Why do you play music?
Not only that, but why do you want to play excessively well and "impress" other individuals, whether it's for money, fame, or fortune?
Let's face it -- in the bigger picture, nobody cares if you want to be a big shot rockstar, go on tour, or have a million views on YouTube.
Why?
It doesn't help the universe, it doesn't help the world, and this type of goal is most often driven by self-indulgence, seeking to fulfill goals on an individual level.
In order to really be a great player and contribute to the greater whole in life, you have to understand that it really doesn't matter all that much. Your band doesn't matter, your money doesn't matter, and your self-indulgent ego doesn't matter...not in the big picture!
There is good news! You know that feeling that you get when you play a particularly moving show? The crowd is really moved, they are into it, and it's like no other feeling? What IS that feeling, anyway?
That's the feeling of waking up. Waking people up through music. Without the intention of waking people up through your music, the universe could care less that you want to be a rockstar. You're only out to help yourself!
But, shift toward playing music to connect people, move them, and wake them up to life, NOW you are contributing something!
This is great news for all you lead guitarists out there! It means you can spend less time freaking out over YouTube comments and more time contributing emotional, REAL music, to which your audience can and will relate.
Can you still shred in a world like this? YES! Just think of Steve Vai. Steve shreds "consciously", which is to say he is not just flying up and down scales for the purpose of showing off. Yes, you can satisfy both the individual ego AND the greater good of playing emotionally. But, ONLY satisfying the ego with your playing is tiring, pointless, and selfish.
Just think of those ten minute long shred videos on YouTube where the guy is just showing off. Yes, it might be cool for a little while, but after 30 seconds or more, it just gets old!
The Zone
When you play music for people, seek to balance serving the greater good: waking people up, connecting them to make a whole room come together, and conveying a sense of well-being through your music.
Tapping into that special place from which you seem to play all the right notes, and it feels REALLY good, is called the "zone". Musicians and athletes often refer to this state of mind to describe that state in which you can do no wrong. It all just comes together.
The thing is, your audience feels this too! You convey it through your playing, through your notes, into their ears and souls, and it connects. It draws you together. I'm sure you can think of times when you went to see one of your favorite bands and you felt it coming from the stage like a wave of euphoria. That's because it goes both ways.
Let's look at some signs that perhaps you have slipped into the mindless rut (which we are all guilty of at some point) of playing just to satisfy the individual ego:
Are you bored on stage?Have you seemed to stop practicing your guitar just for the fun of it?Do you think only of money when you play gigs?Do you obsess over YouTube comments and ratings?Why are you in a band?
What is a band? It is a collection of individual cells coming together to create music of value. Each member has to contribute his or her part to make it good.
When you start applying these principles of unity, you will stop wasting everyone's time by pretending that there is something special about YOUR band or that your band "deserves" anything spectacular. On the contrary, you will achieve greater respect in the community and reach more people, all while having the greater body on your side.
If more bands got together and decided to play for humanity on the whole, they would realize that we are here for a reason, and playing to promote the unity of human beings supports that reason, whatever reason it may be.
How to write a great song:
Using the analogy of the cell VS the body, we can learn what it means to write a truly great song versus a mediocre song. Mediocre songs are written from the cellular level, where truly great, timeless songs are written with the body in mind. What's the difference?
A truly great song unites individual cells into a greater piece. This pleases the body. It is satisfying to the universe. Mediocre songs only please the individual cells for a little while, but they don't last long. They are anything but timeless.
So how do you write a truly great song? Keep the big picture in mind. Think of the body on the whole. How will it unite people? Make them see the big picture? Wake them up?
Inspiration
You can't force it. It has to come naturally. Just be ready to put the pencil to the paper when inspiration strikes. Inspiration will never guide you in the wrong direction. As a musician, it is your greatest friend. Always follow it!
When you cultivate a big picture mindset and apply it to your music, the resources you need to meet the needs of your individual cell will be met more easily. The money will come later, but you have to contribute real value first. Real value wakes people up, it startles them into raw emotional states, and it makes them feel united.
About the Author
Nathan McDonald invites you to visit his instructional lead guitar site for more free lessons, articles, and video at Effective Lead Guitar.com
His lessons specialize in how to play lead guitar, which includes advice on sweep picking, finger tapping, amp settings, guitar pedals, and free guitar TABS.
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