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

Welcome to the Gretsch Pages

Be brave, rate your guitar playing...

« » Page 1 2 3 4 5

- Rated: 54 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 12:53 a.m. tartan phantom:

I agree with Nobody.. JB has "da stuff". As a matter of fact, I didn't really see any slouches at the Nashville jam. And it wasn't exactly a pis*ing contest either.

I, for one, enjoyed everyone's performances!

I ain't no Chet. I ain't no B. Setzer. I ain't no Danny Gatton. If anything, I'm somewhere between Link Wray and Johnny Ramone style-wise. Lead has never been my thing, but I guess that's because A) I have to do alot of lead vocals. B) I've always had a good lead player to fall back on. I like to think that due to 8 years formal instruction in drums & percussion, I am at least somewhat passable rhythm player. I've got a great internal metronome, but I guess I'll always be more of a strummer and a chunker (rhythm) than a picker(lead).
- Rated: 22 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 4:32 a.m. Konrad:

Hey tartam,

I'm kind of always in the same boat, but I think I damaged my hands so bad with year of physical abuse that I'm not really going to get much better.

It's such a downer sometimes. There have been moments when I ripped off a great solo, and then my lead player says: "Why don't you always play like that."

!!!

I HAVE NO IDEA!
- Rated: 53 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 4:43 a.m. Ratrod:

I think we're all being modest or insecure (myself included).

I get plenty of positive feedback on my playing.

I know how to start a song. I can keep my rhythm tight. I know how to break through the mix and ditinguish myself from other (guitar)players in the band. I know when NOT to play. I'm the backbone of the band. And lets not forget the punk/rock n' roll attitude.

It's hard to rate guitar playing as everyone has their own style and specialties.
- Rated: 31 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 4:54 a.m. Danman:

For me the reason I am what I am is because I have never really practiced to improve my technique. I play the way I play, I'll practice a lick if I want to play it but actually I never practice systematically. I play what comes naturally and the stuff that doesn't come naturally (like finger picking etc) I never really did, or gave up quickly. I whish I had had the endurance to really practice but the music I play never really asked for it. I think I'm more of a pete townsend type riff player and then sometimes think I can go off into a solo. Probably it is also because the real technical stuff is above my head, so I felt I would have never been good at it.

I agree with ratrod that it is hard to grade your playing. Sometimes the simplest player can really be beautiful and cover it all. A drummer I played with in the past sometimes played a little guitar, just neil young songs, simple chords but it was so beautiful because of his feeling. And not all music asks for great players but asks for people that can convey their feelings through their instrument and if that is with just strumming one chord then you are a great player in my eyes. That is music making, not trying to show off all your chops. Don't get me wrong: I do appreciate players with great technique but I don't find it important in music.
- Rated: 12 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 6:37 a.m. jonhope:

My ratings are:

Rhythm - 3,

Lead - 5

Plenty to work on in both areas for me but especially bringing some variety and interest into my rhythm playing

Cheers
- Rated: 34 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 7:09 a.m. Bernw:

I will NOT be modest about my playing - so here goes -

Rhythm 1.5

Lead guitar - worse than above

Stage aura - higher than that

Singing - even higher than that

Overall average - pretty mediocre - but I somehow get away with it when stage.
- Rated: 37 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 9:23 a.m. Nobody:

Insert Comment Sideline here:

Resounding Danman's comments. "Technique" is often mistaken for musicianship. Driving a motorcycle as fast as it can go does not make you a good driver, a good racer, or even mean that you know what the heck you are doing or where you are going. But, memorizing fast licks is the easy way...the carnival way...to impress people, especially teenage boys who think it's cool and the only "music" there is.

For a truly talented musician, however, good technique is the "execution" of the talent. I am luke warm where execution is concerned. There's no excuse for not being able to play what you can sing or "hear." So I'm working on that. Doing that on a piano is one thing. Doing it on a guitar is a whole new experiment for me.
- Rated: 93 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 3:50 p.m. Pappy:

I will say that the people at Nashville certainly didn't make me walk the other direction. I was very impressed by everyone there. I play a lot of punk, a lot of power chords and don't venture out from that comfortable, old sofa-like, box and was pleased that I wasn't chased out of Nashville with torches.

Ah, I kid. I felt considerably out of my depth because I have no ideas regarding musical theory beyond the step or half step thing (I've tried to wrap my head around it but to no avail) so when someone says "Solo (which to me means penatonic box) in C, man!" I just smile a dumb smile and pretend I didn't hear them. Hopefully this can continue to the end of the jam. But I have hopes of getting it one day.

The trip made me really want to learn more standards, a favorite genre I've had all my life. That's mainly Proteus' fault. He was trying to solo on Paper Moon but I think I was being a bit difficult to play with but really inspired me to learn more.

