getting famous

[Azrael]

for those among you who want to become a famous guitarist:

what does fame mean to you?
how do you plan on becoming famous?
what are you working on that might make get you fame?
what actually IS fame for you?
beeing known al around the globe?
beeing in the rolling stones top 100 list?
playing infront of 25,000 peeps on a regular basis?

[chucklivesoninmyheart]

Exellent thread.This is something I contemplate often.
I wouldnt want to be a famous musician for anything else but my music and ability.I would want to be respected earning less money then to be rolling in the dough and be considerd a joke by other musicians.I look down on sellout bands(nu metal)and wouldnt be able to live well knowing that others would think of me as a crap poseur jumping around with a guitar for money.I plan on becoming famous through rigorous touring and being known for great musicianship.I have nothing at the moment(a band)to attain some sort of following or fan base.I wouldnt like to be recognized by crap magazines,but rather exalted AND debated on forums like these.Playing in front of 2000+ people often would be a dream,but I would be just as happy playing in front of a couple hundred or less for the rest of my life.Being happy and content with my work and music is my ultimate goal.I want to be complemented on my great riffs and solos and instead of getting asked for an autograph get asked for tips/pointers on how to play this or that.Instead of girls jumping on my di*k I would rather read fan letters thanking me about how my music helped there musical ambitions and moves them physically and mentally.Thats all know so far...
I know its lame,but any fame wouldnt mean a thing if there wasnt integrity behind it.

Later! \m/

[Axl_Rose]

I cant really understand those who want to become famous. I mean think about how many of us out there play guitar. Think of all the unfamous albums that only sell a couple of thousand copies but are great! The chances of becoming famous are so slim that there aint no point thinking about it! The enjoyment you get from playing and harmonising with others is the reward for your trade!

[MetalMike]

Originally posted by chucklivesoninmyheart

Exellent thread.This is something I contemplate often.
I wouldnt want to be a famous musician for anything else but my music and ability.I would want to be respected earning less money then to be rolling in the dough and be considerd a joke by other musicians.I look down on sellout bands(nu metal)and wouldnt be able to live well knowing that others would think of me as a crap poseur jumping around with a guitar for money.I plan on becoming famous through rigorous touring and being known for great musicianship.I have nothing at the moment(a band)to attain some sort of following or fan base.I wouldnt like to be recognized by crap magazines,but rather exalted AND debated on forums like these.Playing in front of 2000+ people often would be a dream,but I would be just as happy playing in front of a couple hundred or less for the rest of my life.Being happy and content with my work and music is my ultimate goal.I want to be complemented on my great riffs and solos and instead of getting asked for an autograph get asked for tips/pointers on how to play this or that.Instead of girls jumping on my di*k I would rather read fan letters thanking me about how my music helped there musical ambitions and moves them physically and mentally.Thats all know so far...
I know its lame,but any fame wouldnt mean a thing if there wasnt integrity behind it.

Later! \m/

Dude, that is exactly what I think, too!! And what Axl_Rose said, also! I'd love to play in local bars with my friends in the audience and have a few drinks after the show and talk with them. I'd be satisfied with that if it all ended the next day. It's not up to me to become famous anyway. If people like the music, they'll buy it and you can't argue with what sells. Ideally... *sigh, here it is :)* everything Metallica did in their career really only in their first 10 years, I'd be so honored to get. They came up from obscurity and toured the world. They had no backing and made it on their own and that's what I'd like.

But to make my post short, I'd just love to be able to play shows and stuff and make enough money where I wouldn't need a normal 40 hour a week, clock in and out, go to meetings, type-of job. :D

I'm working my ass off on just learning guitar at the moment and that's all I can do now, really. And whenever I go like "Well, I played for an hour. That's good enough today." I'll see a Metallica video and how much they really sacrificed and how hard they practiced and I'll go "Damnit, Ryan!! Pick it back up and keep playin today!!" heh

[Cody_King]

I would like to be famous, I think it would be a really unique experince, get to travel the world, meet all these people, make a living off the music that you create. sounds good to me!

