Sometimes I hate being me. Im a guy that if Im not really using an ability I dont do it.

Meaning I work in IT all day, Im around computers and dorking out playing my PS3 because Im around that stuff all day.

I have been in many bands in my time but now Im gonna be 36, "Making it" like Emir, Muris or Ivan band has been thrown out to the way side for me cause I feel im too old with 2 kids yada yada yada...

I quit the church band I was playing in and now I have a bunch of equipment downstairs that can really sit there for all I care. I sorta lost a desire to get on a track to get to shredsville where I want to live.
Does I really need to shred? Do I really need to play?

I can never enjoy something just out of fun. I feel like time is being wasted if Im not putting something to practical use.

Is this a OCD ADHD type behaviour? Do I need to seek medical attention? LOL

Im not going to quit playing. I just have a hard time focusing on something that when eventually I get there (if I get there) what will I use this for?

No you don't need to be a permanent resident of shredsville. I practice speed quite often but as of late a lot of my lead and solo playing has been more laid back, melodic and "epic" sounding. But every once in awhile it just is necessary. I spent the time learning so that when I do need it, I won't be frustrated cause I never took an hour or two out of my day during practice to learn it.

As for practical use, Who knows? You won't know for sure until your writing that one song that needs it!

You are right my friend.... I gotta stop taking guitar playing so seriously and just have fun with it.

My honest opinion - shred is the most impressing and jaw dropping thing, for 10 seconds before it gets old

Every teenager today can shred like a jedi master fighting for youtube glory. I'm convinced you will have much more fun and probably much more success writing cool riffs, melodies and lyrics.


Yngwie and Tony MacAlpine have a few of these ingredients besides shred ability and my hats off to those two. But in general one has to realize that to make it as shredder you have to be one in a milion. As a song writer or local happening your odds are better

Just have fun

P.S I couldn't shred my way out of a paper bag and I'm proud of it

In my case I just want to be able to play the music I like. Good thing that I'm not really into shred music but even then my lack of speed stops me from playing many songs I love. That's why I try to improve my speed but it takes ages

Speed is needed when You wanna express Yourself, and to express is to play fast at that certain situation. After all, You can't just play some blues sounding bends in a speed metal solo. But for me music should be the goal, not the shredding

i couldnt agree more, i am years away from being as fast as some of these you tube kids but i know it will come, i dont want recognition and/or fame.
i am 35 this year with 2 kids, stressful job and masters studies on top of that; i just wanna play the guitar to relax and have fun, and if when things calm down a bit i start playing in a band again then great (havnt done since i was fifteen but who knows).
so keep playing and enjoy it for what it is.

Well, I'm 45 and never wanted to be a shredder, even that I may can learn it - but that means that i have to put all song-writing, jamming, playing my beloved blues/jazz on the side, because I won't have time to anything else than practice. Personally I prefer players that have an unique sound/touch to the instrument as well as great song-writing skills. These YouTube kids really scares me, since they can play a Satriani solo while drinking a coke and whistles at the same time - but when it comes down to play a 12-bar blues with some emotion, it just sounds ape. In general, I think the players of today are too much focused on technique rather than to deliver something that is musically interesting. Also, I agree to what all the other guy's says here: Have fun, thats what music is for!!!!

//Staffay

Why Do We Do It?

We do it because:-
we love the sound of guitar
we love music
its a challenge
to relax
we like making a big noise
to stretch ourselves
to annoy the wife
to play songs for our kids
its cool
guitar hero sucks
its exciting
its fun
we want to be rock stars
its better than watching tv
we want to shred
we got the blues

Hey Opeth there are a million reasons for playing guitar, we might not all make it as rock stars but there is still a lot of fun and enjoyment to be had just by playing or if you want to stretch yourself by getting to the best standard possible. I suck on guitar I will never be a rockstar am older than you but I pay every chance I get because I still get a thrill every time I play a riff or note that I think sounds cool or like my favourite songs and guitarists. Staffy is right too much focus on technique isnt necessary, much better to enjoy what you dom, have a goal if you need it but most of all just enjoy what you do.



Can anyone add to my list!

i agree with you staffy, im 16 and the first thing i wanted to do when i picked up the guitar was shred like a mad man!!!! but now im not too interested in playing super fast!! dont get me wrong i like fast playing but its not a big thing for me anymore. my other guitar friends at school are all absorbed in wanting to play fast and im just a guitarist that likes to have fun while playing and not practice hours and hours going over millions of somewhat boring excercise like they do. so i can agree some players today are too interested in technique

For this, you have earned a special place on the GOOD list.

