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April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | What are your weaknesses / drawbacks / limitations as a guitarist or musician?
My answer:
I'm too scalar (for lack of a better term -- no, not scaly). I can get repetitive. I need a longish time (15 minutes) to warm-up. More frequently than I'd like to admit, I lack imagination. I can lack the touch and feel necessary to turn a nice melody into an exquisite one. I ONLY improvise, so my playing is heavy on spontaneity; light on structure and discipline. In other words, not well-balanced. If I rip through a really nice solo, I can't guarantee that I can repeat it the next time I try it. Worse still, I can't even be sure I REMEMBER what I just did in order to repeat it, 'cause it's probably the first time I've done it.
I can't read music, and don't know theory. So, if I do something nice, I can't tell you WHY it was nice. When I solo, many of my musical ideas are too vague; on the order of: I think I'll head down now, or I think I'll play fast now. Or I think I'll slow it down. I have a poor sense of rhythm, so I tend to punt on rhythm. I lack confidence overall in my musical abilities. I'm pretty sure that I have more limitations than I have strengths.
What would you like to overcome, in order to move to the next level?
My answer:
Get more discipline. Do more structured playing, with the goal being to become able to make repeatable songs that I can build on, not just "soundscapes," or "textures." Do more structured practicing to develop highly repeatable skills in support of the goal of repeatable songs. Learn more theory in order to be able to understand why some things sound as they do, so I can pursue them more deeply. Develop better rhythm. Slow down and focus more on melody and putting more personality and character into each note, rather than playing more notes. I think if I can do these things, that will greatly increase my confidence so that I can go to the level AFTER the next level!
Then, develop an "act." and play out.
You? |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Alan, you're far too critical of yourself. Granted your tunes are not something that soccer moms can sing along to on the car radio. But the deep under current of emotion that comes out through your playing is something very special and (for me) difficult to put into words. It shows a pretty profound connection with your inner self and it seems to me that you have tapped into a channel that allows a very unique form of musical expression. And for the record I think you ARE cute as a button. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | Don't take that too seriously. Gallerinski likes outies too.... |
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January 2006
Posts: 1128
Location: NW Washington State | I've lost my grip. Literally, not figuratively. Well, OK, maybe both. |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | My weakness; I'm too lazy to put in the hours to get better
My drawback; I'm too lazy to put in the hours to get better
My limitation; I'm too lazy to put in the hours to get better.
My overview; considering the length of time I've been playing guitar, I'm so crap. At least I know why though. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 574
Location: Denmark | One thing is that I am too much musician and too little showman. I would like us to emit more energy to our audience when we play gigs. This I have found to be far more important that technical perfection.
Another thing is that I am often late for practice sessions. Typically because of lastminute editing and printing of arrangements though - but still ... |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | You know the saying..."Talent is a love of practice".
That's my weakness. I really don't like to practice. For me, playing is a social event. I love playing in a group.
That makes practice tough. I'll go on tears every once in a while where I'll learn a bunch of new stuff and expand my game a bit, but most of the time, its just the weekly grind. Play at church, noodle during the week. Stagnant.
But by and large I'm as good as I need to be, even if I'm not as good as I know I could be. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Weakness? I worry about what others think, and let that color my choices and my playing. The better musicians do THEIR thing and ignore outside influences. |
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February 2004
Posts: 34
Location: here | My fingers |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | No Rhythm |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I wish I was . . .
more musician and less artist;
as good as my gear;
young enough to play for another 50 years. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | What's the MATTER with me?
Nothing.
You want a different answer?
Ask my wife. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 815
Location: Colorado | Dark bar, Prof, and Beal, I'm right there with all of what each of you said. And with my 8 year-old, David, wearing out his Rogue (thanks again Iffy!), I'm not even the biggest rock star in my own house any more. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | Originally posted by Beal:
What's the MATTER with me?
Nothing.
You want a different answer?
Ask my wife. Lol!
Sad to say, I might be able to one-up here: ask my ex-wife. However, THAT perspective would be more subjective and slanted than anything I could ever offer up!
Sooooooooo...Mrs. Beal? What say you? |
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April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | Originally posted by dark bar:
Weakness? I worry about what others think, and let that color my choices and my playing. The better musicians do THEIR thing and ignore outside influences. DB: HUGE can o'worms! The relationship between the performer and the audience. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by AlanM:
Originally posted by dark bar:
Weakness? I worry about what others think, and let that color my choices and my playing. The better musicians do THEIR thing and ignore outside influences. DB: HUGE can o'worms! The relationship between the performer and the audience.
It is a compromise, I suppose. |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Can't read music, though I can follow chords well enough. I certainly don't practice as much as I used to, but that's OK as I have a family now. I suppose my greatest weakness as a musician is that I don't devote as much of my life to music as I used to. But part of life is shifting priorities, and so it goes. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | I do all my own stunts... |
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April 2010
Posts: 1227
Location: Connersville, Indiana | Back when I started playing and learning other peoples music I found I had a hard time singing the songs. So I just started writing my own. I play rhythm very well but I do not play lead. I wish I could. Sure I can play a lick or two but thats it. I try to get better with every song I write.
Kit Mann Ovation Plug it in |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | 1. Arthritis
2. Chronic Neck and back pain
3. Too dependent on pain meds.
4. Way too busy. Not enough playing/practice time.
5. Hypoglycemia
6. Etc... |
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March 2010
Posts: 486
Location: Suisun City, Ca | I think I have an artists heart along with a Boilermakers talent. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | Originally posted by AstroDan:
I think I have an artists heart along with a Boilermakers talent. You went to Purdue? |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Alan, you're far too critical of yourself. Granted your tunes are not something that soccer moms can sing along to on the car radio. But the deep under current of emotion that comes out through your playing is something very special and (for me) difficult to put into words. It shows a pretty profound connection with your inner self and it seems to me that you have tapped into a channel that allows a very unique form of musical expression. And for the record I think you ARE cute as a button. First: Thank you for your very kind words, Dave! Second: I almost fell out of my chair laughing at your last line! |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Don't laugh....Dave's got a real eye for beauty. Check out his gallery. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| I play the guitar worse than moody. |
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What's the MATTER with you?
