Biggest Mistakes That Young Guitar Players Make

[Smitty]

I think one thing that alot of young guitarists make a mistake on is that they limit themselves to one genre. Most of the time this limitation is becaue they want to play something "easy" but I think in the end when they're trying to write different and better songs, it affects them because they only know how to play the same style. Say a kid is big on pop-punk and so he learns how to bash out power chords and palm mute very heavily. Ok fair enough, he's accomplished that. But what about 5 years down the road when the pop-punk fad is over and he can't find anyone to play music with because he never tried to learn anything else? I see that alot with younger kids, they limit themselves to one style too much, rather than trying to pick up on all aspects of playing. Maybe I'm trying to say playin style instead of genre, but to an extent, some styles can be what the kids recognize as part of that genre. But the point I believe I"m trying to make is that alot of young guitarists get stuck on one style and limit themselves far too much.

[brandondrury]

This is a good point. Not only from a purely guitarist standpoint, but also from a songwriter's standpont, as well as a guitar player coming up with interesting stuff behind a songwriter.

Most people aren't particularly found of the genre they are in. I read an interview with Ozzy once. He was talking about how he still loves the Beatles and his tastes never really moved past that point. In other words, he doesn't listen hard rock or metal. I think this is the crucial difference between being a copy cat (even if it's subconscious) vs actually adding something to the music. This is why I think rock music has peaked. People write music in the same genre they listen to. I think it's a flaw. If you don't believe me just listen to any 3 Doors Down song.

Brandon

[TAlderson]

Well, I think that's kinda right but also kinda not. If you mean that people don't have a varied enough musical taste now, then I think that's right. I mean, most people I know like only a certain kind or a few different genres of music. Me, I listen to anything from The Clash to Bob Dylan to AC/DC to, well, just about anything. But I can see what you mean if you are saying that.

If you're saying, though, that it's bad to write music in the (multiple) genres you listen to, then I think you're wrong there. It's good to branch out, but your best stuff is (usually) going to be close to what you listen to most, since you are most influenced by the musical genre and know the most about it (how it's structured, the messages usually protrayed, that kind of stuff).

-Tyler

[brandondrury]

your best stuff is (usually) going to be close to what you listen to most, since you are most influenced by the musical genre and know the most about it (how it's structured, the messages usually protrayed, that kind of stuff).

I don't agree. I've worked with well over a 100 bands in the past few years so I've had a very interesting perspective that most people haven't had (even big dogs because they only typically do a few projects year). Anyway, here's my perspective on it:

*When people write music that sounds similar to their favorite band, they end up doing little more than "emulating".

*When people "emulate", they begin to question if their songs are doing a good enough job of "emulating". In other words, they judge the quality of the song by how close it is to another song. Now, I really dont' have a problem with songs sounding similar as long as they are both good sounds. However, I find that people seam to overlook the quality of the song when they are busy emulating. Keep in mind that this "emulating" thing is all subconscious. The band has no idea that they completely copying this or that.

I could listen endless examples of myself perceiving this. A strong example comes in mixing. There have been multiple times when I've went out on a limb and succeed with one mixing trick or another. I mean, I did something wild, but it turned out amazing. (I'm pretty grounded and know if a mix sucks of if it's got something good happening). I don't know how many times, I've been shot down on when I hit a home run because it conflicted with their subconcious emulating tendency.

I think music is supposed to be stupid....from a cerebral standpoint. I'm not a hippy and I don't think with my heart. However, I think music has nothing to do with thinking or cognitivie ability. I think music should just be stupidly created without a care in the world. This is the only way that real emotions come out. This is why singers sound like shit when they worry about pitch, but typically sound great when they are sincerely singing about saying goodbye to their dead wife.

These are just my perceptions, but most people can not handle making music in their own genre. I guess I'm lucky that I don't really have a genre.

Brandon

[TAlderson]

Well, genre and style are different. Dylan played music in the genres he listened to (folk first, then later rock and roll), and it was damn good. However, if he had just made songs in one style, like say that of Woody Guthrie, he would have just been like the 1,000,000 other Guthrie play-alikes in the folk scene. I guess what I'm saying is that if you like The Clash, say, and you wrote a lot of songs in a similar style to The Clash, you'd be a imitator-Clash band. But, if you wrote punk songs in a different style, and maybe some like The Clash, then you'd be a band influenced by The Clash.

-Tyler

PS: Is the "the" in bands capitalized (The Beatles or the Beatles? The Eagles or the Eagles?)

[brandondrury]

I think you exactly reinterated my thoughts.

I'm pretty sure the official term is a capital T but who cares?

Brandon

[junkhead]

Big mistake I see a lot of guitar players make is focusing more on getting the biggest, baddest amp or latest FX pedal, and not actually putting time into learning to play. I think beginners should focus more on song structures and building a unique style.

[brandondrury]

Great point, junkhead.

I work with bands all the time who can't wait to get into the studio and get this huge sound that (sort of) competes with the sound of their favorite band.... then they realize that they don't play nearly as tightly as a band as their favorite band does.

A focus on musicianship instead of tone would be nice. I don't even mean musicianship like Yngwie. I'd take Nirvana "Nevermind" musicianship any day of the week. Speaking of Nevermind, most shredders don't have what it takes to play Nevermind in a mega studio situation. I'm saying that the average guitar player just isn't that tight...AT ALL!!!... and the amount of timing precision required to compete with even the simplest rock guitar is never giving the attention and respect it deserves.

Brandon

[junkhead]

Oh yeah I agree, the Yngwie technical wannabes are the other end of the spetrum where it just takes away from the song.

I know guitar players that could play every scale up and down the neck 100 miles per hour; however, a lot of them suffer when it comes to actually locking in with a real band and playing with good dynamics or sitting down and writing a song. That's why in my previous post I mention song structure and style. Cobain never did any flashy playing, but his songwriting skills were incredible.

[brandondrury]

Agreed.

While I certainly practiced my share of scales and shred guitar, I must admit that it's a dead end street. You can only take the whole shred thing so far. The audience for this type of playing is almost exclusively liimited to other guitar players. However, the audenice for a great song seams to be nearly infinite!

Either way, I have no problem at all with shred guitar players. I dig some of it. However, understanding great timing in rythm is much more important.

Brandon