Originally Posted by: haghj500Sounds like you’re using your lack of theory as an excuse not to free wheel it. What skill level do you need to archive before “You” will feel “You” are ready to free wheel it.
Some things in life do not need best laded plans or pre-thought put into them. Some things just need to be released as they move through you.
Let go of control, pick up your guitar, close your eyes and start to play, see what comes out. If you find yourself playing someone else's music, you still need to let go of control. Let what is in you come out.
Very well put.
I came to guitar tricks one and a half years ago looking to learn theory and technique and all sorts of stuff to fill in the gaps and bring my playing a whole new level!
In the forums here people were trying to come up with ways of keeping up their motivation and holding themselves accountable. People started to post recordings of things they were working on. I jumped on the bandwagon and made a recording of myself improvising over a blues backing track I found on the Internet. This turned into a major turning point for me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was a surreal moment...I listened to it back and seriously thought to myself "Did I just play that!?!?!? I did that!?!?!?!" Since then I've made more recordings and am involved with starting a cover band.
The point is that aside from all of the theory and "connecting of the dots", there is likely music within you waiting to come out and your skills may be beyond what you perceive. Recording yourself and playing it back gives you a different perspective than you have "in the moment" while you are playing. Time and time again, whether it be recording something in my basement or improvising a solo with the band, I'll think in the moment "ugh, this is really horrible, I need to figure out something better". Upon listening to the playback, more often than not I'll think "that was really good, what was I thinking!".
Sure, I'm still working on theory and technique to improve. There's always room to improve. And I have to practice...everybody has to practice! But, I've learned to enjoy the skills that I have at the moment to make what I think is some pretty cool music!
I'm no SRV, Van Halen, Satriani, Clapon