Re: lets be honest about our playing.
I play for a living and have done since I was 19, so there's no room for me to be delusional about my guitar playing or musicianship. If my playing were to fall below a professional standard, I would be out of work. I have to be able to play a wide range of styles, but I also have to be aware of my limitations. I have no formal theory training, so I know not to accept sight reading gigs of any complexity. As a result, I would never accept a jazz gig that called for complex chord comping, instead I would recommend somebody who specialises in that stuff. I cannot shred, but then I have never been asked to in 30 years of professional playing.
I would cite my strengths as tone, feel and taste, and the ability to learn and memorise a thirty song repertoire in the space of a few days. The other vital skill set involves being able to work well with people and what is referred to as 'traveling well,' which basically involves being on time in the lobby for every soundcheck and transport call, sustaining focus over long stretches on the road, and maintaining a positive vibe under potentially trying conditions. As I've gotten older, this has also meant dispensing with drug addictions and the illusory traps of the rock'n'roll cliche. Partying hard, sleeping through your alarm, missing your flight and turning up trashed for a gig only leads to one thing...unemployment. I had my fun in those areas as a younger man, when bouncing back from self destructive tendencies was much easier, and I was in an original band that answered only to itself and its audience. These days, I work for well established artists, and it is not my place to jeopardise their good name with my own agenda. They put food on my table and allow me to do what I love for a living, so I repay them with professional courtesy and personal respect. It has also become an issue of self respect and longevity.
I've been blessed to see many amazing parts of the world through touring and playing guitar, and I'm thankful for every moment of it. I remain in awe of the multitude of great musicians who have inspired me in the past, and the continuing generations of musicians who inspire me in the present. I've played from my local scout hall as a 13 year old to Wembley Stadium in my late 30's, and all points in between. These days, it could be a large scale outdoor festival one day and an intimate restaurant gig the next, so there is no place for delusions of grandeur. I have built my reputation as a guitar player on the strengths I mentioned, and they have proven to be the most important aspects of my craft.
Cheers........................................ wahwah
