Hardtail Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Would most of you say you've gotten better as musicians and/or guitar players (either one will do) over the last few years or have you stayed the same? In my case, I've gotten better but admittedly, I've had nowhere to go but up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Patrick Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Absolutely. I hope to continue to improve as long as I'm able to hold a guitar... My band recently finished up a CD. The recording process was a huge learining experience. We did the recording ourselves down in the basement, so there were no time/money constraints like there would have been if we were on the clock at a studio. I was able to try lots of different approaches to playing my parts, and to see how all the instruments fit together in minute detail. It really helped me to see how recording is a whole different animal from playing live... Buy Tangy's latest CD, "Sorta Like Very Ultra" The Official Tangy Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trucks Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I would hope so I tend to go on and on for a while with the same old same old, thinking im stuck in a rut, when suddenly I take a little step forward. It doesnt seem gradual to me, its like its either going nowhere then suddenly BAM I notice a change. But then again, as im playing between 4 and 12 hours a day I may not notice any gradual improvement. I am currently going through same old same old.... Soundclick Myspace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 i think so. but i still am no shredder. i am better at being me than i was before. buy considering how long i have played i suck :grin: i have gotten more handsome as well http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Ellwood Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Well I started out being pretty fantastic almost from the very start,quickly moved on to unbelievable and now stellar, so yes it's all been a building and additive process. http://www.thestringnetwork.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 are you more handsome as well? :grin: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Ellwood Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 are you more handsome as well? :grin: Well YEAH!! thanks Zan...forgot that! http://www.thestringnetwork.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 :grin: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I sorta started bad and just deteriorated................... No, actually, I'm better now than when I was playing a lot in the 60s & 70s. Trouble is now I have aches & pains in my hands & shoulder that don't make it any easier. I'll never be a 'fast' player, though. G. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rampdog Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 For me, I don't have the licks I did 25 years ago but putting the guitar down for 23 years took it's toll. I believe, because of this forum, that I understand so much more now... Back in the day I just got on stage, plugged in, turned the knobs up and played not really understanding all the ins and outs of tonal quality, speaker quality, etc. etc....The internet has helped so much as I don't get out to see the bands like I used to... The chops are comming back slowly now but I'm not in a hurry or dedicated like I used to be...For me it's a hobby .. not a job.. Oh...and I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night... If it ain't fun...why do it...? http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=778394&content=music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billster Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I think my playing is different, but "better" is a hard term to apply. I had more raw chops back in college when I could play four hours a day, but nowadays I have less time in general for playing so the super speed and things like that aren't what they were. However, I believe I'm more focused and have a more varied set of phrasing and expressive tools in my chops. Buy my CD on CD Baby! Bill Hartzell - the website MySpace?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Patrick Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 are you more handsome as well? :grin: Well YEAH!! thanks Zan...forgot that! Me too!! But don't hate me because I'm beautiful... http://www.juhnke.com/mike/mike-tangy-coti.jpg Buy Tangy's latest CD, "Sorta Like Very Ultra" The Official Tangy Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdrs Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 For me, I don't have the licks I did 25 years ago but putting the guitar down for 23 years took it's toll. I believe, because of this forum, that I understand so much more now... Back in the day I just got on stage, plugged in, turned the knobs up and played not really understanding all the ins and outs of tonal quality, speaker quality, etc. etc....The internet has helped so much as I don't get out to see the bands like I used to... The chops are comming back slowly now but I'm not in a hurry or dedicated like I used to be...For me it's a hobby .. not a job.. Oh...and I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night... Ramp...I THOUGHT THAT WAS YOU!!!! I was at the Holiday Inn myself last night!!! :grin: I am a serious hobbiest!! I think I have improved. I've learned more licks, and "stuff". I go thru periods where I play a lot, and periods where I play, but do more noodling then learning. I have been very serious in learning more about guitars, and amps, and elements that create tone...I think that that is what has helped me most lately. I have perhaps 10 instructional DVD's awaiting my attention! I want to improve my fingerstyle, but would also like to add more country licks to my lick library. I need to retire, so that I can pay proper attention to my guitar playing. Don "There once was a note, Pure and Easy. Playing so free, like a breath rippling by." http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=574296 http://www.myspace.com/imdrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A String Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I've always lived by the credo that, "there's always more to learn". That's the cool thing about music. One human, in one average lifetime, can not learn and master all there is to know, about music. You can only ever improve. Craig Stringnetwork on Facebook String Network Forum My Music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Patrick Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I need to retire, so that I can pay proper attention to my guitar playing. Word! If only I could find a way to make hanging around the house playing guitar all day pay... Buy Tangy's latest CD, "Sorta Like Very Ultra" The Official Tangy Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Iverson Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Well, I keep studying and trying to learn, so hopefully I'm not getting worse!! I've never read an interview with a great player who said, "I've totally mastered the guitar in particular and music in general....." