| Many people want to be good guitarists. To be clear, | | | | scribblings. The problem was, he never read anything. |
| when I say "good guitarist" I mean guitar-hero-good, | | | | As you may have guessed, he was not a very good |
| not local-bar-playing-good. However, there are few | | | | writer. To be good at anything, you have to be |
| people out there who actually achieve this level of | | | | familiar with the body of work that has been done |
| ability. Certainly, I have not. However, I would still like | | | | before you. This goes for anything. Imagine a person |
| to comment on what I think makes a good guitarist. | | | | trying to be a great chemist without learning what |
| It is not the focus of this essay to comment on | | | | was in any of the chemistry textbooks. You have to |
| lightning fast fingers or a solid rhythmic ability. I do | | | | know what has been done before you so you can |
| not believe that a good guitarist needs to have | | | | see where you contribute. The best guitarists are |
| perfect pitch or supersonic sight reading abilities. My | | | | students of the instrument. |
| goal is to identify qualities of great guitar players that | | | | Finally, to be a good guitarist, you have to have the |
| transcend any stylistic considerations. There are great | | | | ability to practice - and no, not everyone has this |
| guitarists in every genre of music and my goal is to | | | | ability. To illustrate, for the next two weeks I want |
| identify what they all have in common. | | | | you to practice guitar for one hour per day. 80% of |
| The first and probably most important quality of a | | | | readers will not make it past a few days and 99% of |
| good guitarist is desire. Whether you are a | | | | readers will not have the perseverance to make it |
| finger-pickin' country hillbilly or a death metal shredder, | | | | the entire two weeks. Great guitarists have practiced |
| you have to want to be a guitarist. A lot of people | | | | four or five times this much for years! Practicing is a |
| wish they were guitarists - like when a chick is | | | | skill that good guitarists have mastered. It is much |
| around that they want to impress, or right after they | | | | easier for individuals who have the burning desire I |
| get their favorite artist's new album - but I am talking | | | | was talking about earlier. I guarantee this, good |
| about a real burning desire to only play guitar. You | | | | disciplined practice will trump talent any day of the |
| have to eat, sleep, and think guitar. This desire is | | | | week. |
| what will drive you to continue practicing when all | | | | So there it is. That is my version of what makes a |
| your friends are out on the town or when the | | | | good guitarist. Sure, you can write me off as |
| newest movie hits the theater or when the | | | | someone with too much time on his hands and |
| home-team makes the play-offs. Ask any great | | | | someone who needs to get off his soapbox. Let me |
| guitarists out there, guitar is number one. | | | | say that I will be the first to tell you that I do not |
| Secondly, to be a good guitarist, you have to listen | | | | possess these three qualities - most of all the desire. |
| to guitar music, or at least music in general. This may | | | | Before you write me off though, ask yourself how |
| sound obvious but I once knew this guy who wanted | | | | many people you personally know with all three of |
| to be a writer. He always talked about it at | | | | these qualities. Then ask yourself how many guitar |
| opportune social moments and he liked to fill a big | | | | heroes you personally know. I rest my case. |
| chalkboard in his dorm room with all of his "profound" | | | | |