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Posted by: Daniel Robinson Sep 19 2008, 04:45 PM

I have seen alot of threads lately here and other places i go about people feeling discouraged when they compare themselves to others.

It seems these topics seem to come in waves...but i digress.


Playing guitar, or any instrument for that matter is a personal journey, we may share our experiences and try to gauge our playing against others. But its like comparing apples and oranges.

If every guitarist gave up because they heard someone they perceived to be better than them the world would have a handful of guitar players...boring.

Just because you don't have the technical skills you want doesnt mean you don't have something to contribute to music. Technical skills come with time and effort, but there are things that you do right now that cannot be duplicated by anyone, no matter how masterfully gifted they are.

I know especially here alot of people idolize Muris, we all love Muris and watching and hearing him play can you make you feel inadequate with your skills. Does that mean that you can't acheive success as a player? I certainly hope not. Muris is where he is because he spent alot of time behind the guitar. The reason for it sucks of course "War".

This doesnt take away from the fact though that the hours and hours that were spent everyday honing his skills.

Tony Macalpine in an interview pretty much said the same thing, it has to be a labor of love when he was younger he said he had to give up his social life, instead of going to the party on Friday night, or going to concerts and all that he gave all that up to spend more time honing his craft. You have to want it that bad that you shut down everything else and just dedicate yourself to music. In alot of ways playing guitar is a lifestyle, its not a 9 to 5 proposistion.

As far as your skills go, just because you aren't where you would like to be doesnt mean that you are inadequate to make a contribution to the world of music.

Let's say that you write a song, and Muris did a cover of it. Sure i bet he could play it note for note, emulate all the little nuiances in it etc. and so forth. But the fact of the matter is no matter how hard he tried, he would still sound like Muris. He wouldnt sound like Daniel, or Joe, or Ivan or anyone else here for that matter.

You have to learn to embrace the fact that you are a unique individual, technical skills are only part of the equation, there are in fact things you were never taught that just came naturally that no one can perfectly duplicate. It could be as simple as tone even.

A good example of this in my own experience, i was building a patch on my GNX, trying to get a specific sound i was looking for, my bass player/ keyboard player came by. He likes things to have a really bright sound, he was dogging me cause all my patches have a really dark quality to them. So i decided to let him try and fix it the way he wanted cause i was curious.

He picked up my guitar and started to play on the same patch with the same settings etc....as soon as he sounded a few notes it was actually too bright sounding. Something about his fingers, how he picks who knows. It was my patch and it still sounded like him. The patch i made was already "Bright" but the way i play has a darker sound to it.

You are unique, don't forget that, it could be tone, it could be vibrato, it could be note choice it could be alot of things. Just don't give up because you perceive something is wrong with it, bringing your technical skills to where you want them is just time and effort. But the "What" that makes you you has always been there just refine it and let the world enjoy You!


Daniel

Posted by: fatb0t Sep 19 2008, 04:58 PM

Very profound.
"Sometimes you want to give up the guitar, you'll hate the guitar. But if you stick with it, you're gonna be rewarded." - Hendrix

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Sep 19 2008, 05:05 PM

I agree with you Daniel

When you are younger you need idols , as you grow up you eventually improve and create your own style which you pursue for the rest of your life.

Cool post !

Posted by: RIP Dime Sep 19 2008, 05:21 PM

I agree, music is art, not a competition.

Posted by: Skyla°Lit Sep 19 2008, 05:21 PM

Amazing post, Daniel! So so very very true

I'd also say to those that can't help but compare themselves to others every now and then that a stronger person perceives "perfect" as an encouraging challenge, a weaker person perceives "perfect" as a discouraging personal defeat.

Not mentioning that the "perfect" part is an illusion in itself...

Just make a choice to be the strong one once the decision is made

Posted by: skennington Sep 19 2008, 05:50 PM

Very inspiring post as always Daniel. I've always thought of musicians like physician's, their always practicing! Always room for improvement! Never known a doctor to really compare themselves to another. Of course, some are better than others, but each brings something different to the table.

Posted by: Fran Sep 19 2008, 06:45 PM

Good reading! I agree, music is not a competition by any means. Good post Daniel

Edit: typo

Posted by: JVM Sep 19 2008, 07:00 PM

Good post Daniel. But I would warn anyone from letting their guitar playing affect their social lives that much You should have plenty of time to practice and still go to the show or hang out with your friends. Maybe sometimes you should focus on practicing, but music is communication and what do you really have that is worth communicating if you're cooped up in your room practicing all day? Better yet, go put ON a show, or even go out to the park with your friends and bring an acoustic.

But it does take practice and thats all there is to it.

Posted by: sigma7 Sep 19 2008, 07:05 PM

i agree...you are very wise Daniel Robinson

Posted by: Canis Sep 19 2008, 08:30 PM

Yet another brilliant advice from you, Daniel ^^
And so true. Find your own style, and don't be "The Next Kirk Hammet", for example..

