What category do you fall in?

I guess there's a thin line between being confident about your talent and being cocky.
Modesty's not something that's natural to many people it seems...I guess my princible is to "shut up and play yer geetar..."
Wise words from a wise (if not excentric) man...:s

Actully, I do not want to be discovered, I just think that it's normal nowadays to have your music available on the net. I have had more than 10000 visits on my personal site over the last 8 months, and some of my songs have been downloaded several hundred times.

As for telling me I am cocky, you are right, my wife-to-be always tells me I can sound like a self satisfied prick when I talk about my musical skills. I usually answer that I never lie, and she knows about it. Jaco once said 'it ain't bragging if you can back it up' and I live to this standard. But I do not want to fall all over myself telling I suck while I know I don't!! :D

Hmmmmmmmm... I'll try that...

Originally posted by Willdridge
I guess there's a thin line between being confident about your talent and being cocky.

Too darn thin.
It takes a degree of wisdom to not come across as cocky.

I'm cocky and proud of it! ;)

man with hole in pocket feel cockey all day

Not knowing something is bad enough.
Not knowing that you don't know?
tsk,tsk.

I'm glad to have gotten such a response I knew this would be a good thread!

Originally Posted by: magicninjaHow many people here are truly big headed and like to think they are the best? How many want to be the best and try without being a total jerk about it? How many people here can jam with somebody who is better them and admit it to them and try to learn something. I find a lot of people claiming this and saying that. I posted almost all of one of my songs because I wanted to know what people thought not because I wanted to show off. So what is your playing mentality do you want to learn all you can or do you just want to say your the best no arguements and thats final? I hope to get a good thread going on this subject because its such a hot topic. I know what we all write about other people but what do you think of yourself?

Let's try this again!! Some classics from the Lord, Willdrige, PonyOne. What do you think now?

Yes I agree.

I think everybody's better than me.

Thanks for the compliment. I do what I can. I just don't feel like I'm anywhere near where I should be though.

I'm pretty hard on my playing. If anything, I need more ego. I was hoping I'd be better than I am after 4 years of consistent playing.

I'll put my views out like this. When I say things like "I want to be among the best" it's simply a broad range goal description. For me it's more of a metaphor saying that I'd really rather take my skill as far as I possibly can. I consider myself a competant guitarist, but I don't really think of myself as good or great or anything like that. In the event that I evaluate myself I see so much more territory I need to cover and can't bring myself to settle with crediting myself like that. And, to be honest, I hope that I always feel most comfortable calling myself a competant guitarist rather than a good/great/whatever guitarist. I feel better about things that way. Of course I'd imagine it would feel pretty good to hear people call me one of the greatest, but being realistic about things it seems like a bit hollow of a goal... for me anyway. I'd really rather work on making fun and enjoyable music before I start worrying about how people describe me.

Originally Posted by: Cryptic ExcretionsAnd, to be honest, I hope that I always feel most comfortable calling myself a competant guitarist rather than a good/great/whatever guitarist. I feel better about things that way.

I think that's the best way to be about it. Wanting to a great guitarist and thinking you're a great guitarist are very different things. I'm comfortable being competant, but I'm still striving to be the best, (I seriously doubt I ever will be, but that's not the point). It's about having a goal and going for it - if you ever actually become so good you think you've got nothing left to learn, then it's time to put down the guitar in my opinion.

On a side note, one of the most eye opening things for me was watching a video lesson by Joe Satriani (think it was on guitar.com :confused:) where he messed up - out right fluffed. Do you know what he did? He shrug, he laughed and he tried again, (and kicked-ass I might say!) Even the "greatest" guitarists aren't perfect, they just don't do it as often!

Originally Posted by: kimbobI know a guitar player that can do Stevie Ray, Yngwie and Steve Vai solos note for note, but he is one of the worlds biggest egotist' and all around duppa judda's(polish for a__hole):eek:. This guy is destined to play his extrordinary solo's, solo, because nobody can stand him or will get on the same stage with him because he's a dink.The point I'm trying to make is, nobody cares how good you think you are. Your attitude is very important if you want to work in a band. Your personality will take you just about as far as your talent will.

