Posted in: Guitar by av8tr1 on July 4, 2009 | 2 Comments
Trials and tribulations of playing guitar.
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Do you ever wonder why so few make it to become truly great guitarist. I have pondered this issue many times over and I think it boils down to a lack of internal-fortitude. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that there are not plenty out there that wish, want or hope to make it. I am saying that there are plenty out there that does not believe that they can or have the drive to do what it takes. To be a musician, one has to Love & Hate it all at once. This article will focus on what it takes to become great at playing the guitar and that is the Heaven & Hell of Guitar.
There are many times in a players days that he will feel the heaven of Guitar. It may be the first time one plays in front of a crowd and everyone cheers or the day that one unattainable riff you have been practicing just seems to click while wondering why I couldn’t do it earlier as it seems so easy right now. It could be the the time the first axe is obtained or when one creates their first solo. To me, its playing with my emotions and feeling the body drain of stress and energy as my soul rocks out of my half stack. At that point it does not matter what jam it is because in the heart one knows it is good without question.
The Hell of Guitar is just felt just as often if not a lot more than the Heaven of Guitar. It all starts with the long hours and sore fingers trying quench the thirst of desire. The problem for the true musician is that desire will never be quenched. Then comes the stages when all your playing becomes stagnant and starts to sound alike. No matter how much practice is done, it seems that progress stands still. At this point, many fail. They feel hopeless and quit. Then the guitars are put in closets or worse to collect dust. As the owner succumbs to Guitar Hell so does the axe. However, a true musician will pull through and play on.
Every Guitarist loves and hates his axe for these reasons and then some. But, without the hell in guitar, one would never experience the heaven. While many experience the hell more often, the heavenly feelings are so much more powerful and as long as one continues to grow in his art, the heaven of it will always be there. Through the Heaven & Hell of Guitar Legends are born.
Jim July 4th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Awesome dude. I know what you mean.
Guitar Tom July 5th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
I have gotten very frustrated playing the guitar when trying to figure out songs by listening to them. Someone told me I didn’t have an ear for music, but I dont believe that because music run in my family. Any advice