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How anyone can become a good guitarist
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Miguel de Maria
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
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 How anyone can become a good guitarist
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I decided to write a little essay to summarize my current feelings about the topic. Hopefully we can get some discussion going and see if we all agree.
There is a saying, "When the student is ready, the master appears." What does it mean? I think it means that great lessons of life and music are flying by our heads all the time, but until we acquire a certain framework or level of understanding, it is no good. How often do we see people shrug off piercingly insightful advice, or how often have we looked back at our "wasted youth" and wondering why we didn't listen to our parents or teacher or whatever?
In any case, certain bits of advice that have always been flying around are finally starting to take roost in my head. It seems I have a very powerful ability to ignore good advice. But now that one of them has taken hold, others are coming in, and even others. Like a puzzle, bit by bit a general shape, or framework is starting to coalesce. The outline of that framework is what I'd like to discuss.
Everyone has an opinion on what makes a good guitarist, or even what makes a guitarist good. They range from having a great teacher to having great genes to having a great guitar. There is truth in most of these ideas, but more important than that is their utility: how helpful is each framework, each hypothesis, and will it be able to assist me in my goals? So to say that all it takes is talent can't help me. And to say that all it takes is hours of practice--well, that might be going too far in the other direction.
To jump right in, my thinking is that the main key to attaining excellence on the guitar is merely a committment to excellence.
I have a feeling that some people are going to read that and say it's the dumbest thing they've ever heard, how does that help? I also have a feeling that some people are going to be saying "duh, of course." Well, I said I was dense!
I was watching Todd's Soniquette video today--what a depressing image--and I asked myself, what does it take to attain that level of excellence? The answer that spoke to me was, a level of mental excellence, both at the time of the performance and over years of practice.
I think it's kind of like meditation, you want to be focused on your breathing or whatever topic you like, and not let other things intrude. For music, I would say it is the music itself that must be held in your mind, almost like an idea of perfection. Without holding a perfect represenation of music in your mind, how could you physically attain it? It's like Michaelangelo drawing the perfect circle--to be able to do that, besides the physical skill, he would need to see the perfect circle in his mind.
I remember reading David Russell's advice, and he said, "Can you make one note sound good?" Can you actually play a single note and have it sound good. If not, then how would you be able to make two sound good, let alone the incredible complexity of a whole piece? I think the bad news is that if we don't put in that foundational work, that one note clapping type of thing, then we aren't going to sound good. The good news is that if we do, it will become more or less natural, and we'll sound better.
I asked Todd about it, and he said "What could be more true than that?"
I guess most of us are constantly "cheating" when we play, in the same way as you see some guys in the gym "cheating" when they lift. They want the big weights, so they throw their whole body into a rep on the biceps curl. Their veins are popping, their eyes look like they are going to squeeze out, and they do succeed in getting the weight over the hump. But the point of fatiguing and training the bicep muscles was undermined, the mental focus was never there. It might be the same thing when you allow yourself to play sloppy.
Heck, Scott Tennant said, "Whenever you make a sound on the instrument, you have the choice to go forward or let yourself fall back."
Grisha's recent advice hit home: "When you play, listen as if you were transcribing yourself."
Who listens to each note with that kind of out-of-body focus, the kind of focus you would need to write down each rhythmical nuance of a Tonino lick or the syncopations in a funky alegrias compas? My hypothesis, the puzzle, is telling me that the good players do.
And as intimidating as they are, and this hypothesis is, it is also very encouraging. All we have to do is put our full attention and focus into each note we make on the guitar, all we have to do is listen, all we have to do is make the choice to go forward with each note. Simple! If we want to play great, we can--we just have to try. If we don't care, then we will sound like it.
When you hear Richard talk about rhythm, about how it must be "perfect", then it all starts to make sense. It must take formidable discipline to play perfect rhythm. "Good enough" becomes the enemy. Distractions avoided. Groove becomes the unifying concept. Guitar becomes a mediation.