i respect this post alot becuase the person he described is the classic guitar virtuoso in a classic situation of fate. im not that great in the grand scheme of things, but i can definitely hold my own as a compitent guitarist, but i think that my experience in a number of bands will shape who i become down the road. the fact that you can sweep pick flawlessly at 160 bpm matters little when no one wants to play with you. ive found that the higher expectations you have of "your" band, the less poeple are interested in it. ive played in some pretty ****ty bands, but ive had loads of fun, and ive played a ton of gigs. sure, playing for teenage punk/hardcore kids isnt the most aspiring crowd, but at least youre out there, putting your music on the front line, getting your thoughts out with a guitar and mic, and doing it. whenever i hear people brag so much about ability, and theyre sitting in the "guitarist wanted" seciton of a forum, i just have to laugh a little to myself becuae theyll probably never actually be in a band. its because they expect things to run flawlessly, and have all of their ideas recorded perfectly and exactly how they want on their demos, ect. then (if they actually find a few guys that will put up with their egos) they hit a brick wall when they play a show and the song they worked on for weeks came out simply average, and the blistering solo you thought would wow the entire audience...didnt.

to make a long story short, you would be most unwise to sacrifice 100% of your youth in your bedroom jamming, all the while knowing that you could be the next rockstar, then sacrifice a little talent by getting out there and starting a real band. if you want all your ideas to yoruself, and you think your tough-**** enough to do it all yourself, go solo by all means. but dont blame anyone else when youre 40 something and you regret being 19 and getting in a band and having fun with your talent and creativity.

Originally Posted by: WilldridgeI think that's the best way to be about it. Wanting to a great guitarist and thinking you're a great guitarist are very different things. I'm comfortable being competant, but I'm still striving to be the best, (I seriously doubt I ever will be, but that's not the point). It's about having a goal and going for it - if you ever actually become so good you think you've got nothing left to learn, then it's time to put down the guitar in my opinion.

On a side note, one of the most eye opening things for me was watching a video lesson by Joe Satriani (think it was on guitar.com :confused:) where he messed up - out right fluffed. Do you know what he did? He shrug, he laughed and he tried again, (and kicked-ass I might say!) Even the "greatest" guitarists aren't perfect, they just don't do it as often!

I agree with you completely. As for Joe, it's always comforting to see a pro slip up. Reminds me that they're still human. Makes it easier for me to think that my goals aren't a silly pipe dream.

Originally Posted by: Cryptic ExcretionsI agree with you completely. As for Joe, it's always comforting to see a pro slip up. Reminds me that they're still human. Makes it easier for me to think that my goals aren't a silly pipe dream.

Joe's been one of my all time hero's on guitar - and seeing this lesson made me realise, like you say, they are just human. What you never get to see is the hour's upon hour's of practice they've put in to be able to play the way they do. I'm a firm believer that if you're prepared to put the effort in, you'll get the reward.

It comes easier to some than others, but that doesn't make them better, it just mean's they've got a natural talent. Someone said on another post "nobody's born with a guitar"...wiser word's were never spoken if you ask me.

I think that people who think of themselves as the best are really kidding themselves, Yngwie Malmsteen springs to mind, because others may think they suck.

I try to strive to be the best I can be, and I am never satisfied....no matter how many people will say they like my playing (which is satisfying), it won't deter me from trying to improve. I think that is what sets the great ones apart from the posers. I'm sure, for example, if you told Joe Satriani that he was the "best", that he would take your compliment, but wouldn't actually beleive it in his own heart....he would probably say in his mind "but I cant speed pick like Al Dimeola, and my legato chops fall short of Allen Holdsworth..."

To strive to be the best that you can be is an admirable quality, and I try to better myself continually....I hope I never get there however, because then what would be left for me to strive for?

Originally Posted by: 3fingeredbluesI think that people who think of themselves as the best are really kidding themselves, Yngwie Malmsteen springs to mind, because others may think they suck.

I try to strive to be the best I can be, and I am never satisfied....no matter how many people will say they like my playing (which is satisfying), it won't deter me from trying to improve. I think that is what sets the great ones apart from the posers. I'm sure, for example, if you told Joe Satriani that he was the "best", that he would take your compliment, but wouldn't actually beleive it in his own heart....he would probably say in his mind "but I cant speed pick like Al Dimeola, and my legato chops fall short of Allen Holdsworth..."

To strive to be the best that you can be is an admirable quality, and I try to better myself continually....I hope I never get there however, because then what would be left for me to strive for?

Yes, yes and yes...I absolutely agree with your statements on Joe. I think he, as is Steve Vai and Eric Johnson, et al, are always striving to be better - and I think what set's them apart from other virtuoso's is that they know there's thing's they don't know...(did that come out right? Think I lost myself there!).

To pick up on your Yngwie statement - I can't deny that he can play...but from a personal perspective, when I listen to his albums, all they make me do is want to play more accurately - they don't inspire me to write or play "music". Joe's, Steve's and Eric's, (along with many other's) however do - and I know a lot of non-guitar player's who enjoy their music because of this. I don't think Yngwie "sucks" as such, I just feel that you hear a Malmsteen solo...then you hear it again on another track...and the next, and the next and - well, you get my point...the notes may be different, but the content's much the same.