Guitar wise......what do you know now that you didn't know 10-15 years ago ?

Telejester · October 2017

( Donning fogey cap ) what I know now includes:

You don't need ALL THAT distortion

All that shredding in the guitar shop, those listening think you are a berk and they ain't listening

Tremolo systems of any kind whatsoever ain't for me at all

You don't have to slavishly learn something to an ocd degree, inject some of you into the music

A band is only as strong as it's weakest member, learn to think as a team as it's all not about you

Look up what humility means

That's some of my philosophical thinking, with experience what have you learnt ?

Bridgehouse · October 2017

Bass is just more bloody enjoyable to play live..

thumpingrug · October 2017

Buying lots of guitars, because the next one might make you play better, really is a fallacy.

Telejester · October 2017

Bridgehouse said:

Bass is just more bloody enjoyable to play live..

Depends what you are playing I suppose. I think if you are playing basslines by the late great chic bassist Bernard edwards then the world is a happier place. If you are playing shite like coldplay then don't sit near any sharp implements for your own safety.

richardhomer · October 2017

thumpingrug said:

Buying lots of guitars, because the next one might make you play better, really is a fallacy.

Yeah - I really agree with that. ‘Consumerism’ seemed to hit the guitar market in a big way in the mid-late 90s through to mid-2000s.

I like having a main guitar that’s a ‘constant’. I never really bought into the boutique pedal thing - but most sounds you need can be obtained from Boss & MXR pedals.

hotpickups · October 2017

It's all in the hands, timing and a small thing called talent. That's what I've learnt and no amount of hand wired gear is gonna make you sound better. Other than make you feel better which might have some contributing factor to a live performance I guess

Bridgehouse · October 2017

Telejester said:

Bridgehouse said:

Bass is just more bloody enjoyable to play live..

Depends what you are playing I suppose. I think if you are playing basslines by the late great chic bassist Bernard edwards then the world is a happier place. If you are playing shite like coldplay then don't sit near any sharp implements for your own safety.

Originals. I've just really enjoyed writing and playing bass lines far more than I've ever enjoyed playing guitar in any live setting..

Whitecat · October 2017

I’d rather have one or two really bloody nice guitars than 10 “inexpensive” ones.

With a few exceptions to the rule of course.

m_c · October 2017

You have to practice properly, and not just the bits you want to do.

HAL9000 · October 2017

That despite being a guitar god in my own bedroom (and in my own mind), I won't have a single original idea when playing with other people.

That less is more. Better to play a two-note phrase well than to play a more challenging lick badly.

That a Tele and a no-frills amp can still have me grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

Telejester · October 2017

HAL9000 said:

That despite being a guitar god in my own bedroom (and in my own mind), I won't have a single original idea when playing with other people.

That less is more. Better to play a two-note phrase well than to play a more challenging lick badly.

That a Tele and a no-frills amp can still have me grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

Absolutely agree with the less is more chain of thought. I spent a lot of time really perfecting Gary moores out in the fields solo as I used to play it in a band I was in. It's hard enough to pick that fast and clean when you play along with the record, but add in an enthusiastic drummer and a live environment and you have to factor in another 10 BPM. I was able to do it, but tell you what.....I got more pleasure playing Sheryl Crow my favourite mistake on a nice Tele straight into a clean amp. All that woodshedding shit is for practicing in the bedroom as few want to hear it nor give a toss.

Bridgehouse · October 2017

An evening with an acoustic can be one of the most enjoyable ways of playing...

Telejester · October 2017

Bridgehouse said:

An evening with an acoustic can be one of the most enjoyable ways of playing...

Tune it to dadgad and play out on the western plain by Rory Gallagher and just smile at yourself.

Bridgehouse · October 2017

Telejester said:

Bridgehouse said:

An evening with an acoustic can be one of the most enjoyable ways of playing...

Tune it to dadgad and play out on the western plain by Rory Gallagher and just smile at yourself.

Love dadgad. For some reason I love it even more capo'd at the 2nd...

Telejester · October 2017

Bridgehouse said:

Telejester said:

Bridgehouse said:

An evening with an acoustic can be one of the most enjoyable ways of playing...

Tune it to dadgad and play out on the western plain by Rory Gallagher and just smile at yourself.

Love dadgad. For some reason I love it even more capo'd at the 2nd...

Ever check out dadgad master Pierre Bensusan, that is a dude who can seriously play.

Voxman · October 2017

Instead of thinking the next piece of gear will make you sound better, learn to really understand and get the best out of the gear that you have

Learning about EQ is key, and having an EQ pedal on your board is the best investment you can make.

Less is more - it's at least as much about the notes you're not playing as well as the notes you are

Don't start with a crescendo of sound because you have no where to go - learning to build your sound is crucial

Whatever style you like to play, listen to lots of different styles of music...it's amazing what new things you'll discover, what familiar ground you'll find, and you'll also discover that what you think is new...isn't.

Feel is way more important than technical skills - BB King can do more with three notes than most players can do with 12!

I've learned that slide-guitar and experimenting with different tunings is good fun

And finally...some of the best musicians and guitarists in the world are...and I'm being deadly serious here...country players!

wayneirie · October 2017

drop that g to f for the saddest tuning ever

notanon · October 2017

I have to play sitting down :-(

RMJ · October 2017

Buy the best guitar you can afford and stick with it. Love it.

HAL9000 · October 2017

Voxman said:

And finally...some of the best musicians and guitarists in the world are...and I'm being deadly serious here...country players!

^True. I've been saying this for a couple of years to anybody who will listen.

It's strange how (generally) the best players used to be the blues-rock musicians, then rock, whilst country players were often strumming 'cowboy' chords. Now plenty of country players are very accomplished indeed.

That certainly isn't to say that there aren't great players in other genres, but it is noticeable how much country has evolved.

guitars4you · October 2017

a good guitar is a good guitar and bad one is a bad one - regardless of make, value, age

The guitar that feels right, plays right and sounds right is a far better option than the one that only looks right

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Guitar wise......what do you know now that you didn't know 10-15 years ago ?

Comments