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Date Jan. 2 2006 21:10:58
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Florian
Posts: 9282
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
From: Adelaide/Australia
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RE: How anyone can become a good gui... (in reply to Mark2)
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quote:
And unfortunately, I think it's true that many people cannot become good guitarists, pianists, accountants, lawyers, etc. no matter how much they might desire, or how sharp their focus.
Mark2
I respectufly disagree, I belive anyone can become as good as they wish as long as they really wish it and put alot of effort into it.
Sky is the limit.
My father is a guitarist but i dont buy the gens story.
I think its all to do with your determination and the power of your mind, refuse to setlle or accept things.
I would rather die trying rather than ever accepting that i will not become a brilliant guitarist one day.
when someone like Richard plays well it should inspire u to play even better and work even harder rather than discourage you.
theres always going to be a better guitarist then u out there, what are we gonna get depressed when we see that ? no use it as inspiration and tell yourself that if he could do it leaving in the US, so can u .
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Date Jan. 3 2006 3:17:31
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gshaviv
Posts: 272
Joined: Mar. 22 2005
From: Israel
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RE: How anyone can become a good gui... (in reply to Florian)
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quote:
I think its all to do with your determination and the power of your mind, refuse to setlle or accept things.
I agree, and I agree with Miguel's excellent post. Thomas Edisson when asked what his genius is made of said 1% innovation and 99% perspiration.
I think in music it’s the same, yes, genes have an impact, those that have it find it easier then those that don’t. But in either case there is no replacement for commitment and dedication.
One last thing, as for the comment to listen as if you are transcribing your self. Its true. While I never thought of if in these terms, a practice I do is to record myself, and then listen, and listen again after a few days. I find that when I play its hard to listen to myself, but I can be much more criticizing of myself when listening to a recording. It sort of brings that level of detachment Miguel spoke of.
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Guy
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Date Jan. 3 2006 3:49:05
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Grisha
Posts: 1263
Joined: Mar. 17 2005
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RE: How anyone can become a good gui... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)
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I have a feeling, that this topic mainly deals with the technical side of guitar playing. But it's so much more complicated when you ask how to become a good musician. Because, at the end, that's what counts. For that you need an idea of who you are, what you stand for. And you'll need a life experience to understand what the music you play is about. Do you actually have something to say to the world around you, do you have your own point of view? You need to love, to suffer, to grief, to experience happiness, jealosy, compassion, fear, submission, anger, hunger, frustration, playfulness, desire, sadness, lust, pain, physical pleasures, etc. You then have to learn how to put this things into your music, to learn what all that stands for. Then you'll need to learn how to tame the beast, use your emotions wisely, to develop a sense of proportion. Only then can you become a true master of your listeners' hearts.
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Date Jan. 3 2006 5:07:27
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ToddK
Posts: 2961
Joined: Dec. 6 2004
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RE: How anyone can become a good gui... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)
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Miguel and Grisha.
Great thoughts.
Miguel, i think you are progressing ever closer to where you want to be.
I think you are real zeroing in on the essence. Tons of truth in your post.
Great stuff. Really great.
I also like what Grisha says. Not just about technique, its about becoming a great
"musician".
"Understanding music". A decievingly simple statement.
Understanding music to a level wich Grisha describes, well, there
you have it. I believe he describes as well as it can be described.
Now that im also getting to read Grisha's thoughts, im really seeing
how extremely intelligent he really is.
I mean, i was born in america, he in Russia, and the guy has better english grammar
than i do.
Similar thing with Ricardo. Every time i talk to him, i feel like a numbskull.
He's so quick, not just on guitar.:) (richard). These guys are just really freaking smart.
They're brilliant.
Another common trait among people like this,
UNWAVERING ATTENTION TO EVERY LAST POSSIBLE DETAIL.. 
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Date Jan. 3 2006 5:36:19
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ToddK
Posts: 2961
Joined: Dec. 6 2004
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RE: How anyone can become a good gui... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)
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Grisha, im really having a blast talking with you.
