Guitar has been a questionable road for me. I've first took the instrument two weeks after my first lecture at the university. From then on, I've moved through simple acoustic songs to some Metallica soloing, finally ending up with acoustic instrumental music in mind.
Three years ago I was absolutely amazed by how the instrument could actually be played. I even managed to compose a few pieces of instrumental music myself and won a couple of local guitar-playing competitions.
But somehow, the drive is gone from me. I take the instrument and I go through the same old progressions. E-minor, pentatonics, a bend here, a vibrato there, an occasional chromatical progression, but I went from composing something at least once in a month to being totally dry for the last two years. Dunno, I feel like I'm hitting a brick wall, being totally unable to improve past a certain point. There were several times when I considered quitting playing guitar at all because it failed to give the pleasure and excitement I once felt. Maybe it's because of the fact that my life is finally settled, I have a wonderful girlfriend (we are together for the last two years, and I'm noticing a grim coincidence) and somewhat clear future ahead of me. Maybe it's because my relatively fast learning was never an indication of talent, and I've just come to my limit I won't be able to move trough.
However, this is not the point of this blog. While I've always enjoyed the wonderful solos of Joe Satriani, the atonal drive of Paco di Lucia and various other musicians, I can admit there's only one person whose music still continues to inspire me and makes me take the damn instrument and try again and again. And since that guy is relatively unknown to the world, I would like to share it with you.
Well, unfortunately I can't view the video, but regarding your story, I'll say this: guitar is indeed a very versatile instrument, and I think that when you hit a brick wall, it's time to change direction with it. So, perhaps what you need to do is take up a new style of music. When I was dead-ending about 8 years ago, I started learning classical guitar. I learned to read music and I developed a nice repertoire including music by Guiliani, Sor, Tarrega, Scott Joplin, and Bach. That eventually led me to playing harpsichord, and now finally I am back to playing electric guitar and doing weird experimental music (this coming after a year long interest in death metal.)
Point is, you can try something new and rediscover your passion. Also, I think it is critical to not merely play nicely/impressively, but to find YOUR voice on the guitar. I can shred and do nice riffs or do classical music, but none of that is my voice. I'm more content playing with raw sound, or strange timing (non-timing?) and so on.
I second that - broaden your musical horizons. Learn some classical guitar, maybe some jazz. The challenges in learning new styles will likely carry over and help your playing in whatever style you end up wishing to perform.
(Having a classical base in particular I find is massively useful throughout musical endeavors - playing jazz of course will teach you to improvise phenomenally, in a broad range of styles)
On November 20 2007 05:22 nA.Inky wrote: Well, unfortunately I can't view the video, but regarding your story, I'll say this: guitar is indeed a very versatile instrument, and I think that when you hit a brick wall, it's time to change direction with it. So, perhaps what you need to do is take up a new style of music. When I was dead-ending about 8 years ago, I started learning classical guitar. I learned to read music and I developed a nice repertoire including music by Guiliani, Sor, Tarrega, Scott Joplin, and Bach. That eventually led me to playing harpsichord, and now finally I am back to playing electric guitar and doing weird experimental music (this coming after a year long interest in death metal.)
Point is, you can try something new and rediscover your passion. Also, I think it is critical to not merely play nicely/impressively, but to find YOUR voice on the guitar. I can shred and do nice riffs or do classical music, but none of that is my voice. I'm more content playing with raw sound, or strange timing (non-timing?) and so on.
Just branch out man!
Nick
haha, i always see myself as playing classical guitar forever!!!!
EPT
