• Registered: 2008-04-02
  • Posts: 671

Topic: Guitar Players

Do you ever feel or think that your own abilities as a guitar player are lacking because you can't play certain styes, or even riffs that you really admire, yet you feel that you have developed your own style over the years of playing that maybe has something to offer. Well if you do it's pretty much the way I feel all the time, with no real outlet for my music, my playing is sporadic at best meaning, I haven't picked up my guitar in a serious way in about 2 years (acoustic), before that I was getting back into playing from a 10 year layoff by practicing every day or 5 times a week for 2-3 hours a day, that lasted about 2 years. I started getting pretty good again then all the sudden the inspiration was gone as fast as it came. I'm not one of those who can play if I'm not feeling it, I'd rather not play at all or even practice. For the record I've been digging playing the bass and do get to play in a band. When I go to see some old buddies playing they always have me up for a couple of tunes on guitar and I have an open invitation to join them permanently so I guess I don't suck but that's not my passion. When I'm passionate about it, it is acoustic guitar.

I'm not sure why I'm posting this other than I wonder if I'm alone here or are there others that get this as well.

Jack

Rock On and Keep the Faith

Jack Loves Patty Loves Joe
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 163

Re: Guitar Players

I can relate.  But when I get uninspired I keep playing for 2 reasons.  One is I may never come back.  Secondly, I have put too much time in to get where I am (still not that good), so I feel I would have climb that mountain again.  So you are not alone.

  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
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  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Guitar Players

whenever I go through periods of inactivity, which happen intermittently between gigs and recording, I ask myself one question: should I be watching TV or playing guitar?  I even cancelled my TV service so that I would not have any distractions at home that would take me away from playing.  even if it is just lounging around and not plugged in.  and when I do manage to sit down and watch a movie, I have a couch guitar that gets played.  There is a couch guitar, a guitar by the amp at home, and a guitar on my bed.  So I have no excuse not to play, and that is how I keep playing.  Even if it is scales and nothing original, better to touch the instrument than not.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: Danville, IL
  • Registered: 2012-02-18
  • Posts: 458

Re: Guitar Players

fuzzy wuzzy,

There's only one solution to inspire you and reinvigorate your playing - BUY A NEW GUITAR! smile

kestrou

  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
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  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Guitar Players

kestrou wrote:

fuzzy wuzzy,

There's only one solution to inspire you and reinvigorate your playing - BUY A NEW GUITAR! smile

kestrou

I have to agree.  But not just guitar, any new gear can ignite inspiration.  When I decided that I was done buying new guitars and new amps, other than some minor local trades here and there with no money exchanged, I got into other, cheaper gear stuff like tubes for example.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: West Sussex
  • Registered: 2011-05-17
  • Posts: 307

Re: Guitar Players

Picking up the guitar to have a play about is no problem at all.

Being inspired enough and possessing the knowledge to try and learn something is different and has been my problem but I feel that I have cracked this one recently and in the last year I have improved a lot.

By the way I have been playing for around 32 years but in most of that time haven't really improved.

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Guitar Players

Listen to music that you normally don't if your into Metal listen to country or jazz, etc. Your ear starts to pick up things and after awhile they come out it your playing. New gear helps to but when I am in a slump I try and find new music, even if I don't like it I try and pick out a few things I think are cool that I can take with me.

  • From: Edgewater, FL
  • Registered: 2007-12-08
  • Posts: 5,046

Re: Guitar Players

I find a nice soft wall & beat my hard head agin it.  Then I call every musician I know and tell them they suck.  After they heap abuse on me, I call my brother and he says you have too much talent not to be playing...start your own band.  So then i go out to blues jams & open mics and start all over again.

I'm getting too old to put up with wanking; even my own, so grumbling about it is not the answer.  When the weather improves, my attitude will.

oh that's ridiculous. smile

Rock On & Keep the FAITH
             It is
Blues From the Bottoms

bigjeffjones's Website

  • From: NH - USA
  • Registered: 2010-11-08
  • Posts: 149

Re: Guitar Players

I can completely relate... i had put the guitar down for 10 years and even before i stopped i was in a rut and had no idea what i was doing. When  picked it up again I was beyond rusty but started having fun, learning the missing bit to this or that song I'd never finished.... after a year or two i just got into that rut again, practicing became erratic, just felt lost. Like you i did not have an outlet, no band or body of work i was driven to record, hell i didn't even know any musicians anymore... and so i started buying gear and instructional material instead of practicing, this got me playing a bit more, gotta try out the new stuff you know, every guitar and/or amp makes you play a bit differently right? Well sure but i was still lost, no direction or idea how to actually get things to a respectable level with fleeting motivation...

