on yourself raven...you have bandmates to jam with which is really cool. I sure wish I still did....
Click to expand...

KILLER song!! (cept the yodelling. haha) My older bro had the 45. good job!

Edit: heres a utube clip. Gorgeous guitar he's playing
http://youtu.be/RFDW9b_ejfI

Drew 1/2, Yeah, I KNOW that Ive not put into it the dedication to get there. I regret that. If I could turn back time, Id have woodshedded my nuggets off. Now, with 5 kids, work and doing nearly everything to run a household, my time is limited.
 
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Re: lets be honest about our playing.

Edgecrusher said:
Reminds me of a post I saw once I think it was on the HC forums the guy said "I have played a lifetimes careers worth of sold out shows to the posters in my bedroom" Me too
Click to expand...

yeah, I always wanted those posters they used to advertise that look like crowd scenes from the front of a stage and marshall stacks
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

BloodRose said:
KILLER song!! My older bro had the 45. good job!

Drew 1/2, Yeah, I KNOW that Ive not put into it the dedication to get there. I regret that. If I could turn back time, Id have woodshedded my nuggets off. Now, with 5 kids, work and doing nearly everything to run a household, my time is limited.
Click to expand...

til they graduate and get the f--- out of your house :D
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

ravendouglas said:
whats more important to you? picking up your guitar and playing no matter how bad ,or good you may be,or impressing people? whats my point?...i have been asked to provide clips here but i am embarressed to do so....the last one that showed up here was the source of much laughter...so i was always hesitant about putting anything up after that because the fear of being your joke of the day. i am not a good guitarist. i have to play in drop d because of a lack of finger dexterity and coordination. i have never taken lessons because frankly i just didnt get it. i didnt start messing around on the guitar for more than a hobby till around 2008 or so. i cant read music or tabs, i dont play covers because i cant. what i can do is hear things and sounds in my head and bring them out. so if i put up something please try to remember that i just have a passion for music and enjoy playing my guitars as much as you do..i just dont have you guys skills. i am in my very first band project...ever and im 45 years old.
Click to expand...

Just rock and enjoy it. That is what it is all about. I'm probably one of the worst musicians on this forum, but I'm one heck of a rocker. There is ALWAYS going to be someone better than you, and trust me, you're better than millions of people so have fun, play yer riffs, and smile when you get a chance to crank up. Don't worry about clips, or what people say about your clips. If you're asking people to be honest about your clips then be prepared, because they will be. If you post and ask people to go easy on your playing, they will. If you don't wanna post, then just don't. But again, crank it up and feel it. Yeah baby!!!
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

I have reached a point I do not really care. I like the things I do and that is what really counts. Is is a plus if someone else is good with it, but I do it for me. I much rather play than listen to recordings - it is just what I like to do. If asked I post clips, if moved to do so I post clips. I would guess some (perhaps many) dislike them.
 
Re: lets be honest about our playing.

I'm fairly comfortable and confident in the genres I like to play in. But I am ALWAYS looking to improve and learn.
 
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