[aiwass]

no need to be rude


[Edited by Zeppelin on 09-22-2003 at 01:46 PM]

[chris mood]

It would be nice to be remembered for something you worked so hard at.

[Azrael]

Originally posted by aiwass
F*ck fame.

very constructive comment indeed...

[noticingthemistake]

I have to agree with what most people are saying here and I feel pretty much the same on the topic of being famous.

what does fame mean to you?

I think there are two different categories of Fame. One is you are someone that someone else can make alot of money off of. So you are promoted around the world and people see your face in every direction they turn. Second is you become famous from what you do yourself. People know you for your craft not for your connections. Of course to be truly famous you need both but I would want to be famous because of my craft rather than if I am acceptable by society trends and fashions.

how do you plan on becoming famous?

I don't. If I become famous I become famous if I don't, I don't. I don't think any person has enough control over this kind of thing. All we can do is try the best we can at becoming famous and hope for the best.

what are you working on that might make get you fame?

I'm just writting the music that comes out of my head. And the day I release it to the world I hope they enjoy it as much as I do.

what actually IS fame for you?

I answer that one already. But having thousand of chicks who want on my ..., that's fame.

beeing known al around the globe?

Yeah that would be nice. But I also don't like my privacy invaded and I think I would be one to kill a paparatzi. (SP?)

beeing in the rolling stones top 100 list?

Sure. :)

playing infront of 25,000 peeps on a regular basis?

If that many people want to hear my music, hey I'm not gonna pay them to go away.

[Fruitbat]

I love playing gigs now and again but I wouldn't want to end up on some treadmill having to do PAs, interviews and making albums because it's been stipulated in a contract. I couldnt deal with press intrusion and seeing bulls**t written about me. Nope, I've got an interesting and worthwhile day job and playing a gig once every couple of weeks does me fine.

[PonyOne]

Ahh, fame. You know it's funny, when I moved out to LA I was twitching with anticipation: I was gonna find a band, join it, and then push myself to death marketing it, and hopefully, I thought, by the summer of 2004, I'd be touring... well I never even managed to get into a band, at least not officially.

It's funny, I've made about 20 inroads into the biz. Peter Wolf brought me to shows with him and played my Gretsch a few times, and we're on a first name basis: I'd run into him at a supermarket in Boston, and think to myself, "nah, i'll leave him alone, I know he likes his anonymity." Then he'd walk up and be like "hey man, what's goin on? You gettin dinner?" and invite me to a show. I'm also on a first name basis with Jay Warner, who produced, among others, Little Richard and Rick James, and who said that as soon as I get a CD cut, to send it to him and he'll take care of everything (I sold a Chevy Malibu to his wife). I also sold a car to the guy who produced Tom Petty and the Doobie Bros., who's retired, but said if I ever need help he'll get it for me. I also know musicians, actors, directors, and a host of others.

One thing that's struck me about the performers is that they strive for normalcy. You talk to them, and it's like you're the first person they've talked to in a year or two who actually isn't going "ooh! ooh!" holding a pen and paper asking for an autograph, and with most of them it's like after five minutes, you're their therapist and they call you at work to see how you're doing, and always remind you that they are there to help.

I think what happened was that I stood back and looked at the big picture: when I play guitar, other people tell me I'm good, but I feel terrible. I'm 19 (20 in 2 days). I have already had a rough life and I could use a little break to just relax and try and get the ducks in a line before I go out and try to make it big. I want to hit the scene being a great guitarist, not just a good one: there are already enough "good" guitarists out there without me joining the ranks.

To me it's not about making huge $$$. If I do then hey, cool, what's so bad about making money doing what you love? If not then I already have a keen sense for real estate investments, so all I really need to do at any point is save up $10,000 and make a down pament on a rental property. I'll get a mortgage of $2500 a month, and I'll make a total of $6000 a month in rent fees. With that property in my name I can buy up another one. So if I really set myself to it I can get myself to the point where I'm making $20,000 a month in about a year and a half. But I don't wnat that right now, I want to enjoy what little time I have before I need to start watching finances like a hawk.

