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Posted by: Spiderusalem Nov 11 2007, 07:49 PM

So most of us here at GMC are more than just hobbyists. NO. Most of us here are devoted musicians. Part of that lifestyle is constant practicing and persistant learning. But sometimes this can be rather difficult, as motivation can sometimes be scarce.

Hence, I think we should have a place where we can share the words and things that keep us motivated, because maybe those words can be fuel for someone else. I truly believe that motivation is the key in achieving success at anything, not just guitar. Art is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.


One concept that always keeps me playing, and gets me to start playing when I dont feel like it, is the idea that somewhere out there is a little girl that is learning how to play guitar. She only knows 3 chords, but she loves the sound of each one of them, and she has already written 6 songs with them. And she cant wait to learn her next chord. That idea of innocence and that appreciation for the things we have, no matter how little, is something that keeps me going. When I feel jaded or I notice that I'm taking my skill/knowledge for granted, I always think back to that idea of the little girl and I try to feel the same sense of wonder and fullfillment that she feels from playing her guitar. Another thing I take from this is that somewhere out there, someone is doing much much more with much much less. Think about that.

Another story that keeps me motivated is one that keith richards tells about their drummer, Charlie Watts:

"at the end of a show, he'll leave the stage, and the sirens will be going, and the limousines waiting, and Charlie will walk back to his drumkit and change the position of his drumsticks by two millimeters. Then he'll look at it. Then if it looks good, he'll leave......The drums are about to be stripped down and put in the back of a truck, and he cannot leave if he's got it in his mind that he's left his sticks in a displeasing way."

that, my friends, is love.

Posted by: steve25 Nov 11 2007, 08:13 PM

Well listening to music i love will always keep me motivated. Without the music i listen to i don't think i'd have ever got into guitar because i wouldn't have the dream of wanting to make awesome stuff like i listen to.

The people on here keep me motivated as well. The lessons, the collabs and recordings and just the general talk about guitar makes me feel like i'm a part of something, when i've never been a part of something in my life before. Well i have, i was once in a football team but i sucked, i'm determined not to suck at this one day.

As for pracicing, i have a lot my teacher gives me that i practice. So if i were to practice everything each just for 5 mins i would have had a 2 and a half hour practice. Now if i do that twice there's my 5 hours a day! So if i'm spending just 5 minutes on something i'll never get bored because it changes!

Posted by: tonymiro Nov 11 2007, 08:23 PM

Here's one that concerns one of my favourite musicians and albums - the quote is Elvin Jones, the drummer on A Love Supreme :

'On A Love Supreme, actually we had played some of the music in the clubs before we recorded it. By the time we got into the studio, we didn't know exactly what was going to happen but we were very familiar with what we felt we had to do. I think that's why John liked to play the songs for a while, to open them up. The more familiar you get with it, the more interesting places you can go with the song.'
(Kahn, A. 2002 A Love Supreme/ the creation of John Coltrane's classic album Granta: London, p.94.)

Cheers,
Tony

Posted by: muris Nov 11 2007, 08:29 PM

Motivation is really great matter of success,fine post,thanks.
And comes different from person to person.
Some folks will drop guitar and quit after hearing some great lick or solo.
On the other hand,many will try to figure it out cause they LOVE it.
So it's not being scared but being IN LOVE with it.

Well said,it is love.

Posted by: mattacuk Nov 11 2007, 09:00 PM

You know what Muris, that is a very interesing point i have been meaning to discuss for a while. Ive noticed alot of players feel De-motivated by watching awsome players. Often mentioning that they feel they will never be able to acheive such skills.

It is very interesting how alot of people feel about themselves as players and i have noted two common styles of thinking.

One style is "Wow , Steve Vai is so awsome, it makes me feel sick when i see him play because i will never be able to play like it" then they might just put down the guitar.

on the other hand, other players might think something along the lines of

"Wow Steve Vai is so awsome, I want to be just like him. I know if i practice hard and study correctly I know i can acehive my goals"

Of course I am just useing Steve as an example as there are many awsome players. But the point I am trying to make is, I think if players feel they have a negative attitude towards themselves this can hamper there progress.

And I think just examining you thought process and adjusting it can have a profound effect on you playing !

