General Music Chat

best tips....????

it doesn't matter the equipment? the guitars, none of it....
but one thing does....
Confidence........if you feel good with what your doing then it makes all worth while !!
you could have the best of everything? but if you don't feel confident even with your mistakes?

Sup Bro BLADE!

Is Confidence something you have from the beginning? Or, is it developed over time and a result of preparedness?

hey ya Jsantos
well that's a tough one to answer in a email or forum but i'll try as best I can??
and this is just in General as well but "Confidence" I would say would be like doesn't matter the years of playing so to speak? cause I have heard some who have played only a year or 2? though not technically precise? but you hear a certain confidence in how they play? I mean even at my level of "Skill" I use that term Loosely....but I still see and learn from others regardless of skill but some feel I am way beyond them which is never TRUE!
I feel real comfortable and Confident "Playing" like having a comfortable pair of shoes? or a "Friend" when they come by you just feel better when there around? could be doing nothing but just sitting there....
kinda the same for playing? if "YOU" feel good and Confident in what your doing or what your playing? then that is all that matters........same for the equipment and guitars as long as your "Happy" then when you play? this will kind of reflect......
and like all things, we are all Unique in different ways? so for Example? say eddie van halen and just for example...LOL
we can emulate what he plays? but no use in Playing as he "Is" he is "Eddie Van Halen" so just being "YOU" is better !! like reading here there is someone always better? but finding those on your level of thought is tougher?
like me? I have fun jamming with anyone and everyone! even seen some just BLOW ME AWAY! when because they don't "Know the Rules"they don't know there breaking them? because there "Unique" there "Different"........
if I had to nail it down? I would say practice being "Yourself" in playing even if the same boring Lick-trill or passage?
because you'll make it you down the road....and then just playing the songs you like will just "Somehow" be better?
that is hard to explain? but a it just comes with "Practice"....there are so many that can play things I "Can't"
but then there are things I can play "No one else Can"...it's what makes the "Confidence" not so much an ego?
but a healthy Confidence to playing? like driving a car? we kinda don't think about it?
you just get in and think I need to go here? or here? etc. you start the car and drive...????
maybe kinda just a ramble? but I hope some how this can make some sense....

I have known musicians with tons of confidence that can barley tune a guitar let alone play one. I have no idea why they are so confident, they certainly shouldn't be. Reality doesn't appear to enter the picture, but if they are happy with what they are doing isn't that enough? After all, not all of us pick up a guitar to make money or to join a band. Some simply play for the personal enjoyment playing an instrument gives them.

Begin with songs that are relative easy to play, songs that you really like. Know your limitations and be happy at the skill level you are at and don't get discouraged because you can't play everything you want to play. A good easy to play guitar inspires a picker as does good sound. You are playing for sounds. If your guitar is hard to play and you can't get a pleasing sound out of it that is discouraging. I think an FX processor can add a lot of fun for someone just learning. A flanger ,reverb, distortion or echo may entertain you when you get bored Everyone has his own views concerning this, but those are a couple of mine.

Learn your scales in and out. so you play them in your sleep. Same thing with chords and chordal progressions. It's all about the muscle memory. Highly recommend the Guitar Grimoire volume I & II. I've played 30 years now, and I still try to learn new scales, modes, triads, diifferent places on the neck to play the same riff or scale, etc.
It's endless what you can accompolish. I practice alot on a 12 string, classic/ nylon, and 6 string acoustic . That why when I do play my electric guitar or bass it's so simple you barley break a sweat. It totally builds up your finger, hand and arm endurance. Always, always, warm up before you start playing real fast. Pratice every day, no matter what.
To me it's my daily mediation.
Peace.

What is this - a soup kitchen? Barley = barely?

That's funny . . .
I stopped back by because, without my glasses, I thought it was a new thread.

Tips for starving guitarist.

Now that would be beneficial.

Paleopete got it about right... just get out there and do it live.

Back in the day, my friends and I just went and did it.
I started out on piano but ended up as the bass player because our bass player's parents moved away and as I'd originally shown him where the notes were on the bass - it seemed the best thing to do.
We were sh*t for the first dozen gigs, but we pressed on and learned lots of stuff that years playing at home, or any book or DVD will NEVER teach you.
Like
Don't stop when you screw up... keep going and make it part of the song
Listen to the drummer
Play quiet AND loud
Know how to start a number and how to stop - the audience won't notice the rest in the middle
A chord that breaks you fingers, better be good, otherwise don't play it
If you get two guys and a dog turn up for your gig...it's not their fault - give them the show they paid for
Buy a guitar tuner... you can't do it by ear until you've played for a long long time, and even then you'll still use a tuner - and your audience should NEVER hear you tune up, unless you're acoustic.
Learn to sing and play - you'll end up a better player and you'll learn not to worry about your playing as you'll be busy singing!
HAVE FUN LIVE!!

...and whatever you do, don't start playing gigs w Muzak Karaoke backing tacks!

it's never a pretty picture and it never ends well. (esp for the audience)

before ya know it...you'll end up wearing a cheap Hawaiian shirt and a bad hat playing "Wonderful Tonight" for tourists at Joe's Crapshack. if that's not bad enough, before you know it, the only "bandmember" who'll have anything to do w you will be your spouse.

and no one wants that for you!

best of luck.