| Do you know who the world's fastest guitarist is? | | | | ... with the market flooded with games such as |
| I don't and to be perfectly honest I don't care ... | | | | the "guitar hero" software many potential players |
| and neither should you! | | | | think by messing about on these "toy" guitars |
| Treating guitar playing as an Olympic event has | | | | that they will be off to a blinding start on the real |
| absolutely nothing to do with playing music. With | | | | thing. |
| so much nonsense around it's difficult for a | | | | Nothing could be further from the truth ... what do |
| newbie player of get their ears pinned on straight. | | | | these games teach us about, musical expression, |
| Recently I received an email asking ..."Do you think | | | | dynamics and the ability to play with other human |
| Yngwie Malmsteen is the fastest guitarist ever?" | | | | beings? |
| this is a very common question, the guitarist's | | | | Another example of incredible stupidity is the |
| name varies however the question is along the | | | | number of lightning fast robot players on sites like |
| lines of who do I think is the "fastest" or "best". | | | | "YouTube", try typing in "fastest guitarist" and |
| Truthfully, I have know idea who would be the | | | | you will have some very entertaining moments ... |
| fastest or even the loudest ... because all of this | | | | unfortunately it does not communicate anything! |
| stuff is not music, it's showing off! | | | | Reality: Playing music on a guitar is an art. You |
| Here's some ideas to get you thinking about your | | | | don't learn it in five minutes, you don't learn it |
| relationship with this marvelous musical instrument. | | | | plugged into a computer and you certainly don't |
| Myth: He (or she) who plays the fastest wins. | | | | learn it from manic people running all over the |
| Cost of believing the myth: If you are not careful | | | | fretboard like a bee in a bottle. |
| you can go off in a totally non-musical direction | | | | Music is not about showing off! |
| and completely miss the whole point of playing a | | | | Benefits of going with the reality: Nothing and |
| musical instrument. | | | | nobody can take your personal satisfaction and |
| A guitar is not a toy! It is a musical instrument | | | | ability to express yourself ... it's yours. |
| that requires practice, disciple and dedication, in | | | | It's a lifetime of musical discovery and it's yours if |
| return your guitar will be a tool for your musical | | | | you are prepared to pay the price. |
| expression and creativity. | | | | I invite you to use these tips and tools when you |
| This is where it gets confusing for the new player | | | | play the guitar. |