Do You feel trapped...?

[GuitaRoland]

Do you sometimes feel that you're trapped in your own playing? At least I do, no matter what people say about my playing, I still don't feel satisfied with myself. It feels like I often repeat myself and play what I already know.

Is this a guitarist- or musician disease that persecutes you through your career? However this doesn't make me want to stop playing, but rather it makes me try harder.

Do you recognise the situation and feel the same way or ...?

/R

[Goofsus4]

I don't feel "trapped" because getting out of the trap is always easy - just learn something new. But I do sometimes feel like things are getting stale, especially with improvisation because that has to be "your music" for it to be real improv and if you don't keep evolving and coming up with new ideas you plateau. I had gotten to that point recently with improv - I had hit the wall on diatonic type lines. Yes, I used chromatics, but I wasn't really getting the true outside thing happening. So recently I've been really working on more deliberate tension and release in an entire line, as opposed to just using chromatics as connectors or approach notes. My playing has already improved and my ear is getting more appreciative of the outside tones as targets themselves, not just diversions.

And yes, I am very hard on myself in all disciplines, not just my playing. It's not really that healthy, frankly, but if affects a lot of artists and musicians, maybe all of them to some degree. I think we all need to be able to stand back sometimes and say "that was pretty good, I'm proud of that." It just seems like saying that is very difficult in a creative discipline, especially when everywhere you look there are people doing things that seem so much better!

I am also a painter and people tell me they like my work. Friends ask for pieces of my work and put them in their homes. Yet, all I see is the flaws. Deep down I don't really believe what they say. It's not healthy. It just isn't.

[voelker]

Performance rule #1 - if you make a mistake, dont make a face, don't go back and correct it, don't apologize, just keep on going like it never happened, the audience usually won't notice.

So believe what they say. Only u know what your trying to do, therefore only u know when you fall short. Just don't try to pull off stuff your not ready for. It's only natural to see your own flaws. Satifaction is overrated and only temporary. No artist worth listening to is satisfied for very long. that's why they keep practicing. Anyone whos satisfied all the time probably won't ever be a great musician. Many times I've been frustrated that i didn't execute the things I wanted to, only to later hear the recording and find out that i played something really cool, I just didn't realize it in the moment because it wasn't what I was trying to do.

[jeffstocksmusic]

If you ever find a satisfied musician, don't trust them, don't listen to them, and just run away.

[Reg]

Hey GuitaRoland...How goes...Wanting to play perfect or finding that mystical perfect performance is good for incentive, but at some point you need to realize your a normal human being. I'm not sure about not trusting, not listening or running away from a satisfied musician... I've always accepted my level of proficiency as a player or composer, although I've had to also accept that there were times when it sucked... You need to be honest and fair with yourself. If you need a measuring stick for incentive...make one yourself or use someone elses. There's a direct relationship to what and how much you practice and the level of your proficiency on your inst. That also goes for gigs... All the B.S. about what and how will go on forever, but what I've noticed over the years is that the players that continue to try and improve, do, and the player who don't, don't. A small note... I'm delusional... and very philosophical... I realized a long time ago how little control I really have... anyway you can enjoy the journey or wait for end result to be happy... speaking from experience... enjoy the road trip. Reg

[Jazzyteach65]

Originally Posted by jeffstocksmusic

If you ever find a satisfied musician, don't trust them, don't listen to them, and just run away.

AMEN! None of the "masters" (from what I've read; countless bios, books,interviews ect) were ever complacent
ake by correcting it
Even though music is not a competition, when you sit around moping, there is someone who just made a mistake, and is capitalizing on that mistake and getting better.

When I get stuck with my own ideas, I relax and listen to other players. NEW IDEAS WILL ARRIVE.

[jazzphantom]

Sometimes I think it boils down to searching for a medium that suits you as a learner. I remember years ago being stuck in in a "pentatonic Box" rut - I tried all books. but nothing would really grab me - and I just continued at the same level for ages - Then I happened to come across "guitar videos" - And hey guess what: I found out that I was a great visual learner - and in six months I was impressing friends with flashy 3 finger / note per string runs up and down the fretboard: So to recap - It's all about finding your own type of learning style and then finding that inspires it!!!

