Guitar
Player Etiquette 101
by:
Joel Wanasek
Well, here comes another long editorial. This column WILL piss some of you off, but that is just too bad (when your in charge you can do as you see fit. What a concept hey?)! I really do think this topic is something that needs to be brought up because after a current review of the guitar community, I'm sickened by it. Please keep in mind that I am NOT singling anyone out and this is an EDITORIAL (all opinions, so no hard feelings) based on generalizations that I have gathered over several years of hanging out with the guitar-head community. However, I strongly feel that this is a topic that NEEDS to be brought to everyone's attention. So what am I getting at? I'm going to give some of you a lesson in how to act!! Yea that's right, call me any foul word you want and scream at me like I'm an idiot, it won't solve anything. But, for those of you who choose to read this, there are INVALUABLE lessons to be learned. Now, I myself am not perfect and I struggle daily to abide by what I'm about to preach. We are all human and everyone makes mistakes. In other words, don't call me a hypocritical prick. I'll be the first to admit I've violated what I'm about to preach in the past, but I try my best to abide by what I will preach. So, that being said, let us learn from each other and improve the status of the guitar community!
Topic 1:
The Ego
Ok, lets face it EVERY SINGLE PERSON on this planet has some sort of ego. It is a person's self conscience. Now, some people are always going to bigger egos than others (this is a given). Ego can be a good or a bad thing. But, it is naturally human to look out for one's own self. Let's review the good uses and bad uses of ego.
The GOOD Ego
The positive ego is the one that compels a person to succeeded. This is the part in you that makes you want to be good (the best, or whatever). This is the reason that you all practice guitar everyday, to get good and accomplish your personal goals. This is the reason you practice guitar, buy a nice car, try to push up more weight than your friend in the gym, try and get the highest score on a test...ect... This is your competitive side. There is nothing wrong with this. It can be a very good source of drive and motivation.
The BAD Ego
Yea, this one is for all you cocky, arrogant, self centered people out there....lol ;0) You know who you are. You think you are the greatest thing ever don't you? Your god's gift to earth. These are people who are completely stuck on themselves. This is bad. People like this don't have any friends for a reason. ;0) Sometimes, however, people who are very confident with themselves can be portrayed as being really cocky, when this is totally not the case. (I'll "cock it out" and use myself as an example. haha (mind my sick humor))! I'm a very confident person and that is intimidating to people who aren't secure. Sometimes it gets misinterpreted as cockiness because you are threatening that person because they aren't secure with who they are (hence they feel uncomfortable around you and then criticize you out of jealousy). Now, it turns out that if you take the time to meet these "confident" people, you will find they are some of the nicest people on the planet, so don't prejudge confidence as BAD EGO! They are two entirely different things. I've seen happen to many different people frequently, and I find it rather funny that people are so quick to judge, with out a good understanding of who you really are. So before you start criticizing, try getting to know that person.
Controlling the ego
Well, face it, everyone has some of both kinds of ego (my self included). It's only natural. Some people are just good at everything you do it can go to you head if you are one of those people. Success can really send your ego through the roof, especially if you were always picked on, left out, neglected, ect.. as a child by your peers. But, with control, it won't be a problem. The first step to control is realizing that you aren't jack squat compared to some people. No matter how good you THINK you are, there are no less than 1,000 guitar players out there that you have never heard which would make you want to quit if you heard them. The key to control is ALWAYS BE MODEST and polite. It's not hard. If someone compliments you, don't take it to your head, instead say "thank you" and deep inside respect the fact that that person is even giving you the time of day!! There are too many guitarists who don't do this, when they should!!!! If people acted more like Neil Zaza and John Petrucci, guitar players would be considered the nicest people on earth!
Topic 2:
Talk vs Walk
Oh no, where do I even start on this topic? I can not tell you how many guitarists that I talk to on a day to day basis (online) that do nothing but criticize everything and do nothing but talk themselves up. Yet, the thing is... none of them ever release any material! I keep hearing "oh you just wait, my CD is going to be sooo awesome" blah blah... Excuse me? GOING TO BE SO AWESOME? I'll believe it when I see it!! These people drive me nuts talking because they can never walk. I find it hilarious when someone I know trashes my playing and tells me how to play/write my music in a NON-constructive form. I think to myself: "wow, since this guy is perfect and is god's gift to guitar, how come he can't put something out if he is SO GOOD?" It just baffles me. It comes down to this, DO NOT CRITICIZE SOMEONE'S music unless its constructive criticism!! Don't talk, WALK!! If someone like Rusty Cooley or Neil Zaza (2 guitarists I respect and look up to) said to me "You play like crap," then I would say...."well, I guess your right, and I respect your opinion." That's because people like Neil and Rusty have PROVED themselves to be top notch players. You don't ever hear those guys criticizing and saying "oh, I can smoke that dude on guitar, wait till you hear my CD." Heck no, they record and are always polite. I can not even begin to tell you how much I respect people like that! What this topic comes down to is this: All you smack talking hacks out there, lets see some walk. Until then, you'll be nothing but a HACK, so don't criticize people who walk.
Topic 3:
Hate Mail
This is my favorite kind of person. The good old hate mailer. I love these people, because they are such egotistical and insecure fools. I guess that the reason that people take the time out of there day to tell someone that they they that there playing "SUCKS" is as simple as this: Lack of penis size maybe?? ;0) hahaha! Jealous people are the biggest pricks on this planet, no contest. The point of the matter is this, if you don't like someone's playing... DON'T LISTEN and DON'T CRITICIZE! If you hear someone who plays you under the table, don't go off saying that they suck to everyone on earth, approach that persona and say... you're awesome! See what you can learn from these people, you'd be surprised how nice some people really are when you get to know them! Need I say more on this topic?
Topic 4:
Forum Usage
I hate going to guitar forums for one reason, everyone is a prick! There are so many public forums out there that are nothing but a bunch of ego maniacs in a penis size competition. At least, that is what it sounds like. I have seen every great guitar player I can think of bashed at one point. WHY? What does it accomplish to say things like (Here are some actual examples of things I've seen): "Impellitteri owns Yngwie" "John Petrucci has bad sweep technique because he can't play the F# major sweep in his Fatal Tragedy solo live (I actually saw that posted on the Dream Theater message board some time ago!!! I almost fell off my chair in awe. How are you going to criticize someone who is that good? It is total bull crap anyways because I've seen him nail it perfectly both times I've seen him live!)" "Your songs suck, I'm a way better player than you" "You have no feel, you are all speed" "You can't compose" "You don't use odd time signatures enough so your an inferior player" ect... you get the point! People get out of hand, when in reality none of them could do any better than the person they criticize. This goes back to walking vs. talking. People need to not take things so to heart in public forums. Sometimes, these forums remind me of a bunch of children arguing over menial crap. You should use a forum to ask questions and meet people, not to cause trouble and be a prick! Aren't we all adults? Or, is that too much to ask from the guitar head community? Enough said.
Topic 5:
Conclusion
If everyone would lighten up and stop criticizing each other, maybe shred wouldn't be dead. Behave people, we are all in this together, so why do we squabble over table scraps? If we work together, support each other, we could revive the scene. Go now, heed my words and try and be a better person (or continue to go around and be a prick if you are one, because what goes around comes around!!!). Good day to you. Peace out :0)
Got Questions? Did I piss you off? Like this editorial? Just bored and need someone to talk to ( lol) ? email me.
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