GAS...........Not!
I wrote this out mainly for my own benefit. I thought I'd share it here.
We all know GAS, Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. In my experience, it is often accompanied by BAS--Barely Adequate Skill. \"Sure, my playing is so-so, but let's talk about my Guitar!\"
I've been trying to replace GAS with SAS--Skill Acquisition Syndrome. I want to get excited over being a better guitar player. I want to be a musician, not just a guitar owner. When I find myself longing for that beautiful custom axe, hopefully I can refocus that desire into more practice time to sound better on the perfectly good guitar I already have.
And we can all improve, can't we? But it takes work and it takes focus. \"What do I need to improve, and how do I best go about improving it?\" \"How's my progress? What achievements can I point to that are the pay-off for my recent practice sessions?\"
\"But I'm in a rut!\"
As a whole, our overall playing has it's peaks and valleys. We can have an artistic rut, feeling uninspired. We can have a mechanical rut, difficult licks that flowed last month just don't seem to be working now. There's no getting around this, it's just the way we're made. But ruts do come to an end.
While in a rut however, you can still learn a new song, right? Or learn a new lick, or picking pattern, or clean up your rythym playing, or...the possibilities are limitless. Be focused and be patient. And when you come out of the rut, you'll be better than ever.
Replace GAS with an \"I don't need a *Status Symbol Guitar* to sound good\" attitude. If you are not satisfied, or better yet, moved by your playing, then improve. Pay your dues. Cuz yer gonna suck just as much on that dream guitar.
We all know GAS, Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. In my experience, it is often accompanied by BAS--Barely Adequate Skill. \"Sure, my playing is so-so, but let's talk about my Guitar!\"
I've been trying to replace GAS with SAS--Skill Acquisition Syndrome. I want to get excited over being a better guitar player. I want to be a musician, not just a guitar owner. When I find myself longing for that beautiful custom axe, hopefully I can refocus that desire into more practice time to sound better on the perfectly good guitar I already have.
And we can all improve, can't we? But it takes work and it takes focus. \"What do I need to improve, and how do I best go about improving it?\" \"How's my progress? What achievements can I point to that are the pay-off for my recent practice sessions?\"
\"But I'm in a rut!\"
As a whole, our overall playing has it's peaks and valleys. We can have an artistic rut, feeling uninspired. We can have a mechanical rut, difficult licks that flowed last month just don't seem to be working now. There's no getting around this, it's just the way we're made. But ruts do come to an end.
While in a rut however, you can still learn a new song, right? Or learn a new lick, or picking pattern, or clean up your rythym playing, or...the possibilities are limitless. Be focused and be patient. And when you come out of the rut, you'll be better than ever.
Replace GAS with an \"I don't need a *Status Symbol Guitar* to sound good\" attitude. If you are not satisfied, or better yet, moved by your playing, then improve. Pay your dues. Cuz yer gonna suck just as much on that dream guitar.
Comments
The other day i saw this kid playing in a really bad band - they couldnt play their instruments at all - and he was playing one of those Zakk Wylde LP's. AFter they finished playing (which wasnt metal stuff at all - whats with the metal idol's guitar?) i asked him who Zakk Wylde was just to test his knowledge - HE DIDNT KNOW!!!!
but yes i agree, all these players that are incredible didnt have expensive guitars , take van halen - he sprung onto the scene with a home made guitar!!
Practice is everything and I also believe practicing a wide range of music is helpful. I just play for myself now but long ago when I played professionally putting food on the table did away with musical idealism very quickly. Unless you are going to be the one in a million rock, contyr, rap, etc... star you had better be able to play several styles to allow you to eat.
If all you can play is metal or country or rock then those are the gigs you have limited yourself to. Last few years that I gigged I just got calls and showed up at various clubs, private parties, convention halls, etc.... Might have a cowboy hat on one night playing Merle, a headband on the next night playing Hendrix and a Tux on the next night playing tea for two. Combine playing 3 or 4 nights a week with several students during the day time, or commision sales at a music store and you can make a fair, but not great living.
And all that junk about rehearsal with the band is nothing but extra work. I don't mind jammin with anybody, but this nonsense to rehearse 3 chord stuff all the players can play in their sleep is nonesense. Whoever's booking the gig will usually just say so and so in the key of whatever and the band just picks up and plays it.
Being able to sight read is big plus as well to land those society and recording gigs. Versatility means more gig opprutinies which equals more money.
Still no health insurance, no pension plan. To eeke out an existence playing music for a living you have to love music to the point where you eat and sleep it and can't consider doing anything else. I was that way for a long time.
Finally the whole scene just got to be a job for me. Just a real BAD case of the burnout. I looked around and figured, \"Hell if it's a job, I can find one that pays better than this\". That's when I just layed it down for 25 years and wouldn't even play a guitar.
You're right Buzzby, The player makes the guitar not vice-versa. On the other hand a great player on a crummy guitar still sounds great, but a true piece of art in his hands and thats when you really see a virtuoso at his best. Great player and great guitar in perfect harmony.
