In Part 1 of this column, we discussed the transcendent ability of every ‘guitar idol’ to inspire a new generation of musicians. Inspiration is the lifeblood of creative energy and these notable individuals have been and still are the most effective conduits for conveying that energy. We also discussed the downsides of inspiration on a…
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The Double Edged Sword of Guitar Idols Part 1
Every guitarist (myself included) can likely point to one main source of inspiration that captured our ears’ undivided attention during our formative years. This source might have even been the reason why you picked up the guitar in the first place. Obviously I’m talking about the Guitar Idol (or Guitar God) and every generation has…
Choosing your Battles on the Guitar PART 2
In part 1 of this article, we identified some options that can maximize the amount of quality information you receive when learning the guitar. It’s common knowledge that some websites and youtube videos disseminate inaccurate tips and techniques. Avoiding potential bad habits can be accomplished in a few different ways. To quickly review from the…
Choosing Your Battles on the Guitar PART 1
A new year is upon us, and with it comes the familiar and arguably cliche theme of new beginnings. People treat the month of January as an opportunity to re-ignite their motivations in a host of different ways. Whether it be to eat healthier, exercise more, or start learning an instrument (hint, hint), there is…
Musical Purity is Overrated
In July, I wrote a column called “Finding Inspiration in Unlikely Places” for Guitar World Online. In it, I encouraged every musician to step outside of their comfort zones and listen to different styles of music. The main motivation for that article came after I saw a Dave Matthews Band concert. I had never been…
“Letting Go” of Perfectionist Tendencies
I remember my first time playing in front of a crowd like it was yesterday. I was sixteen years old and had recently started a cover band with my brother on drums and a few neighborhood friends. We all caught the ‘metal’ bug and wanted nothing else but to play Metallica and Pantera covers all…
The Importance of Musical Inflections
Sometimes, we guitar players can get so caught up in executing that blazing 16th note scale run at 180 BPM, that we forget about the true strengths of the instrument itself. Unlike the piano for example, the guitar offers us the opportunity to manipulate a note in various creative ways. We can even alter a…
It’s never too late to learn an instrument
The summer leading up to my freshman year of high school was an exciting time. I was going to buy my first guitar! Well actually it was a bass guitar, but it was a start. The interesting reason why I decided to buy a bass was because, generally, it seemed a bit easier to play…