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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Your Guitar Playing Level
Posted by: Col Roberts Nov 13 2008, 09:50 AM
Just thought it would be interesting to see the numbers for each of these categories for GMC students only (not instructors, just us mere mortals). Rate yourself based on the levels of GMC lessons you have learned or attempted. I'll rate myself a Beginner/Intermediate. Poll will close Friday, November 21.
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Nov 13 2008, 10:06 AM
Where is the poll 
Posted by: Emir Hot Nov 13 2008, 10:06 AM
I don't see a forum poll 
I would click intermediate with some advanced touches
Posted by: Col Roberts Nov 13 2008, 10:15 AM
Aaagh!! The poll disappeared when I corrected a typo. It has now been restored.
Posted by: DeepRoots Nov 13 2008, 10:16 AM
I would click intermediate with some advanced touchesHaha..then Emir...you need to re-evaluate your own playing
You're definitely advanced man, take my word for it (from the other side of the scale here
)
Posted by: superize Nov 13 2008, 10:22 AM
I would say i am intermidiet
Posted by: Canis Nov 13 2008, 10:23 AM
You're definitely advanced man, take my word for it (from the other side of the scale here
)Hehe, I agree
Emir is definetly advanced ^^I'm considering myself as a Intermediate.. And there is a whole planet between your playing and mine, Emir
Posted by: Col Roberts Nov 13 2008, 10:26 AM
I would click intermediate with some advanced touchesIf you're an Intermediate, Emir, then I must be .... what's the category before Beginner???? By the way, I intended this poll for GMC students, not instructors. I've tried to make that a little clearer in the poll.
Cheers.
Posted by: edguy Nov 13 2008, 10:34 AM
My playing is getting more and more worse becaus of a lack of time to practice. So i vote for beginner:)
I tried palying Blackened by Metallica last week oh man fast downstrokes no way to play at the moment:)
And i tried diffrent AP licks and exercises and no chance to get it up to speed i went defnetly down in the level:)
Edguy
Posted by: Emir Hot Nov 13 2008, 10:34 AM
hehe, I voted Intermediate-Advanced. I see nobody clicked advanced yet.
The thing is how I see an advanced player. For me it's not only a technical issue. As long as I find some players almost "untouchable", I would consider myself intermediate. Those don't have to be a famous stars. I think I still have to learn a lot.
Posted by: Col Roberts Nov 13 2008, 10:53 AM
The thing is how I see an advanced player. For me it's not only a technical issue. As long as I find some players almost "untouchable", I would consider myself intermediate. Those don't have to be a famous stars. I think I still have to learn a lot.
In my eyes (and ears) Emir, and within the GMC community, you are certainly an advanced player. Perhaps, I should have added another category after Advanced ... perhaps "Instructor Material" (I'm too scared to edit the poll now - it may disappear again). Anyway, as I mentioned before I really intended the poll for us mere mortals, the GMC students. The results may be useful for the instructors.
Cheers.
Posted by: Emir Hot Nov 13 2008, 11:08 AM
Cheers.
Sorry mate I didn't want to interrupt the voting
I thought anyone can vote.If you asked me to vote 10 years ago I think I would press the same button as now. I am also sure that the same would happen in the next 10 years. If you ever get to this point where everybody think of you as an advanced player then you might remember what I meant. You will probably find your self somewhere there but you'll never be sure 100% if you are really one of those advanced ones
I hope you understand
Posted by: Gus Nov 13 2008, 11:24 AM
I put intermediate-advanced, because I can play a few advanced things, but I also have major technique lacks.
But then I read the thread, and if Emir is "intermediate-advanced", I cannot be even intermediate...
Guys like Emir, Muris, Gabriel, Ivan, etc I would put on a level beyond advanced if there were this option on the poll...
Probably no one or few people will vote advanced for himself, but from collabs I would say that some guys like Smells, Tolek and Tchjep are in there, in the advanced club.
Posted by: Col Roberts Nov 13 2008, 11:31 AM
I thought anyone can vote.If you asked me to vote 10 years ago I think I would press the same button as now. I am also sure that the same would happen in the next 10 years. If you ever get to this point where everybody think of you as an advanced player then you might remember what I meant. You will probably find your self somewhere there but you'll never be sure 100% if you are really one of those advanced ones
I hope you understand
No worries, Emir. I should have made it clearer in the poll originally. My first poll, so it's a learning process.
Keep rockin'.
