Playing Live: What to Do With the Little Voices in Your Head (March 3, 2007)
by Tom Hess.
Wheher you play for tens of thousands of people every night as part of a world tour, or 20 people at a backyard barbeque, most of the mental anxieties musicians experience while playing live are the same. In almost every case the negative little voice in your head is centered around fear (fear of rejection, self doubt, etc.). We all have experienced some level of fear or nervousness when playing live at some time or another... Continue reading "Playing Live: What to Do With the Little Voices in Your Head"
Guitarists: How to Develop Your Own Style, Part 1 (November 15, 2006)
by Tom Hess. How can I develop my own style…my own sound?” This is the second most frequently asked question I am asked (“How can I become a great guitarist?” is the first). As a very broad generalization, people in the United States tend to focus more on originality, in Europe people tend to focus more on mastery. Among musicians in general and guitar players specifically, the approach that is commonly taken to being “original” is often crippling, oppressing, unnatural. This is why so many people only seem to struggle and become frustrated. That is because the typical approach to being “original” is in direct conflict with the very meaning of the word “original”. Think about it, the entire process of being original (and having your own style) should be Natural, Empowering and Liberating. Continue reading "Guitarists: How to Develop Your Own Style, Part 1"