Of course I might just be babbleing rubbish, if so please ignore me

Posted by: Smells Nov 12 2007, 08:16 AM

hmm some interesting points

A friend of mine cannot understand why I continue to learn and develop new techniques etc,
he plays guitar pretty well but is "satisfied" with where he is at.

I find it a great buzz when talking to him and he`ll say something like "why on earth do you spend so much time doing that!!??" and then playing with him he`ll say "wow! what on earth WAS that! SHOW ME!"


He always asks me "why", the answer is always "coz I love it!"

Posted by: shredmandan Nov 12 2007, 08:32 AM

For me it's the insane hard shred stuff that seems impossible to play that keeps me inspired.I love stuff to be hard because if it was all easy i would know it all and wouldnt have anything else to look forward to learning

Posted by: leedbreak Nov 12 2007, 08:40 AM

This is a quote from our friend and recently promoted member by the name of tank. This has been on my mind ever since and has help me so much.

Thanks again Tank, you have no clue how much you have helped my playing, just by writing this. It made the facts I already knew, finally sink in.

"The playing plateau (I call it "the glass ceiling") is something that everyone deals with. I had the same speed issue years back. It caused a further problem at an advanced stage which I had to work back through my technique to deal with. I neglected to use a metronome at the correct pace.

Basically, it boils down to this. You are using the metronome to get your fingers in the right place, and your pick down in the right moment, as you correctly stated. However, more fundamentally, (and importantly) you are exercising your hands, building stamina, so that when you get to full pace, you can make your fingers and hand do the work while still relaxed. The best training speed for you is just below your maximum speed. At this pace, you can keep strict time (that bit is the key to it all), and yet you are pushing your physical limit, without stressing or tensing. And at this pace you can do it for extended lengths of time (over 5, 10 minutes at a go). Eventually you get used to the speed over a few days as your hands get stronger and you can push it a bit more. This stamina and the relaxed accuracy that it allows you is the secret to fast playing.

I think there is no harm in setting the metronome to full pelt, and "having a go" at the piece. However, you'll notice that at the end of trying it, your hands will be tense, because you've pushed it beyond the limit. The problem about practicing like this constantly is that while you will eventually over time manage to get the fingers down and the pick on the string on time, you've not developed the strict rhythm, so all your fast phrases are "sloppy". And when this translates to playing with a band, it'll sound off. I found this out the hard way!!

As I say to anyone who starts guitar "get yourself a metronome, you'll hate it with a vengeance, but it will be the best teacher you ever get".

Oh and my experience with the glass ceiling? You'll be banging your head against it for weeks (or sometimes months!), then one day you'll pick up the guitar, and it will all click into place. Suddenly all the work that you've put in, pays off all at once. It's like becoming a 40% better player overnight. But when the ceiling breaks, you'll only gain the amount of work that you've put in, so stick with it, is my advice"


I have broke through a new ceiling just this weekend and are having the time of my life as far as playing goes.

Really it was these words that sold me in tank's advise, hands do the work while still relaxed

Posted by: Soul_Decision Nov 12 2007, 08:45 AM

My Desktop, lol and listening to music.

Posted by: Slammer Nov 12 2007, 08:54 AM

"You were at school and you were pimply and no one wanted to know you. You get into a group and you've got thousands of chicks there". - Eric Clapton

Thats gotta be my favorite quote of all time. Well, I don't play just to try to get chicks, I play because it's something I absoluty love to do it.

And also along the lines of what Spiderusalem was saying, one thing that always motivates me is, well sometimes I feel like I'm not as good as I wish I was, and I start to feel like I'll never be able to play like I wish I could. But then I remember that there are ppl out there who would be happy if they could play like me, Even if it's simple little blues licks or whatever. So I realise that I should be thankful for what I have, even if I can't sweep 6 strings, or tap with 8 fingers.

Posted by: muris Nov 12 2007, 09:00 AM

Slam,you MUST sweep and tap sooner or latter!!!
Sorry,couldn't resist

Posted by: The Uncreator Nov 12 2007, 10:19 AM

A Few simple words written by my hero Steve Harris.

"I know what i want,
And i'll say what i want
And no one can take it away"

That got me through some very tough times in my life.

