Hi Mike,
Where do you stand?
I have always strived to be better. It’s a lifelong habit, though I have missed out on a few things that now seem unattainable to me.
Are you comfortable with your knowledge / technique?
No. The knowledge part needs constant reinforcement. It’s hard to keep it all upstairs. The technique part is easier. It just needs enough practice.
But…! I once had someone ask me why I am not better (given the years I have been playing). The answer is that most players consolidate what they learn instead of keep adapting it. Therefore those ‘consolidators’ sound great precisely because they stick to it.
Are you pushing boundaries?
Technically: about 5%. It used to be much higher. I am self taught, and most of what I have figured out was re-inventing the wheel. But, I have certain techniques (slurs, picking, muting etc) that I have never seen anyone else use; such as downward string bends + vibrato (towards the floor).
Knowledge: I have let go of much of the structure that I relied on. I have always played what felt right, and if it was different, I would figure out what it was & how it fitted into the overall scheme of things. Now I care less about what it is, and just play it regardless.
Are those boundaries pushing back?
Yes. I have to adapt to limitations as I discover them. I hate limitations. They should be shot on sight.
Also, there are some ‘ordinary’ techniques that elude me. Since I developed my picking further, much of the hammer on / pull off stuff has stagnated. I simply can’t find those slick pentatonic licks that I hear from many players I enjoy.
Are you getting better, staying the same or getting worse?
Its improving, but at a much slower rate than formerly. Its an age thing probably.
Do the same regiments that helped you long ago keep you going foreward?
Regimen has seldom had much to do with my practice. It’s probably why I can practice so much. I never get bored. When practicing I am far more ambitious that I would ever be on a stage, or in a studio, but the content is produced almost subliminally. At weekends I often play the silent guitar while watching tv. When music comes out of the tv, I either fight against it (carry on with what I am doing) or join in with it until it ends. I get a great workout that way.
Do you have a set to do list of things to do that you believe will take you to the next level
No. I have no clue what the next level might be. I have nothing in my sights. There are some odds and ends that I have never pursued properly. I still dither with them.
I am not a competitive player. I don’t measure myself against anyone else. For me, I get far better results by doing things for their own sake. For that reason perhaps, ‘shredding’ is an almost alien concept to me.
Rudi