![]() It is hard enough to get past nerves when jamming or recording and get your chops intact but to have your amp turn against you too? Geez. Thinking you have just set yourself up for victory only to have the session crushed because your amp brought focus onto your sloppy playing is a bit devastating. A sense of solid-state accomplishment can be felt when drilling a part only to be disappointed when plugged in for some tubey goodness. It takes practice – But amongst all that noise and great demos what else can really teach the rest of us to shred? If mundane practice and a deficit of natural born talent wasn’t enough to annoy us, our favorite amplifiers can further highlight our lack of speed and skill, which can be painfully helpful. While it may serve to contribute to that syndrome, in truth, it is an amazing tool for guitar players to connect and learn around the globe. state (that’s Gear Acquirement Syndrome for those who are new to the block) to feed the beast. We’re no longer limited by our own purchasing power-we can hear demos of equipment in our current G.A.S. No longer are we held back by our own ears on how to play a song-now we can find a tutorial and have someone teach us, complete with a handy pause button. Instant access to thousands of videos with side-by-side gear comparisons and demos is mesmerizing. Simply sitting in the comfort of home and searching YouTube presents a world of opportunity and knowledge. It is amazing to see the effect that the web has played over the last decade in cracking open this guitarists’ information heaven. It takes work, use technology – Beyond the acclaimed superstar, novice players and quiet studio musicians now have their time in the limelight with self-made channels and helpful how-to videos. With the expansion of technology we are now closer than ever to every entertainer and access is right at our fingertips to place them under a microscope as a discerning critic. Even with the onset of music television the camera stayed largely focused on the lead vocalist and eventually making its way to the elusive guitarist and his or her craft remained largely shrouded in an air of mystery. Gigging and watching other bands over the years it’s easy to recall very noteworthy performances and playing styles. But with time, patience and practice, they will get there-accurate timing and execution comes with just that-time. We eye one another and declare ‘found guilty of committing the crime of an imposter.’ The absence of ability witnessed in those trying to be a shredder is often comical, though it does take guts to attempt the solo from any number of Metallica songs and publicly slaughter what had inspired many of us to strap on a guitar. Maintaining honesty, I will admit I have done the same thing about them from my bench in the corner. Somehow I still always feel instantly judged by another player as the sole member of the jury that found me guilty of ‘being bad.’ Whispers ensue amongst a group huddled around the few half stacks in the shop. ![]() When I find myself as the player in this situation I tend to revert to simpler methods and recall very basic chord progressions or passages of memorable tunes in these situations if I am at a loss of what to play. They are being played too slow, too fast or so slapdash that ears would rather hear nails on a chalkboard. I am sure this not a hard stretch of the imagination for any of us! Some of these songs are recognized as faint screeches of our favorite songs, others not at all. Looking back, I often wonder if the music I listened to set the stage for the player I am today.Įveryone starts somewhere – Picture walking into a guitar shop and being bombarded by an assault of poorly rendered tunes. It wasn’t quite the correct tempo and was certainly nothing fancy but armed with a handful of chords I found I could play a song! The process continued with me pouring over TAB books and endlessly hitting rewind on my boom box to hear the notes again until I too could play–often stumbling–along. I was delighted beyond belief-I could actually play a recognizable song. I could decisively switch between chords and get through one of my favorite songs at the time, “When I Come Around” by Green Day. Slightly tone deaf and having no idea that tuning or breaking a string was commonplace, I set forth on a journey that would have its first pay off about six months later. They may have regretted that decision over the years as I wailed away in my room for hours on end but the die was cast. I’d wanted to be a drummer but my parents weren’t on board with that idea and so a guitar was handed my way. Shredders aren’t born – I remember being a 12-year-old kid learning to play the guitar as an utterly frustrating endeavor. ![]() By Jason DeLorenzo Is this the sole criteria in defining a phenomenal guitar player? ![]()
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