Played for 35+ years and it's only become apparent over the last few weeks that I think I am picking too hard- especially when out gigging.
I've noticed that I have been setting off the peak light on my wireless but only when gigging - in the house no matter how hard I try I can't..
I initially thought it was pickup heights or something on my new PRS but after readjusting it's still happening..
It makes sense as I sometimes struggle with getting the fluidity I get at home vs in the heat of a gig.
Anyone else suffer with this and any advice?
Comments
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Compressor I use yes but perhaps not enough and I might try something out with that.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
If stage nerves cause you to pick harder, they may also increase the pressure that you apply to the strings on the fretboard. Consequently, everything you play on stage may be sounding slightly sharp.
This is the guitar equivalent of a drummer speeding up. (Pardon my French.)
the cure is playing live as much as is possible..
they don't go away [never went away for me] but you get used to it.. they become familiar..
I no longer consider nerves as a bad thing and I no longer get the shakes
I decided to reassign them mentally from something bad to something good..
they are a sign that I respect what I'm about to do, respect who I'm doing it with
and most of all respect the people that part with their hard earned to come to see us..
now when I get nerves before a show, they remind me that my head is in the right place
they make me feel good and honest that I will perform to the absolute best of my ability at that moment..
I imagine a set of scales in perfect balance..
on one side you have confidence
not so much that you are cock sure or don't care
enough so that you know you are well prepared, not out of your depth, that you and your gear are good enough
on the other you have fear
not so much that it's debilitating in a way that'll compromise your performance or worse.. cause you to freeze
but enough to remind you that what you are doing matters to you, your bandmates and the audience