Biggest Lesson I've Learned in Guitar Playing...

Sp8ctre

Sp8ctre

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Don't listen to everything you hear or what other people like, or more specifically dislike. What works for the instructor or other player may not be your thing...

Getting advice and opinions is a great thing and many times helps a lot. But if you go down the rabbit hole chasing what works for other people and what some say is the "right" way you will never find "Your" way.

I can't count how many times I've read to stay away from a 7.25" radius neck...guess what? It works for me. There are more right ways to grip the neck than I can even count and I've tried many of them, but I had to find what's comfortable for me.

The more I listen to what my hands say to me the further I progress...Am I going to run into a roadblock? Maybe...Are there going to be things I never get right? Absolutely...But, I'm progressing none the less.

Same goes for strings, picks, fretboard wood, and on and on...

I got way to lost looking for the magic beans...the magic beans are PRACTICE. More time playing and less time sampling the newest thing...

Your Mileage May Vary...
 
Pretty Much What He Said...

I too went way down that Rabbit Hole, but apparently, not quite as far as some. I'm now using a horrible Line-6 Head, two 33 year old Jackson Cabinets, guitars with huge neck profiles and my tone and playing are better than ever. Having said that, I do admit to playing everyday - anywhere from 2-6 hours - and that has an effect on your ability to be certain...

My biggest revelation of all was - all I needed was one guitar - I just had to figure out what specs were most comfortable for me...
 
Thatbastarddon said:
I do like to have a pallet to paint from...it’s not a must, but I enjoy it.
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Oh, I get that. Not down to one guitar or amp yet, although the Strat I'm playing seems to do everything I want.

I was spending too much time trying this and that. 25 Guitars in a year. Tube amps, then modelling, then back to tubes.

String gauges from 7 - 11, pickup changes left and right. Research, buy, sell, research, fiddle, fiddle some more...but
not nearly enough playing guitar. I was collecting things and learning everything but How to Play!
 
Sp8ctre said:
Oh, I get that. Not down to one guitar or amp yet, although the Strat I'm playing seems to do everything I want.

I was spending too much time trying this and that. 25 Guitars in a year. Tube amps, then modelling, then back to tubes.

String gauges from 7 - 11, pickup changes left and right. Research, buy, sell, research, fiddle, fiddle some more...but
not nearly enough playing guitar. I was collecting things and learning everything but How to Play!
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This industry depends on that, Spectre and it is viciously cultivated, not only by the manufacturers, but by the guitarists themselves. Tone chasing is big business because you never can reach the tone carrot.

Another thing I learned in my time here was the realization that I did not like genres other than heavy metal - and even though I lost a lot of money - fill-in work, studio work, etc., I am happier since I abandoned all my other musical projects. The only side-thing I am maintaining is my work in commercials/films through AFM.

Since coming here, in December of 2016, I spent a fortune on gear, tubes, amps, attenuators, pickups, you name it. In less than 2 years, I bought 3 new Gibson guitars - and for the previous 30 or so years, I played the same old 1987 Squire!!!! I've earned more money with a 1987 squire than any of my other guitars WILL EVER EARN ME.

Then I got the crazy idea to design and patent a headstock and create my own guitar company - just because I got a kick out of people playing my guitars. I eventually built 27 units before sanity again set in once again. I cannot complain, because I made money on each and every one of them, and it was very satisfying to see them being played and enjoyed, but I LOST a tremendous amount of time I should have spent playing!!!!

This journey was not all in vain. I met some Kool Kats here. I was able to give away some stuff to help some Kool Kats out in their pursuit of the Beanz of Tone. I ended up with a great custom double neck (Number 27!) and I learned what scale and neck profile I preferred, what tones I like...learned why I hated my Super Lead Plexi (and tube amps in general) and now recall VIVIDLY why I sold it by spending money on yet TWO more tube Marshalls., custom speakers, boxes of special tubes, biasing, Furman power conditioners, HUNDREDS of feet of brand new cables, Gator hardshell cases, and enough guitar tools to start a business.

At the end of the day, my Blackstar ID-Core 100 Watt Solid State is the best studio recording mule I have ever used. Quiet, lightweight, great onboard effects and emulated line out. Simple, Effective and $349.00 brand new.

My Line 6 Spider II HD 75 head (I have two of them now) is light, has good effects and BOTH cost me less than $200.00

My two 1989 Jackson 4X12 cabinets BOTH cost me less than $225.00 and work perfectly.

My 2016 Gibson SG is a keeper, as is my Double Neck whose serial number happens to be my birthdate. That double neck is the epitome of everything I learned about what specifications feel natural to me.

I am not even sure of just how much I have spent over the past two years, but it was a substantial amount.

I have one of my best tones ever from some of the most criticized equipment - and methodology - and it's by far the cheapest rig I have ever owned...
 
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Excellent thread idea.

I get what Sp8ctre says some instructors and / or other players teach or preach only their way of doing things.

I have always believed only practice produces results - regular and focused practice on skill drills, and fun noodling in the scale boxes and chord riffing.