Also, Manowar have always motivated me, there songs about the "Metal Brotherhood" and how much they show there love for metal....i mean thats how i feel about it, and thats how i feel when im at a metal show, like im part of something bigger, something thats worth having my life devoted for it, like a family. And early in my life thats what i needed, knowing i had a second family that would ALWAYS treat me right, always made me feel good, and Manowar really showed me that.

One more thing, the story of Death's "Chuck Schuldiner" really gets me inspired, i mean, even when he was at his Sickest, on the edge of death, he was in the studio, making music, pushing to get that album released, thats love at its finest. And although he died before his time, that story really gets me motivated, and it makes me cry every time.

Posted by: ibanezkiller Nov 12 2007, 10:27 AM

BUCKETHEAD... to play 1/10000000000000000th as good as he does... thats most of it... and its FUN you got to love what your doing to really master it...

Posted by: Spiderusalem Nov 12 2007, 07:27 PM

jeeze. thanks for posting that.... that helps like i cant believe....

Posted by: DeepRoots Nov 12 2007, 08:16 PM

Last Friday i was lucky enough to go and see Dream Theater live, they blew me away, i have been in awe ever since...

But the best part of that experience for me, that motivated me immensly, was the fact that my favourite guitar player in the world was a few meters away from me, in real life.

When i watched John Petrucci play a flawless 2hr 40 min set right infront of me it showed me that people can achieve amazing things through practice.

I guess watching all these guitar gods on youtube and on cds made it seem like a half-reality as if they were in some digital world achieving things that i could barely dream of.

So if you have the opportunity to see an amazing guitar player live, or to jam with one, do so- because it made my motivation sky rocket!

Posted by: muris Nov 13 2007, 01:37 AM

1+

Posted by: The Uncreator Nov 13 2007, 04:00 AM

Thats exactly how i felt when i saw Michael Angelo Batio, i mean, what he said about guitar and practicing made me feel like I Could play a double guitar someday

Posted by: Spiderusalem Nov 13 2007, 04:26 AM

thats how I felt when I saw Zakk Wylde. He continued a hammer-on pull-off solo while downing a beer. Thus, we should have a lesson on trill-solos while simultaneously downing a beer....

Posted by: Owen Nov 13 2007, 04:36 AM

Give me 5 years and I'll do it.

Slammer, thanks for posting that Eric Clapton quote Inspirational

Posted by: Spiderusalem Nov 13 2007, 05:43 AM

truly it is

Posted by: Tank Nov 13 2007, 06:29 AM

I think there are a number of things that have made me practice (now I'm doing it more than ever). I was lucky enough to play professionally, although I was a mediocre player, but I'm at home on a stage (and that can sometimes get you further). However:

I'd been playing for a good 13 years before I ever thought it was possible to play Slash or Marty Friedman solos, I believed that only "guitar gods" would be blessed with the skill to do it. There were no lessons available that showed you beyond a certain level. Then I saw a video on the net of a guy doing a cool arpeggio technique as a freebie lesson. I downloaded it, and learned the lick, then thought "Hey this shredding isn't a mystery, it's just hard work". The video was Kris, in the summer of 2005. So he inspired me to try harder. Within the year, I'd learned to play Eruption, and the Sweet Child of Mine solo on stage in front of a live audience.

I was lucky enough to work at a Page & Plant concert back in 1998, and was able to stand side of stage, as my hero played to the Pittsburgh Arena. That was the moment when I thought "that's what I want to do.." I was playing professionally within 2 years.

Strangely enough, in 2002, I met Robert Plant again, twice in a month. The first time, I introduced myself, asked for an autograph, and chatted about the Walking into Clarkesdale tour, and that night at Pittsburgh. I told him that I was now playing professionally and he beamed at me. A few weeks later at a music party, he was there, and he actively swept people away to get over to me and speak to "the Irish guy". There's a lot to be said when your hero's turn out to be genuinely nice people.

And the GMC inspires me. I see Kris developing this idea from a fringe forum to one of the best guitar sites on the net. I see others struggling the way I do. I also see other guitarists improving, and so that drives me to try and keep up. And sometimes I see a lesson by Muris, and think "that guy has stolen my dream sound out of my head."

