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Post subject: How do you know when you are good?
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 9:51 pm
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This is a silly question coming from me because I've been playing for 18 years. But I never feel like I'm any good but I'm told by other guitarists that I am.

I don't think when I'm playing I just play. Is that when you know you are any good? When you just play and don't worry about being perfect like everyone has in their lives.

Or is it when you can play perfectly without thinking about it?

I try to play technically but my brain overrides that and says "JUST PLAY!"

It's late.

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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:05 pm
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First of all, lay off the Nyquil, my brother...just kidding. Maybe.

I've always felt that "good" was too subjective to really have a definition, but here goes:

You are good when people who don't know you, who have no reason to stroke your ego and who might never see you again, stop and say, "Hey man, that was good. I enjoyed that."

You're good when a musician and a non-musician both stop to listen to you, and enjoy your playing, even if it's for different reasons.

You're good when I like your music... :P

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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:32 pm
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Screamin' Armadillo is right. Good is a very subjective. I don't think there is any single defining aspect that marks the point in time when one is a "good" musician. There are a lot of guitarists that may not be as technical as the next guy, but if you're feeling the music you're playing and enjoying what you do, I think that is as good as it gets right there. I used to go around comparing myself to other guitarists and would get discouraged if I felt like what I was playing didn't quite add up to what they were playing. Once I found my own style, I feel like that made me feel like a good guitarist and then improving upon the technical aspects and mechanics of it all came more naturally because I was doing what felt right to me; not what someone else told me to do.

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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:32 pm
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Don't worry about it too much--let others tell you.

Other people think I'm better than I think I am.

But then I just play for fun...

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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:57 pm
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"my goal in the band, is to be the wost player i can be", josh homme.
I dont want to be good. cause then if I'm good, that takes away half the enjoyment I get out of playing guitar.

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Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 5:14 am
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Not very many people think they are as good as they really are. I remember the first time I realized I wasn't as bad as I thought I was. I was in the bedroom playing Lenny and my wife was folding clothes. When I finished the song and looked up my wife was just standing there staring at me and told me how good it sounded. After that I really stopped worrying about how good I was.

If you want to get over it you have to take on the attitude that you are good. I'm not the best guitarist and I make alot of mistakes but whether I'm playing at home or jamming with the guys I'm a rock star in my own mind. It sure makes it a hell of alot more fun.

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Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 5:21 am
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I have no idea what "good" means.

But I do think you can usually tell when you are better than some players, and less good than some others.

Even then I'm not sure how much it matters though. It's not an Olympic sport. It's music: it's about feeling and communication.

Cheers - C


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Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 5:49 am
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Ceri wrote:
I have no idea what "good" means.

But I do think you can usually tell when you are better than some players, and less good than some others.

Even then I'm not sure how much it matters though. It's not an Olympic sport. It's music: it's about feeling and communication.

Cheers - C


+1

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Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 6:29 am
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Good is when a GREAT player admires your playing.
Ex.1 Vince Gill said Jack Pearson is his favorite guitar player.
Ex.2 Jack Pearson told about seeing a guy down in Mississippi who played and he really was impressed with his style,he also said he doesn't know his name and has never seen him again,an unknown talent to the masses.

I heard both of these comments,and if either had said it about me,I would be on Cloud 9.
If you think you're really good...come to Nashville and see.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 6:36 am
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Ceri wrote:
I have no idea what "good" means.

But I do think you can usually tell when you are better than some players, and less good than some others.

Even then I'm not sure how much it matters though. It's not an Olympic sport. It's music: it's about feeling and communication.

Cheers - C


Yup, Ceri nailed it.


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Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 6:39 am
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One other thing about my last post and Nashville,when you play around here you never know who might be around,and it will make you very humble to see someone like Warren Haynes,or bassist Allen Woody watching,or old veterans like my friend Billy Ray Reynolds who backed Waylon for years and his friends like Dickey Betts or Dan Toler of the Allman Brothers in years past just to name a few.
This is a guitar town,and if you're a normal guitarist you can find yourself sweating bullets big time.
You don't strut around here like a guitar slinger if you have good sense,or somebody could burn you down.


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Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 7:55 am
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When you can sit down and play and just enjoy it. Ive been playin a long time yet everything I play is very simple yet people always tell me how good I am. Its just the sound I love to hear from my guitar.


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Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 9:26 am
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When the ladies start fighting each other for your attention, that is when your good. They do other stuff too.


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Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 9:30 am
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Screamin' Armadillo wrote:
You're good when a musician and a non-musician both stop to listen to you, and enjoy your playing, even if it's for different reasons.


And they say "you are good!"

When Nevin says you're good, then you ARE really good.

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Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 10:13 am
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When people stop throwing stuff at you when you play. :shock:

Actually, when you relax forget about the pressure and you have fun. There will always be someone who knows more, is faster, better, more creative, more technical. No matter what your skill level, there will always be someone who will love what you do. Just roll with that and be happy and have fun. You can either have fun of beat yourself up every time you play and never have fun.

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