Picking hand drills and MORE picking hand drills - for me anyway as a lefty playing right.
I have found Everything about the way I feel physically and emotionally affects my playing.

Looking back now the main mistakes I made were trying to learn something too advanced.
Pushing the envelope with something challenging is good, but the time would have been better spent on pieces more closely matching my skill level.

I never looked at gear making me better, other than learning to set up a guitar well.
Sometimes new gear or trying new settings or pedal chain order, or whatever, can add enthusiasm when I might feel a bit stale or frustrated.
 
Was trying to learn a song. Working with Tabs. Getting extremely frustrated. Watched a You Tube tutorial on the song I was trying to learn. The guy doing the video gave out some of the best advice I had heard. "Stop trying to sound like Pete. Get over it. Sound like you!." So..... picked up the guitar and played "Behind Blue Eyes" bumper to bumper, mistakes and all. Didn't stop. It felt really good.

Since then, I have continued working on the song. Have gotten decent at it.... and no... I don't sound like Pete.... not even close. I sound like me and I can live with that.
 
iblive said:
Was trying to learn a song. Working with Tabs. Getting extremely frustrated. Watched a You Tube tutorial on the song I was trying to learn. The guy doing the video gave out some of the best advice I had heard. "Stop trying to sound like Pete. Get over it. Sound like you!." So..... picked up the guitar and played "Behind Blue Eyes" bumper to bumper, mistakes and all. Didn't stop. It felt really good.

Since then, I have continued working on the song. Have gotten decent at it.... and no... I don't sound like Pete.... not even close. I sound like me and I can live with that.
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That's what I mean, just play your best for yourself with all your habits and nuances whether good or bad.

An interview I heard with David Gilmour brought this about for me. He was talking about the way he played and
how he didn't do things the "Prescribed" way and THAT is why he sounds like David Gilmour...
 
I’m gonna say something a little to the side of what’s being said.

That is, I’m really grateful for the things I’ve learned through participating in forums over the last several years.

Of course, practice is the single most important element. No doubt about it.

Yes, I’ve spent some money on things I wish I wouldn’t have, but that’s more due to YouTube videos than forums.

I have acquired more guitars due to forum influence, I suppose. But, each one really has a place. I don’t feel I’ve chased tone as much I’ve broadened my ability to get the various tones I like.

I like discovering new things. So, reading the discoveries others here have made doesn’t help me “capture my tone” as much as it excites me about the prospect of adding colors to the palette, as it were.

This is really the motivation, for example, behind my recent interest in Mesa, as inspired by @gball and @Hackmaster . I’m not dissatisfied with what I do now. But, their descriptions give me the interest in expanding the canvas. That is just one example. I’m not sure I would have become aware of the possibilities without something like a forum to virtually explore the space.
 
I think what I've learned over time, for my own use and happiness anyways, is there really is no "correct" or "right" way to write, play, listen to music, etc as long as your doing what you want to do. Of course if you want someone else to listen or pay you money, well, ya - lol...
 
I play things most would scoff at - or at the very least dismiss as junk - and I have a better tone than guys with gear costing twice as much as my rig...
 
smitty_p said:
This is really the motivation, for example, behind my recent interest in Mesa, as inspired by @gball and @Hackmaster . I’m not dissatisfied with what I do now. But, their descriptions give me the interest in expanding the canvas. That is just one example. I’m not sure I would have become aware of the possibilities without something like a forum to virtually explore the space.
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do it-- damn thing has ruined me for amps-- no interest-- -I was within a few FEET of several (G.C. -- Sam Ash AND DEAN FACTORY ) today -- I COULD have gone in and FONDLED all sorts of gear----didnt CARE!!!!!!!! I am ADDICTED to the Mesa...........its tone-- its subtle (or not) changes with just the SLIGHTEST touch of a knob-- its got MAGIC TONE BEANS IN IT!
 
eSGEe said:
do it-- damn thing has ruined me for amps-- no interest-- -I was within a few FEET of several (G.C. -- Sam Ash AND DEAN FACTORY ) today -- I COULD have gone in and FONDLED all sorts of gear----didnt CARE!!!!!!!! I am ADDICTED to the Mesa...........its tone-- its subtle (or not) changes with just the SLIGHTEST touch of a knob-- its got MAGIC TONE BEANS IN IT!
Click to expand...

You know it's really interesting to me how we all have such diverse tastes. What one loves and raves about another doesn't like and dismisses.

I have no love for the Mesa line. I tried one and never gelled with it. The same with my VOX AC15C1. Most people love that amp and I couldn't wait to get rid of mine...
 
Sp8ctre said:
You know it's really interesting to me how we all have such diverse tastes. What one loves and raves about another doesn't like and dismisses.

I have no love for the Mesa line. I tried one and never gelled with it. The same with my VOX AC15C1. Most people love that amp and I couldn't wait to get rid of mine...
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Ha! Try being a member of The Immoral Minority with a Line 6!!!!
 
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