I think that the main reasons I would want to become a famous musician is because no matter how you look at it it's vindication of your talent, just like being a music teacher or that guy who is the first person that pops into your head when you think of a "great musician." It's basic human nature to want recognition for what you do. Some people can't get with the thought of being that person to thousands and would rather be that person to 10, or 50, or a few hundred even. I guess I got ignored and screwed over so much throughout the course of my life that my way of backlashing against it is by trying to make myself heard.

Also I'd like to help people. Music was there when my family and friends were off doing better things. I could put in a CD by Failure, Blur, NIN, the Specials, Radiohead, or Faith No More and felt like there was someone, something else out there that understood me and knew I was worth something. If you make good music then you can reach people who can't see a counselor and can't figure out what's wrong, and you can help them get their life on track. I want to be a part of the infastructure that's there to help people who are in a situation that they feel they can't get out of because music helped me get out of my pit. It touches people in a way nothing else can.

And I don't really mind the loss of anonymity... again to me that's just vindication, and it's also the opposite of my most of my life, where no one paid attention to me. All these celebrities who whine about how people tell them they're great, and how kids come up to them and say "i love your music, it helped me not kill myself" and that people think that they're awesome and find meaning in their lives should just shut the hell up, I mean what the fukk did you think was gonna happen when you became famous and were put one-sided into millions of people's lives? It's part of the job.

[noticingthemistake]

That's a cool story. I can say I've been there before, in my first years of High school I was pretty much a loner. Then my senior year I played the talent show at my school and then I became a local celebrity the next day. People I never knew existed where coming up to me, asking me to sit with them, gurls that were too stuck up to acknowledge my existance now wanted to my number. The last part was pretty cool but it bothered me cause, yes I got it because of something I worked hard for, but they didn't like me they liked the fact that I could play. I think one reason those guys will hang with you is because you treat them just like you treat everyone else. They like the fact that your friendly with them because of who they are not what they are. I think celebs are just pissed because they have a hard time telling who is really there friends and who isn't. That's a hard way to live, it's like having a million dollars but no one who cares about you. That's why I don't strive to be famous, my little taste of it showed me it wasn't for me. If my music goes high enough for the whole world to hear and love, I will still be an enigma.

[PonyOne]

I think Maynard Keenan of Tool has a good balance of celeb/engima. First of all half his fans only barely know what he looks like; he's had four totally different styles over the years (military style buzzcut, mohawk, bald creepy guy, and charles manson beard/long hair). He lives in the desert in Arizona, hasn't disclosed much of the details of his life, and doesn't really let anyone meet his son. toolshed.down.net has more on his life story, or at least what of it has been pieced together, and it's very interesting, to say the least.

But if a fan tells him they like his music, or asks for an autograph, he obliges and thanks them, as long as they aren't tearing down the bathroom doors...

[Evo]

I'd just like to be able to be up on stage and look out into a crazy moshpit and see some fans' eyes light up as they know I'm about to play a cool riff or solo.

I'm not too bothered about real fame, if I can make enough money to not have to work that would make me truly happy. Then I could devote all my time to music or whatever.

I don't think I'd have a problem with being famous. I'm a working-class guy and very easy going, people always like me. Getting spotted out and having to spend 2 hours signing autographs when all you want to do is get home would not bother me, these things you should expect and always value each and every fan.