There's absolutely zero emphasis on transmitting emotion through the instrument once a person decides that speed is important. With no instructor to remind a new player, how does he know that he's not making music? I've met folks shredding like crazy on detuned and intentionally de-intonated guitars; guy thought he was playing arpeggios. I say "they were when the guitar was in tune," but the availability of information without advice these days allows entire generations to overlook some important concepts.

We all get those moments here and there. Just take a break, and reunite with the instrument after a while, it will be OK. You won't loose any skills, they are all still there with couple of days of practice. What you should try is just found out what you like with music and playing guitar on a fundamental level. This will drive you to take guitar again.

Look at David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. He wasn't/isn't a "shredder" by any means. He knows he isn't a fast player. He just (in my opinion) always loved guitar and music and just put his character into his writing and playing. So I don't think you should be too concerned about what you're going to do with guitar or shredding, just play what feels good to you.

I know my input doesn't carry near as much weight as Ivan and the rest of the crew but that's my just my 2 cents

I totally agree with that....

I have been playing for some years now and even tho I am only 23 years old I never wanted to be a Shredder. I love guitar with a lot of emotions. And as earman sayed it previously David Gilmour is IMO one of the greatest guitar player.. Jimi Hendrix is also another great example...

Very good topic. I kindda relate to this and the similarities are striking. Wont discuss about shredding or any other technique coz the root cause lies somewhere else.

I have played in a band too and done the whole rockstar thing with gigs etc. Honestly speaking, it wasnt putting enough food on the table unfortunately. Being a realist, I quit playing completely and focussed on building a corporate career (yes IT) for 6-8 years as i had the education to go with it. But it always troubled me that I had stopped playing, so when i picked it up again, I realized how much time I had wasted and now somehow regret it. Especially since I had to start from the basics and had a moutain to climb again. But I wouldve probably gone broke if I wouldve continued.

No, I wont come close to the talents of Satriani, or any of the guitar idols with the amount of time I spend practising.... No, I wont make any money or career out of it (unfortunately) ... No, I have absolutely no clue what I'm gonna do once I attain that shred speeds, there will always be new techniqies and skills to conquer.... so why do it? Well for me, it is to stay sane. After living a mechanical life of work, eat, poop, sleep (repeat), When I pick up the guitar, I forget about everthing. And it makes me more human and puts a sense of purpose. It's exactly like meditation. The competitive/goal-setting nature (inherited from the corporate lifestyle) does interfere here where I set goals to improve and THAT is when the frustration creeps in. But thats the only way to improve. But we are discussing .. Why improve?



I am exactly like that .. but slowly trying to change and evolve.. i used to also think that its all waste of time if I'm not putting it to practical use. To be honest, I still do at times. But it's at those times that I have to remind myself what really is important? To 'benefit' from this skill or to be 'feel content and satisfied' with this skill. No money or stardom can beat the inner peace or satisfaction attained via this form of meditation (atleast to some). We have a short lifespan and there is only so much one can achieve, enjoy each moment rather than waiting to enjoy when you reach THAT stage in say 'shredville' ?




A brilliant question. Coz even if you reach there, you will not be content, thats the way the human mind works .. never content. There will be another quest or desire that will keep you unhappy or longing for more. And that's the way we are programmed, so to speak. It's only when you start raising questions like you've just raised that we start questionig that programming and hence clarity sets in. Another defect in the way of human thinking is that we want everything. We want family, kids, money AND a professional rockstar career in music... We dont want to sacrifice anything. We want it all .. But in reality, a lot of sacrifice is needed if one wants something THAT bad. And this fact is evident in the biographies of a lot of brilliant people.

My answer (and this is strictly about me) to that question is that I wont 'use' the skills gained for anything. I'll probably be a better person while learning that skill and enjoy the journey. And also spending my time to the best of my judgements. Coz I'm a student for life.

Hope this helps.

Wow Zen.. THanks for that.

Im a mental case sometimes. LOL.

If someone told me this sentence before I would have probably argue. Now when I realised what the real life is, and especially here in London, I would agree with this as this is happening to me right now. I am not practicing guitar at all just because it can't get me enough work for living - therefore I say I am losing time. Maybe it's not well defined that the time is completely wasted (you still have some happiness and fun which is important) but I am slowly losing that awesome feeling when playing for fun. Could be that I've changed a lot in this crazy environment. However don't stop completely. You never know what might come up.