I Love Playing Guitar

What is so alluring about this particular instrument, the guitar?

I started playing guitar too late in life to become very good at it. I didn't have the inborn skill either, even though I'm pretty good at drums. Yet I probably enjoy playing guitar as much as any virtuoso does - all the time, in fact. How can that be, when the sound I produce on a guitar just isn't very impressive...?!

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Unsatisfiedstace · 51-55, F

Yes! Some players do have the ability to project the feelings of it I think. I dont know quite how to put it into words...two players can play the same piece....the notes are the same but one may be better at projecting the feeling better than the other. I can hear one and think....man - that was a great tune....the other playing the same can make me close my eyes - throw my head back and make me say....DAMN - that was amazing.

Becket · 56-60, M

Thoughts of Jimi playing "Johnny B. Goode" live immediately come to mind....

Not to be an annoying Rush head or anything, but I think the best example of transmitting feeling or a "story" through guitar has to be "La Villa Strangiato" - the Exit Stage Left live version. Even Alex Lifeson himself doesn't communicate it nearly as well in the studio version. Which again, makes me think that he is somehow able to share something beautiful inside his head with others when a crowd is present. The best comedians and actors seem to have this gift, too. It's something beyond technical skill, though technical skill certainly enhances the effect.

Like you said, you can't put it into words.

Unsatisfiedstace · 51-55, F

@Becket: Exactly! I'm gonna google the tune now and see if I can feel it.

Unsatisfiedstace · 51-55, F

@Unsatisfiedstace: wow!! Beautiful. I got lost watching Rush stuff. I forgot how great Geddy's voice is.
Back in April of this past year, I went to see a show in Concinnati they called Generation Axe....it was featuring Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt, and Tosin Abasi.
Talk about some seriously good guitar playing....it was like pure magic.

Becket · 56-60, M

@Unsatisfiedstace: Did you listen to La Villa Strangiato (ESL version)? That version has sent chills down my spine ever since that album came out.

That GenAxe concert sounds incredible, by the way. Glad you got to be there!

Unsatisfiedstace · 51-55, F

I watched a live performance from 1978 I think it was. Pretty fantastic! Thanks man!

The GenAxe concert was incredible. I went with a friend I used to work with. Another friend couldn't go so he asked if I wanted to join him. I thought maybe I would get bored because I enjoy singing along to songs and can sometimes get distracted during solo's and shit but these guys were so good....legendary performers! I was happy I had the experience.

Becket · 56-60, M

@Unsatisfiedstace: Sounds like the Pink Pop Festival video (if interrupted by band members' comments?). That version was excellent too! I think he was playing his famous white Gibson 335 in that one. Something about the boosted bass on ESL makes that version my favorite, though.

Unsatisfiedstace · 51-55, F

ESL?

Becket · 56-60, M

Sorry, that's the "Exit Stage Left" live album they put out when Tom Sawyer finally made them famous around 1980. Some people hate the mix on that because it's a bit bass-heavy, but I've always loved it.

Unsatisfiedstace · 51-55, F

@Becket: Ahhhh I see. Sorry for my stupidity. Let me see which it was and look for the ESL version.

Becket · 56-60, M

No problem. My fault. Back in the day diehard Rush fans had their own esoteric language and acronyms (e.g, Alex Lifeson = "Lerxst"). Probably still that way but the band kind of lost me after "Snakes & Ladders", until their most recent disc, "Clockwork Angels".

Unsatisfiedstace · 51-55, F

Lol. You definitely sound like part of the Rush cult following. I was always a Van Halen girl. Don't hate!
I listened to the ESL version. ❤️ Brilliant!!!

Becket · 56-60, M

@Unsatisfiedstace: Heh, yes, I'm an old Rush fan all right. But Van Halen was an even earlier guitar influence on me. Do you remember Eddie single-handedly kicking Disco's butt out of the Top 40? (Or did I just imagine that's how it went?).

Unsatisfiedstace · 51-55, F

@Becket: I think you remember it perfectly.