[nasum_human]

this is such a cool thread.
To me, fame is living forever, you know, having someone put on your album in 50 years time and going 'wow!' like I am these days when I listen to hendrix or BB king.
I would like to be famous, I would like to be recognised as a musician and a songwriter, I believe in equal measure, I read so many extremely capable guitarists who say they dont put huge shredding solos in their music because it doesnt fit the song, my view, is if you're a good enough musician and composer, you can make anything fit into a song and make it great.
For years and years I've been into rock and metal music, trying to find those bands that just have that perfect balance between great songwriting and great musicianship.
I used to practice 5 hours a day trying to get as good as I possibly could, the instrument can be used for anything and I want to use it to the very most of my ability, yet still have people say they enjoy the whole song.
I would like to release an album or five in the future, I believe I have the songs that people can appreciate and relate to.
I'm currently at the very beginning of forming a band and I have high hopes, I dont dream of making it rich or playing in front of adoring thousands, I'd like to just be happy knowing that there are some people out there who feel the same about my music as I do.
If you want to know the bad sides of fame, read Henry Rollins' book 'get in the van' he talks about being a nobody, suddenly fronting one of the more popular bands on the hardcore scene, he talks about people threatening him, not wanting to sign autographs and being misunderstood. He explains fame has many downsides and that all he wanted to do was play music with Black Flag.

[noticingthemistake]

Originally posted by PonyOne
I think Maynard Keenan of Tool has a good balance of celeb/engima.

Yeah. :) I love tool man, and as soon as I can collect enough coin I'm getting the new Perfect Circle CD. I like that style (not a goth or anything).


I would like to be famous, I would like to be recognised as a musician and a songwriter, I believe in equal measure, I read so many extremely capable guitarists who say they dont put huge shredding solos in their music because it doesnt fit the song, my view, is if you're a good enough musician and composer, you can make anything fit into a song and make it great.

I dunno from my experiences when I write a song. Once I get the first few bars, the music sort of writes itself. I hear it and I put it down, I don't try to force something that I'm not feeling or try to conform it in any other way. If I do it always seems un-natural and that's the worst thing you can do to your music. I don't try to write the greatest song every time I sit down to compose. I just get the ideas out and what it becomes is that moment, sort of like an impressionist.

[andy82]

I got inspired into playing guitar after watching a band called X-Japan (1982~1998), almost every Asian in my generation (I'm 21 soon) knows the band. The crowd, the music did it for me, and when the lead guitarist died the funeral brought 50,000 people onto the streets following the car that carried the body to the burial ceremony, also few fanatical fans commited suicide. So I guess thats my standard except for the suicidal fans... I don't want any of my fans to die :D

[Fretfire]

It's nice to be famous, especially if you know you have what it takes to be famous, but be prepared to face the fact that automatically you will become a "public property" and it sometimes result to the extent that you loose your privacy coz all eyes are on you. There is always a boon and bane to it.

[Shredda_42]

i think fame is when at least everynow and then someone recognises you when your down the street...I'd hate to be that famous where every single person knows who you are, but it would be cool to have a few people come up to you every now and then because they love ya music.
Lv Sheree
XOXOXOX

[CW14]

BTW, I just found out my mate's dad (Tony Lugton) was the keyboardist in Pseudo Echo. For a while anyway.

[capohead]

Fame? Don't knock it till you've tried it :)

For me it would have meant that my work was music. There's an element of immortality in there. Even now I know there are a few thousand of my CDs all over the world. People still play them (so I'm told) and I still get emails from "fans". That feels good, to know that my music is out there somewhere in some form, something of me left when I'm gone. It's a primal thing.

In a local band in Worcester (UK) I used to get recognised in the street which I liked. Why is it the bands I played in never had groupies? :(

Anyway, I would have loved to have made some money but didn't.

Basically there's a lot of good guitarists and songwriters out there and you either have be something special or hook into something special. Then you have to have a lot of luck and know the right people. That's really important, knowing the right people.

If you've got the desire then go for it. You've only got one life and when you're lying there on your death bed you really don't want to be having regrets.

And on that cheerful note I bid you goodnight :D

Cheers

Dick

[Cryptic Excretions]

I don't really know that I ever do anything for the intention of gaining notoriety. I mainly view fame as a potential side effect of what I want to be doing in my future. Past that I'm really not too concerned about it.

