How good or how bad are we, really?

**Doctor Jeff** · 04-15-2025, 05:33 PM

I have heard a lot of stories of guitarists walking around with a guitar all waking hours, some of them even sleeping with it. I imagine there are horn players who do this as well.

I read this about Peter Buck recently, who's no virtuoso, but is no slouch at making great records with a certain sound. Pretty damn successful at it. He was never seen without a guitar. When he worked at the record shop Wuxtry in Athens, he used to noodle with a Tele unplugged behind the counter. (I was a regular at Wuxtry's Atlanta location. Never ran into anyone who wanted to start a band there.)

Anyway, I had a buddy in college who idolized the blues. He bought a guitar as a freshman, and started walking around all the time banging on it, mainly Muddy Waters/BB King-style stuff. He was pretty bad for awhile. Then by sophomore year, he was in a band playing a lot around town. Within another year, he was in several bands--a rockabilly group that was well-respected, and his own band, where he played SRV/Hendrix stuff, could play the guitar behind his back, really showy stuff.

He fronted several prominent bands in Atlanta that seemed to fold when their lead singers died--some band members were killed in a car crash (Opal Foxx Quartet), the charismatic singer Benjamin in the band Smoke died from Hep C. (There was a documentary made about him.) He played on some Indigo Girls albums, playing banjo and guitar and trumpet.

Not sure where I'm going with this, but most if not all the greats lived/breathed/slept their art for many years. It's not enough just to practice. You have to BECOME the instrument.

And this might be my problem. I'm talented with a lot of things, but have never put in the single-minded devotion to make any of them brilliant, outside of my career. (Pun intended.)

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**JGinNJ** · 04-18-2025, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Spook410

There are times when I am happy I'm an amateur and see no point in grinding away. Music is fun. If I felt compelled to accelerate my slow melt up in skill with constant and disciplined focus to profitable practice, transcription, and other tedious things, it would not be fun. Since there is no financial gain, not much an artistic outlet, and I'm not drawn to promotion into the next tier of the player hierarchy I'll continue the slow plod into jazz guitar obscurity. Small town gigging to backing tracks will continue. And I will make literally 10's of dollars a month on a wonderful hobby.

I know how good and/or talented I am more or less. And I'm pretty satisfied to have come this far. I'm grateful to not be one of the driven.

I think this is a really healthy attitude to have about this pursuit. I don't think we should settle for mediocrity, being couch noodlers or garage dad-band strummers. But you don't have to practice like you're going to Birdland.

Personally i think video/audio recording is the best (ok, harshest) critic of how good or bad you are. I hear what I need to work on, whether it's playing more cleanly, better time, etc.

**jameslovestal** · 04-18-2025, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by JGinNJ

I think this is a really healthy attitude to have about this pursuit. I don't think we should settle for mediocrity, being couch noodlers or garage dad-band strummers. But you don't have to practice like you're going to Birdland.

Personally i think video/audio recording is the best (ok, harshest) critic of how good or bad you are. I hear what I need to work on, whether it's playing more cleanly, better time, etc.

I just practice enough to be able to keep up with my jam buddies. Years ago, most were ahead of me, and I had to practice a lot. Now the tide has turned.

Some can't even play songs we had played for decades because they are still too competitive and don't wish to sound worst then I do!