Me Playing at Battle of the Blues

This is me playing at Guitar Centers Battle of the Blues in Florence Ky. I wasnt really satisfied with my playing but looking back now doesnt seem so bad. Constructive critizism appreciated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ARrHSkq6iM&feature=share

Gear used stock MIM Strat, Custom Badass 78 and a TS9 through Egnater Rebel 30.

I hate how they judge on appearance and "stage performance"...meaning that you have to jump around or something?

Yeah stage presence isnt really my thing lol.

Hey JR,

Nice playing man! I thought it as great! You make it look so easy.

kc

Thanks KCKC!

Wow that was cool. That's quite a guitar face you have there.

Ok, I'll play. Not bad, BUT you look like you're bored to tears ( think of your favorite musician's stance and body language on stage and try and emulate that ), try and play emotional music vs noodling ( think about the difference between trying to prove a point in an argument vs ramblin about something), try and stay inside the scale and avoid bum notes. Try and put emotion into your music. I know how intimidating those competitions are, I did one of the GC King Of The Blues. Keep on !

Too loud.
Too much gain.
You don't sound to me like you're really listening to the track you're playing too.
Bends are out tune.
Playing less really is more, especially in the Blues.

Your worst problem is that your guitar is not in tune to the backing track. Keep it up ...your doing fine.

I hate how they judge on appearance and "stage performance"...meaning that you have to jump around or something?

I enjoyed your performance!

Generally speaking: It's important for any participant to look comfortable, and like they enjoy playing in front of people.

Mrs. Hiker and I have attended at least six different nights of store competition over the last 2-3 yrs.
Here's some points for anyone entering the competition to consider...

1. Most do NOT acknowledge/greet the audience by saying "Hello-thanks for coming out to the store." Eye contact is important during those words. (That's simple to memorize, and say, right?).

2. A significant number of players performed with eyes closed, and did not gaze in the direction of the audience, or judges during their timed performance. (This is also part of stage presence.)

3. And lastly, very few players said, "thanks everyone" after completing their part.

:roll: This stuff is not difficult, or rocket science! It's one of the ways to earn points, and edge out someone that is otherwise on equal footing on the score cards. Plus, what I've written can be rehearsed in front of a wall, or family member during practice at home-before walking into the store competition.

The best players and store winners tend to play a Fender Twin in my experience, play the Twin!

Overall, you sound great. I was nowhere near that level at 21.

I would just pay a little attention to some of the bends. They are a little flat and if you find it's hard to find the exact sweet spot, you can use more vibrato. Vibrato has a great way of hiding notes that are a little flat or sharp. Anyway, keep up the good work and that strat and amp you have has a perfect sound for rock and blues.

Playing less really is more, especially in the Blues.

+1000

I knew some of the bends were off some of them make me shiver thinking about it actually lol.

I knew some of the bends were off some of them make me shiver thinking about it actually lol.

The best thing is if you know where you weak points are then that's the best way to get really good in the fastest way possible.

In your case if you know which bends were the ones needing the most help, and then couple that with doing what you did but with fewer notes, then you are golden.

In almost every case, a new guitarist, or from my perspective of 30 years playing lead guitar after playing rhythm for a long time, most 21 year olds will probably overplay. Even in some early Neal Schon work (Santana, Journey) he did in his 20s, he tended to overplay and it actually took away from his performance. But while it sounds easy to simply leave stuff out and simplify, this can be the longest lived task of them all and take some a lifetime.

However, in the context of some rock work, like a Buckethead or Joe Satriani, playing a lot of notes is customary and there's somewhat less editing there. In blues, or the really good stuff, what isn't played is what counts a lot more. While the British blues explosion starting in the 1960s was great and the likely predecessor to the Eddie Van Halens and Steve Vais of the next generation, the better blues (the stuff that inspired these guys) was and little known American stuff from Muddy Waters and before.

Sounds good. Some bends sound a little out of tune, otherwise a lot of good especially when it gets into more of a rock vibe.