Reality Check!

[Raz]

Well said. I was however one to never copy or be like someone, in fact I don't have ONE single guitar hero, but many. I've never learned how others played, and perhaps this has held me back, yet in my ignorance of the trade, I stumble and thus spew forth somehwhat original riffage

 

[jimmyp]

Well said. I was however one to never copy or be like someone, in fact I don't have ONE single guitar hero, but many. I've never learned how others played, and perhaps this has held me back, yet in my ignorance of the trade, I stumble and thus spew forth somehwhat original riffage

I remember an interview with EVH when he talked about doing covers before Van Halen formed. He said that when he played a Cream song he got frustrated - even if it was note perfect, it still sounded like EVH, not Clapton - he later realised this was a gift - he had his own sound. It's something to remember - doing your own thing is the way to go

 

[Raz]

I remember an interview with EVH when he talked about doing covers before Van Halen formed. He said that when he played a Cream song he got frustrated - even if it was note perfect, it still sounded like EVH, not Clapton - he later realised this was a gift - he had his own sound. It's something to remember - doing your own thing is the way to go

Well that's comforting jimmyp, here I am admitting my hobbit stature as a guitar player, and you use EVH in an analogy...well now I surely won't play for atleast a week...

 

[jimmyp]

Well that's comforting jimmyp, here I am admitting my hobbit stature as a guitar player, and you use EVH in an analogy...well now I surely won't play for atleast a week...

Just wait til you hear Bilbo Baggins solo cd - that cat can wail!

 

[Raz]

Just wait til you hear Bilbo Baggins solo cd - that cat can wail!

 

[mbgreene]

Just wait til you hear Bilbo Baggins solo cd - that cat can wail!

Actually I play more like Treebeard - kind of stiff and wooden

[/IMG]

 

[AxSport4me]

Did you ever hear someone playing the guitar and it sounded like they really weren`t that good? That`s actually a certain style of playing that i invented!!! See i`m an original! *LOL*

 

[jimmyp]

I normally don't like the AL shape - but that one in envy green w/p90s looks pretty good - def a guitar for an eco-warrior

 

[Raz]

Actually I play more like Treebeard - kind of stiff and wooden

[/IMG]

It's like an advertisement for LEVIS or something

 

[blackspy]

Actually I play more like Treebeard - kind of stiff and wooden

That'd be a great album cover. I can see it now. K-Tel proudly presents, Stiff Wood, available only during this limited time TV offer.

 

[Raz]

Ouch!

 

[tvanveen]

Did you ever hear someone playing the guitar and it sounded like they really weren`t that good? That`s actually a certain style of playing that i invented!!! See i`m an original! *LOL*

And I've been emulating you for years!

Can I have an autograph?

 

[mbgreene]

It's like an advertisement for LEVIS or something

When I got the guitar I didn't own a digital camera. Later that day, after the forum folk were clamoring for pictures, I was doing yard work and saw my neighbors taking pictures of their kids.

Went inside grabbed the AL, went across the street grabbed the neighbors and made them take and process a couple of shots for the site.

Somehow, I ended up in the tree

 

[tvanveen]

I hate to say it, but that shot is making me think it's time to order another AL. I miss those MM-90's.

 

[Raz]

When I got the guitar I didn't own a digital camera. Later that day, after the forum folk were clamoring for pictures, I was doing yard work and saw my neighbors taking pictures of their kids.

Went inside grabbed the AL, went across the street grabbed the neighbors and made them take and process a couple of shots for the site.

Somehow, I ended up in the tree

Well it's a nice shot, I couldn't even get up that tree

 

[AxSport4me]

I hate to say it, but that shot is making me think it's time to order another AL. I miss those MM-90's.

I got em in my Axis Sport and they simply rule!!!!!!!!

