Smoked...

[Gibson075]

I just had my first jam, and I thought i was decent for my first time jamming, but the other guitarist was pro. At first I felt like a beginner again, compared to this guy i am at least, but I guess i should just keep on practicing. Anyone else been showed up by a better guitar player?

[Eclectifish]

Sure -- and vice versa. As a matter of fact, I rarely sit in with a band because someone's going to look bad. Blues jams and the like are OK for me because the crowd is understanding.

Keep jamming though. It's one of the best ways to improve through watching, hearing and copying another player.

[Sage]

yeah yeah yeah, wait till you get schooled by a piano player....that's humbling.....you think you got your ***** going on, you can jam up a storm, and the someone will sit down at the keys and pound out progressions that make your fingers hurt just thinking about it. Doubly so if they've got good separation of the left and right hand, and they can do their own walking bassline over their kick *** progression.

You didn't get burned, you had a chance to learn....take it.

[Puddlegum66]

Hehehe, my roomate does it to me all the time. He's great jamming out lil fills and licks, but can't solo for the life of him. That's where I show him. It's all fun and games. Just keep workin and don't worry bout it. There's always another musician out there who's better than you.

[PerianArdocyl]

Yeah, I hate when that happens though...this guy (I mean yeah, ok, his strings buzz a heck a lot) could play a number of different songs all up and down the neck and I was the only one in the group who couldn't follow along. Walked back, though to myself, and drew myself up a quote (not sure if I told you guys this in my little Canada story):

"Nothing fires up your ambition more than getting compared to a top-notch guitarist. And equally, nothing makes you angrier."

Just popped into my head. Gonna keep that one in mind.

Keep goin' though, look at what you have to work on, and work on it like there's no tomorrow. :smile:

[YowhatsupT]

haha yeah, i have a rule that i wont improv with anyone i don't know. If I know them I know their abilities and know what i need to do to make everything sound good. If they are better, I work my *** off to keep up, if they are worse I work my *** off to make them sound good.

Thats what a truly great guitarist will do. He will make everyone around him sound good. So thats what i try to do.

[Slipstream]

Only on Wednesday and Thursday nights (that's when I play out). Oh yeah, the Showcase too. :)

[PerianArdocyl]

Wish I had some friends to jam with...I think my last one is slipping away from me because she likes new rock and I like classic rock

[Dr. D]

Funny thing, when I started playing guitar, I was expecting to be able to play like Skynyrd, or Clapton. After learning a little, and watching shows, I Learned it takes several Guitars to make the sounds. Before I started playing the guitar, I played keyboard for over 40 years. I am used to playing the lead, harmony, bass, fill and solos. and all at the same time. I really thought that one guitarist could do all that. What a surprise!!!!



:toohappy: :toohappy: :toohappy: :toohappy:

[Slipstream]

I have an Eric Clapton songbook that shows the first and second guitar parts. There are descriptions and comments at the beginning of each song talking about how he often layed down one track on top of another. Other times there is someone playin' with him.

And Skynyrd, sheesh, same here. I never realized when I was listening to the early albums when they came out that there were three guitarists. I thought they did magic or somethin'. :)

[daveymac]

I'm a guitar player in Nashville ... throw a rock, and you'll hit someone who plays guitar better than you!!!

[goldentone]

It happens all the time! But I don't consider it being "showed up". You have to be good in the first place to get "showed up" by someone better...and I'm definately not very good! :frown:

See my lament on this topic in the "Performance Anxiety" section entitled "Blues Jam Blues"

[MortalMadMan]

I just had my first jam, and I thought i was decent for my first time jamming, but the other guitarist was pro. At first I felt like a beginner again, compared to this guy i am at least, but I guess i should just keep on practicing. Anyone else been showed up by a better guitar player?

It says on this you've been playing for 3 years. I take it you don't play much.

[crowbarr]

It says on this you've been playing for 3 years. I take it you don't play much.

He's also 16. Same as me, I started at 5 but when you have school and are growing up, fitting in time to practice enough to get to a decent level is hard!

I bet there are guitarists out there who have been playing for 1 year that could show me up :(

[Gibson075]

Yes, it's true that I don't get to practice as much as I would like to during the school year. But now that summer is here, I can practice more.

[seekir]

Anyone else been showed up by a better guitar player?


I suppose it might not pay to view music as a competitive event, though you may have been sitting next to someone with that attitude (it's no fun to be beaten up with a guitar). If you felt he was more advanced, but not necessarily a musical "bully," I'd say being in the presence of a capable musician with a friendly and generous disposition is a learning opportunity a player of "lesser" ability should welcome.

[goldentone]

I suppose it might not pay to view music as a competitive event, though you may have been sitting next to someone with that attitude (it's no fun to be beaten up with a guitar). If you felt he was more advanced, but not necessarily a musical "bully," I'd say being in the presence of a capable musician with a friendly and generous disposition is a learning opportunity a player of "lesser" ability should welcome.

Agreed. I've seen both types. The competitive ones will rarely talk to you if they get the preconception that you're not on the same level with them. Those guys are the minority but they do exist. The "capable musician(s) with a friendly and generous disposition" are the ones to get to know. They are usually very helpful to less experienced players, and won't knock you for your lack of expertise. They remember that it is a learning process that must be nurtured. They realize that playing in a band is a team sport, and will do things that make their teammates better. They make the best band leaders.

[slowpoke]

Funny thing, when I started playing guitar, I was expecting to be able to play like Skynyrd, or Clapton. After learning a little, and watching shows, I Learned it takes several Guitars to make the sounds. Before I started playing the guitar, I played keyboard for over 40 years. I am used to playing the lead, harmony, bass, fill and solos. and all at the same time. I really thought that one guitarist could do all that. What a surprise!!!!


Ever listen to Joe Pass? I suppose Stanely Jordan might be a better example, but I couldn't even think about tackling his technique. Guys like Joe Pass, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Lenny Breau all are very good at playing walking bass, chords and melody/solo all at once.

I know this isn't really the same as what you're talking about, because a lot of rock bands would double parts up (especially on recordings) but I take all the chances I can to talk about Joe :p :D .