The Guitar Thread

[horacejesse]

My first setup came from Sears: a Silvertone guitar and Standell amp. After that I was sitting on the side of the bed a lot.

[jchitty]

Hey, Horace. Nice post! I think you must have been a football coach in a previous life.... your post was very inspiring. I'll have to say though that the problem more with me is trying to find the DESIRE to want to play the guitar. It boils down to lack of interest on my part....I find myself wanting to write songs more than play. I've always believed that what you love to do will govern your decisions in life, and I like to write songs more. But you have a good point about the guitar being so relevant to my songwriting. I could play locally and showcase my songs. I always joke about my voice, but it's actually pretty good. When I do play a song of mine or two, and I sing along, my husband always says, "wow, that was good." Now, hubbys don't always make the best critics because they love their wives, but being that my hubby is honest and doesn't pull any punches, he wouldn't say that if he didn't mean it. He's always urging me to keep practicing and showcase my songs locally. But you have to want to really play, have a strong desire in your heart as I say, and songwriting is what jazzes me....singing into a tape recorder a cappella and just having the demoes done by someone else. I just love writing words and coming up with melodies in my head...it just makes my day...the guitar part, not so much. You've given me food for thought though.... I'll probably devote more time to the guitar end....I'm actually progressing, and you're right, progress happens when you least expect it. Thanks once again!Arkjack, what a good story. I love my little Alvarez..... I think I'll stick with it, but you never know, I might find something that would give me that BURNING DESIRE to become a better player. You know, I'm prone to leave my guitar in the trunk sometimes.....and especially on hot days....I only leave it in there an hour or so, but like you, my husband has been saying, "don't do that, you could ruin it." So I'll have to tell him your tale.Anyway, guys, I think that is what makes this board such a good environment....lots of folks ready to help you when you need it. People who'll share advice with you and make you a better songwriter and maybe even a 'gasp' musician. I'd like to help some folks too, so I'm going to post something on this thread. Being so new to this biz, I could have gotten in trouble with something like this. I got a letter in the mail yesterday from a publishing company based in California. I'd heard there were sharks out there, preying on songwriters....they get your name and addy from public records when you apply for a copyright. When I read the letter which said, "we want to add some of your songs to one of our compilations....this could be your big break." I thought, 'well, how did they get my songs" and why would someone solicit me for them? It just sounded too good to be true anyway...... legit people would make you work for it, come to them in other words. But being that my vanity got the best of me, I decided, 'well maybe they are legit,' so I did some internet research on them. I'm glad I did. According to a thread on CD Baby, people have been scammed left and right by these type companies, sending them their hard earned dollars to PAY for being on their CD compilations. Some people haven't even gotten the CDS they paid for or the 'royalities' they were supposed to earn. One guy got scammed out of 429 bucks while another got scammed out of 800 bucks. The thread contained complaint after complaint. I hope I don't get this thread deleted for Horace by mentioning the CD Baby thread, but if anyone gets a letter such as this, that thread would be useful. I actually saved the thread, and if anyone wants me to post the link in the future, I will. Maybe Jimi won't do this....I am just in hurry today as it is the weekend, so I thought I'd post about it here. I just think if there are any new songwriters out there like me, they should be aware of scams like this.And Casey, hopefully, a critique will be coming shortly to a theater near you. Anyway, you guys have a good weekend!

[edteja]

I'll have to say though that the problem more with me is trying to find the DESIRE to want to play the guitar. It boils down to lack of interest on my part..I can understand that. But practicing the guitar is actually very helpful to the songwriting itself. In fact, these days, sometimes when I am working on learning to play a song, I get sidetracked into writing a new one. It becomes a wonderful synergy. So just remind yourself that playing the guitar IS songwriting too.Might help.

[horacejesse]

Showcasing your songs is not even the most important reason for playing an instrument. If all you are doing is singing a cappella into a recorder and sending the song on for someone else to develop you are not even writing your songs' chords. Any number of chord structures can be easily imposed on a given melody. Wouldn't you like to be the person who decides which chord structure will be used? This has everything to do with the sound of your song.Often what starts a song for those who do play is some little lick, groove or pattern they find on the instrument. This avenue of inspiration is blocked off to you until you become a player.Some people do mange quite well without being players, our own Casey being a prime example. It amazes me, I don't know how they do it. I am just glad I don't have to try it that way. Obviously, Bernie Taupin has not done badly either. It can be done without an instrument, and done well, and no one is saying it can't, but I have no doubt you are better off with an instrument.Football coach? The only sport I even watch is boxing. I learned to teach guitar by being a guitar coach. Before long I realized what I told people about guitar was the least important aspect of teaching, although it is very important to have people working on the right thing at the right time. Praise where they are right, inform where they are wrong and let them know it is clear to you that they can do what you are requesting even if it is not clear to them. Once the student's belief is in place the miracles begin. It is very satisfying to lead out of darkness someone who seemed not to have a chance when they started. Of course it has not been all successes, some people really are without a chance, unfortunately.

[arkjack]

If you saw my thread on "The lights turned on..." down in review station... one of the things that was revealing was after all the lessons, studying and training I've had, its actually one of the things that was holding me back.... I actually found out that you can apply too much theory to it and spoil your recipe....ArkJack

[horacejesse]

I am curious as to who our forum guitarists were most influenced by as really young players. The players that influenced me most strongly are a pretty diverse group. Chet Atkins, The Ventures, Segovia, Julian Bream, Los Indios Tabajaras and James Burton. A little later it was Joe Pass, Wes Monmtgomery, Albert Lee, Danny Gatton, van Halen and Django. I wish I could play like them. They are all idols. I don't sound like any of them except Chet when I play his style, and it is hard not to sound like him then. I suppose there are elements of all of them, but by now their bits and pieces are pretty well integrated, some might say dumbed down.

[horacejesse]

I began as a fingerstylist using a thumbpick. Later I switched to all fingers when I became intersted in classical guitar at about sixteen. I kept trying to adjust to flat pick for years but was about age 41 when I finally got serious and determined about it. I can still play much more comfortably without one though. Only tried fingerpicks a couple of times. Didn't like them at all.How about your influences and playing techniques, all?

[arkjack]

What we sound like when we play as the result of our mix of influences is what makes each of us unique as a player. I think that is also ever evolving as long as you keep pressing toward the horizon... You named a number of my heroes, but I guess I would add Duane Allman, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray, Jeff Beck, Robin Trower, Steve Howe..... The other bigger influences are the teachers I've studied with.... Chuck Anderson... a master educator and friend of Dennis Sandole who actually became better than Sandole... ( Chuck actually wrote 'Guitar Lore').... Art Bernstien, and bass players Gerald Veasley and Adam Nitti.... yet with all that, anytime anyone listens to my songs they say 'Bob Dylan' .... How does it feel?...... ArkJack

[horacejesse]

Strange as it seems, that is not strange. I don't sound like any of my heros either.

[drew]

I play Strats (as loud and as often as I can), I have 5 or 6 of them. I also have a Les Paul but it doesn't come out of the case much, just for some recording.My advice to new players is to learn every lick you can and practice them, each one makes you a better guitar player. Before long you will see another guitar player and think "hey, I'm better than him". If you only compare yourself to the greats you are in for a life of feeling inadequate.Don't worry about what others think of your playing, just enjoy it, music is the best hobby in the world.