Honestly everyone there made me want to learn more.

And EVERYONE there was very modest about their playing, even after smoking away for the world to see. Approached they would probably shrug and say "Nah, it wasn't anything too special, just the same old same old," looking away. I think that's one of the best attributes of a guitar player, by the way. The ability to completely lie through their teeth to make you feel better about your playing.
- Rated: 92 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 4:00 p.m. Baxter:

Yeah, there were a lot of fine players there. JB just makes that 6120 of his (or whatever else he picks up) wail and sing, Proteus is being WAY too modest (but we all know that from clips he's shared), and Joe just seems like he was born with a guitar in his hands.

And there were plenty of others. I don't mean to single anyone out, or leave anyone out. But Pappy's right, the cool thing is how nice and encouraging everyone was to those of us who are... limited players.

It wasn't at all like most times you get a bunch of guitar players together, and everybody want's to show how big their equipment is.

And yeah, it made me want to be a better player.
- Rated: 19 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 4:09 p.m. Thomas:

I think I should be playing a squier.. Maybe even less.. But none the less, I enjoy playing (or trying to) others like the fact I try.. No-one's unhappy with my playing so it's ok..

I'd rate myself a 1 for lead and a 2 for rhythm.. But I have all the time to improve, I might become a 5 someday!
- Rated: 20 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 4:31 p.m. Mark G:

Technique is fine if you have a tune to play. Otherwise its just fast scales, etc.

Ratings? 2 & 4 maybe. I've been working with chord inversions alot lately to push that 4 up a bit. I'm insecure about my playing and find band situations comforting. Once we get going I'm not afraid to solo knowing full well I may suck but I play the "wrong" notes like I mean them and hopefully fake some people out.
- Rated: 20 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 4:31 p.m. Mark G:

This post has been deleted
- Rated: 29 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 6:09 p.m. SqwareKat:

OK, I'm coming to next year's roundup for sure, just to see if you guys really suck as badly as you say! I don't believe any of it. Most of the people who truly "suck" have no idea that they do. TimThom relayed a very anecdotal story about that once...

Bonedaddy, I hate to tell you but you don't suck. At all. In fact, what you were playing on YouTube seemed to fit the context of the song quite well. Rock on.

Curt, I hope you meant that comment about yourself humorously. Taken as such, it's very amusing. Otherwise, I'm guessing you're being just a tad hard on yourself.

Pro, we've all heard your clips; you should have known better.

Me, I get compliments, but mostly from family members and friends. I haven't played a gig in a few years. On the one hand I enjoy playing, and every so often I even impress myself. On the other I know I'm not as good as I'd like to be or even as good as I USED to be. Setzer, Atkins, Gatton et al have achieved one-ness with their instruments; I never will and don't rate myself next to them. To do so would only be an exercise in futility and frustration. I consider myself competent, if not particularly great in any way, and certainly not original. But I sure do have fun!
- Rated: 37 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 10:52 p.m. Nobody:

BINGO
- Rated: 47 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 11:22 p.m. Timthom62:

Being guitar players, we are both our own harshest critics and most understanding of the imperfections of others. We know it's not nearly as easy as some make it seem and that perfection takes hard work.

The non-playing masses really don't know the difference between an atonal mess played really fast and a perfectly-constructed melodic lead played at a speed that suits (and compliments) the tune.

For instance, I once accidentally played the second lead section in "Stray Cat Strut" one fret above normal key. I realized two notes in that I had messed up, but decided to run with it because I couldn't figure out where to drop back from the sharp on the fly. I cringed, everybody else in the band cringed, and it sounded just horrible. Afterwards I had several people, presumably non-players, tell me how great it was and how it was "Just like Setzer". Meanwhile I felt like crawling under a rock, because anyone who did know anything about guitar knew I screwed up.

From what I've heard in "Your Tunes" and elsewhere, I think quite a few people here are being a little modest. But I also think that modesty in the truly skilled and their support (or tolerance) for those of us with lesser skills is one of the great things about Gretsch players in general and the GDP in particular. What fun would a Roundup be if we were all hypercritical of each other?
- Rated: 83 ↑
Jun 28, 2008 11:35 p.m. Mark Synchro:

I don't really believe that a group of guys that own and play Gretsches all suck at playing them. I've heard some of your recordings and suck doesn't really come to mind. I find this to be an easy group of players to respect.

I guess that's one reason why I just can't see my way clear to rate myself. I'm much more interested in how an audience reacts to my playing than how I rate it. Thirty years ago I was very serious about my music and my technique but it didn't come through to audiences. I had made the mistake of playing for myself and I didn't consider the people paying for me to be there.
- Rated: 40 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 12:05 a.m. Pseudo Man:

On a scale of one to ten? I'd say I was probably Johnny Goddam Thunders! YEEEOOW!