And when it boils down to it, I know that all that it takes is hard work. Nothing more special. 3 hours tonight, working on getting my 3rd finger to do what I want without trying to drag my pinky all over the fretboard, 2 hours in the morning, working on getting a 1,2,4 stretch to work in scales up the neck, while standing up. And piece by piece, I'll reach where I need to be. And so will everyone else

/T

Posted by: muris Nov 13 2007, 06:33 AM

Thanks Tank,glad my work pushes you on!!

Posted by: Animosity Nov 13 2007, 06:35 AM

I listen to Jimmy Page for inspiration. Wait.... he also makes me feel like a complete beginner!

Meh, I still love him.

+1

Posted by: mattacuk Nov 13 2007, 06:37 AM

Fantastic post there Tank!! I can also Say, Kris motivated me like no tommorow.

After listening to his advice, there was no doubt in my mind i could acheive my goals, there still isnt!! I dont look at anything as impossible.

I look at it this way, knowone is a god, they are a person like anyone else. They have practiced darn hard to acheive greatness. I too will practiced darn hard!!!

Posted by: tonymiro Nov 13 2007, 06:39 AM

Excellent post Tank.

Cheers,
Tony

Posted by: Tank Nov 13 2007, 06:58 AM

The cool thing is, that I listen to him now pretty much once a day. And, listening to every riff, every screaming lead, I can now state that I could sit down with a guitar, and learn it all. With ease. Most of the leads I can see how he plays it in my head, as I'm washing the dishes!! I most definately could not have done that 2 years ago. And so I get to enjoy every note that's played in the solo, Led Zep sounds new to me, the more I listen to it

I named my daughter Paige btw (my mrs wouldn't let me loose the letter "i"!!)

Cheers guys

Posted by: Spiderusalem Nov 13 2007, 07:02 AM

thats awesome.

again, excellent post. these sentiments are exactly the kind of stuff I was hoping people would share.

Posted by: Animosity Nov 13 2007, 07:33 AM

You and I need to talk! You are exactly what I strive to be. I just started guitar (about 3-4 months ago). I'd love to know what you did to get where you are today. I mean really know too! What were you doing when you were at the stage I am at, what did you do next, etc. I understand this might take a while, if you are up to the challenge at all, so take your time! All I seem to be interested in right now is attempting(strong emphasis there) to play basic riffs to my favorite songs.

Posted by: leedbreak Nov 13 2007, 12:44 PM

Hey I not learning anything that requires me to wash dishes, not me.

Posted by: Tank Nov 13 2007, 03:39 PM

I'd suggest that your question would be best suited as a separate thread, aimed at the instructors. I think you'd learn a more useful path, as I took the long way around (by not practicing enough when I should have). If it went on "how long have you been playing", I should be a lot better than I am now!!

Right, morning practice over, time for work. Later guys

Posted by: shredmandan Nov 13 2007, 04:05 PM

Just to post on this topic about Motivation,there is alot of things that makes me hang in there and never QUIT.To begin with guitar is the only thing in really good at and passinate about.I've played for about 11 years now and it all started for me wanting to be a part of the music i listened to Metallica.Guitar is just one of those things that i truly believe ''You can do anything you want its just how bad do you want it''.I know i can play anything in the world i just have to constantly practice it and fail several times to get it right.I love that about guitar.When i hear some very difficult guitar part i dont want to run from it i want to get obsessed about it and get it down.

Also as most of you know im a father of 2 a boy and a girl.I want to learn everything i can and keep my skills improving so that when my son is of age i will have the tools to teach him to rule the world with his guitar .I dream for the day that i can pass all my hard work that i put into the guitar down to him and to one day watch him out play me.Thats the stuff that still gives me chill's and keeps me wanting to not setle for ok and go for great!!!

Posted by: kahall Nov 14 2007, 12:47 PM

Great thread everyone. I just love that I can play things I like over and over, I have always wanted to be able to do that. It is so irritating to me when a guitar player gets a good thing going and then switches it up before I am ready. :-)

As for the above story. Sounds like Charlie might of had a touch of ADD. I would know, so I am not making fun of it, but I hope he got some meds.

Posted by: Owen Nov 15 2007, 01:57 AM

Sounds more like harmless pedantry to me, I wouldnt put someone on meds for doing that, everyone has their little quirks.