Posted by: Marek Rojewski Nov 13 2008, 12:04 PM
Well it all depends on how we view ourselves. I voted beginner-intermediate because beginner for me is a person that just started playing the instrument, maybe know basic chords, how to play smoke on the water, and not much more. But I could as well put myself in the beginner category, as I don't know so many things, that reaching intermediate level for me will take few years. I take into account many different things, as for example I can play some difficulty 5 lessons, but I couldn't create such melodies now, and I don't know the theory behind those pieces of music. Also in some techniques I am on difficulty level 2-3 etc.etc. I excepted that Emir or one of the other master guitarists from GMC will not vote advanced, because it always works as this: "the more You know how to play, the more You know how much there is still to learn".. Years ago if I would see some of the lessons I learned already I would think "wow if I would play that kind of stuff one day, I would truly rock". Now I see other, more advanced lessons and think the same thing
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Nov 13 2008, 12:10 PM
I put beginner-intermediate. I'm intermediate in a lot of areas and beginner in a lot of others. But I'm pretty rubbish and useless on the whole to be honest.
Posted by: edguy Nov 13 2008, 12:20 PM
I feel the same. If someone would say to me play something i think i had no idea what to play and then when i start playing he would think "man he is bad:)". I can play so many things but i have not the feeling to say he i am good:)
Posted by: Mr T Nov 13 2008, 01:30 PM
Same here. Even though I've been at it for quite some time now.
Posted by: Frank Nov 13 2008, 02:02 PM
I vote my self to the very beginning:) .I been a beginner 25 yrs ago and looks like i must a love this level. I’m still hanging there .I hope not fore a long time. I still have time until I age to about 80 . I figure I can become a rock star by than.
Posted by: Pedja Simovic Nov 13 2008, 02:10 PM
This is funny
I consider myself intermediate and advance level.
I have some things that I need to work on in order to be totally satisfied with my voice in music
Posted by: Noangels Nov 13 2008, 02:59 PM
I dont think any player here would vote advanced for themself(and after voting myself I can see they havnt)as Emir said the better you get the more you look at other peoples playing and think how on earth can they do that!Then when you can do that there will always be others who can out music you
Personly Emir(and a few other instructors here-Muris)sound pretty advanced to me.Emir can do Vinnie Moores tracks very well and that guitarist is a god to many!SO emir is advanced to most musicians out there,but I can see his logic and its good to see great musicians here with their feet firmly on the floor knowing that no matter how good they are now they can get better over the years and the musical goals change as you aproach them
Posted by: Bondy Nov 13 2008, 03:17 PM
I voted Beginner Intermediate
Posted by: JVM Nov 13 2008, 03:32 PM
I feel like I'm intermediate. Both in terms of my technical ability, and my ability to improvise. I owe it all to GMC, too. Songwriting/composition is another thing entirely, and I think thats much less measurable.
Posted by: Pi38 Nov 13 2008, 03:37 PM
Same here. I've been playing almost two years, but the first one was self taught, and I didn't improve very much at all.
I would click intermediate with some advanced touchesUm, Emir, you're pretty much the king of guitar. I'd say your passed advanced.
Posted by: TheOldOnes Nov 13 2008, 03:41 PM
It's pretty interesting to try to put yourself into a category particularly for beginner to intermediate players particularly as a motivating factor. The biggest problem I find though is that for many guitar techniques, I would consider myself a beginner but somethings I do well to be considered intermediate. What I find is that the more advanced the material, the longer it takes for me to learn. Most beginner stuff (rating of 3 or less) I find I can't do well immediately but after a few days, I pretty much have them down. Lessons with rating of 4 I can usually do in a week or two and above that, it takes me a month or more to get if at all.
Posted by: Pi38 Nov 13 2008, 03:45 PM
I have the same kind of thing going on, TheOldOnes; I have some things that I can do at an intermediate or maybe even advanced level, but other things that I play like a beginner. For instance, I can play Muris' Paul Gilbert Style Lesson (an advanced lesson), at least moderately well, (I had to tweak a few things) and then on some intermediate level lessons, I can't play them at all.
Posted by: Capt.Z Nov 13 2008, 03:46 PM
I said intermediate advanced... but now I think I should take it back...
It puts me WWWAAAAYYYY to close to looking like muris and emir
Posted by: Praetorian Nov 13 2008, 03:50 PM
Beginner here. Just completed the Beginner Mentor Program (MTP) but still don't consider myself Intermediate yet!
