Poll

What is your self-assessed guitar proficiency?

Beginner - simple chords and fingerpicking
7 (18.4%)
Intermediate - arpeggios, rudimentary Travis picking
12 (31.6%)
Advanced - thumb independence; licks, riffs, runs and embellishments
14 (36.8%)
Master - chord inversions, variations up the neck, advanced right hand techniques
4 (10.5%)
Guitar God - think Tim Reynolds, ideally be Tim Reynolds
1 (2.6%)

Total Members Voted: 38

Author Topic: Average guitar proficiency of forum  (Read 2123 times)

ahalikias

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Average guitar proficiency of forum
« on: February 22, 2019, 02:48:53 PM »
I am marveling at the guitar collections people in the forum have. I'd love to know the normal distribution for the skillset of the average person here, as well. I apologize in advance if this poll has existed before, I'm still figuring out my way in the forum.
07 914ce Ltd brazilian rosewood
07 SB-BR1 bastogne walnut
09 T5 Ltd ovangkol
09 Baby
13 K26ce Ltd koa
Rivera Sedona 55 ES

StrummingMadMan

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Re: Average guitar proficiency of forum
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2019, 12:00:19 PM »
I love how the example for guitar God is Tim Reynolds. No argument from me there.
414-L2 (2003)
614ce (2015)
810e DLX (2015)
K24ce (2015)
516e-FLTD (2013)
Gibson J-15 (2016)
Larrivee L-05 (2018)
Larrivee OM-40R (2018)
Martin D-18 (1959) -my grandpa, then dad's guitar
Rockbridge SJ - German Spruce/Cocobolo (2011)

Guitarsan

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Re: Average guitar proficiency of forum
« Reply #2 on: March 03, 2019, 10:08:04 PM »
It depends on the day haha
"The guitar is the perfect drug because when you play it you're in no pain, and when you put it down, there's no hangover." Paul Reed Smith

2021 Taylor 914ce LTD Sinker Redwood/EIR
2016 Taylor GS Mini-e Flamed Koa

Jersey tuning

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Re: Average guitar proficiency of forum
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2019, 12:54:21 PM »
I sort of feel like an advanced intermediate, a better musician than guitarist. Have some really good innate musical skills that don't always translate to the 10 fingers I possess.  Can use my thumb to play bass lines in songs while picking treble notes with my fingers, but alternating thumb doesn't come so easily.

Saw a really good folk guitarist the other night named Tret Fure.  She has brilliantly borrowed techniques from Paul Simon, Judy Collins and others and crafted her own terrific playing technique.  If only...............
CURRENTLY PLAYING

'30 Martin 2-17 solid Mahogany
'97 Tacoma PK-30 Sitka/koa
'99 Alhambra 11C classical cedar/EIR
'05 TAYLOR 614ce 
'07 Breedlove Atlas 12-string Sitka/Mahogany
'10 Froggy Bottom "C" Adi/Brazilian   
'11 TAYLOR BTO GC 12-fret sinker/EIR.  
'14 Alvarez Baritone Sitka/Mahogany
'18 Cordoba hybrid Flamenco Euro Spruce/Ziricote
'23 M. Colbert Baritone Alaskan Sitka/Black Limba multiscale with Manzer wedge

ahalikias

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Re: Average guitar proficiency of forum
« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2019, 02:51:24 PM »
I sort of feel like an advanced intermediate, a better musician than guitarist. Have some really good innate musical skills that don't always translate to the 10 fingers I possess.  Can use my thumb to play bass lines in songs while picking treble notes with my fingers, but alternating thumb doesn't come so easily.

Saw a really good folk guitarist the other night named Tret Fure.  She has brilliantly borrowed techniques from Paul Simon, Judy Collins and others and crafted her own terrific playing technique.  If only...............

For most of us, guitar mastery is a lifelong exercise, whose value is in the process, not a final goal. Many of us probably belong in in-between categories, with our own if-only's. :)
07 914ce Ltd brazilian rosewood
07 SB-BR1 bastogne walnut
09 T5 Ltd ovangkol
09 Baby
13 K26ce Ltd koa
Rivera Sedona 55 ES

Guitar Cowboy

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Re: Average guitar proficiency of forum
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2019, 04:52:07 PM »
I am marveling at the guitar collections people in the forum have...
I have to admit that my  guitar collection is not justified by my skill level. I would put my self somewhere between intermediate and advanced and admit that I am not worthy of the collection that I am  blessed to own.
Steve
2020 326ce V-class soundhole cutaway prototype
(Mahogany/Urban Ash)
2019 E14 Limited Edition V-Class (Spruce/Ebony)
2019 814ce V-Class (Cedar/Rosewood)
2016 GS mini-E Koa
2015 618e 1st Edition (Torrified Spruce/Maple)
2014 K26ce (AA Koa- Wildwood CV) 
1980-something Yamaha  FG345II Dread

Craig

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Re: Average guitar proficiency of forum
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2019, 03:30:55 PM »
I have to admit that my  guitar collection is not justified by my skill level. I would put my self somewhere between intermediate and advanced and admit that I am not worthy of the collection that I am  blessed to own.

