What separates a great guitarist from a good guitarist?

[In Absentia]

Seems like everyone and there mother is a guitarist these days, and a lot of them play casually. I am afraid that I am becoming a casual guitarist and I don't like it. i want to step up my game. What separates the casual guitarist froma great guitarist?

 

[harmonicator]

I would say rhythm.

And I don't just mean playing good rhythm guitar.

Every single note, chord, fill, bend, whatever...has to be in the pocket.

No music styles are exempt.

great players always play with the beat, and their time is so strong that they can even manipulate it at will.

 

[mlt1214]

Phrasing/knowing when and when not to play.

 

[The Captain]

Melody within the solo.

 

[shg]

I would say rhythm.

And I don't just mean playing good rhythm guitar.

Every single note, chord, fill, bend, whatever...has to be in the pocket.

No music styles are exempt.

great players always play with the beat, and their time is so strong that they can even manipulate it at will.

great post.

 

[Gas-man]

Knowing how to play more than blues boxes, you know those melody things everyone used to do?

 

[shredtrash]

A little attitude and aggression never hurt anyone either. Real players play with some fire!

 

[Rockin J]

The abillity to come up with original riffs and licks for songs that people want to pay you money for seems to be the top thing in becoming a great guitarist. I'm not even a good guitarist

 

[Neer]

A good gig.

 

[chervokas]

What separates the casual guitarist froma great guitarist?

Originality. Invention. Freshness.

 

[LavaMan]

Knowledge and mastery of the fret board - for me great guitarists are not necessarily technical flash players - they just do do not play bad notes....there's a certain confidence about their playing...they are like some of these nice, boutique single Class A tube amps with a few knobs - they sound good wherever the knobs are set...

Then, they will tell you why they are playing in theory....that's what make's em' great IMO....

 

[bobcunningham]

to either be original, or to at least sound original.

and to own a Metal Zone

 

[SyKrash]

Good time
Whether playing fast or slow, loud or soft it is always musical

Also leaving their ego at the door. No musical insecurities that cause them to be unmusical.

 

[Eskimo_Joe]

love and passion for it

 

[Conisewer]

The ability to make money

 

[speedyone]

Great vibrato.

All my faves (and I would venture to say most peoples' faves,) have it.

For example:

David Gilmour
Jimi Hendrix
SRV
Yngwie
Ty Tabor

just to name a few great ones....

 

[forgivenman]

Being a musician first, then using your guitar technique as a means to express your musicianship.

Two examples above that play into this: strong rhythm and good sense of melody. Melody is an exception litmus test for guitarist, whom often play out of a fingering pattern (a solo by numbers of sorts).

This!

 

[evets618]

Your playing has to "tell a story".
The best solos have a beginning, middle, and end. Even EVH's shredding exhibits a strong "call and response" structure. Well, some of the time.

 

[White Cluster]

A Dumble. Duh

 

[shane8]

A Dumble. Duh

u beat me to it - obviously a master built guitar helps

lots of guitarsts have good chops so rhythm is prob the most important thing

who said music is the space between the notes?

we can't all be john mayer tho