[VHLO]

I just want to be famus enough to play with some of the bands I like or maybe just be a well respected session musician. :rolleyes:
...and maybe that some day a good guitarrist would say that I´m a big influence for him/her :o

[Cryptic Excretions]

I just want to be famus enough to play with some of the bands I like or maybe just be a well respected session musician. :rolleyes:
...and maybe that some day a good guitarrist would say that I´m a big influence for him/her :o
Yeah, I can say I've thought about those ones and as nice as they seem to be, I can't help but think that the most rewarding thing in music would be being able to survive off doing something you love doing. I dunno, I can't really explain it, but given the site I'm at, I really don't think I need to explain. I've given up a lot of things so that I could make sure my music would continue... a lot of things I was raised to believe I shouldn't give up ever for anything and for any reason. But in the big scheme of things I really don't care. All I really want in life is to play music forever. And I've elaborated off that one to the point where, let's say I'm at work in front of a computer. Naturally to break the monotony of the day I'll draw, or read something else or something. Every so often I'll just day dream and one of my most common fantasies is that of the afterlife where I begin wondering just what it would be like. Naturally I can't help but wonder what my boss and/or coworkers or anyone else I meet would wish the afterlife to be like. And somewhere in there I think about what I would like it to be... for me anyway. An empty void with just me in a chair with a guitar so I can play music for eternity. No time to track, no work to go to, no sleep, nothing but music. I can play music for as long as I wish, and when I stop playing it's because I've had enough, not because I need to hurry up and get back to work or because I need to get some sleep or because I need to go to the store or whatever. And that is why I am pursuing a career in music. Because I can't imagine anything greater than being surrounded by music. I'm aware the business isn't all fun and games, but I'm willing to go through all of that for the sake of music just the same as any man would go through enough struggle for, say, a woman he cares about.

[RandyEllefson]

Don't be an instrumental guitarist if you want fame. I can't even get booked in my area despite good reviews and all that stuff. Without a singer nobody cares.

[gogogo]

For me ultimate fame would be to be known for my catchy riffs,soulful solos, and heatfelt lyrics rather than my face. Its just one of those things all of us dream of being on stage lights on us starting a song and the crowd cheering while we jam out. The only way to get to this point I know for a fact is through hard work dedication and a never give up attittude. There will always be doubters, haters, w/e they may be....my goal is to prove them wrong or atleast gain theur respect

[drf46]

Great playing Randy.

[magicninja]

"I guess all that we want to say is we wanna be heard."-Brenden Fraser Airheads

[quickfingers]

the whole "i want to be famous for my ablity, not having girls jump on my d*ck" thing kindof bugs me in the respect that thats a totally unrealistic dream, 100 times moreso than being in rolling stone. you could be the best in your whole damn city and still be a nothing talentwise. i mean, look at all the steve vai wannabees who play amazing. no one really gives a ****. yea, thats really cool you can play that fast. but i would give up all the talent in the world to keep writing songs, and thats usually what i do. yea, i love shmabbing it up just as much as the next guitarist. thats usually waht i do when i play guitar. but to say you want to be famous by being an incredible musician is the most farfeched of all. theres always going to be a 100 guys better than you, always, that are playing the same thing youre trying to play, but better, and it doesnt have a thing to do with "style", it has alot more to do with that they can play a hell of a lot better than you can.

on a side note, i get annoyed by how music is less about music and more about money, clothing style, attitude, ect...but you cant go so far as to say that you would want your fan base to be lonely nerd guitar players who want to know how to play what licks in what songs. that **** would be more irritating than girls asking if you can play acoustic AND electric guitar...music cant always be about theory and bla bla bla, sometimes its good to have fans that dont give a **** how to play your songs, and just enjoy it. notice how players like joe satriani dont have fans like that? thats because to people who dont want to play like satriani, its not very interesting. it turns to elevator music. sometimes its good just to listen to music not trying to say "ooooh, i can play better than this dude and hes famous!" and more about just enjoying music.

