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Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | OK, just voted. I can't be a beginner, 'cause I teach. I can't be advanced, because I teach, and one of the most important things I teach is that you can always get better, there will always be someone better than you, and if you want it badly enough, you can do it. So, someday, I will be advanced. (But if the day ever comes when I think I am, it'll be all over.) |
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October 2004
Posts: 256
Location: chicago | If you are not having fun then your no good to anybody. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | Depends on what I'm attempting to play. Sometime I can dazzle with BS.
I'm very much a beginner with the styles of music that interest me these days. But put an electric in my had and let me get a bit loud and crazy, well then I move up to a solid mediocre.
Oh, and I'm exercising my right NOT to vote :D |
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September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | I guess I'm a slow learner. Been at this for 40 years and I'm still in the beginner stage.
If I learned everything else this slowly I'd still be in grade school! |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | Originally posted by ProfessorBB:
Its just like skiing. I think I'm o.k. until I hit the really steep bumps covered in powder, then I reconnect with reality. i can relate to this brad. i suffered two rotator cuff injuries on powder in colorado. it was painfully embarrassing to be taken down wolf creek mountain in the red toboggan.
i do play guitar a mite better than i ski. we don't get much ski practice here. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12758
Location: Boise, Idaho | Damon, I'll look forward to meeting you at Miles'. We sound like polar opposites. I started out learning electric and never got it. I'm mediocre at acoustic. I thought I was getting good. Awhile ago I bumped into a guy I knew that was playing guitar in a trio. I told him I played a little and all three of them asked if I could play lead. Unfortunately, I had to say no. Someday. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Someday. That's what I keep saying about fingerstyle pickin' |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Oh come on , just 6 strings , how hard can it be...D..A..D..A..G..A..G..A..F#G , this is tiring..
Vic |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
Sometimes I surprise myself, but not often. My wife can't stand to hear me play. I have to wait till she's gone to practice. I am a hack at best. If I could sing, I'd score much higher... You've nailed me, TJ.
The guys at work think I'm fantastic, but anyone who actually PLAYS guitar would know instantly that I'm perpetually mediocre.
Where you're at depends on where your audience is at, I guess. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | HumblePie,
Could you repeat that chord progression again but type slower this time?  |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by alpep:
...people tell me I am a good player but when I listen to al demiola, alan holdsworth, joe pass, wes montgomery, jimi, etc etc etc, I don't put myself in any where close to that level of proficiency.
...I have a very difficult time with taking compliments about my playing because my standards are so high.
...I will never stop learning...
add me to the beginners The other day I was playing with my apartment door open, and a woman complimented me on my playing...
I have also heard my neighbors talking about "Who's that playing the guitar?" and saying I "ain't bad"...
BUT! None of these people Play Guitar!
I take these compliments graciously, But I know that I play like... well, not very great!
But I enjoy myself, and I will Always have something to Strive For!
(sorry for editing-butchering your quote, Al) |
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February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Odd thread in a way, nice to see if we have some talent in the crowd but that is best determined in person. I gave up playing for so long I had forgotten a lot of things I am still relearning today. As far as level; well I have a hard time rating myself as I can rip through some songs that are considered fairly difficult but that is beacuse like a monkey I have watched and used my ear to figure out note for note a song and sent it to the memory banks and practiced for some time to get it totally down. If you started off a simple song or if you needed an accompanyment on some other song I would be lost unless I cold see your hands and then have time to work out the patterns to keep up. As for Lead, well that defines a guitarist, there are a lot of guy's like me that can play songs from many bands with practice, but it is the guy's who understand scales and how the patterns work depending on the chord progressions, that are impressive to me. This takes you to the advanced category and I am not quite there yet. I am working on the leads I find I trip over myself at times trying to keep my picking hand up to speed with my note fingers. And it is harder coming down a lead progression than it is to run uphill. Also understanding and remembering the differences in MAjor and Minor..... So in this dicipline I am a total beginner, I think it was Al who said he is always learning, I guess that is the true sign of a good guitarist for any of us, right there. It has a lot to do with the endless quest for knowledge and the desire to keep up a diciplined practice schedule to apply what you have learned. I still say MUSIC is the best thing you can do for fun that is free! After you buy the instrument or instruments. ! Enjoy.