I couldn't have put it better myself.

Craig
1978 Music Man Sabre II
1980's Charvel Model 6
2014 816ce First Edition
2014 714ce FLTD Sassafras
2014 K24ce with AA top and Gotoh 510 tuners
2016 GS Mini e Koa
2015 Custom GS Mun Ebony and Engelmann Spruce
2017 Avalon A2-20c
And an Eastman Mandolin!

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TG

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Re: Average guitar proficiency of forum
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2019, 03:38:14 PM »
I like to say I play a really good guitar.  I don't play it all that well, but it is a really good guitar.
1992 Taylor 410
2014 Taylor 214dlxCE
2016 Taylor 816CE
2017 Taylor K26CE
1995 Guild JF30-12
2007 Fender Jimmy Vaughan Strat
2008 Gibson Les Paul Studio

timfitz63

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Re: Average guitar proficiency of forum
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2019, 06:26:07 PM »
I'd have to honestly say I'm somewhere in the Intermediate range; the fact that I can play anything well is purely the result of repetition, not innate talent.

I like to say I play a really good guitar.  I don't play it all that well, but it is a really good guitar.

That's a pretty clever way to put it!  The turn of a phrase I often use is:  so far, no one has paid to hear me play -- but no one has paid to make me stop either...!
DN: 360e, 510ce, 510e-FLTD, 810ce-LTD (Braz RW), PS10ce
GA: 414ce, 614ce-LTD, 714ce-FLTD, BR-V, BTO (Makore, 'Wild Grain' RW, Blkwood), GAce-FLTD, K24ce, PS14ce (Coco, Braz RW, "Milagro"), W14ce-LTD
GC: 812ce-LTD TF, BTO TF ('Sinker'/Walnut, Engelmann/"Milagro"), LTG #400
GO: 718e-FLTD, BTO (Taz Myrtle)
GS: Custom 516e, BTO 12's (Taz Tiger Myrtle, 'Crazy' RW), 556ce, 656ce, K66ce, PS56ce ("Milagro")
GS Mini 2012 Spring LTD (Blackwood)
T3/B: Custom (Cu & Au Sparkle)
T5: C1, C5-12, S (Aztec Gold)

ahalikias

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Re: Average guitar proficiency of forum
« Reply #9 on: March 11, 2019, 06:51:23 PM »
I am marveling at the guitar collections people in the forum have...
I have to admit that my  guitar collection is not justified by my skill level. I would put my self somewhere between intermediate and advanced and admit that I am not worthy of the collection that I am  blessed to own.

You are certainly not alone my friend.  I often say when showing the collection that, clearly, I have more money than talent.
07 914ce Ltd brazilian rosewood
07 SB-BR1 bastogne walnut
09 T5 Ltd ovangkol
09 Baby
13 K26ce Ltd koa
Rivera Sedona 55 ES

Guitars44me

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Re: Average guitar proficiency of forum
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2019, 01:54:28 AM »
Life long full time musician still giggling at 67.  The retirement plan is death...

I can play, sing, honk harmonica and foot stomp at the same time, in real time, (no looping or backing tracks allowed)  so I guess advanced.
Altho I have pals who can play lead rings around me. On the other hand I can sing like I really mean it and usually I DO.  And fortunately I can play harp without thinking about it. Occasionally that happens on guitar, but my 40 years as a drummer slowed down my guitar progress....  But the last 27 years of retro one man band have helped!  Haha.  There were about seven years of doing both as I transitioned...

I prefer heart and soul to technical perfection, and find it interesting that often when recording live I find occasional "mistakes" to be a nice new lick...  oh, I LOVE open Tuned Slide too.

Yes, I too am eternally grateful to have a NICE stash of BOSS GUITARS

Everyone just Breath and go for it

Paul

tailsawaggin

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Re: Average guitar proficiency of forum
« Reply #11 on: March 21, 2019, 11:15:18 PM »
I just began playing on Christmas day, so whatever the average was this morning, I've cheerfully brought it down by joining today.

Frettingflyer

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Re: Average guitar proficiency of forum
« Reply #12 on: April 08, 2019, 09:27:24 PM »
Count me as one that doesn’t do justice to my guitars. Although my last gig, non paying, was a relatives funeral so I say they are dying to hear me play!
I love the sounds of my guitars, and each brings a different flavor. I have advanced to where I sometimes play for others, but it is mostly for my pleasure. Very blessed to have my collection and a wife who supports my “habit”.
Dave
2014 Koa GS Mini-e FLTD (for the wife)
2004 314ce,
2014 custom GC Coco/Euro spruce
2015 Wildwood 812ce 12 fret
2016 522ce 12 fret
2019 K24ce BE
2021 322e
2017 Blackbird Lucky 13
2019 Mcpherson Sable