However, a couple yeas ago i decided to start taking guitar lessons and though I'm in no way saying this is for everyone, it really helped me. There is a music school in town so i called them, explained where i was coming from and wanted to get out of lessons and asked them to recommend an instructor... all i was hoping for was filling in some theory holes, getting some direction on what i should actually be practicing (vs. my level) and maybe learn some blues standards. The guy i got was great, helped me break out, build confidence and one of the big things, i was accountable for practicing.... each study had new practical applications of ideas and elements that keep me wanting to try new things and help me understand my weaknesses.

For what it worth anyway, you are not alone...

havoc41's Website

  • From: Caribou, ME
  • Registered: 2008-11-26
  • Posts: 418

Re: Guitar Players

Played over 20 years now, playing in band really helped develop playing and The Complete Guitarist Handbook ( which I have read cover to cover 30+ times ) over the past 15 years....helps me get out of ruts.

and when in a rut, change what I listen to, find inspiration from other genres of music.....still a hack, ha!!!!

Jay

Self-Professed "GOLDIE" Nut-Job!!!!

JBLP #267
  • From: New Hampshire, USA
  • Registered: 2010-12-21
  • Posts: 3,650

Re: Guitar Players

Guytron wrote:

Played over 20 years now, playing in band really helped develop playing and The Complete Guitarist Handbook ( which I have read cover to cover 30+ times ) over the past 15 years....helps me get out of ruts.

and when in a rut, change what I listen to, find inspiration from other genres of music.....still a hack, ha!!!!

Jay

Hi Jay
I will have to get up to your neck of the Northeast woods someday and see you guys play.
Cheers Ron

"Joe B saved my soul, forever grateful Ron"
"Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them"
Skinner #1,JBLP 145(aged),252, (unaged),#285HM, Bburst #026, Joes 052 BCC black LP, Strat> RT,EC Gilmour,Beck,Lenny LP> PK 83,CC#2,3,4,9,Amps>Carol Ann RAH JB-100 SN 001,JB100 Red SN02,OD2, OD3,Tucana 2&3 Triptix,Twinkle land, Plexi ,JB Jub, Jubs,Plexi,Satch,Two Rock>others
  • Registered: 2011-10-18
  • Posts: 67

Re: Guitar Players

I´m constantly listening to different styles of music, and when for example coming out og a phase of really listening to songs without guitar solos and with lots of delay and electronics, I always have sort of a hard time getting back in the lead guitar solo mode, that´s a thing which is annoying and at the same time interesting because sometimes I suceed in brewing something interesting because of the varied styles I like

  • From: Caribou, ME
  • Registered: 2008-11-26
  • Posts: 418

Re: Guitar Players

cindyron wrote:
Guytron wrote:

Played over 20 years now, playing in band really helped develop playing and The Complete Guitarist Handbook ( which I have read cover to cover 30+ times ) over the past 15 years....helps me get out of ruts.

and when in a rut, change what I listen to, find inspiration from other genres of music.....still a hack, ha!!!!

Jay

Hi Jay
I will have to get up to your neck of the Northeast woods someday and see you guys play.
Cheers Ron

Ron,

Looking forward to hitting up the Carl Verheyen show with u in a couple weeks, and then in may rocking out with you and checking out your smoking gear!!!!!!

Jay

Self-Professed "GOLDIE" Nut-Job!!!!

JBLP #267
  • Registered: 2008-04-02
  • Posts: 671

Re: Guitar Players

bigjeffjones wrote:

I find a nice soft wall & beat my hard head agin it.  Then I call every musician I know and tell them they suck.  After they heap abuse on me, I call my brother and he says you have too much talent not to be playing...start your own band.  So then i go out to blues jams & open mics and start all over again.