Posted by: Fran Nov 13 2008, 04:10 PM
I voted Beginner-Intermediate, and if any I guess I'm more of beginner than intermnediate, one day I'll get there, but I'm having a blast in the meantime
Posted by: Paiva Nov 13 2008, 05:38 PM
I voted Beginner-Intermediate because I think I have an Intermediate understand of music theory and I can play jazz standarts that need a bit of interpretation skills but when it comes technique like Alternate Picking and more fast picking I'm still beginner I just played with my fingers since I started playing guitar even when I bought an electric I continued to play with my fingers now I started to practice with a pick and it's going extremely well thanks to GMC lessons!
Posted by: Disturbed21 Nov 13 2008, 05:38 PM
Beginner-Intermediate. Still trying to iron out problems with my playing and trying to get rid of weaknesses (Like trying and failing to play raining blood and Sweep picking 
)
Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Nov 13 2008, 05:56 PM
Mmmm, I don't know what I have to vote...Could be an Intermediate-Advanced...I don't know.
I think the poll has to give an example of each level with a video or audio example.
Or maybe a little description on the topics that each level can manage.
Posted by: Noangels Nov 13 2008, 10:55 PM
I think the 2 people who have voted advanced for themself have to prove it!lol
Posted by: berko Nov 13 2008, 11:19 PM
Surely. But it might be that they didn't read the thread first about Pedja and Emir rating themselves. I voted Beginner-Intermed, but only after measuring myself in my head to vote for the one that suits me.
Sometimes I feel like wow, i'm rocking advanced because I could finally play f#phrygian-bminor solo from Gabriel which is a bit more shreddy stuff at level 7 but then again I suck at Muris's fusion lessons and Ivan's uncomparable phrasing. So I almost clicked intermed-advanced but luckily I was more careful after all.
Posted by: Gus Nov 14 2008, 01:16 AM
I think the poll has to give an example of each level with a video or audio example.
Or maybe a little description on the topics that each level can manage.
Yes. I absolutely agree. Every person has a different idea of what means beginner, intermediate and advanced.
I mean. If one just look at the mass of guitar players that just know to strum a few chords and play 3-4 songs I am quite sure that almost no one in GMC can rate himself/herself as beginner.
If one, on the other hand, reserve the advanced word for guys like Steve Vai, Gus G or Yngwie Malmsteen, then most people would hardly consider themselves beyond intermediate.
Posted by: FrankW Nov 14 2008, 01:27 AM
If Emir considers himself intermediate, then I am smelly...very smelly...
Actually, Emir and Muris are advanced players for sure. Emir is being humble. Both of these guys are world class good. There will always be someone who is better, or who simply plays differently style-wise.
Steve Morse constantly carries on about how good Eric Johnson is. Eric Johnson thinks Scotty Anderson is a monster. They play differently, yet are all monsters.
You can reach a level of technical ability where you can really rip, and may be a master at a certain style(s). But there will always be another who is a master of a different style that you feel you can learn from. That doesn't necessarily make him better, just different. Even a player who plays in the same style as you will play something interesting to you. Everyone is as different as their own personalities.
Muris and Emir can shred with the best of them.
Compared to them...I am smelly...
Posted by: skennington Nov 14 2008, 01:42 AM
Voted myself as still beginner. Not absolute, but feel I still fit this category. I think every player can find some area of their playing that they feel needs work. I would like to think that there is always room for improvement..
Posted by: Guitar1969 Nov 14 2008, 01:42 AM
I feel I am intermediate to the rest of world, but beginner-intermediate on GMC- I get stumped on even the simplest of Muris' lessons and quite a few of the GMC lessons catagorized as beginner(level 3 and under)
Posted by: g-forcelover Nov 14 2008, 03:12 AM
this all depends on what advanced is. truly advanced at guitar would mean that you are advanced in all main styles of music. Eddie Van Halen is probably not advanced, I don't think he's mastered soul, death metal, or neo-classical. Same goes for Angus Young, Jimmy Page, etc. So there might not even be a truly advanced player in the world. But in shredding, some like Muris and Emir are advanced, and in blues Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn are advanced.
Posted by: Emir Hot Nov 14 2008, 03:14 AM
good point
Posted by: FrankW Nov 14 2008, 03:40 AM
There are many levels of even advanced players. A true guitar master would be one who is advanced in all guitar styles, and there may even be one or two of those guys around, but I seriously doubt it. The closest you'll come to that is a first call studio guitarist who must play any number of styles convincingly.
