[Detman101]

Originally Posted by GoldieLocks

You're definitely better than most church guitar players I've witnessed. But thats not really a compliment.

Uh...thanks hehe.

Originally Posted by GoldieLocks

I've listened to your recording 3x over the last week. I don't want to throw my opinion out without some serious thought. So my thoughts are:

A guitar player is only as good as his chords and rhythm. Even lead guitarists should be thinking about how their notes affect the chords and push pull of the rhythm. Your playing didn't do any of this for me.

Well this is part of my problem. I don't know the chords for the songs that are played in my church because they don't exist. A lot of the songs were made by the lead singer/songstress and she sings them differently EVERY TIME! It's maddening! I never know what to expect when I play in church because it's always different. Everyone there i self-trained and we have no real leadership when it comes to the Musical area. They just cancelled rehearsal AGAIN for the 3rd time in a row which makes it 2 months now that we haven't practiced anything at all...yet we have scheduled dates that we have to perform at other churches!? The only thing that I can do is improvise and try to intercept the random key changes that they like to do.

Originally Posted by GoldieLocks

rhythmically your church band was pretty chaotic. The POOR drummer, I don't know who he was playing with? Everyone was off in their own time zone. Maybe once did I hear the whole band really groove together. Alot of that was your singers fault. The keyboardist had the right idea I thought. the bass player was very distracting. I don't think they ever held the song together. Enough about the band...back to you.

Lol...guess what? The Bass player.....that is actually the keyboardist!! He plays one bass keyboard and one regular keyboard stacked on top of each other!! He is used to playing by himself and being the only instrument in the church so he doesn't know how to leave room for other players. I try to work around what he is doing but like I said...we have absolutely no guidance or adult leadership in our church when it comes to the music.

Originally Posted by GoldieLocks

This is just a personal thing: But your playing sounded very timid and insecure. Play like a man. Show that you are totally in control of your instrument. Make it cry, sing, Yell, comfort people, and laugh. Music is all about emotions and stories. every song should call on you take people on a journey. (Listen to some Pink Floyd for this!)

Well, It is timid and insecure sounding because I don't ever know what to expect when it comes to playing in church. It's hard to be bold when you never know what kinda curveball is coming at you. I stay in the "Middle of the road" so that I can duck left or right...if you know what I mean...

Originally Posted by GoldieLocks

Your guitar playing should be helping the singer get the song across. You occasionally got in the way of the singer. But thats not always your fault...the singer was out of control at times.
I try to always play around the singer. Never on top of them. Unless its a big buildup at the end.

Well, I think know a bit about playing around the singer...I think. What you mean is like...when the singer sings a bit then stops, that's where I would normally play a little riff/lick to work with the singer...right??
Well, the problem there is that the keyboardist always rushes in and tries to put a fill in that spot. As I said earlier, he doesn't play well with others and has never been taught the roles of the seperate instruments in a band. I have been in a band before and got schooled on staying in my lane. Our keyboardist believes he owns the entire highway and the driveway to your house too...lolol!! A lot of times, the only way that I can be heard is if I play WHILE the singer is singing...which is wrong, I know...but it's the only way I can avoid the keyboardist.

Originally Posted by GoldieLocks

Your at the point now where you need a really good tube amp. Something that will allow you to make your guitar scream and sing. Even a Fender Hotrod Deluxe would get you there...or a Vox amp. THere's 100's more. If you're serious about music then make this a priority in your life.

I have a really great and loud tube amp that is soooo awesome, but I don't dare bring it to chuch because someone may knock it over or try to play with it and blow the tubes or even worse...the amp. It's an 80s model Peavey Artist 240 that my boss gave me and it's concert loud but...it's a tube amp...

Originally Posted by GoldieLocks

I'm curious who your influences are? I didn't hear any from your clip. No Santana or Clapton or Beck or Carlton or Page. You should really immerse yourself in some of your favourite players to get up to the next level. THen you can spend your life getting beyond these influences. Just something to think about.

Wow, I don't think I have any. There are people that I want to play like but I can't because of limiting factors like:
1. "my guitar neck being too thin" IE: Jimi Hendrix,
2. "I don't have the right pickups" IE: Adam Jones (Tool)
3. "I don't have the blues" IE: John Mayer
I don't know of any players that I can even come close to playing like because my fingers are so slow. I mostly play old southern slow blues when I do try to play. I try to sound like Albert King....lol. I need a real person that I can watch and emulate. On my own, I stay too "Middle of the road" due to my own fear of failure.

Originally Posted by GoldieLocks

Well thats it! Its okay to ignore everything I just said. I'm very analytical. You should see how I critique my own playing and band. Its NASTY but productive. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your insight. don't feel bad about being harsh, this will help me to become a better guitarist and you better believe that I'll remember your help when I finally make something of myself.

God bless,
Dm