One of the things I experienced while sitting in, making music with my friends on Saturday night was admiration. I really admired the talent, skills and sweet tones coming from the other two guitarists. There are parts of what both of the other two guitar players offered that I would love to be able to play.
Now, this was a venue and type of music I don’t have a chance to play nearly as often as what I play in my regular weekly gig. So it’s not like I was playing guitar on my own home field, if you know what I mean. It’s okay to be envious, because it really was admiration for the music both those two guitar players could create.
The side effect though was that I felt I didn’t play as well as I might, largely because I was comparing myself to the other players, and changing my game to try and move closer to what they were playing. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a huge pleasure and fun time sitting in, making music with my friends. And I’d jump at the next chance to do it again.
But what I realized is I didn’t let myself play my kind of guitar playing, I was too busy thinking how I might play something like the other two players (though my skill level is far from theirs.) It was the admiration thing again. I didn’t fully allow my guitar playing to play to my strengths. I’m much more of a Gilmore-ish and Clapton-ish type player, not so speedy but concentrate on very passionate, tasty tones, lines and licks. I’m very happy with my playing when I do that well. Speed isn’t my strength. By not allowing myself to play to my own strengths, I wasn’t as happy with my playing as I could have been.
I’m not beating up on myself, but just thinking back about what I learned from the experience, and how I could have offered my best to the band and the music. And what I come to, something I already know but don’t always practice, is everyone is best served when you offer yourself… you, to the music.
Bring to it what you have to bring to it. Bring to the music your voice, your style and your way of saying it. “Say what you have to say, and then get out,” my friend Michael likes to tell me. (There’s a lot of treasure hidden in that one line of advice.)
It makes you more confident in your playing when it’s you you’re offering, and not something that’s trying to match or come close to what others are doing. Keep your spirit, and keep the soul alive, the source of what you are bringing. And make sure it’s authentic to you.
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