But to master even one particular style can take a lifetime. The thing is, a players' player will tell you that he has lots more to learn. Allan Holdsworth is constantly critiquing his playing, as is Eric Johnson. These guys will never tell you they have mastered the guitar. But are they advanced? They're beyond advanced!
Eddie Van Halen was not only advanced, he was groundbreaking. Can he play like Yngwie? No. Can Yngwie play like him? No. Everyone has their own individual style, advanced or not.
There is a difference between being an advanced player and being a guitar master.
There are plenty of advanced players here at GMC, and Muris, Emir, Zsolt, and Marcus are but a few.
Posted by: coffeeman Nov 14 2008, 03:41 AM
I would click intermediate with some advanced touchesIf thats true Im an absolute beginner.
Posted by: Emir Hot Nov 14 2008, 04:08 AM
Yes I have advanced technique. But advanced player is not only that. I can technicaly play almost anything with some practice. I also have a very good theory knowledge. But I will consider myself as an advanced player when I master high standard jazz concept. I am slowly getting into that stuff. When I manage to mix that style and technique I have then I can say "that's it". The good example is Frank Gambale. There is nothing strange for him on the gutar. He rules the instrument. In my case I can still see that the instrument can be my boss which is not always a pleasant feeling. This is just the way I see things.
Posted by: FrankW Nov 14 2008, 04:17 AM
I understand what you're saying, Emir. As I've said before, I consider the jazz/rock fusion players to be state of the art. I'm talking about Allan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale, Greg Howe, Brett Garsed, Guthrie Govan, John Scofield, Mike Stern...fusion players.
You've got to have a really advanced harmonic concept of music to play like that. These guys sound like saxophone players at times. They are playing outside with speed and accuracy. I will consider myself there when I can play like that.
Posted by: jdriver Nov 14 2008, 04:29 AM
I would click intermediate with some advanced touchesIf you are intermediate, then I am still a beginner since 2 previous reincarnations.
I've seen a video of you and Muris on Youtube that proves you've both sold your souls to the devil.
That is so very true. When I began this journey to playing, I always thought "if I could play like that guy (favorite player here), I would feel god-like in my ability." After I actually started learning something, I understood completely, that even if I could play like Emir, Muris, or any of our other greats, I would never be able to forget the years of hard practice, and how much was yet to be learned. That will always keep us humble about our own abilities.
That being said, I vote myself beginner-intermediate, because I don't yet play many "riffs", I do know very well both diatonic and pentatonic scales and modes, and can "play along" with anything I hear. I guess that's more like an intermediate beginner.
Posted by: coffeeman Nov 14 2008, 04:36 AM
The thing with this kind of questions is that is totally relative to the person who is answering it. There is not and absolute truth about it , in your case , the way I see it I think you are an advanced player, I would like to play like you, and maybe the day I will be able to play like you I will think the exact way you are thinking today, that Im an intermediate player. So as Einstein said: "Everything is relative , it all dependes on the point of view of the observer".
In any case Im a beginner(one of these days I'll be an intermediate/advanced player as you) and you rock!
Posted by: Emir Hot Nov 14 2008, 05:12 AM
In any case Im a beginner(one of these days I'll be an intermediate/advanced player as you) and you rock!
I agree 100%. I am sure you wouldn't think much different if you get to the point where I am now.
Everything is relative , it all dependes on the point of view of the observer.
this is a very cool one. The experiment with 2 trains, light and the mirror
edit: sorry it was 1 train
p.s. I can see we have 4 advanced players in the poll. We're actually not doing bad here
Posted by: Col Roberts Nov 14 2008, 07:36 AM
Wow, it's amazing how these threads develop. I was only thinking of these categories in the context of the GMC community, and based on the levels of GMC lessons you could play. I wasn't considering theory knowledge, comparisons with famous guitarists or the theory of relativity. It just shows how specific you have to be when conducting a poll.
Posted by: kyldeee Nov 14 2008, 08:56 AM
I would say Intermediate...
Posted by: Noangels Nov 14 2008, 09:39 AM
I think being advanced in Jazz rock/fusion/blues/country/neoclassical would be a goal many guitarists aspire too:)
Posted by: Gus Nov 14 2008, 10:03 AM
I understand and admire how people are being humble in this thread.
But, I still think it is much more accurate to look on what you accomplished so far than the way you still have to go. There will always be some incredible guys to look at and realize there is still a long path to go.
