From: scott@bell.b17a.ingr.com (Scott Bell)
Subject: Re: What makes a giid guitarist?
Organization: Intergraph
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 14:21:14 GMT

In article <1992Nov12.182746.7091@spectra.com>, ohumukin@spectra.com (Kawika Ohumukini) writes:
|> In article <1992Nov11.180136.5237@msdhsv.ingr.com> scott@bell.b17a.ingr.com (Scott Bell) writes:
|> >In article <1992Nov11.013915.6307@spectra.com>, ohumukin@spectra.com (Kawika Ohumukini) writes:
|> >|> In article <10NOV199209245199@elroy.uh.edu> math1rb@elroy.uh.edu (92F07486) writes:
          << misc deleted for space >>

|> >|> This is totally false.  What people think of as natural is really 
|> >|> focus.  Anyone can learn something if they can focus and do it the
|> >|> way THEY DO IT, not the way someone else does it.  Anyone can learn
|> >|> to write with the opposite hand they are used to if they focus and
|> >|> practice.
|> >
|> >   Sorry, but having a "natural ability" is just that. No matter how much 
|> >   you concentrate, your own mental and physical abilities determine what
|> >   you might do! No matter how much I focus and bang my head against the 
|> >   backboard, I'll never sky and float like Michael Jordan does.
|> 
|> Nothing to be sorry for.  Whoever came up with the words "natural ability"
|> never did what they were speaking of.  There is no doubt some people have
|> "natural advantages" which may be better suited for a given task and makes
|> it easier to do the task.  And there are those that PUT IN THE TIME to
|> get to a level that is comparable to what others have found easier to do.
|> I know plenty of people that are extremely limber in their hands and can
|> move their fingers with lightening speed and have no musical capability
|> at all.  I also know those who have trouble pointing much less ripping off
|> a 8 finger hammer on/pull off and have great musical ability because after
|> years of practice have progressed beyond what they thought was possible.

   I agree, Kawika; we're probably talking about the same thing using different
   octaves! :)  If you define "natural" ability as being part of a physical 
   ability, you NEVER will be able to achieve some things that others do( see
   my M.J. example above ). On the other hand, you can easily work at something
   that doesn't necessarily require physical skills. I'm not trying to say 
   everything that you dream is out of reach - that would kill your hope AND
   dreams. But you should also accept your limitations and improve your
   weaknesses. < sound of Scott stepping of his soapbox here! :) >
     
|> 
|> Natural ability is just another excuse for people that feel they cannot 
|> achieve something for whatever reason (laziness, learned helplessness,
|> pessimism, etc.).  Want to succeed at something?  Start by believing you
|> can and put in the time.  I have practiced diligently almost everyday,
  
    If only I HAD the time... One more thing that is a serious limitation,
    but that's my problem.

|> bar 1 year when I nearly stopped all together, for 12 years and all that
|> practice has brought me to the point where I can play Surfing with the
|> Alien with ease.  1 year ago I could only dream I could pull off solo #1
|> with it's pick tapping techniques.

     Seriously, that is super. I'm impressed.
|> 

    << Musical/performing showmanship deleted for space... >> 
|> 
|> >   Practice is essential. But you must also know and try to expand your limits,
|> >   remembering that you may never live up to the axe hero you try to emulate.
|> >   Besides, music is creative - be yourself, not Satriani or Malmsteen(sp?) !
|> 
|> I never thought that.  What good does it do you and what is your incentive
|> to expand if you think you are not and never can be as good as your hero?
|> If I ever did think that I sure would not want to remember it.

    You could suck up the techniques/skill that make your hero your hero, but
    imitating him/her verbatim is a very bad way to become a musician. You can
    hear alot of bands that imitate various axe heros and they all sound the
    same - boring, bland. The creativity is lost to the duplicate music they 
    try to imitate. I won't buy music from such groups.
|> 
      << misc about "beign a good guitarist" deleted for space... >>
|> >|>
|> >|> than a great memory both auditory and visually and even kinesthetic
|> >                                                      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|> >     Is this like Shirley McClain cranking her Marshall up to 10 and lettin'
|> >   loose? :)  Exactly what do you mean?
|> 
|> No.  Just ask anyone at a show and ask them how they felt when they
|> heard the music.  If it is powerful music it will have a kinesthetic,
|> feeling, affect.  Kinesthetics is the body.  If you know anything about
|> the mind/body relationship you might believe that there is a direct
|> correlation to what the mind thinks and it's physical affect on the body.
|> And this works in reverse.  For example, when I type, very fast thanks to
|> keyboard and guitar work, I can feel when I have typed something wrong.
|> I don't hear it, I don't see it because I am looking at a book or paper.
|> This is kinesthetics.  You can't go by sound when you are playing live
|> because by the time you hear a mistake so has everyone else.  In this 
|> case kinesthetics comes into play "Am I in the right spot for this lick?
|> How should I position my hand for this upcoming sweep?" etc..
|> 
    If kinesthetics is just that, then it must be how long or how well you 
    know what you're working with. I go thru the same semi-conscience motions
    when I'm driving because I "know" my truck. That's probably why people like
    the guitars they've been playing with for umpteen years - they're used to
    them.
|> 
          << misc. about reading music and practicing nuked... >>
|> Kawika 

  Scott
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| Scott Bell                               | "I may be N by NW when the | 
| Intergraph Corp. - Mapping Sciences Div. | wind is Southerly - but I  |
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