The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Miscellaneous Rumbles: Be brave, rate your guitar playing...

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Be brave, rate your guitar playing...

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- Rated: 22 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 5:33 a.m. Konrad:

I'll start - I can hold my own leading even very, very talented bands, but I don't risk lead playing except during less-serious gigs. For some reason, I am the master of clams, although not THAT bad a player at home.

I can definitely lead a band though...

But seriously, on a scale of 1-10, with 10 up there in the Setzer/Cousin Harley, etc. zone, I'm only about a four. Maybe a six at home, but in public I'm not the guy who will step up and rip through a lead.

Working on it though. I have noticed that when I brace my first finger I'm a couple of notches better, so maybe there's hope.

All right. I admitted it.

Now step up and be brave. If you can rip with anyone, I want to know that too.

K
- Rated: 53 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 5:52 a.m. Ratrod:

As a lead player I'd give myself a 4. As a rhythm player a 7.
- Rated: 17 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 6:02 a.m. Matt:

I admire your bravery, Konrad! Unfortunately, I don't think you are going to get the answers you are really looking for here. I've noticed a terrific phenomenon amongst guitarists to slag their own playing when they are fantastic and to only be able to begin to tell you exactly how ungodly good they are when they are terrible and play B.C. Riches (PRS if they are bad at guitar and rich).

I'd like to think I'm pretty decent, but if I were to be completely content with my playing, I'd never be getting any better... I suppose it's a double edged sword that way. As you sort of allude to, the people you're playing with can make or break you. The guys living below me in my apartment are all Berklee (I pretty fine music school around these parts) kids. I've been both very pleased with how my playing sounds behind their accompaniment and completely and totally humbled by their skills.

Here is a clip of the drummer of one of their bands goofing off on piano: http://youtube.com/watch?v=eaA_8HtcC1M The bit at the end their is from Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto which he played at the Old South Church with an orchestra he assembled. Incredible talent. And he is a DRUM principle at Berklee!!! Go to www.galaxysmith.com to check out some of the music these guys produce. There's a lot to choose from and you'll find something you'll like I'm sure.

Anyhow, getting back on topic, I was planning on posting some soundclips from a mod I just did so maybe I'll post them here and we can figure out exactly where we all stand

Sorry to ramble on. Sometimes I like to hear the sound of my own... typing?

-Matt
- Rated: 11 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 6:18 a.m. chetarmpinkie:

This post has been deleted
- Rated: 57 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 6:27 a.m. Curt:

I suck and on good days I suck a little less...
- Rated: 11 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 6:53 a.m. chetarmpinkie:

ok i know im new to the site(an awesome site!!!) but whats the rating thing under my avatar and can i get rid of the zero just so my grandpa doesn't have to have it by his headstone? lol i know i know........
- Rated: 35 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 6:58 a.m. crowbone:

9 1/2 on Rhythm

1 on lead

10 on noise making
- Rated: 2 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 7:09 a.m. zyabo:

2 - lead 7 - rhythm
- Rated: 22 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 7:17 a.m. Konrad:

Heh, heh. Right on, Crowbone. I forgot about the noisemaking category.

I'm also a 10 when it comes to making the wrong noise at exactly the wrong time.

Ugh.

K
- Rated: 16 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 7:26 a.m. Gigatron:

Well, if Setzer is a 10, then I'm about a .0000000000000000001.
- Rated: 10 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 7:30 a.m. graaf:

I suppose i'm a 5 for both lead and rhythm. Rhythm guitar is not an easy task for me. To me rhythm guitar is playing like Townshend, The Edge, Andy Summers, (just to name few) do. Weird i can't play well when i'm at the music store while i can play as if i was at home at gigs.
- Rated: 11 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 7:50 a.m. LiRM35:

curt: I'm right there with you, buddy. :)

Chetarmpinkie, your wish is my command. Your zero should be gone now.

On topic, I'd put myself at about a 3 or 4 on rhythm (hey, I've only been serious about this stuff for 9 months), and I haven't begun to approach lead playing yet. Ask me again in another year.

