The Confessions Thread

[chuckjaywalk]

you know you don't have to be too technically gifted to play some really cool music!

Yeah, I know that on some level, but it is hard when someone asks what you play and it is just sort of fuzzed out whale calls. Listen to my SoundCloud and you'll see what I mean.

[ChetMagongalo]

creativity > technical ability

[the_carl]

I'm really, really, really shitty at guitar, but I've spent too much time and money on it to quit now. I overcompensate for my lack of talent or skill with power chords and massive amounts of fuzz. I just lack any sort of musical talent, at all. I just get along really well with musician types.

I had this mindset once. You just *think* you're terrible at guitar, but you aren't really. In reality you've gotten better over the years but the progress hasn't been drastic enough over a small enough time period for you to have noticed it yourself. One day your brother-in-law who owns a guitar will tell you that you should come jam with him sometime and when you do you will discover once again what it really means to suck at guitar.

[phantasmagorovich]

I'm really, really, really shitty at guitar, but I've spent too much time and money on it to quit now. I overcompensate for my lack of talent or skill with power chords and massive amounts of fuzz. I just lack any sort of musical talent, at all. I just get along really well with musician types.

I had this mindset once. You just *think* you're terrible at guitar, but you aren't really. In reality you've gotten better over the years but the progress hasn't been drastic enough over a small enough time period for you to have noticed it yourself. One day your brother-in-law who owns a guitar will tell you that you should come jam with him sometime and when you do you will discover once again what it really means to suck at guitar.

What if my sister's older and her ex-husband is actually a studied guitarist?

WAHT THEN??? !!!!


*bursts into tears*


Seriously though - progressing musically is a rare thing and it's alright. It goes pretty quick at first but then you hit the first of a series of steps that feel more and more like a plain. But there will always be progress. If you feel you can't take it, start to do exercises or take lessons. But really it's just being patient and sticking through the hard times.

[MaxMaps]

I'm really, really, really shitty at guitar, but I've spent too much time and money on it to quit now. I overcompensate for my lack of talent or skill with power chords and massive amounts of fuzz. I just lack any sort of musical talent, at all. I just get along really well with musician types.

I had this mindset once. You just *think* you're terrible at guitar, but you aren't really. In reality you've gotten better over the years but the progress hasn't been drastic enough over a small enough time period for you to have noticed it yourself. One day your brother-in-law who owns a guitar will tell you that you should come jam with him sometime and when you do you will discover once again what it really means to suck at guitar.

I am going to have to tell you about my playing "ability"

My entire music life I have been a player of little or no skill at all, my strength has always been the ability to keep time and that has kept me in bands for longer than I should have been. I used to think really poorly about my playing and it showed during rehearsals.

When I stared collecting pedals and getting back into playing around 09 or so, I had made little progress on my playing ability. I finally got a teacher that I really dug and he helped me along but I still did not "progress" the way I though I should have. I have a strong lust for gear and little ability to use it, but I did not let that stop me.

Then I read something that Dave Grohl posted. I am going to paraphrase it but it boils down to this

"Who fucking cares if your shitty? Who is anyone to justify your ability other than yourself? What ever happened to just being lousy and having a good time?"

It finally hit me that I fail no goals other than the ones I set. Then I got to thinking why I was kicked out of those bands and it turns out it had nothing to do with my skill at all. I was completely not into what I was playing and that is what made me bad.

I have tried to play Tommy the Cat today at full speed, I keep missing notes and was not at the right speed but for the first time in a LONG LONG TIME I have been engrossed and really enjoying the beauty of playing music. I plug in at home make a fuck ton of bad notes and terrible noise and it puts a smile on my face.

Money is money. We are not investing musical gear, we are chasing the ability to generate sounds to express our thoughts and feelings. Seek that and you will feel much better about playing ability.

[sonidero]

^^^TRUFF TRUFF TRUFF...

If everyone was a trained guitarist who could wail scales all day where would the innovation and creativity come from... It's all about playin to your skills and just having fun man, until half of ILF starts winning Grammys and gettin inducted into the Rn'R HOF I wouldn't worry about it... I always imagine I'll still be in my room at 90 makin the same kinds of noise with a smile cause that's just who I am and what I like to do...

[chuckjaywalk]

Did I mention that I love you guys? Because I love you guys.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Yeah that Dave Grohl quote/idea is what gets me out of that place. Are you having fun? If yes, you're good enough.

[THEBEERHAMMER]

I'm really, really, really shitty at guitar, but I've spent too much time and money on it to quit now. I overcompensate for my lack of talent or skill with power chords and massive amounts of fuzz. I just lack any sort of musical talent, at all. I just get along really well with musician types.

So, what's the problem?

[Jwar]

I'm really, really, really shitty at guitar, but I've spent too much time and money on it to quit now. I overcompensate for my lack of talent or skill with power chords and massive amounts of fuzz. I just lack any sort of musical talent, at all. I just get along really well with musician types.

So, what's the problem?

[THEBEERHAMMER]

Ive seen HIM live several times...the last time was actually on purpose. Theyre really fucking good live.

[sonidero]

Not always but lots of the time im on here/ on facebook im pooping at work.

In a Union you can get $20 an hour to poop, or moop...

[Achtane]

I play PSP on the toilet all the time.
Warioware, Rhythm Heaven and Lumines are the shit for shitting.

[sonidero]

As the saying goes, "shit or get off the pot"... It's not a place to hang out so yall don't make a habit of flexin cheeks on the throne while reading...

Also why are the Japanese OBSESSED with the toilet unlike any other culture???

[ChetMagongalo]

Yeah that Dave Grohl quote/idea is what gets me out of that place. Are you having fun? If yes, you're good enough.