-Bends fourth to a double stop-
- Rated: 14 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 2:08 p.m. MarkW:

Thinking back as a Legend in my Own mind and some of the people I got to jam and gig with I was very fortunate. I am not really in to Setzer (sorry), so I would have to use as standards Mike Bloomfield, Jorma Kaukonen, Johnny Winter and Today...(don't laugh) JOhn Mayers (He is GOOD). So here it goes:

1965 - 1978 - Lead = 5, Rythmn = 8

1978 - 1998 = Quit Playing

1999 - Today - Lead = 2, Rythmn = 5

From 65 - 78 I practiced/played at least 1-2 hours daily. It is amazing what you forget in 20 years. Since starting back up I have not played/practiced any more than 45 minutes at any given time. Hence my sloth-like approach has culminated in my crappy (deservedly) ratings.

Nobody -

I have always admired keyboardist. To do two completely different musical runs with each hand has always blown me away. I played simple little organ runs but most was one handed with minimal movement. My inability to do both is probably why I could never finger-pick worth a durn on the guitar.

But good is in the ears of the audience. To each their own and a guitar player is not the same as a guitarist as they say...or maybe it is a singer that plays guitar is not the same as a guitarist???
- Rated: 37 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 2:49 p.m. Nobody:

There are a lot of things people do that really defy explanation. The same holds on a piano: playing two completely dissimilar patterns, rythmically, tonally, dynamically...bounding up and down two octaves and hitting the right note without looking...or what a drummer does with all four limbs, both ends of the sticks, you name it.

But to sight-read full-on JS Bach (on piano), a piece that would take me 3 months to piece together and get under my fingers...and do it on the fly. I've witnessed this and do not now, nor will I ever understand it.

There is a mathematical wizardry at work (and a good deal of confidence), thus my ineptitude at it.

A guitar, though, is so much easier to rest on one's lap while on the sofa.
- Rated: 29 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 9:45 p.m. SqwareKat:

I was recently given a baby grand, and wondered why I was going through so many sofas...
- Rated: 35 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 10:03 p.m. crowbone:

You know what I find really strange, fascinating and cool?

I find that when I write songs on a guitar, if I take the same song and play it on piano, it leads somewhere else musically. I'm certain it has much to do with my abilities, or lack thereof, on each instrument, but it reinforces my theory of working your weaknesses until they become your strengths.

I find this applies to the domain of guitar only, don't you? Ever try a song that you wrote, developed and showed the band on an electric, and play it on a dusty old acoustic guitar, or, in a different tuning? You'd be surprised what results you get sometimes.
- Rated: 42 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 10:06 p.m. seadevil:

I'm a better guitar player than I think I am.
- Rated: 115 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 10:22 p.m. wenzel:

I rate myself as a 2.
- Rated: 37 ↑
Jun 30, 2008 5:26 a.m. Nobody:

Hey Crowbone, Harrison from Talking Heads said they used to trade instruments, to those they with which they were not comfortable, for writing. It removes your ability to impose rules on yourself and you just sort of stumble all over unexpected stuff.

This is why I became so enthusiastic about getting off the piano bench and picking up the guitar in a bigger way. And, to the extent possible, I've tried to avoid learning "the rules" of the instrument. It has its good and bads.

Now, here's something else interesting: my playing on the guitar has influenced my playing on the piano pretty significantly, especially in solos. Additionally, there are voicings I've come across on the guitar that I've never used on piano. Happy accidents of musical instruments.

One thing that has been interesting to learn (does this need to be a different thread now?) is that, on the piano, if you ain't comping a wide-open three-octave inversion with all 12 fingers, then you're playing nursery rhimes...you know. On a guitar, a three-note inversion sounds perfectly fine and dandy. Four-notes is really getting some meat on it.

Edit: HAH! I copied my text before the Proxy monster could strike! HAH! Retry.
- Rated: 10 ↑
Jun 30, 2008 5:46 a.m. mainsoda:

I don't really know how to rate myself. I try to be objective but I am good at some things and at others I am still learning. I did a "sit in" gig with a country band a few weeks ago and the band after us had a guitar player with a 6121 that kicked my country playing ass across the stage. I am still working out how to play like Brad Paisley. But if we were playing rock I'm sure I could have out shredded him.

I don't mind posting my playing here though for whatever that's worth.

check these out if you are bored -->

http://www.jefjamdesign.com/Crumpler/Downloads.htm

I guess I'll be brave and say...

Lead - 7 Rhythm - 8 Singing - 8

« »

Page 1 2 3 4 5

You'll need to log in to post.