 

[ProgGuitarist76]

Raz, what I can say, which others have more or less pointed out here already, is that you have to play what your comfortable with. Technical ability is fine, but not at the expense of sacrificing the honest musical identity WITHIN you. So, if your at a stage where your finding that in the technical department, your not where you want to be, or expected to be at this point in your musical development, I would'nt be too concerned about it. It sounds like from reading your post, that your finding a bit of comfort in the blues rock genre. Its been said by many of the great players, that sometimes having limiations technically, opens up other doors creatively that having superior chops otherwise hinders...as you tend to "fall back" on techinical chops, instead of focusing on some of the more important elements of the songwriting and guitar playing process (although, this can be objective also, depending on what IS important to you and your vision).

Look at it this way: if your familiar with Jason Becker, he's a guitarist from the 80's shred era struck down with ALS, and if you have heard his last solo album "Perspective", that right there will show you that even though his physical ability to play guitar went away, creatively he was able to get things from his MIND that he didn't need to rely on actually playing guitar to do, and he's been quoted as saying something very similiar to this about his experience writing music in a new way with extreme physical limiations. There was a lot of shredders who were all chops, but not much else. The ones who stood out, had something extra special that made them stand out.

I myself didn't pick up the guitar with any set of expectations in the beginning. I was 13, and was always drawn to the guitar, but wasn't initially inspired by any one player to actually pick up the instrument. It wasn't about being a rock star or anything like that. It still isn't. If it was, I probably wouldn't be posting on this board right, but playing a style of music that I'm not much of a fan of, but would do simply to get a big check and fame, and be on MTV. I just have a natural love of music. As I got more into playing after the first year or so, I started getting more drawn to specific players. Yngwie, Paul Gilbert, and so on. Yes, I worked very hard at full shred playing, sweeps and all that. Did I accomplish this part of my goal? Yes, and I have a lot of chops, and I wouldn't trade my experience and countless hours woodshedding to achieve this goal. Along the way however, I did lose some valuable time not working on songwriting and arranging approaches...I'm not married with kids yet, but at that time and up until recently, high school, college and job, took a lot of my time up also to where I had to make a choice of either do chops maintenance or more songwriting. During that period, say 19-23 years old or so, through college, it was mostly chops. I had "Varney Guy" chops at 19, but lacked total direction. Since that time however, and currently working in the band im in now playing progressive metal, I have improved so much in songwriting and arranging...it all happened in shifts. I'm 28 now, will I want to be a shredder 10 years from now? who knows, but thats my current love of music (has been for I guess almost 15 years!), who knows in the next 5 years. The point basically is you do the best you can, and there's always room for improvement for every player in some way. Just play and enjoy what you play. Best of luck to you

 

[Raz]

Nice words, thanks and I would love to hear you play...

well since hitting this profound wall, and coming to this decision I have already written a number that I hope to slap onto my 8 track and post, and I must say I feel better, happier in fact, or atleast comfortable with myself...infact today was the first time in a long time that I left work a tad early, rushed home just so I could squeeze in 15 minutes playing before I had to get the kids off the bus, and it was well worth it...thanks guys! Anybody want to buy some 7 stringers

 

[ProgGuitarist76]

Nice words, thanks and I would love to hear you play...

well since hitting this profound wall, and coming to this decision I have already written a number that I hope to slap onto my 8 track and post, and I must say I feel better, happier in fact, or atleast comfortable with myself...infact today was the first time in a long time that I left work a tad early, rushed home just so I could squeeze in 15 minutes playing before I had to get the kids off the bus, and it was well worth it...thanks guys! Anybody want to buy some 7 stringers

Once my Petrucci comes in...soon hopefully , I'll post some pics and some sound clips using the guitar. Might be a little while though, as I'm having computer and scanner issues

 

[Raz]

Well I just had one of the best nights playing guitar...must have played for almost 2 hours straight...no pressure, just soulful, simplistic chops, expanding a few riff ideas, getting lost in the licks...Ahh, I really missed playing like this
Again thanks to everyone for letting me lean on!