You are a gracious guy to join us here, and give us
such great pieces of wisdom.
I consider myself a very good guitarist, but when im wowing
a friend with one of your videos, im watching in awe right along
with them, and at that moment, im merely a fan of the guitar.
Hey, do you still have any Sabicas stuff in your rep??
I grew up on him. Love the guy. I can just imagine
you ripping up Zapateado en Re, or something like that.:)
Oh yeah, and you mentioned, you dont even own a flamenco guitar?!?!?! 
Dude!!! If i ever start making any real money, im buying you a 70s Conde,
and im bringing it to Boston. You can pay me back by playing
Paco's fandangos for me. But if you miss a note, im keeping it!!! 
TK
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Date Jan. 3 2006 6:09:29
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John O.
Posts: 1723
Joined: Dec. 16 2005
From: Seeheim-Jugenheim, Germany
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RE: How anyone can become a good gui... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)
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Very well written! A lot of interesting points are in there.
I think the main key to playing well is the dedication to it. Nobody can just pick up an instrument and play perfectly, the talent lies in the obsession to need to play well and improve
. Physically and mentally it's easier and goes faster for some than for others - I've always had big problems with concentration, for example - but with hard work and determination anyone can get to where they want in their lifetime if they have the right tools and the constant will to get there.
The chinese say "He who complements you is a thief, he who criticizes you is a teacher". It's nice to hear "Wow, you play amazing", but hearing it too often can be bad for the ego. It's important to always keep in mind to a certain degree that you will always need to continue learning, to always stay in the student roll. The times I've made the most improvement as a guitarist are when I think I'm a horrible player, wonder if I should give up the guitar alltogether but instead practise harder than ever to redeem myself. On the other hand, the times I've made the most improvement as a teacher/accompanyist are when I'm confident in what I do, or at least pretend to be, while keeping a certain amount of humbleness. Nobody will take you seriously if you can't slip into that roll and all artist scenes can be pretty aggressive at the professional level.
I think over the years my biggest problem has been practising too much. Yes, practising too much. As a teenager I spent over five hours a day in my room practising technique while the whole flamenco scene was right around me! Why didn't I make contacts sooner? Why didn't I take a day out of the week to go meet and jam with the other musicians in the area instead of practising obsessively by myself? I'm 29, have been playing for over 10 years and it's only been a few years that I've really been able to loosen up and take advantage of real opportunities I've been missing! Anybody reading to whom this seems familiar: I've gotten better in the past two to three years than in the over ten years alltogether while practising less than half the amount of time I used to. So yes, it's more than hours of practise, it's experience as well.
I wished Grisha lived in Mainz, just reading a few of his posts has improved my practise so much. Although I'm sure as a teacher he'd be expensive, constantly booked out and would take away all my students...
Johnny
www.flamenco-guitar-mainz.de
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Date Jan. 3 2006 9:51:42
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XXX
Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005
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RE: How anyone can become a good gui... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)
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Flo, Duende, let me change my word then into "people who ONLY, or almost exclusively want to show off"
Should be clear now IMHOHOHO
quote:
I dont think that theres anything wrong with that, u can only show off if u have something to show.
Actually youre right, but the reality is a bit different.
Guys who are really good, could only be that good coz of their passion or whatever you call it. It needs more than the will to show off to be that good. They COULD show off, but they DONT do it, or only seldom.
Then there are people who from the beginning try to copy somebody with a big "show-off factor", to make the maximum "yeah, cool " effect on the audience.
Those guys will never really be able to show off coz they just dont get the music, and when you dont get the music, you get nothing!
So they practice the same rumba stroke or hyper complex rasgueado again and again without ever having heard of compas etc and become frustrated coz they dont manage to do it.
PS: Gipsy Kings are not OUTSIDE flamenco to me. Maybe there are things that are "more flamenco", but GK are not non-flamenco.
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Фламенко
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Date Jan. 3 2006 10:54:48
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but sudenly i feel the urge to practice even more!! 
