I was comenting the other day about how I feel like my lead guitar playing has gotton kinda stagnant over the last few years. My daughter said to me, "you know, you're only as good as the musicians you have around you". In other words, she explained, if t you are surrounded in your band with substandard musicians, you can only play and expand as far as thier abilities will allow you to. If you're playing with great musicians, you'll play better. If you're playing with substandard players, you're playing can only go as far as they will let it. If they aren't playing the right chords and arrangements, and they aren't able to learn the material correctly, you can only follow what they play.
In a way, she has a point.
What are your opinions?

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Life is like a sh*t sandwich. The more bread you have, the less sh*t you have to eat.

My opinion is to not play down to their level but rather play to your level and have them strive to catch up with you. That way everyone progresses. Of course as Martian would say...YMMV!!

Sounds like a very true statement, back to the "weakest link" thing.

When we lost 2 members for different reasons and found ourselves as a 3 pc with a singer we were all forced to step up what we did. Beefing up and adding to fill the now empty spots. We worked it out together, hopefully your band can do the same.

I disagree.

If they are better than you, obviously, you'll learn stuff and be on your toes at all times which of course, shall keep you fresh. If they are worse than you, you'll still learn stuff in terms of plugging holes and shall receive acute, "on the job training" in terms of elevating tunes up to some acceptable level thereby avoiding a 'train wreck' on stage. If they are the same as you, your comfort zone will allow you to experiment here and there in a mentally balanced mode unlike the prior two scenarios.

Of course, this is merely, IMO where YMMV.

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You dig?

I don't think that playing with substandard players will have anegative effect on anyones playing but it can be frustrating if you are used to playing with high caliber musicians and then find yourself in with a bunch who don't know diddly.I had that experience several years ago when I was asked to play with a group that was being formed I played one gig with them and left with the bass player and drummer,we formed our own group and did quite well.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I hope you didn't mind me using your closing tag of YMMV Martian. I did credit it to you my friend.

Not at all. It is a most succinct and efficient statement which spares both the typist and the reader time. Feel free to use it whenever you deem it being appropriate!

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You dig?

You're only as good as your effort.

I agree wholeheartedly with martian (i think he may be a genius at stating things some us think, in a plain and straightforward manner.)

There are many opportunities to improve no matter who you play with.
There is a certain level of competence that people need in order to play live, and there shouldn't be a giant gulf in skill level between players. but that said if everyone prepares and works hard then it can get better.

I found in the past that if I felt my playing was getting stale that the problem was me. i think it may be a sign your head is not completely in the game. You have to figure out why that is. For me it usually wasn't that I was being lazy (though once it certainly was,) but each time it had to do with me not being happy with the band. A couple times it was a signal that the time had passed for those particular groups, and a couple times all it needed was a shake up of the set list. Maybe you need to write some new material?
YMMV

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

I agree with you and Martian but if you are carrying the rest of the players on your back and constantly fill in the holes it gives the rest little incentive to improve and can become frustrating. Although is is the right thing to help your fellow members to improve as much as you can.

Yeah Hop, that's why I said the gulf can't be too big. AND everyone needs to put in the effort. That was actually why i left one of the bands i was in. The reason my head wasn't in it then was the guys i was playing with were lethargic. Sometimes you have no choice but to move on, but sometimes the issue might just be that you are playing the same stuff, and are getting bored.

Helping your fellow musicians is great, for jamming, and casual get togethers, but once you start playing out, everyone needs to be on the same page.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

I like playin' at blues jams with many different levels of players. I've learned more, with doing that. The great players motivate me and make me step-up a notch, and the not so good sets, help to step up and try to save set, by all players. Sometimes you can learn more from mistakes. I find that recording practice and gigs, help band mates to realize mistakes and, motivate mates to work harder to improve as individuals, as well as a group. unfortunitely I always find I need tons of improvement.

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2012 American Vintage Telecaster 1958
09 Fender american deluxe strat.
97 Gibson les paul special P90's double-cut
65 Princeton reverb re-issue
2010 Guild Gad-F40e

While she has a point, I think that "you're only as good as you push yourself to be".

It's easy to fall into ruts
It's easy to settle into a comfort zone
It's easy to "be satisfied"

Always push yourself and you will grow and improve as a player.

MT

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

I agree with that. You`ll encourage them to catch up to you playing at your own level.

i kinda agree with this although at them same time it also depends if you've given up on learning anything new or your just stuck in your comfort zone and can't be bothered to set yourself goals. For example, mine were to learn chicken picking, sweep picking and more scales. I can do the first two now and I am still learning more scales and some more obscure chords than just 5ths and open chords. Its down to yo,u just as much as your the standard of your band. I've learnt stuff from musicians in one band and not alot in the other band, but by incorperating new techniques or styles adds a different flavour and keeps things fresh, aswell as this, your practicing your new technique at every session and gig. Just my opinion. I maybe right, i maybe wrong.

You're only as good as your last performance. Just wanted to say that.

While it's true that you're only as strong as the weakest link in the chain, the attitude and personality of this weakest link has more to do with the bands over all performance and progress.

Does the player want to get better or is that player cool with being mediocre 'cause they're on stage at the party and that's all that matters.

Every member of the band, regardless of talent, should strive to have a better performance than the last one. The minute someone starts to think they've made it and no longer need to improve is the moment stagnation sets in.

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"Persistence Is The Father Of Invention"
-Crazy Old Man In Training