This is the silliest question yet

My grade 11 science teacher used to always tell the class that there are no stupid questions and I'd always mutter under my breath "yah but there's a lot of inquisitive idiots."

_________________

Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

when you can play what you want to play, exactly how you want to play it, and not give a $@!& what other people think.

_________________
1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

There are no stupid questions just stupid people. Kind of the same

I can think of one thread in the not too distant past on this subject. I would guess there are more though. I don't remember what my response was then. The ones so far moving towards a threshold of self actualization are how it happens with differences in approach as subtle as fingerprints each experience every person with the same result, becoming a guitarist.
Virtuosity is more like Michael Angelo Batio because he can shred for two, lol. I met him during a cable television taping and he is the nicest most gracious guitar player and he really does play those songs two guitar parts with the double guitar Vai and Satriani at your fingertips.

_________________
you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

"Good" is a relative term.

You're good if people like what you're doing.

I myself additionally differentiate between people with obvious musical understanding and the "normal music listener" without musical background.

So there's two "goods" for me: the one that touches people no matter what they know about music and the one that comes from "appreciation/admiration" of other musicians.

I'd say the "touch factor" is the most important one, since it reaches more people, even though it depends on their musical taste. You can be Mr. Guitar God himself, it won't help if they hate the music style you're playing.

Musicians can (or should!) be able of determining your skills independently from WHAT you are playing. Of course there's "if it's not metal, it's bull***" -musicians, too.

To sum it up: if people like to listen to your playing without seeing you, you're good! This can be good in the meaning of song writing or in the meaning of playing performance or both.
As someone mentioned before: you needn't to be artistic, you need to move people and that can be done by just one single note in a composition.

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

Are you a split personality type...is it funny or am I an A**hole? You asked a question, don't be an A**hole about the responses you get...Chill...I was joking and being a SMARTA**

Here is another answer...you KNOW your good, when the speach being given about you starts with "And the next artist entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is..."

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.

You know that you're a good guitar player when a lot of the same people show up at different venues to see you play or when each time you play at a particular venue the audience grows in number and enthusiasm.

_________________
'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.

When you realise that you'll never be quite as good as Jeff Beck

_________________

my stuff on soundcloud

I actually think Buxom may be on to something here. Although it would have been just as insightful and a lot less cynical had he left off the "and not give a $@!& what other people think" part.

OK but what if Jeff Beck is still wondering if he's "good" yet?

_________________

Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

^^ Ah well exuberant youth....

It is a subjective question which requires an objective answer...

Throughout this thread there are multiple comparisons of Steve Vai versus Keith Versus.
I don't get the comparison, Keef usually plays in an open G tuning, very blues based, more of a simplistic approach to get to where he wants. Quite successful and I often chuckle when I go to a club and hear a band play Stones tunes but something is off.... Which then hints that playing in just the Open G is not quite all there is to it....
Steve Vai ..... Let's see at 16 he was transcribing for Frank Zappa, attended Berklee school of music, his work is well catalogued, just recently joined up with Sharon Isbin ( she is one that will make you return to the books ).
I like some of his work, some I don't, however stating that someone who plays 16th / 8th note passages in unusual scales and knows the applicable theory behind his music is to be dismissed as frivolity is rather idiotic.

By that same token would one state that Albert Lee or Vince Gill is just fodder for the masses ?
They often play well beyond the average guitarist capabilities, or John 5 or let's see I'll name a few and perhaps someone may know who I'm talking about.
Oscar Lopez, Kim Simmonds, Tommy Bolin, Peppino D'agostino, Julian Bream, Mason Ruffner, Earl Slick, Robben Ford, Al Dimeola ..... Nicolo Paganini ( known mostly as a violin virtuoso, but he was also quite adept at the guitar as well as composing for it. )

There are multiple examples of guitarists to aspire to, being good is not really the description it should rather be proficiency, the ability to play in the styles of Jazz, R/B, Classical which then may allow you to be able to earn a living from playing music in sessions....

....When you are playing at a store demoing some gear and a friend that has recorded with a top act comes in, listens and likes what he hears and states that we should get together..
.... When your musical direction encompasses styles of music and instrumentation which motivates you to spend valuable time adapting, learning and understanding the musical influence....
..... When not just your peers but others Older (much ) or Younger (much ) ask if you are playing with/in a band or/and would you attend their bash ....
.....When you are actually considering playing solely for the pursuit of music rather than a social need to be liked .....

_________________
"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Judging from recent interviews, he is still on a personal quest ...

_________________
"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Not a silly question.

First of all, you have to take ego out of the equation, which is difficult for some players (and people in general)...

Secondly, you have to remember the subjectiveness of the term "Good", especially in relating to a particular skill. A person may be very good at cooking Pond Scum Soup, but I'm still not going to eat it...I assume you are referring to an artist, whether his/her playing is to your personal liking or not, who is recognized as "accomplished in his/her genre."

Having said that, I do not think of myself as a "good" musician, but I am confident that I can play certain things fairly well. I am a passable rhythm guitarist, a decent lead guitarist, a better-than-decent slide guitarist, a good songwriter, an okay singer and a pretty good blues harp (harmonica) player. I can play other genres than blues--classic rock and Outlaw Country aren't out of my realm, and I can sing jazz--but I generally don't play much outside of these styles, except for the rare just-for-fun excursion.

The point is: I would never, ever be considered "good" at 80's hair metal or Yngwie/Vai-style shred (bores me after one or two songs) nor can I play pop, classical, flemenco or jazz (even though I enjoy these genres)...but I'm pretty dang good at the Texas Roadhouse style I've been playing for 20+ years.

So I agree with your initial supposition:
Keith Richards (one of my favorites) and Kirk Hammett (meh) ARE both very good at what they do.

There are other players who are better technically, but there's not really anybody out there who can "out-Keef" Keith...but to put him in a band with Metallica would be a collosal disaster

...and whether Hammett is respected across the board or not, he's been able to develop a style and carve out a niche that fits what his band does very well...but in the Stones, he would be a distraction and a detriment.

I ultimately agree with Buxom's definition of good.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

exactly what BMW said. exactly.