- PSYCHOLOGY -

 

Last time I told you about practicing. This time I would like to talk about de psychological side of guitar playing and soloing in particular. I'm not trying to be the Dr. Phil on the area of guitar playing, but I think this aspect is overlooked. I strongly believe that the way you perform is depending on your personality. Lots of times I hear people say: "It's all in de fingers".

I certainly believe that's true, however, "in the fingers" is actually a short term for the way you are and function and how this shines through in your guitar playing. A person who has e.g. a mental blockade can practice 7/24 or be the most talented guy, the results will be far less compared to this person who is free of obstructions. Creativity and feeling well or bad are partners.

There are 2 issues to consider here: the first one is the way you feel during playing. Your timing lacks, the picking isn't smooth, the vibrato is shrill or, on the opposite side, you are playing like a guitar god... all depending on you mood and energy.
The other one is a more structural blockade that for some reason is between the ears and stops you from being the guitar player that you could be. If you, for what ever reason, believe that you are not having a certain talent or skill and never will have.... then that's how it will be.

Of course...the practicing itself is very determinating for what you can play or not and this has to be done on regular base. What you don't practice, you normally cannot play. Building up self- confidence is done by practicing a lot and this generates a snowball effect that stimulates the believe in yourself.

Now you probably think: what can this do for me? Well...if you are in a period where playing the guitar has become a struggle or you have the idea that you're not improving any more, think about this issue. It happens to every body from time to time, even the famous ones (just read the interviews) so there's nothing to worry about. And if it comes to a real problem then maybe you can find comfort with Dr. Phil or by listening to the stimulating guitar playing of John Norum... (I would pick the last one)

 

John Norum