Personally, I get motivated by people that's better then me. When I see the Muris, Kristofer, David, either of the Marcuses.. or any of the instructors here, I say to myself: "Yes! Yes! Give me more! Play something sick!"

Posted by: Scott Gentzen Sep 19 2008, 11:43 PM

I haven't touched my guitar in 2 weeks now. I needed that quote.

Daniel's post is pretty inspirational too, but comparing myself to others isn't really my problem. I know there's always going to be someone better than me and I'm ok with that. I'm just hard on myself when everything I do sounds like crap. I get better when I practice, I just need to keep practicing.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Sep 20 2008, 12:18 AM

Great advices and thoughts Daniel,thanks!!

Tho I would add that sometimes it IS good to compare
yourself with other players,good players of course.
Not to realize how bad are you eventually
but to get more motivation to practice/play
and to learn some new stuff.
And as the time goes,you'll find your own signature and
way to express your music thoughts and ideas.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Sep 20 2008, 12:51 AM

Great post Daniel, a very nice story, I like it a lot. Individuality and character is crucial for becoming a good musician. Also relationship to music and instrument is crucial, and people feel that.

Posted by: SensE Sep 20 2008, 01:08 AM

very well said. Time and effort are the enemy, no one else.

Posted by: Jose Mena Sep 20 2008, 02:54 AM

Great words, although watching others gives me a little push, but I agree at the end it doesn't matter that you can't play a Steve Vai song note for note, you can still create great music and contribute to the guitar world with your own sound

Posted by: Guitarman700 Sep 20 2008, 03:00 AM

thanks Daniel, i REALLY needed to hear that. ive been down about my playing lately, but your words were very inspiring. Thank you.

Posted by: Danilo Capezzuto Sep 20 2008, 09:54 AM

You Daniel...you...have just wrote a piece of music bible. I agree with you, one of the best treads ever! Chapeau!

Posted by: holoshreder Sep 20 2008, 12:54 PM

Daniel
you have no idea how this thread just helped me

thx mate

Posted by: Eat-Sleep-andJam Sep 20 2008, 01:27 PM

May I first say that Daniel raises a brilliant point, thankyou for the wonderful thread

I do agree with Muris here. When I first got my guitar, my buddy did aswell. I saw that he started getting better then me and I got motivated to get better then him. ( He was playing some Cream pretty early.) So without that motivation of having to compete, I wouldnt be where I am now.

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Sep 20 2008, 08:44 PM

Great post Daniel - thanks!

I look at it like this - you should be happy when you have come to the point that you want to put the guitar down. Everybody has been/will be there, and it just means that you have your chance to prove that you are more persistent than others. And that will give you an advantage.

In the end it's the persistent who wins.

Posted by: Nemanja Filipovic Sep 20 2008, 09:06 PM

Great text Daniel,and I agree all the way.So many times when I was on shows I heard singers that sing like I never could,but this just makes me want to practice more and make my self happy.My voice is my own,and ,my style is my style.I will do my best to contribute as best as I can.

Posted by: Alex87 Sep 20 2008, 09:07 PM

This is the best topic i ever read. Thanks Daniel, you have a very good way to explain things. I just got out of a "down" period myself, so it's good to hear these words Thanks man!

Alex

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Sep 22 2008, 05:31 PM

Couldn't have said it any better, I absolutely agree with Daniel.

Posted by: GuitarsANDtattoos Sep 23 2008, 06:28 PM

This is a great piece of advice to be sure, just keep slogging away. Some day's you're on, some you're not so on, but it's normal. I go up and down all the time. I think its analogous to life in general.

Posted by: kjutte Sep 24 2008, 06:57 PM

Personally I learnt to shred becuase I loved the sound of others doing it, so I kind of disagree.
However I strongly think that you should love the way to the top, not just the top.

The journey's the best part!

Posted by: Daniel Robinson Sep 25 2008, 05:57 AM

I am certainly not saying you shouldnt look to others for inspiration, if i want to learn how to play like Ynqwie, i listen to Yngwie etc...


The whole point though is never get caught in a place in your mind where you feel inadequate, striving for perfection on the guitar is a long long battle there are still things all of us can and want to learn its a matter of focus.


Thinking you are not cut out for it because someone beat you in a "Guitar battle" for example. Thats ridiculous thinking. Just because i can't play like Steve Vai, doesnt mean i can't be on the same stage as him metaphorically speaking.

As i said, there are things all of you do that makes you unique, nobody can take that from you...develop it....hone it...master it...share it. Music has enough room for anyone willing to give it enough time and effort.

Certainly your level of success may differ than someone else, but that doesnt mean your not important. Always remember that.


Daniel