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil W Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Yes! 1997 http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=596138&songID=4392571 2006 http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=596138&songID=4757061 At least the intonation is better! http://philwbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoes Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 It's a cruel thing.... I increase my abilities, understanding and repertoire on an ongoing basis but my hearing is headed in the other direction. Things will be just about perfect by the time I'm totally deaf. ...yet to determine if I'm actually the cause of it but it's quite likely. I still think guitars are like shoes, but louder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruupi Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Well I've been playing close to 35 years so improvements aren't as noticable. For me it has always come in spurts, practice/ playing time sure does contribute though. Usually once or twice a year I'll get really into to it for a month or so where I step up to playing 3 hours a day. I see noticable improvements during these woodshed periods. I never really go long periods without playing so that helps too. I'm in the middle of a woodshed period right now in fact. My meeting with Pauldil inspired me to buckle down and start learning the fretboard and chords better. Some of the advice over the last couple of years on theory on this board has been invaluable too. Its given me confidence to work out things I hear in my head and sort of justify why they sound good on paper. Unfortunately, I start a new job tommorow after an 8 month vacation, so 3 hours a day is gonna be hard for awhile. But even over the last 2 months my playing has gotten better. My classical songs are becoming easier to play, both from a dexterity and memory standpoint. My blues and improvisation has taken a big jump, I am able to play alot of rhythmical ideas I couldn't quite pull off a year ago. I have fewer "off days" when I practice alot. I can't say that other people would notice the differences since I spread my playing out over so many styles. But I can feel the difference when I pick up the guitar. My tone is better too, I am learning to play to whatever the guitar is going to give me if that makes sense. I still have miles to go to be good but I see a light at the end of the tunnel. My soundclick site: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=397188 My YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/gruupi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuben Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I have lost a little speed but that can be related to my injuries but I sure have gotten better with timing, tone and technique. I think if I worked on the speed I could get a lot of it back but most of what I play doesn't involve speed. How many Jimmy Buffet albums do you hear shreading on? LOL Peace http://www.spotcheckbilly.com http://www.littlefeat.net http://www.bonnieraitt.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Patrick Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I've made major strides in the tone department, thanks to the Interweb and the Google. There are so many more gear options now than when I started playing way back in the Dark Ages, and so much more knowledge that can be accessed about how different components affect tone... Buy Tangy's latest CD, "Sorta Like Very Ultra" The Official Tangy Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psalms of Death Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I do believe I am progressing well, surprisingly well in my opinion having only been playing for three years (approximately three years this August), but it's all due to the fact that I have a great instructor which plays along with my unbreakable tenacity. Four to five hours a day is paying off. "I slept with faith and found a corpse in my arms on awakening; I drank and danced all night with doubt and found her a virgin in the morning." - Aleister Crowley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miroslav Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Yeah...I've gotten better at knowing when my playing sucks... ..and when it doesn't. Even though I play much less these days compared to when I was in a band, practicing and gigging all the time... ...I feel that my playing is much more meaningful then what it use to be back then. Sure, I was smoother when I was gigging and playing a lot...which is to be expected but too often, the playing was about learning and doing "canned" licks in order to get songs ready for the bands set list. And if I was just sitting around practicingmost times I would only cycle my way through many of those canned licks that I learned. When I walked away from band gigs and turned to doing original recordings...it took awhile to stop thinking about canned licks and instead, start listening to the music, and then...find the right licks/parts that worked with that music. So yeahI may not be a much better technical player than I was during band years but these days Im better at finding something interesting that fits the music at handas opposed to just twiddling around. But heyI still love to twiddle too! :grin: I dont really get a chance to sit around and practice hardly at all anymore (my bad) ...rather, I will figure out what I need for a particular songrun through it a few times till it feels goodrecord it and then move on the next song. Maybe if/when I get back into a bandIll focus a lot more on practicing/playing the guitar on some regular basisand then I think my playing will really improve on all fronts. But manI just dont have the time for that right nowto many other things I need to get done in the studio. (HeckI use to be a pretty good R&R piano player toonow I just play when I need to record something). miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teleman65 Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I think I'm more musical but less technically proficient. I could run up and down the neck shredding my a** off 'til the cows came home 20 years ago. Now I'm a lot slower but my playing has more purpose and I think more taste. I guess I've evolved and matured as a musician. (kinda reminds me of the joke about the young bull and old bull looking down at a herd of cows) http://www.soundclick.com/teleman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quixotica Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 T-man: I like the old bull/young bull analogy. That certainly applies to the way that I listen to, and appreciate music. When I was a teen (in the 80s) I had Floyd's The Wall (like everyone else) and I was pretty familiar with it, but sometime a couple of years ago I heard Comfortably Numb on the radio and I was suddenly awestruck by that amazing solo. Since then, I've been mining my old cd collection and discoving lots of gems that overlooked in the past. I have improved, but I still have a long way to go before I consider myself any good. Maybe I should say that I don't suck nearly as bad as I used to. "No his mind is not for rent..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamp Angel Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I surely couldn't have gotten any worse. "You can't be the best. There is no 'best.' You can only be a good one." - Muddy Waters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardtail Posted May 15, 2007 Author Share Posted May 15, 2007 Thanks for the info guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miroslav Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 Sure, I was smoother when I was gigging and playing a lot...which is to be expected but too often, the playing was about learning and doing "canned" licks in order to get songs ready for the bands set list. And if I was just sitting around practicingmost times I would only cycle my way through many of those canned licks that I learned. When I walked away from band gigs and turned to doing original recordings...it took awhile to stop thinking about canned licks and instead, start listening to the music, and then...find the right licks/parts that worked with that music. Just wanted to add that what I said above wasn't meant to be a put down for anyone learning/playing canned licks and cover tunes. I did it for several years and enjoyed it. I was just saying that for me...when I was started to create my own music...and come up with my own licks... ...that's what really lifted up my playing a couple of notches...IMO. Trying NOT to sound like I was just copying someone made a big difference in how I listened to what I was playing. miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otherstar Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 Yes. I've gotten much better than I was when I started. I've even grown a lot over the last year (I've been playing with a band for the last year). I'm more melodic, less sloppy, don't use as many notes, listen, better, etc. That being said, I've got along way to go because I can still find room for improvement. Turn me over, I'm done on this side... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big G Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 was shocking to start with and yes i am better today but still aint very good, never been able to play decent lead !!!! But i still love it. G Love life, some twists and turns are more painful than others, but love life..... http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=592101 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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