I'm getting too old to put up with wanking; even my own, so grumbling about it is not the answer.  When the weather improves, my attitude will.

oh that's ridiculous. smile


Haha, I thought the weather was always good in Fla.

Rock On and Keep the Faith

Jack Loves Patty Loves Joe
  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: Guitar Players

I find that getting into another artist tends to inspire me a lot. It doesn't have to be one I've never listened to before, it can be one I haven't listened to in a while. I'm currently doing that with Eric Johnson. smile

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

My ReverbNation page for Dees & Friends - check us out!
www.reverbnation.com/deesfriends
  • Registered: 2008-04-02
  • Posts: 671

Re: Guitar Players

havoc41 wrote:

I can completely relate... i had put the guitar down for 10 years and even before i stopped i was in a rut and had no idea what i was doing. When  picked it up again I was beyond rusty but started having fun, learning the missing bit to this or that song I'd never finished.... after a year or two i just got into that rut again, practicing became erratic, just felt lost. Like you i did not have an outlet, no band or body of work i was driven to record, hell i didn't even know any musicians anymore... and so i started buying gear and instructional material instead of practicing, this got me playing a bit more, gotta try out the new stuff you know, every guitar and/or amp makes you play a bit differently right? Well sure but i was still lost, no direction or idea how to actually get things to a respectable level with fleeting motivation...

However, a couple yeas ago i decided to start taking guitar lessons and though I'm in no way saying this is for everyone, it really helped me. There is a music school in town so i called them, explained where i was coming from and wanted to get out of lessons and asked them to recommend an instructor... all i was hoping for was filling in some theory holes, getting some direction on what i should actually be practicing (vs. my level) and maybe learn some blues standards. The guy i got was great, helped me break out, build confidence and one of the big things, i was accountable for practicing.... each study had new practical applications of ideas and elements that keep me wanting to try new things and help me understand my weaknesses.

For what it worth anyway, you are not alone...


I gotta tell you Havoc that out of all the excellent responses I've received here yours is the one that makes the most sense to me. I like the idea of learning some standard tunes and chord progressions. Inspiration/motivation I'll take either one and some how I bet ya that they are linked.

Thanks everyone for the responses.

Rock On and Keep the Faith

Jack Loves Patty Loves Joe
  • Registered: 2012-02-27
  • Posts: 43

Re: Guitar Players

I can relate to this, but I found that playing in a band evened me out a lot and instilled some much-needed confidence. While I still get frustrated that I can't seem to push myself to a level I'd like to be at, I've learned to maximise the abilities I have and have got some good feedback from people in the pubs I play in. Having somebody come up to you in the gents' and say 'I wish I could play guitar like you' is still a double-edged sword. Part of me thinks it's nice to get some recognition for the effort I've put in, the other part feels the need to point out my deficiencies and suggest some infinitely better players to check out when they get home. Not an easy internal conflict to resolve, but a great topic to discuss.

  • From: New Hampshire, USA
  • Registered: 2010-12-21
  • Posts: 3,650

Re: Guitar Players

Guytron wrote:
cindyron wrote:
Guytron wrote:

Played over 20 years now, playing in band really helped develop playing and The Complete Guitarist Handbook ( which I have read cover to cover 30+ times ) over the past 15 years....helps me get out of ruts.

and when in a rut, change what I listen to, find inspiration from other genres of music.....still a hack, ha!!!!

Jay

Hi Jay
I will have to get up to your neck of the Northeast woods someday and see you guys play.
Cheers Ron

Ron,

Looking forward to hitting up the Carl Verheyen show with u in a couple weeks, and then in may rocking out with you and checking out your smoking gear!!!!!!

Jay

Same here see you in a few weeks
Cheers Ron

"Joe B saved my soul, forever grateful Ron"
"Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them"
Skinner #1,JBLP 145(aged),252, (unaged),#285HM, Bburst #026, Joes 052 BCC black LP, Strat> RT,EC Gilmour,Beck,Lenny LP> PK 83,CC#2,3,4,9,Amps>Carol Ann RAH JB-100 SN 001,JB100 Red SN02,OD2, OD3,Tucana 2&3 Triptix,Twinkle land, Plexi ,JB Jub, Jubs,Plexi,Satch,Two Rock>others