Jack of all trades, master of none?

guitarboy2828

So.. Something has been bothering me of late..

I'm really into fingerstyle guitar at the moment, on acoustic.. Tommy Emmanuel, trace bundy, Mckee, Martin Simpson, etc.

HOWEVER

I also have been accumulating and building up my electric rig recently because I'm trying to get it to sound like I want it to sound..

My dilemma is.. I'm buying all this electric gear, so that means I must play, otherwise it's a waste, right? But I prefer playing acoustic and fingerstyle, most the time. It's nice to have a jam on electric every now and then. So, am I being stupid, should I get rid of my electric rig and focus on acoustic? Or should I realize that I'll always dabble in both and keep it that way?

Surely I'm not the only one who struggles with this problem, I've seen guys on the forum's signatures, many of you have both acoustics and electrics.. How do you deal with this dilemma?

Warren

Same story here.

I battle it by simply giving in to the urges you're feeling at the time. Enthusiasm goes a long way towards bedding your skills down, and I think it's better to strum an acoustic every day for a month (if that's what you're really feeling like) than pick up the electric once or twice a week.

After a while I find I get a bit restless with my current "binge" and feel the urge to focus on something else, and that's fine too.

I guess you have to just be at peace with it: the thinner you spread yourself the slower your progress in any one area. I'll probably never reach the shredder levels I'd like to, but I also like the idea of an old acoustic guitar and a campfire. ?

guitarboy2828

Warren wrote: Same story here.

I battle it by simply giving in to the urges you're feeling at the time. Enthusiasm goes a long way towards bedding your skills down, and I think it's better to strum an acoustic every day for a month (if that's what you're really feeling like) than pick up the electric once or twice a week.

After a while I find I get a bit restless with my current "binge" and feel the urge to focus on something else, and that's fine too.

I guess you have to just be at peace with it: the thinner you spread yourself the slower your progress in any one area. I'll probably never reach the shredder levels I'd like to, but I also like the idea of an old acoustic guitar and a campfire. ?

Yeah, it's hard.. because I'd like to be the shredder AND I want to play the fingerstyle tunes I want to play.. Yet, I know, none of them famous people do both.. What makes it hard for me is, I have an hour to practice (for example), do I pick up my electric and practice or do I pick up my acoustic.. I wana be good at both.. ?

PeteM

I play both in our band... as and when needed.

Sure, if you stick to one instrument and one style of playing you might become uber proficient with it. But hey, what do you want to get out of your playing? Do you want to be a superstar in one style on one instrument or are you playing for the enjoyment of it? ... and if you get enjoyment out playing a variety of styles on different instruments then go for it as long as you can afford it of course.

Warren

Paul E wrote:
Yeah, it's hard.. because I'd like to be the shredder AND I want to play the fingerstyle tunes I want to play.. Yet, I know, none of them famous people do both.. What makes it hard for me is, I have an hour to practice (for example), do I pick up my electric and practice or do I pick up my acoustic.. I wana be good at both.. ?

Unfortunately, a LOT of the famous people are great at both ? John Mayer is one example, so is Joe Bonamassa and our own Dan Patlansky.

Even on the metal side: guys like Chris Broderick can rip up a metal solo and then pick up a classical guitar afterwards and make old ladies cry ?

The trick I guess, if you really want to be proficient at both and maintain a level progression in both, is to divide up your practice time strictly (a la Arjun) and then stick with that. Maybe acoustic one day, electric the next, and have clear goals and objectives to work on for each.

Also, a lot of the stuff you have to work on is useful for both anyway. Steve Lukather has said that he likes to practice on acoustics with heavy strings and a medium sort of action to keep those chops up.

edit: eish, punctuation-hell.

Dingwall

I think you will know if that all important 'crossroad' moment comes like it probably did with the likes of Tommy E and others. If you are not sure or the opportunity has not arisen yet to push you in one particular direction, then I think you are safe pursuing both with some assurance that this will not cancel either out but probably give you a much more balanced style on both electric and acoustic.