Example in other area: Anyone who got a M. Sc or PhD degree knows that the more you study the more clear it becomes the amount of things you don't know. There will always be the authority on your field of study or the nobel prize winner when you look forward. But if you go for statistics, 1% of US population has a PhD and much less in other countries. So how can one not say someone who has a PhD is advanced in studies?
Coming back to guitar, someone who is within the 1% of population of guitar players in the world in terms of technique, theory knowledge, etc, is definitely advanced. Then just remember of the huge amount of people who plays just a couple of songs in guitar, and one can see that according to this criteria we have much more advanced players here at GMC than this poll tells us
Posted by: SonofDestiny Nov 14 2008, 10:20 AM
What makes one an advanced guitar player?
I think the only aspect of measuring that is by having a huge theory quiz and an aural test. The rest is pure subjectivity. I mean, sometimes people even think that guy from Green Day is a 'great' guitarist... which I really doubt. That guy from Fall Out Boy, idolized, but really sloppy playing. Yngwie Malmsteen, people around here couldn't care less if he played 1000 notes per second, while everyone on here would almost immediately offer themselves to be his loyal servants (which he wouldn't mind judging from his attitude in his vids, I think ).
Posted by: kaznie_NL Nov 14 2008, 06:44 PM
I would click intermediate with some advanced touchesNAaah.. you're advance for sure
Posted by: kjutte Nov 15 2008, 07:15 PM
I would click intermediate with some advanced touchespfft!!!
Posted by: kjutte Nov 15 2008, 07:59 PM
Completely agree!
Posted by: Jad Diab Nov 15 2008, 08:10 PM
The thing is how I see an advanced player. For me it's not only a technical issue. As long as I find some players almost "untouchable", I would consider myself intermediate. Those don't have to be a famous stars. I think I still have to learn a lot.
Completely agree with you ! I think the day, we think we're advanced it means we have nothing left to learn. And it's better to say that you're intermediate (and if you're advanced people will notice it when you play)
Posted by: Raph Nov 15 2008, 08:22 PM
An advanced player doesn't just mean he can play 1000 per millisecond. An advanced player is someone who has mastered all parts of his instrument. Take Yngwie for example. Just because he can play really fast doesn't mean he's an advanced guitarist. It's the fact that he transcribed Pagiani pieces for the guitar or the fact that he would know and F#b5M713 arpeggio across the fretboard. An advanced guitarist in my opinion is someone who has mastered every aspect if his instrument and not just the impressive stuff.
Posted by: kjutte Nov 15 2008, 08:29 PM
I believe we have different aspects of being advanced. Yngwie has a great ear, great technique. Not a great creativity though, but sometimes. Generally speaking, we can say he is really advanced.
However, I get what you mean.
Posted by: ItsMe Nov 15 2008, 08:50 PM
I guess an advanced player is a better judge when it comes to the level of his playing. He knows better what the overall limits are and what are possible goals he will reach or not. Like Emir said it's all relative and depends on your own experience but the more you learn and interact with other musicians the easier it is to determine your level relative to other players. And as it was stated a couple of times already you can be good in one thing but pretty behind in other things but you learn more about yourself through interaction with other players. Thats why GMC is so valuable on many levels. It allows beginners and advanced players alike to interact, reference and explore new territory. An example:
I just uploaded something for the http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=11203 and then listened back to it to determine the level of playing I'm at. I thought ok harmony and scale use are on an beginner intermediate level, technique somewhere in the same area. But then again if I compare it to Emirs playing it's all beginner level and when I compare it to other beginners it might be more intermediate. So you have to consider all the players you know and compare yourself and then determine an average . Mmmm stupid stuff I say there. But anyway taking GMC as an reference for all levels I put myself in the beginner intermediate category
Posted by: Tolek Nov 15 2008, 09:47 PM
I didn´t read every post in this topic. I voted Intermediate-Advanced. Why? I thouht: "Which level of lessons are you able to play, Tolek?" Answer: From 1 up to 7 or 8. Sometimes even 9, but not perfect.
If comparing myself to the whole guitar world, I´d say I am a beginner-intermediate player. I can play a lot of Vai stuff because I´ve been practising that style for few years now. More technical/fast stuff like Paul Gilbert or Yngwie Malmsteen is very hard to play for me. If I practise it slowly and very long, I can play it a bit only...
What about a new topic where we can vote comparing us to GMC lessons?