Just a few months ago I picked it up again and my technique is slowly getting back to it's old form. But the main thing is that I am finally having FUN playing music again. This time it's for FUN and that makes all the difference.
I'm out of here for a couple of weeks, I'll check the board when I get back.
See Ya,
Tal
What does it matter that he has a good guitar and can't play as well as others? Or for that matter that he didn't know who Zakk is? The important thing is that he's up there doing it and enjoying it!!! I have just started learning guitar and bought a Vintage LP copy very cheaply. I can't recall ever having the fun I get from messing about with my \"cheap\" guitsar and GNX doing anything else legally!!! Yes if I had a spare £2k I would buy the genuine article or even better, would love to have well off parents who would buy one for me. I don't think I would be wrong if I done this and if anyone else did (think it was wrong) then that's their business. Maybe people with this kind of attitude should address the issues they face which make them condescend to such patronising views.
Key to having a good guitar is a good playing guitar will boost your ability and enthusiasm to get better. I always knew who would be first to quit when I was instructing by the guitar the parent purchased for the student. Students with better guitars played more and learned faster, had less discomfort. Now take the pride factor. Nice guitars were very well kept, cheap guitars they brought in without a case. There are some exceptions but most of the time, a higher quality guitar will lead a player to learn faster and play more.
What i was saying is that i dont think that people should go out and buy expensive guitars when they are learning because you do not appreciate the good guitar when you become competent. You never know what a \"cheap\" guitar was like so you will never know the benefit f a expensive guitar.
And when i was saying about who Zakk is, i thought it was interesting buying a guitar named \"Zakk Wylde Les Paul\" and not taking not of the name and researching a bit.
I actually totally agree with you when you say about getting a cheap guitar and having fun. A good guitar wont make you any better, but when you do get better and buy a better guitar, you appreciate it.
I am not an acomplished guitarist but I think I agree a bit with both sides . You need to have a \"functional guitar\". To me that means a neck with decent action that stays in tune somewhat. My epi had to have some fret work done and with some replacement seymours it will rise to the occasion. It plays as well as I can. so I have the ablity to work on my skills correctly. You can learn on a cheap guitar (thats built correctly) but thats just one obstical in many that you can do away with by simply learing how to set up your neck. which should be part of your learning experiance with your instructor anyway.
My (rambleing) point is \" diffrent strokes for diffrent folks. My freind who plays much better than I learned because he got to play on his fathers classic LP and it inspred him to want to play with a skillset that matched the guitars quality. It kinda bugs me when I see a great guitar not being used to what I think might be its full potential but I guess thats just me bieng a bit jealouse of there good fortune at owning it in the first place . :oops:
It takes away all excuses!!!
IMHO
KT
To each is own - what ever inspires you to play \"like a rock star.\" Hell, I'd be happy smashing $200 guitars every night if the girls would throw their panties at me.
I was a rock star (legend in my own mind)in 1989 with my Black Def Leppard edition Ibanez Destroyer...3 double humbuckers :!: I replaced the bridge pup with a Invader. That guitar turned up to 11 and a full length mirror...put in JP British steel (grinder) and I was a Rock God ! :twisted: :shock:
thats the way
by the way how did those 3 double humbucker sound? (i like humbuckers)
Like Ace Frehley of course! :twisted:
Actually the Invader was so freekin loud and rastey it was great.
I like the tone of big guitars like firebirds, destroyers.exploreres. etc they are heavy to gig with and you crashem into everything at practise but they look so cool and sound so PHAT :twisted:
Billy gibons plays some big ole heavy guitars in his shows. along with Rick Nelson of Cheap trick. I always dug seeing all the guitars they brought out to play. :P
P.s. I am the freekin worst speller ever :roll: :oops: man this forum needs a spell checker :roll:
I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one!
If I'm writing a long post I'll often do it in MS Word so I can spell check the damn thing, then copy and paste it into PHP! :shock:
KT
Hahaha, tell me about it, the only reaction I get from the missus is \"turn that f*****g thing down, can't hear myself think\". In her mind I'm mid-life-crisis man, in my mind I'm Hendrix, Page, EVH etc. Until, of course, it's time to take the trash out!
TY
shando
:x My wifes the same way dude! Never mind the fact I have been playing in some sort of band since I was 12. I put the fiddle down for a couple of years and when I pick it back up now its some kinda mid life crisis! No I finally came to my sences and disided music is one of the few things that help keep me somewhat sane while trying to raise these kids of mine.
I guess if you don't play you just don't \"get it\" :twisted:
:twisted: Rawk on Buddy! 8)
John R
What's a double humbucker? Did this Destroyer have 6 pickups????
:roll: :oops: Thats just me being a dork...I ment 3 HUMBUCKERS.
I think it was the Phil Collins model.
It's at that point my missus would have asked if that's some kind of hillbilly sexact!