Randy |
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November 2006
Posts: 2241
Location: Simpsonville, SC | Rank Beginner!! :(
Always will be I suppose. Afraid that I started way too late in life, but it ain't stoppin the fun that I am havin!! :D |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | I voted and will have to agree with Al, "...I will never stop learning..."
To stop learning would take away a lot of the fun.
I do OK as I accompany myself. I play by ear.
A tip to the younger players while it is good to be able to play by ear, learn to read music. I never did and does limit me as a player. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Originally posted by 2ifbyC:
HumblePie,
Could you repeat that chord progression again but type slower this time?
Iffy , actually people pay me for not playing the guitar ...I`m that good.. :)
Vic
..Em7add11....get yer knee on that one , and ,yer in business.. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by HumblePie aka Solid Top:
..Em7add11....get yer knee on that one , and ,yer in business.. pfffttt... Em18 ...geeez 
Vic, I did have to look that one up. Cute... 
BTW, that one is now in my repertoire!  |
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December 2001
Posts: 7223
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I pretty much agree with what Al says. For me "mastering the guitar" simply means being able to play what I want. I'm not at that point, nor will I ever get there unless I decide to practice, play and learn more.
As far rating myself.. or anyone else for that matter.. again.. and I tell this to talent I am recording also. Play it until YOU are satisfied. If OTHER PEOPLE like it, that's just a bonus. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | your basic chord stummer
use mostly open chords as perfer the sound |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
I looking for the one that has the Dreamboat Annie/Crazy On You intro built-in (kinda like bundled software)... OMA, Good to see there is someone else with my delusions of grandeur. My goal for this year is to learn the intro to Crazy on You. I've got most of it down now and am working on speed. I'm up to about 55% (using the Software Amazing Slow Downer), but I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever get anywhere near 100%.
Let's have a race, see if one of us can hit 90% speed with 95% accuracy by the end of this year (or next?). |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | With all due respect to everyone, My intentions of this "poll" was to get a honest general idea on the abilities of this group comparing us to the Avereage Joe, Not Eric Clapton or any accomplished profesional musician. I have been playing now for 8 years. People who don't play tell me I'm a good guitar player. But, I'm smart enough to know that you WILL NEVER STOP LEARNING how to play.
I once described learnning guitar to a family member as "Think of an Iceberg" If the goal of your average "Joe Shmo" is to play 3-5 Chord songs and do nothing but strum Chords then that would be the "tip of the iceberg sticking out of the water". Stick your head under water and you see that the task of learnning everything there is to know about playing is impossible!!
The more you learn , the more you realize there is so much more!!
Thanks to all that voted. I beleive that some of you though are very modest!! You know who you are!! :D |
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May 2005
Posts: 486
Location: North Carolina | OK, so who are the eight (as of this post) who consider themselves advanced, and why?
I'll start by pleading guilty. I can play any song that interests me and at a level suitable to be played in public for money. The arrangements are complex, interesting and dynamic. They are not strum the chords and sing along. In my book, that's advanced; in others' books, it might not be.
I know it's not good form to toot your own horn, and when asked socially about my playing I'm very low key. But I'm good and I know it.
BT717 asked for honesty. |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | F.A. You are the MAN!!! :) |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Originally posted by NostrAdamas:
If you are not having fun then your no good to anybody. +1 for that!
I consider myself a solid intermediate. I play mostly rhythm guitar, but graduated past 3-chord songs a long time ago. The mastery of lead still eludes me, but I can play rhythmically with style any song I want, and can lead a band as well, so I'll sit solid in the middle. |
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June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | I'm a hack, end of story, as those who are attending the NW Jam will find out.
I really did think about my ability and guitar playing expertise when I considered attending the Jam.
Then I thought, what the heck?
I look at it as an opportunity to meet people with a common interest and I'll most likely learn more in those few days than could be taught by a tutor in a year.
AJ |
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February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Jim, learn? are you kidding, this bunch will just getcha drunk and play your guitars all weekend and you'll go home with cashews in your guitars.
The sad truth.
Wish you could bring the Deacon, that was originally brought into our fold through Miles. He can certainly tell you a great deal more about its history than I could as well. |
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Rate your Guitar playing ability: honestly