[quickfingers]

btw, airheads was a kickass movie.

[Akira]

the whole "i want to be famous for my ablity, not having girls jump on my d*ck" thing kindof bugs me in the respect that thats a totally unrealistic dream, 100 times moreso than being in rolling stone. you could be the best in your whole damn city and still be a nothing talentwise. i mean, look at all the steve vai wannabees who play amazing. no one really gives a ****. yea, thats really cool you can play that fast. but i would give up all the talent in the world to keep writing songs, and thats usually what i do. yea, i love shmabbing it up just as much as the next guitarist. thats usually waht i do when i play guitar. but to say you want to be famous by being an incredible musician is the most farfeched of all. theres always going to be a 100 guys better than you, always, that are playing the same thing youre trying to play, but better, and it doesnt have a thing to do with "style", it has alot more to do with that they can play a hell of a lot better than you can.

on a side note, i get annoyed by how music is less about music and more about money, clothing style, attitude, ect...but you cant go so far as to say that you would want your fan base to be lonely nerd guitar players who want to know how to play what licks in what songs. that **** would be more irritating than girls asking if you can play acoustic AND electric guitar...music cant always be about theory and bla bla bla, sometimes its good to have fans that dont give a **** how to play your songs, and just enjoy it. notice how players like joe satriani dont have fans like that? thats because to people who dont want to play like satriani, its not very interesting. it turns to elevator music. sometimes its good just to listen to music not trying to say "ooooh, i can play better than this dude and hes famous!" and more about just enjoying music.

To your first paragraph: Being the best in the city, yet being nothing talent wise? How does that work? Also, don't you need some sort of talent in order to write good songs? I think quite a few people have become famous from being a great musician, isn't that the primary aim of most people? To become a great musician? So there's always gonna be people that are better than us at playing guitar, so what? Doesn't stop anyone from enjoying themselves on the guitar.

To your second paragraph: I agree with most of what you said, especially the thing with music now being more about image and money than the music, especially in the mainstream. As regards Joe Satriani however, I know an ass load of people who have never even touched a guitar in their lives, but they really enjoy listening to Satriani. I would say he's as popular with non-guitarists as he is with guitarists. Hell, Surfing with the Alien even managed to make it into the mainstream charts.

[Cryptic Excretions]

the whole "i want to be famous for my ablity, not having girls jump on my d*ck" thing kindof bugs me in the respect that thats a totally unrealistic dream, 100 times moreso than being in rolling stone. you could be the best in your whole damn city and still be a nothing talentwise. i mean, look at all the steve vai wannabees who play amazing. no one really gives a ****. yea, thats really cool you can play that fast. but i would give up all the talent in the world to keep writing songs, and thats usually what i do. yea, i love shmabbing it up just as much as the next guitarist. thats usually waht i do when i play guitar. but to say you want to be famous by being an incredible musician is the most farfeched of all. theres always going to be a 100 guys better than you, always, that are playing the same thing youre trying to play, but better, and it doesnt have a thing to do with "style", it has alot more to do with that they can play a hell of a lot better than you can.

on a side note, i get annoyed by how music is less about music and more about money, clothing style, attitude, ect...but you cant go so far as to say that you would want your fan base to be lonely nerd guitar players who want to know how to play what licks in what songs. that **** would be more irritating than girls asking if you can play acoustic AND electric guitar...music cant always be about theory and bla bla bla, sometimes its good to have fans that dont give a **** how to play your songs, and just enjoy it. notice how players like joe satriani dont have fans like that? thats because to people who dont want to play like satriani, its not very interesting. it turns to elevator music. sometimes its good just to listen to music not trying to say "ooooh, i can play better than this dude and hes famous!" and more about just enjoying music.
Sorry for sounding like I"m on the offense, but I partially am. Did you think about anything you just said? To say that a guitarist with the dream of being famous by his own talent is far fetched is like saying a guy that is going to college to become a doctor that hopes to discover new medicines because he wants to heal is far fetched. I mean, not everyone in the world just wants to get laid and show off and yes, people (myself included) do pay attention to the talented guitarists aside from Vai. Yes, there always will be someone better than you, that's a fact. But it's not like it's a competition, so who cares about who's better than who?

