Youre strengths and weaknesses as a player?

[Tellboy]

BIGGEST weakness: LACK OF CONFIDENCE.  In every way. 

Now, having said all that, I've long been convinced that if I bothered to learn 10 (or 20, or 50) favourite songs it would all start suddenly falling into place (or at least a lot of it would).

Philly.... I am sure you have something worthwhile to offer the world whatever you think of yourself !

With regards to playing I think it is a good idea to learn 10 - 20 songs. I am in the process of learning 24 songs with a 'scratch' band for a special 'do' in December. Most of the songs are definitely not my thing but I think it will help my playing to learn something I would not normally play (left to my own devices I tend to play the same thing over and over again). I use tab off the internet, youtube or (preferably if available) Licklibrary.

[badgermark]

My strengths include spelling and knowing when to use your and when to use you're.

Guitar wise I'm decent at slow tasteful solos, rhythm playing*, using odd chords and can write a pretty good guitar part when the mood strikes.

Weaknesses include impatience, I can't seem to sit and learn a whole song properly, I learn the bulk and think 'that'll do!'. Oh and I suck at soloing fast, but I don't really wanna solo that fast so that doesn't bother me as much.

*exception when Afgahn Dave and me tried playing the Trooper, I fell flat one my arse that afternoon somehow.

[CJ]

ahh... i too forgot to put lack of confidence. i've been playing for six years but i still won't play in front of anyone unless i feel like they're not paying attention. i don't know why. must be the shy personality kicking in.

[Ian Price]

ahh... i too forgot to put lack of confidence. i've been playing for six years but i still won't play in front of anyone unless i feel like they're not paying attention. i don't know why. must be the shy personality kicking in.

I'm exactly like that. Witnessed most recently at the London meet. I waited until most of the guys went off to the pub before even picking up a guitar. Even then I had a hamfisted attempt at a Chili Peppers song that Badgermak was kind enough to play along to and make me sound better than I am.

Just found a few photos of the meet as well - will post them up soon.

[Ratrod]

I had to think about this.

Strengths:
Rhythm, chords, energy, volume control in picking.

Weaknesses:
Complex solos, finger picking, unable to learn songs I hate from the head.

[Simon D]

This is a good thread - it's certainly made me think about my playing a bit more. It's also interesting how self-critical people who (through clips) I know to be good players are.

As for me, my strengths are:
Bends
Vibrato
Bluesy lead playing
Decentish ear
Keeping time
Reasonable understanding of how to get a good tone

Weaknesses
Picking speed
Theory knowledge (especially scales/modes - the useful stuff)
All shred techniques - sweeps, tapping, arpeggios, string skipping (at speed) etc
Very small repetoire of songs I know all the way through
Metal rythym playing
Accuracy/precision
Finger picking
Lack of practise
Lack of perseverance with difficult material
$%&#ed joints on the first and fourth fingers of my left hand.

[HairyChris]

Strengths:

I used to have a very strong right hand
Rhythm/counting
Anal retentiveness
Amazing ability to spend disposable income on equipment
I *will* remember almost every riff I've heard when sober.

Weaknesses:

The whole 'used to' bit
I have no theoretical knowledge at all
Lack of time/too much work/too much computer/too much clinical depression
Not being physically able to keep up with said anal retentiveness...

[CJ]

ahh... i too forgot to put lack of confidence. i've been playing for six years but i still won't play in front of anyone unless i feel like they're not paying attention. i don't know why. must be the shy personality kicking in.

I'm exactly like that. Witnessed most recently at the London meet. I waited until most of the guys went off to the pub before even picking up a guitar. Even then I had a hamfisted attempt at a Chili Peppers song that Badgermak was kind enough to play along to and make me sound better than I am.

Just found a few photos of the meet as well - will post them up soon.

haha, it sucks doesn't it? the weirder thing is, when i do try playing in front of someone, i basically play bad on purpose. can't explain why, i just do.

also, how do i describe not being able to translate what you hear in your head to the guitar? does that have to do with having a good/bad ear?

[Ratrod]

I forgot to mention I know very little about musical theory. But then, so many famous players don't know squat about that either.

[JDC]

if anyone wants to learn a bit of theory, I think this is the best site by miles, nice clear flash animations

http://www.musictheory.net/

[TheIronBeast]

I've been thinking about this before replying, so heres my strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths:
Theory
Rhythm
Technical blues playing
Good ear

Weaknesses:
I'm a lazy player (when it comes to learning and practicing songs anyway)
I am also blind in my right eye so when I first started playing my depth perception between my picking hand and the strings was pretty bad. But thanks to a great guitar teacher I overcame that really quick!

[CaptainDesslock]

I forgot to mention I know very little about musical theory. But then, so many famous players don't know squat about that either.

I tried to use that excuse to refrain from learning proper music theory, but then I watched a series about college students in a classical music conservatoire and I realized how pathetic the average guitarists understanding of music is compared to a proper classical pianist! So now I'm trying just to decide which book to get......... :?