Posted by: Pedja Simovic Nov 15 2008, 09:59 PM
I just uploaded something for the http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=11203 and then listened back to it to determine the level of playing I'm at. I thought ok harmony and scale use are on an beginner intermediate level, technique somewhere in the same area. But then again if I compare it to Emirs playing it's all beginner level and when I compare it to other beginners it might be more intermediate. So you have to consider all the players you know and compare yourself and then determine an average
. Mmmm stupid stuff I say there. But anyway taking GMC as an reference for all levels I put myself in the beginner intermediate categoryPretty good point and well put !
I agree
Posted by: Trond Vold Nov 15 2008, 10:04 PM
I went with intermediate because there's just soo much i still dont know. I might write some "advanced" songs, but my theory-knowledge behind what i'm actually doing is practically 0.
.. and i still cant play Muris' extreme neoclassical lesson
Posted by: Caelumamittendum Nov 15 2008, 10:07 PM
I've always felt that I know my fair share of tricks and the like, but also have I always felt that I missed out on some of the beginner stuff. I always find myself wanting to go back and start over from scratch - with some of the beginner things on GMC, but always find myself suddenly legato-ing or tapping away full throttle.
In other words am I having a little trouble categorizing myself.
Posted by: fkalich Nov 15 2008, 10:21 PM
'Have you never heard of the frog in the old well? ‹ The frog said to the turtle of the eastern sea, "Happy indeed am I! I hop on to the rail around the well. I rest in the hollow of some broken brick. Swimming, I gather the water under my arms and shut my mouth. I plunge into the mud, burying my feet and toes; and not one of the cockles, crabs, or tadpoles I see around me are my match. Why do you not come, Sir, and pay me a visit?"
'Now the turtle of the eastern sea had not got its left leg down ere its right had already stuck fast, so it shrank back and begged to be excused. It then described the sea, saying, "A thousand li would not measure its breadth, nor a thousand fathoms its depth. In the days of the Great Yü, there were nine years of flood out of ten; but this did not add to its bulk. In the days of T'ang, there were seven years out of eight of drought; but this did not narrow its span. Not to be affected by duration of time, not to be affected by volume of water, such is the great happiness of the eastern sea."
'At this the well-frog was considerably astonished, and knew not what to say next.
--Chuang Tzu
Posted by: Col Roberts Nov 16 2008, 03:11 AM
Interesting replies. But it seems not many people are reading the post on the first page that is accompanying the poll. Oh well, next time I will try to place the right wording in the poll itself.
Posted by: fkalich Nov 16 2008, 03:37 AM
I think people read the first page. And everyone understood what you were asking. It was not a question that a person really should measure for themselves, it is one best left to others to measure of us.
But I would not feel bad for starting a popular thread, no matter what direction it took.
Posted by: Col Roberts Nov 16 2008, 03:50 AM
No, I don't feel bad at all. It's been interesting to see how the thread has developed. And it's been a revelation to see how some of the instructors rated themselves.
Cheers.
Posted by: lcsdds Nov 16 2008, 04:11 AM
Here is an interesting question. What would you consider somebody like Holdsworth or Garsed. I know both of these guys are MONSTER players. But if you consider an "advanced" player somebody who has mastered all aspects of guitar knowedge/technique, then how would you categorize players like these who are basically considered legato players. I think I have "advanced" technique when it comes to legato/tapping type licks. When it comes to alternate picking I have VERY limited skill. Mostly because I haven't worked on it like I have legato and tapping. I think trying to decide if someone is advanced/beginner etc, can be subjective sometimes.
Monte
Posted by: FrankW Nov 16 2008, 05:47 AM
Monte
You bring up an interesting point. Why are Holdsworth and Garsed monsters? It's more than the fact that they have very advanced technique. It has more to do with the notes they play utilizing their monster technique. Their note selection and compositional skills are way more complex than the average player. That's what makes them monsters.
It depends on how one defines advanced. To me, those two are masters of the guitar, even though they both are possibly not as adept as others in certain techniques. I think it ultimately comes down to note selection, and the ability to convey ones' musical ideas without technical limits, that defines a players' guitar prowess.
And you're right about judging ones' ability being subjective. It depends on who's in the room with me. If I were sitting there with Eric Johnson, and Muris, and Greg Howe, and Tommy Emmanuel, I'd be a 'beginner'. If I were judged against my mother, my cat, and a loaf of bread...well, I'd be pretty darned good.
Posted by: fkalich Nov 16 2008, 06:27 AM
Cheers.
Glad you see it this way. If you are the catalyst for something interesting, you should be given credit for that, even if the direction it took was not what you envisioned. I believe that.
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