I have a jam session on the 4th with a bunch of musicians around my home town; if they come back with a positive opinion, I'll let you know. ;)
- Rated: 22 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 7:50 a.m. Konrad:

Gigatron, I know.

Maybe Setzer is a 20.

K
- Rated: 22 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 7:56 a.m. Konrad:

Or maybe a 200.

K
- Rated: 92 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 7:59 a.m. Baxter:

2, At best.
- Rated: 20 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 8:19 a.m. DangerousMan:

It just depends... I spent this morning listening to Rory Gallagher. As you can imagine, I'm not exactly feeling like grease lightning. Other days I can feel like I could pass for a decent lead player. But I'm usually drunk. I'm a much better rhythm player. But yesterday I was listening to Chic, and well...
- Rated: 11 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 8:35 a.m. Buffalosix:

I'll give myself a 2 and a 4 for lead and rhythm.

But I'll give myself a 9 for enthusiasm and enjoyment of playing....
- Rated: 212 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 8:44 a.m. Proteus:

I'm with Curt.
- Rated: 14 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 9:24 a.m. Slowmo:

I got my first guitar in the late 60's and still play like a beginner. If it was any other hobby I would have given it up long ago.

What keeps me going is that beautiful ringing sound of those cowboy chords on a Gretsch.
- Rated: 50 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 9:32 a.m. Richard Hudson:

Well, I certainly love to play. There's no doubt about that. I was listening the other day to an old audio recording of when I played on TV years ago. I was pretty good back then. On a good day, I enjoy what I hear out of my guitar. Other days, no matter what I do, it sounds terrible. The one constant, for me at least, in sounding good all the time, is to play everyday as much as possible. Nothing takes the place of it. I keep thinking, one of these days it's going to all come together.

Richard
- Rated: 59 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 9:40 a.m. Bear:

Curt said: I suck and on good days I suck a little less...

This pretty much describes my playing!
- Rated: 22 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 9:46 a.m. gretschiam:

Wow. Tough thread.

Buffalosix said: But I'll give myself a 9 for enthusiasm and enjoyment of playing....

I'm a 10 or 11 in that category. In playing, I'm at least an 11, I mean a 1+1.

I couldn't possibly rate myself, but I'm somewhere in the middle. 4 to 7 probably. But here's the problem: Lots of clams at times, of course, but lot's of very respectable stuff, too. Lot's of time on stage, but an overwhelming shyness that sometimes takes over. And most importantly: what's good? Does being in tune count? I know some great players that seem ambivalent to the art of tuning. How about creativity? I know a guy I call my idiot savant who's fast and accurate, but he's a one trick pony. Like Richard Hudson, I often like hearing what I did in the past- and that suggests I'm successfully making myself happy- and I still have good days and bad days like everyone else. I'm way better than most people at what I like, and EVERYONE else is way better than me at something. George Harrison made a similar proclamation 40+ years ago and didn't mind bringing that little kid Eric Clapton in to play on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

I hate golf, but I've heard it described the same way: it's not the skill you have or lack, it's the process of getting there.
- Rated: 19 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 9:50 a.m. TyPierce:

So, if Setzer's a 10, is the scale supposed to be linear, or logarithmic?

Either way, I'll generously say I'm a 2-3 on lead and a 4-5 on rhythm. Working hard to get better at both, though!

And judging by the responses and past listenings, I'd say we already have a couple modest sandbaggers... I'm talkin' to you, Proteus!
- Rated: 41 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 9:57 a.m. J(esse James)D:

Zero on lead. I can get some chops down, and then just freeze when the "live" moment comes.

3 on rhythm.

I'm 55, almost, and really do suck. But, I love to make noise on my Gretsches
- Rated: 20 ↑
Jun 27, 2008 10:34 a.m. DangerousMan:

uh, just one more thing... I think I definitely deserve a ten for enthusiasm, you know, my wife she always says that.

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