Plenty good electric players that are pretty hot on acoustic too as has been mentioned, for me the likes of Steve Morse and Carl Verheyen spring to mind!

costafonix

I find that the song I'm trying to learn (or write) to a very large degree dictates which guitar I pick up, so there's no distinct allocation of time to focus on one or the other. The two are somewhat different in my space in that when I'm playing electric I have to have the pedals and overdrive effort going, whereas in acoustic its more mellow, touching on bluesy type stuff. Not sure if this helps but maybe try that method and see if it allows you to allocate time equally to both instruments?

Squonk

Rather change it to Jack of all Trades master of SOME.

I have the same problem, Acoustic, Nylon and electric, but I also have the genre problem - Jazz, Metal, Blues, Folk, Rock, Flamenco, Classical, which one do I pick?

It's all to do with urges as Warren put it, Right now I have played Nylon all week, (I did do a bit of shredding on the electric this afternoon) but I am in Nylon mode right now. I think all of it helps my electric and acoustic playing at the same time.

But maybe get different projects going, Open Mic's for your Acoustic, GFSA Comps for your electric etc etc.

If I had never been given the slight push to play at TJ's, I would have not developed my acoustic skills like I have.

Dont give up on the electric!

guitarboy2828

I'm glad I started this thread, because I was feeling super bleak about my lil dilemma, but you guys have set me in the right direction! Keen to work on both and keep both up!

This is why I love GFSA!!!! ?

Keira-WitherKay

good thread .....

and yes there are pro's and con's to it all........

i recently posted somewhere i regret being a multi instrumentalist (playing electric/acoustic/keyboards/electric bass/double(upright) bass..and all well enought to have done pro gigs on every instrument) .. and yes it held me back in my development of one individual style/instrument ..... BUT then i realised it was this versatility that kept me in pro gigs for last 20 years ..... so yes pro's and cons......

but if i had to do it over and know what i know now about the music industry ...... i would rather find my one passion and stick to it and get "majorly impressive"( a nice way to say shit hot) at that one style ..... but again as i said pro's and cons. cos if you "specialise" and most importantly find my own "voice" on the instrument ..... accept that would cut out lots of work in cover bands and shows but opens doors again in the original scene where the real potential lies for a fortunate few....

so a very good question...... and one i guess no one can help you but yourself....... ask yourself what do you realistically want and feel you can achieve out of music.....

guitarboy2828

Keira WitherKay wrote: good thread .....

and yes there are pro's and con's to it all........

i recently posted somewhere i regret being a multi instrumentalist (playing electric/acoustic/keyboards/electric bass/double(upright) bass..and all well enought to have done pro gigs on every instrument) .. and yes it held me back in my development of one individual style/instrument ..... BUT then i realised it was this versatility that kept me in pro gigs for last 20 years ..... so yes pro's and cons......

but if i had to do it over and know what i know now about the music industry ...... i would rather find my one passion and stick to it and get "majorly impressive"( a nice way to say shit hot) at that one style ..... but again as i said pro's and cons. cos if you "specialise" and most importantly find my own "voice" on the instrument ..... accept that would cut out lots of work in cover bands and shows but opens doors again in the original scene where the real potential lies for a fortunate few....

so a very good question...... and one i guess no one can help you but yourself....... ask yourself what do you realistically want and feel you can achieve out of music.....

Some good insights and points Keira... I think you are right, it all depends on where you want your music to take you... I am not heading to be a pro muso as you are, and I'm totally okay with that. I would love to be proficient in fingerstyle, but.. Not at the expense of not being able to jam some improv lead licks on an electric with some mates.

So, all in all.. My conclusion is as Warren suggested.. Spend time on both, first half of the day, every time I play, acoustic, second half, electric.. Or something like that.. Think that'll work for me.. ?