[Naren]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

I don't think any guitarist is ever truly where they want to be. I know I'm a great player in many aspects, but there's many techniques I haven't bothered to learn yet and some I'm sure I could improve upon. For example, I've never once in my life made any attempt to learn how to sweep. I'll learn eventually, but I haven't cared as of yet. But the point is, even if you are good at all techniques, there's always room for improvement, and most importantly songwriting (the most crucial skill of all) can always be improved upon.

Same here. I've never bothered to learn how to sweep pick. I'd really love to, but I've just not felt the need to learn how. I'm not that great at tapping either, but I almost never do it (and I don't do it in any of my band's song), so I've never bothered.

I'd love to be a much better guitarist, but this guy was like a beginner who had just bought his guitar a few months ago. I've never considered myself to be that great of a guitarist, but compared to him, I felt like a guitar god.

Originally Posted by budda

all the best musicians i know personally are very modest about their skill level. they say "I think i'm good, but not where i want to be" usually translates to "im really good, just not where i want to be" lol.

ok i've checked out some of your stuff (not a lot).. he couldn't say play the intro to "haunter of the dark"? damn son :P

He didn't bother with "Haunter of the Dark." Although I assume he probably could have just held out the power chords in the intro, it probably would have taken him forever to memorize which powerchords they were and he'd still probably play the wrong ones. We just kind of ignored him when we played that one. But note that if he had become the lead guitarist for our band, he'd have to play the solo at around 5:00-5:30 into the song (the solos before the last chorus) or at least a solo of that degree of complexity. He should have been able to size himself up and think, "Hey, there's no way in hell I'll ever be able to play a solo like this within the next 2-3 years, no matter how much I practice." He was only deceiving himself.

He pretty much tried with "Witness the End." Several times. He couldn't get any of those riffs right (there's pretty much no lead guitar in that song, one reason why it's our easiest and simplest song). Eventually he got the intro riff kind of right, but it still sounded just plain wrong played along with my guitar.

[klutvott]

I have met a couple of guys like that. A vocalist that auditioned for my band told us he knew our songs really good. He didn't know any of them. We also tried desperate cry by sepultura. I didn't know what to think when he started "singing" on the intro. His voice sounds like a crow. A dying crow. None of us had the heart to tell him but he obviously believed that he was a member of the band just by showing up. we never called him again.
I think the best thing would be to just let them know that they suck. "HELL YEAH YOU FUCKING SUCK!". I hate wasting time on people like that.

[Aaron]

Im going through the same thing with a drummer right now, he told me he has 13 years of experience, when i arrived to practice with him i could see his kit was covered in dust(bad sign). Pretty much he made me feel like i suck balls, he couldnt keep a beat worth of shit and he would skip beats constantly throughout songs which inturn made me keep tripping over my self as well, and he cant play to alternate picking which is my favorite style and its really fun, pretty much he sucks a fuck!

[Clydefrog]

I play with a drummer semi-regularly (well, it was regularly until he left his kit in Jersey -- we live in Indiana. He just bought a new kit and it's on its way though, so it'll be regularly again), and there's a guy that has been wanting to play with us as a second guitarist, which we're cool with.

We've been trying to schedule a time to get together with him to talk influences/skills as a group, but it's impossible to get ahold of the dude.

I met him once and we sort of discussed a few things, but when I put a guitar in his hands he said "oh, I haven't played an electric in over a year."

Right. And you want to jam with us?

Sigh.

[Aaron]

Its really hard trying to find someone who is just as obsessed and has that passion for guitar and music as we do, the majority buy a guitar learn a few green day songs and then the guitar collects dust and remains abandon, but since he can play a couple covers he thinks he is hot shit and never has to practice again and then loses interest completely leaving his guitar to forever rot in his basement.

[InTheRavensName]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

I don't think any guitarist is ever truly where they want to be. I know I'm a great player in many aspects, but there's many techniques I haven't bothered to learn yet and some I'm sure I could improve upon. For example, I've never once in my life made any attempt to learn how to sweep. I'll learn eventually, but I haven't cared as of yet. But the point is, even if you are good at all techniques, there's always room for improvement, and most importantly songwriting (the most crucial skill of all) can always be improved upon.

second (except for the great player bit...I'm still working on that)

[ZOMB13]

Damn, your stuff sounds really cool, I dig the vocals and guitar work and drums AHH the whole band sounds tight..

[ogisha007]

I've been playing for about 4 years now, and although I consider myself kinda good in comparison to others in my area, I never go around boasting "Hey, I can play that and that and that, yeah, I'm that good...". I hate people who do that.

Also, your music sounds cool.

[Aaron]

It does

[Naren]

Originally Posted by Sabu2k1

Damn, your stuff sounds really cool, I dig the vocals and guitar work and drums AHH the whole band sounds tight..

Thanks. Hopefully, once we get a new lead guitarist (and no more of these jokesters like today) we should be able to record some stuff that actually sounds good instead of the recordings we just threw together in one take each (and have changed a bit since when we first recorded them).