DEFENSIVE vs OFFENSIVE Guitar Playing

Once you make the switch you'll never go back and you'll wonder why it took so long to figure it out. ;)

[MufasaUTD]

I'm a bass player and i find this offensive

[Burnt_Gerbil]

My guitar playing is offensive to some people I'm sure. Oh wait. lol

[RJ_HTx]

Be defensive; when learning or practicing
Be offensive; when it's time to perform

Great video !

[RealPeterGunn]

When muscle memory, practice, and experience find their place in your mind and soul only then will a person perform at a level they have been attempting to achieve. This is a wonderful moment in a person’s life because it feels like all the pain and sacrifice finally pays off....and it does indeed!!!

[bipbong]

But how do I get to the offensive mode from ionian

[SicariusVG]

Ive only been playing for 1.5 years and I've recently noticed the switch as I've been trying to learn solos. Before it was like trying to make sure I got every note perfect, but now it feels much more instinctual and it works.

[TheOneShadyCat]

What if I have no ability.. When I play guitar?

[cralo]

I’m not even at the level to be a defensive player lol I’ve been playing for about 5 months now and I feel good about where I’m at with my playing when I practice but god forbid someone ask me to play them something. I end up playing like I picked the guitar up yesterday

[bengehre]

This isn't just a guitar thing; if you have confidence something will work, it will almost always work.

[bradleyrayson]

I've been playing guitar for 13 years and know the instrument well. However, when I play live with my band I sometimes get in my head about thinking playing it safe or dumbing down a solo. This video has already helped me so much, thank you and I really like these kind of self-esteem type videos

[redfaust]

I love this, man! Thank you for being open about a fundamental shift in your performance. It's helpful. This is a thing that I think about a lot, and it's nice to hear the experience of someone that's flipped the switch for themselves.

[JbfMusicGuitar]

Great way of explaining it! It's sort of about trusting yourself, that all the hours of practice throughout the years are just 'there' and you can call upon them and know that your chops are ready and waiting!

[dalebrett]

Great advice. When I first started playing with my current band I didn't want to "spoil" what the other guitarist and other members were doing so I played quiet and defensively, they actually appreciated it more when I turned the bloody amp up and gave it some gusto!

[theyjustcallmemc]

I have this defensive style.. I can play well but I have no confidence now.. it has completely lead to just hope that everything will be alright but I overthink things and it causes messing up parts I usually wouldn't mess up and It gets frustrating

[prncssbby]

A few weeks ago I'd "flipped the switch" and it kind of just happened out of nowhere where my soloing became purely passionate yet absent minded muscle memory. This is after 10+ years of guitar playing and man this video really confirms that we will always be more capable than we initially think

Great video and cheers! ✨

[NicD]

Great video !
I actually experienced the same exact thing of finding my feet, finally not trying to be a player I'm not, and feeling confidence: what you described as flipping a switch. Which happened almost overnight. It definitely wasn't a "technique" thing (as I could play the notes before), but all in the attitude. A drummer I've gigged with years ago recently came to see my band at a show and commented on how incredibly I had improved, and I explained him what had happened in pretty much the exact same way.
So yeah, I'm 100% with you on the matter, attitude and confidence are key, and make you go from playing cautiously and defensively to letting go and actually playing like you mean it.

[Sami-vq]

i have been thinking the same i swear, not just in the guitar, in every other instrument.

[MicahMiller]

Absolutely fantastic lesson. This sums up a lot of the emotions I have dealt with in my own playing, and you made it easier to understand. Instant sub!

[JohannDaart]

I agree there's a switch, I've experienced it myself, but I would describe it somewhat differently. (It's worth mentioning that Muay Thai gave me a boost of confidence, so that helped too with aggressiveness, training sports can help opening up playing immensly). But I would describe the switch more like "play to do the job, to move emotionally your listener". Do the fucking job. Grab their attention and fuck them, push your intent. It's more noticeable with accoustic instruments, where you can't mask your meekness with volume knob. I've noticed that when high level pro musicians play, nobody dares to start a conversation - they fill the room with their intent and are brutal about holding listeners attention, even if they are playing something calm. Also good example of this is how classical guitarists without amplification play quiet parts of the score - they play it with "theatrical whisper", meaning the quietness of a motiff is implied by their attitude. They still play it loud, otherwise it would sound like amateur mumbling to a listener, even in a small concert hall.

[joshs]

You know, this may have been one of your easiest videos to make, but it's probably one of the most important videos you've made. For anyone who plays guitar, playing with attitude is one of the single greatest quality of a guitarist. Nearly anyone with enough patience and practice can learn to play, but playing with coincidence and bravado is what will set you apart from the rest of the field. I've played since I was in single digits and after nearly 25 years of playing, that "switch" finally happened to me a few years ago. I noticed it really happened when I was at the local music store and I noticed people recording me play while I tried out a new amp. I was playing riffs I had played for years, played them at that same store for a long time and never had that experience... it all had to do with my confidence, my attitude, and my "don't care if I miss this note, I'm still gonna nail the rest" mindset. We are all going to mess up when playing. go see one of your favorite guitarists play and I can promise you they'll mess up at least once. it's all about how you rebound and improvise in those moments. Truly an awesome video man! thank you for posting this!