Anyone sometimes hate the sound their own guitar playing

paulcaye · September 2020

Hi All,

After recently purchasing a looper, I have come to the conclusion that sometimes I really hate the sound / feel of my recorded playing. (Not that it probably sounds much better when live). It just feels a bit too mechanical at the moment.

Does anyone else get this?

viz · September 2020

Everyone does

octatonic · September 2020

Go play in a band.
Then you will hate the playing of others.

Danny1969 · September 2020

The trick is to keep recording it and improve / change the things you hate about the playing. We multitrack every gig and have done for years and listening back has made me a better player I think.

WiresDreamDisasters · September 2020

All the time! Especially when I'm playing alone. When I'm in a band situation, totally different thing.

richman6100 · September 2020

Yes, but I'm chronically talent-challenged. I suspect that most people feel this way, apart from those who are really talented or great at recording.

Roland · September 2020

Anyone who doesn’t hear problems in their playing isn’t listening hard enough. How else are you going to improve?

TheBigDipper · September 2020

All of the above.

munckee · September 2020

I find it easier not to use the looper pedal.

Barquentine · September 2020

There's nothing that can make your playing sound more mechanical than a looper. I used one for about a week and hated it.

rockinmark · October 2020

I find the looper a useful tool for learning. Hearing a recording of my playing helps me pick up on mistakes that I'm not always aware of. Gives me a true idea if what I actually sound like

Funkfingers · October 2020

Danny1969 said:

The trick is to keep recording it and improve / change the things you hate about the playing.

I learnt this fairly early on in my home recording history.

The four tack cassette recorder offered the possibility to create backing tracks over which to overdub tedious noodly solos. Unfortunately, I quickly noticed that my rhythm guitarist half was overplaying and had an indifferent sense of timing. I set to work, rectifying my sloppiness. Unfortunately, this made me intolerant of anyone else who is as bad as I used to be.

There is a character in my area who could learn a great deal from recording himself and listening back attentively. He steadfastly refuses to invest time or money in this. He cannot understand why nobody wants to join the band he wishes to start or invites him to join theirs.