On the second paragraph, music isn't always about image or money. You have to look for yourself to find the pure music. If you just turn on the radio or television, then yeah you're going to be force fed something that's completely full of it. But if you really look for it you can find worlds of music that are just made because some guy wanted to make something a certain way. Music isn't always about theory. What it is always about is feeling. And it varies on how much is there from artist to artist. Furthermore, not everyone learns what they listen to. I personally can play maybe 3 songs on 2 instruments combined. I don't learn other peoples' music typically because it's just not interesting to me. I don't know a single bit of Satriani's music, but you can bet your ass I appreciate every last song he makes simply for the feeling that's gone into it. Not everyone is worried about who's better. There are, simply put, just people out there that really appreciate the art and heart that go into music. And there are several of them here at this forum.

[quickfingers]

but it IS competition when you are labeling yourself as a musician who is trying to be "among the best." thats the facts, bro. if your a skateboarder who's claim to fame is doing 20 stair handrails, and you want to be the best, thats DIRECT competition. dont tell me that guitarists dont compete, becasue thats a damn lie. even in the most creative of environments, with ideas flowing, theres still direct competition, wether you feel it or not. so to say that you want to be known for your instrumental skill in guitar (im assuming that by this statement you mean technical skill) then thats a million times moreso. im not ragging on people that want to be good guitarists....hell, i play guitar all the damn time to BE a real good guitarist. im not trying to put other peole like me down. but you do have to sit back and laugh a little bit at people in a guitar forum, without a band, who have been playing for like 4 years maybe, and are approaching mid-20's that are talking about "making it big" or "being a respected musician among guitarists." its not that that dream isnt possible, it just sounds damn incompitent when people try to act like theyre the only ones who have thought of that. like, oooh, thats real revolutionary. becasue every otehr guitarist in the world plays powerchords, you will be the ONLY guitarist to step it up and you will be known as "guitar hero" in your hometown. come on, people. seriously. you could close your eyes, shoot a bullet, and nail a guitarist in the head wehrever you are in the world. not to say that just becusae there are tons of musicians in the trade means that you have zero chance of being recognized, but...f*ck, you guys. sounding a bit on the pathetic side.

[quickfingers]

ps, joe satriani made a softrock song solely so he could play staccato runs down it. ****ing pouser **** right there. nothings worse than being a solo artist and making "deep" songs to show off your sensitive side after playing a song like surfing wtih the alien. yea, you know we all do it too, after "welcome to the jungle" solo we listen to "civil war" and ****, but to put it on a record, with no real lyrical value, just sitting and listening to satch play a slow jams is really pompous and lame. id rather take a **** guitarist that ****s **** up on stage and makes you actually want to beleive in rock and roll than that ****.

[Cryptic Excretions]

