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GMC Forum _ CHILL OUT _ Limitations As Inspiration
Posted by: Ben Higgins Jun 27 2014, 04:50 PM
Using your limitations as your inspiration.
This is a phrase I borrowed (stole ?) from Kris. I can't remember which video Kris mentioned it in but it was definitely in one of Kris's spoken word sections. If you can remember which one it is Mr Dahl, let me know !
Anyway, what happens when we don't have certain tools to hand in a situation ? Well, we can either start crying and roll into a ball or we can improvise and use something else. Like a lump of wood. Yeah, a lump of wood is usually involved somewhere. Or WD40. 
Anyway.........
When it comes to music, not having the option of copying somebody else's mega technique can actually be a good thing because it forces you to look at the situation in a different way. This relates very much to the other post I made about http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=52442. In fact it's bit of a theme that I'm on at the moment. The reason is because it's actually really exciting to think that just around the corner is a really cool, unique lick or sequence that could be unique to you.
When you can't go forward, go around. When you can't go around, go over. If you can't do any of things then retreat and when the enemy isn't looking, rush back really quickly and get past before they can react. 
There's always a way. Are you willing to accept your limitations and use it to find your way ?
Posted by: Todd Simpson Jun 27 2014, 06:42 PM
Very well said!!! I am surprised that I"m the first reply to this one. Also surprised that the first reply is from an instructor when this is so perfect for students.
This is truly killer advice from Yogi Ben!!! It applies to all aspects of life as well, not just guitar 
However, from the perspective of a new player, it may seem a harder pill to swallow. Hmm.
This is a phrase I borrowed (stole ?) from Kris. I can't remember which video Kris mentioned it in but it was definitely in one of Kris's spoken word sections. If you can remember which one it is Mr Dahl, let me know !
Anyway, what happens when we don't have certain tools to hand in a situation ? Well, we can either start crying and roll into a ball or we can improvise and use something else. Like a lump of wood. Yeah, a lump of wood is usually involved somewhere. Or WD40.
Anyway.........
When it comes to music, not having the option of copying somebody else's mega technique can actually be a good thing because it forces you to look at the situation in a different way. This relates very much to the other post I made about http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=52442. In fact it's bit of a theme that I'm on at the moment. The reason is because it's actually really exciting to think that just around the corner is a really cool, unique lick or sequence that could be unique to you.
When you can't go forward, go around. When you can't go around, go over. If you can't do any of things then retreat and when the enemy isn't looking, rush back really quickly and get past before they can react.
There's always a way. Are you willing to accept your limitations and use it to find your way ?
Posted by: klasaine Jun 27 2014, 10:40 PM
Django Reinhardt
Kurt Cobain
Tony Iommi ...
There's a million more.
Posted by: Ben Higgins Jun 28 2014, 09:27 AM
Tony Iommi ...
I can't imagine the level of anguish they had to deal with before and after they just decided 'Screw it' and carried on playing anyway !
Posted by: PosterBoy Jun 28 2014, 09:57 AM
I think limitations are what give guitarists their unique style. It gives you a different approach to getting what's in your head onto the guitar.
Maybe you suck at sweeping so string skipping or wide interval arpeggios are your thing.
You have short fingers, so you finger a phrase completely differently to everyone else, or even change the tuning of your guitar.
Limitations can be really creative if you focus on finding solutions rather than seeing them as problems.
For me there is nothing worse than a blank canvas/piece of paper, the possibilities are endless that you are paralysed.
Posted by: klasaine Jun 28 2014, 11:55 AM
Maybe you suck at sweeping so string skipping or wide interval arpeggios are your thing.
You have short fingers, so you finger a phrase completely differently to everyone else, or even change the tuning of your guitar.
Limitations can be really creative if you focus on finding solutions rather than seeing them as problems.
For me there is nothing worse than a blank canvas/piece of paper, the possibilities are endless that you are paralysed.
I agree with all that!
Put me inside a 'box' any day. I WILL get out of it.
Posted by: bleez Jun 28 2014, 03:50 PM
when do you accept a situation as being your 'limit'? maybe you suck at X technique because you've not given it 100%.
A physical attribute is maybe easier to recognise. Iommi for example, it would have been frighteningly obvious to him where his limitations lay once he started playing again after his accident but someone who was initially less accomplished will still need to take a technique quite far before finding a limit, years maybe?
I want to shred up the neck at Todd-like speed..... maybe I never will but will it take years before I find out?
LOL! I just depressed myself a little with that thought!
Posted by: Todd Simpson Jun 28 2014, 05:56 PM
Well thanks!! But seriously, It won't take that long You'll be running rings around me and the other instructors in no time You've made HUGE gains in your playing in the past year. Keep it up and you'll be SLAYING sooner than you think!
Todd
A physical attribute is maybe easier to recognise. Iommi for example, it would have been frighteningly obvious to him where his limitations lay once he started playing again after his accident but someone who was initially less accomplished will still need to take a technique quite far before finding a limit, years maybe?
I want to shred up the neck at Todd-like speed..... maybe I never will but will it take years before I find out?
LOL! I just depressed myself a little with that thought!
Posted by: Ben Higgins Jun 28 2014, 07:01 PM
This is the other side of the coin.. a good question.
You guys might have some different answers to this which will be interesting to see. These are my thoughts about it
If you haven't given much effort to learning something which you do want to be able to do (and can do within reason) then it shouldn't be used as an excuse. I think you should be able to get techniques to a working level where you can use them creatively in your playing. You don't necessarily have to be an ultimate master at them though.
I wasn't thinking just in terms of people actually sucking at a technique.... you can be reasonably able at it, enough to use it musically but if it's something which you're hitting a ceiling with then maybe it's time to use some other tools creatively to come up with something great using the skills that you do have.
Put me inside a 'box' any day. I WILL get out of it.
Yep. I think it's been said before about how people can impose temporary deliberate limitations on themselves just to induce a different way of thinking. I think Joe Satriani did similar things with his students. Or maybe Vai said about it. Maybe both.
'For this solo you can only use the top 2 strings and you can't use XYZ technique'
'For this part you can't use string bending, only slides'
Things like that. Anything that make use thing of doing something we wouldn't normally do.
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