Seeya

[cosmic gumbo]

Originally Posted by GuitaRoland

no matter what people say about my playing, I still don't feel satisfied with myself.

/R

Having low self esteem, or being an anal perfectionist is really not good for your mental health. Being a good guitarist is not a substitute for being a good person. Most people don't care. Learn to be more patient and less critical. It's impossible for any single person to learn all there is to know about jazz in their lifetime. Ease up and enjoy the long journey. Like they say, it's about the journey, not the destination.

[jazzalta]

Originally Posted by GuitaRoland

Do you sometimes feel that you're trapped in your own playing? At least I do, no matter what people say about my playing, I still don't feel satisfied with myself. It feels like I often repeat myself and play what I already know.

Is this a guitarist- or musician disease that persecutes you through your career? However this doesn't make me want to stop playing, but rather it makes me try harder.

Do you recognise the situation and feel the same way or ...?

/R

I pretty much echo other's sentiments. I remember having light bulb moments though, like discovering arpeggios and polytonality years ago and incorporating them into my performances. But even though I've played for over 40 years there are still days when I can't seem to put 2 notes together.

We all experience ruts. That's when I dig out the Omnibook or listen to Wes or Coltrane or Pass for inspiration (and the odd lick). Other things that work for me are to lay off the guitar for a day or two. It never fails to produce a new concept. Playing jazz guitar is a lifelong adventure. Go easy on yourself and enjoy the ride.

[GuitaRoland]

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

It's about the journey, not the destination.

That argument I buy, even if the journey is long it's a good way to thinking!

/R

[drobniuch]

It's about the journey, not the destination.

I will remember that sentence THX

[peterja]

I sure recognise the feeling.
When you reach a certain level as a guitarist, you´re learning speed drops significant.
And for years you´re main goal has probably been to progres as fast as possible, to develope technique, to learn new material.
For me, it helped a lot to change my focus.

I´m not saying, that one should stop developing technique, but accept it´s gonna go a lot slower from now, and just try to have fun playing.

I try to enjoy my own playing, and to develope some other aspects of music, like finding my own voice, tell some stories, all the things I initially wanted to do, but somehow forgot while learning to master the instrument.

Well, at least it´s a suggestion

Or maybe you just had a to long winter Up North Sweden

[markf]

there is a very good article in "guitar player " magazine May 2006

99 ways to play better, tips from all kinds of guitar players.

One of my favourites was

"go listen to what everyone else is doing, and then do the opposite"

Amen.

also "The minute you start thinking about how the audience is going to react, whether what your doing is right or wrong or entertaining people, you're in trouble"

again I say, Amen.

"think of a solo as a paragraph. you need a clear beginning, a middle and an end. look at musical phrases like sentences, and make sure you break them up using punctuation, or space. If you don't you'll bore the listener" (and yourself I 'd say)

"don't worry about a bit of slop music isn't about perfection"

"don't listen to unimaginative naysayers" -- This is really true in the world of jazz, where there so many self described "very knowledgeable people" (often not players at all) solemnly opining on what/who is the best, or "world class" , or whether some music is Jazz or not, (who cares) etc.

Jeff Beck, says to take a break from practising. clear your head.

anyway, if you can find it its a very good article.

[cosmic gumbo]

Originally Posted by markf

Jeff Beck, says to take a break from practising. clear your head.

Jeff Beck is famous for not touching the guitar when he's not touring or recording.

[Meggy]

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

Having low self esteem, or being an anal perfectionist is really not good for your mental health. Being a good guitarist is not a substitute for being a good person. Most people don't care. Learn to be more patient and less critical. It's impossible for any single person to learn all there is to know about jazz in their lifetime. Ease up and enjoy the long journey. Like they say, it's about the journey, not the destination.

One of the best things you have said cosmic! I take back all the things I said about you! I've done the low self esteem thing myself in the past, and it gets you nowhere fast, now I'm learning how to feel good about myself!