but it IS competition when you are labeling yourself as a musician who is trying to be "among the best." thats the facts, bro. if your a skateboarder who's claim to fame is doing 20 stair handrails, and you want to be the best, thats DIRECT competition. dont tell me that guitarists dont compete, becasue thats a damn lie. even in the most creative of environments, with ideas flowing, theres still direct competition, wether you feel it or not. so to say that you want to be known for your instrumental skill in guitar (im assuming that by this statement you mean technical skill) then thats a million times moreso. im not ragging on people that want to be good guitarists....hell, i play guitar all the damn time to BE a real good guitarist. im not trying to put other peole like me down. but you do have to sit back and laugh a little bit at people in a guitar forum, without a band, who have been playing for like 4 years maybe, and are approaching mid-20's that are talking about "making it big" or "being a respected musician among guitarists." its not that that dream isnt possible, it just sounds damn incompitent when people try to act like theyre the only ones who have thought of that. like, oooh, thats real revolutionary. becasue every otehr guitarist in the world plays powerchords, you will be the ONLY guitarist to step it up and you will be known as "guitar hero" in your hometown. come on, people. seriously. you could close your eyes, shoot a bullet, and nail a guitarist in the head wehrever you are in the world. not to say that just becusae there are tons of musicians in the trade means that you have zero chance of being recognized, but...f*ck, you guys. sounding a bit on the pathetic side.
Well, "best" in a musical context is easily related to a person's opinion of musical quality as well as how much a person knows about music. If, for example, we have a person who only listens to radio play then their knowledge of other qualities of music is much more limited so what is best to them isn't going to be what's best to, say, me. Furthermore, the genre of choice will also play a role in this. To a person that listens to country music, a metal band won't do anything to sway them into the opinion that they're among the greatest. I can honestly say I've never tried to compete with another guitarist. I've never tried to out solo, or come up with more riffs for a song, or anything like that. In my eyes, the song always comes first and if it happens to sound better by someone else's doing, then by all means. Why ruin a good thing? I don't necessarily work my technique with the intention of staying better than anyone else. That's a futile goal because, as stated before by the both of us, there will always be someone better so why bother? And furthermore, I'm 21, been playing for 3 years, just finally found a stable band and also happen to have goals in the music industry. Don't think I've not thought about just how many other people are in the business or just how much work and effort goes into it. I'm aware of all of that, I've done my reading. But it's still a decision I wish to follow through on and I fail to see how that sounds pathetic in any way. I will, however, agree that it's growing quite disheartening if, say, I'm in the same place within a decade. But even that can be forgiven because these things don't just fly by for everyone. It takes a lot of time, dedication, and patience. But I can honestly say from my own personal experiences in music that trying to be better than others is missing the point of music itself. I'm not saying that people don't compete in the business, just that not everyone is so concerned about it.

[quickfingers]

To a person that listens to country music, a metal band won't do anything to sway them into the opinion that they're among the greatest. .


not true at all, dude. thats like saying a trumpet player that plays latin music cant relate to a trumpet player that plays jazz. you especially shouldnt be swayed towards such an opinion, given that almost everything can easilly be linked with straightforward scales that any competent guitarist would know of. so kenny chesney or keith urban dont know what a natural minor scale is? its easy to judge talent for the most part, at least as far as that goes. of course, i never try to judge guitarists or any musicians for that matter by the material they play in their band; similarly, i couldnt say that kirk hammlet is better than chet atkins. just different ****. but on a general level, you can be respected in all forms of music. im sure as **** that randy rhoads can rip some chickin pickin, and ill bet my right testicle that.

[Cryptic Excretions]

not true at all, dude. thats like saying a trumpet player that plays latin music cant relate to a trumpet player that plays jazz. you especially shouldnt be swayed towards such an opinion, given that almost everything can easilly be linked with straightforward scales that any competent guitarist would know of. so kenny chesney or keith urban dont know what a natural minor scale is? its easy to judge talent for the most part, at least as far as that goes. of course, i never try to judge guitarists or any musicians for that matter by the material they play in their band; similarly, i couldnt say that kirk hammlet is better than chet atkins. just different ****. but on a general level, you can be respected in all forms of music. im sure as **** that randy rhoads can rip some chickin pickin, and ill bet my right testicle that.
I guess I should've specified that the above quote was meant to be taken as a broad example and not so literal. Yeah, one person can relate to another through their craft but ones views on what compiles the best form of musicianship differs and though the two forms can come to agreements neither one is swayed from viewing their particulars as their own personal "best." And that, more or less, gets us absolutely nowhere.

[quickfingers]

^^^^valid.^^^^^^^

[M.E.S]

i would only want to play in a jazz band( piano guitar or clarinet) in manhattan

[Middknight]

fame.....of course.... the only way to make a living doing what we all love (guitar in one form or another) is to be at least semi-famous... in one way or another.