I don’t get it.
Why is it so important to “find your own voice?” I was actually a little offended by another article I read on here telling people who love to shred how important it is to “slow down and find your own voice… don’t sound like everyone else…” I strongly disagree. I think people should be able to play whatever makes them happy without other people passing judgment that they might sound like someone else.
Who are you to tell someone that he doesn’t sound “original” enough? What’s your basis for comparison? You might as well not play rock and roll, because it’s very unlikely that you’re going to come up with a completely “original” rock song.
I think the most important thing to do when creating music is to HAVE FUN. Unless you’re trying to be a serious composer or you’re really concerned what a bunch of snobby elitist “musicians” think of your playing, just do what makes you happy. I can’t tell you how many idiots I’ve seen online talking about “proper execution of theory” or “the ultimate grail tone”… then when you hear their soundbytes, they sound like 3rd graders that have played for a year with the most expensive, worst-sounding gear you’ve ever heard.
There is no right or wrong in music. It’s art… art is relative. I play guitar for fun. And before you ask, yes I play for a tribute band. I enjoy the hell out of it. I’ve also written and recorded a lot of original music, and I’ve toured for a living. I was nominated for an American Music Award, and toured supporting it. I also love to shred as fast as I can at times, and play melodic and soulful at times. I used to care what people thought about my playing, until I realized that I was better than most of the people criticizing me, and I wasn’t having any fun because I wasn’t PLAYING WHAT I WANTED TO.
Music should come from the heart. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
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8 responses so far ↓
1 alacrity14 // Feb 15, 2008 at 2:24 pm
yeah pretty much:)
2 Trance_9 // Feb 15, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Playing from the heart and mimicing/copying another players sound/style are 2 different things.
Playing from the heart I agree with.
Deliberately imitating anothers sound and style ONLY fits when you play in a Covers band IMO.
T9^
3 Ron Zabrocki // Feb 15, 2008 at 6:37 pm
People have to relax…it’s music, not brain surgery! But I do believe there is one common denominator…i’d gotta come from the heart! Play slow, play fast, write an original, do a cover, but dig deep and feel it, or else!!!!! And oh yeah….ALL critics must die! (unless they like me!)
4 Bombenhagel // Feb 16, 2008 at 1:49 am
It’s music. If you play an instrument for any other reason other than love for the music and enjoyment, then stop. Other than that, have fun and shut up.
5 misa micevski // Feb 16, 2008 at 3:21 am
I agree with you 100%
6 Brev Sullivan // Feb 16, 2008 at 8:31 am
Dear never2loud
I’m glad my article offended you (I mean that in a good way).
My article clearly stated that is was targeted at those of us guitarists who actually WANT to find their own voice and play fast not slow down.
My father Ira Sullivan who mentored Jaco Pastorius when he was young,
spoke of how Jaco was constantly trying not to be pigeonholed and wanted play the electric bass like no one else ever had. Hence he’s the world most popular
and innovative bassist in history. But he did not achieve that without trying new
ways of thinking bass. By the way Jaco had a lot of fun doing this!
Your reaction is typical of someone who does not want or like change and is talked about in the book ‘Feel the Fear and do it Anyway” by Susan Jeffers. I quote from the book
“When you rock the boat, people will tell you to sit down as they don’t want to change. Or they try to bring you down and get others on their side and rally against the person who’s trying something new (as you are doing) .
I think you REALLY missed the point when I spoke of key guitarists such as Hendrix, Halen, Page etc. who are innovators. I was citing these players as example of visionaries who dared to be so different that the whole world. Were they having fun?
Hmm I think they were on their world tours!
now copies them. Yet if they had just copied without trying new stuff, they would not be innovators.
I’ll end this by saying. When Stravinsky premiered his ‘Rite of Spring’ at the turn of the century, people were so not ready to hear his new and crazy approach to classical music that a riot broke out in the very theatre the Stravinski was performing and he head to escape out the back window. Today Stravinsky is considered to be up there with Mozart, Bach and you know the rest.
P.S. Thank you never2loud for your insightful thoughts on my 1st article, you’ve actually given me the idea of a title for my next article: “Innovators, how to deal with criticism”
Brev Sullivan
7 Guitar Cat Got Groove // Feb 16, 2008 at 11:35 am
Play what you like, because you want to and because it’s fun.
I’m just learning to play guitar and don’t have a unique sound of my own yet.
How often can you say you are doing something just because you like it, you want to, and it’s fun?
That’s how I feel about learning to play guitar.
No one is making me learn guitar
No one is making me play a particular style
No one is judging me on skills
The joy about guitar for me right now is even if I kind of suck at it, I am rythymically challenged, I don’t know much about music theory, it doesn’t matter because I’m doing something I like and want and having fun.
Play what you like, because you want to and because it’s fun.
Happy guitar-in’! Have a great weekend.
8 Ovidiu - GuitarFlame.com // Feb 18, 2008 at 1:36 am
Well, if you don’t find your own voice you risk nobody will listen you on long term. It is like in blogging; you need to find your voice when singing or playing so you stand out from the crowd.
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