I know you are a very busy man, and I understand you get an ass load of questions about you, your work, your guitar playing and all that sweet stuff.

But I'm a nerdy guitar player and I want to pursue this as a career, a lot of people around me say it's a "waste of time" but music is all that I do know and all that I do understand. And I always strive on improving my technique, learning new styles.

What I'm trying to get at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NongtyxkfY

I've been watching this video for a while now, and I love the sweeps, the tapping (it reminds me of the fading out of the song 'Away' and everytime I hear that I always say thats Devin), and modes you do. I want to learn how to incorporate that into my own style, and maybe tweek it a bit. Not by stealing Dev's style, I'd never do that

I know you may not respond right away, and I've learned to be a patient person. I basically want to learn more techniques and stuff, I've been playing for 6 years now and I feel like I have something to prove.

Thanks for giving this a read if anyone has, I'm just trying to improve as much as I can

I'm in the same sinking ship. Although what he's getting at in the video is you shouldn't focus on the wankwankwankwankitee-wank.
Sure, I admit I would love to learn some sick soloing technique(s), but when it comes down to a long-term carrer I'd rather learn some "proper" song composure (without compromising creativity, of course).
I'm sure all he could tell you is to either flow where your mojo takes ya or to get some good lessons until you're ready to get your carrer off the ground.
along with some goofy yet inspirational words of wisdom, of course.

either way, I think you should seriously pursure the dream, for it's never to late to settle down and get a "real" job should your musical carrer derail.
I know you didn't ask for my opinion, but like I said, I'm in the same situation.

Oh of course, I just turned 20 in August (I'm one of the last 89' babies! hahaha) and I want to make this "dream" that many people say is impossible. And I've been involved with music since I played sax in my youth, I need to start playing it again and quit smoking cigs. Shit's bad for ya...And I picked up the piano during my classes at EVCC. But everytime I watch Devin do some "wankin'" on the guiiiitar or see Jeff Loomis utterly rape his guitar, I'm just like fuck...haha. I wouldn't mind being able to melt faces whenever I felt like it. I think I've made some really good material on my own with my acoustic style and my electric stuff, but hey everyone can use improvement. I wouldn't necessarily call it a sinking ship, that sounds like a bad term. And I speak for both of us, I'm sure you have great material written out or you've been jammin' to...consider it more of an improvement basis, like trying out for a sport team. You wanna make the team, practice practice practice.....and take a left.

If you're really serious about making a career out of music there are a couple things you need to keep in mind. First, while it may be impressive to see someone shred, your time would be better spent practicing other areas- especially composing and songwriting. Practice this everyday like you would guitar playing because it is every bit as much of a skill that needs to be developed with practice. A great song is much more marketable than playing really fast 16th notes, plus tons of people can already do that anyway. That's not saying that you CAN'T be a great guitar player, in fact I think you should strive to be a great guitar player AND a great musician (or composer/songwriter/etc.)

Second, don't set your goal to be rich and famous. Make the music that you love, and work on finding a market that appreciates whatever it is that makes you unique. You can make a career out of a small but loyal fanbase. Once you establish this, the word will spread and your audience will continue to grow.

Above all else though, you must know why it is that you are making music. If your goal is to make lots of money and get famous then it will be a nearly impossible road. But, on the other hand, if you make music because you love it, the other things will have a much easier time falling into place. It won't be easy, but often times the best things in life require sacrifice.

Hope this helps.

I suppose a "sinking ship" does sound a little too negative.
I've been writing "songs" for about a year now, but I'd need some proper recording equipment for my cheap budget to start "getting" anywhere.
that, and a good singing voice, haha.
I always think Devin's story is so inspiring, how he's acheived perhaps the perfect level of stardom while making a living off music, doing what he loves.

[The Dev]

Yo!

Johnny cash knew 12 chords, and Nirvana knew 20.

Watched a movie today where Brian Eno said something cool:

to paraphrase, he said that lots of folks see people with 'talent' or 'success' and believe that there is something different about these people, some intangible mystical thing that allows them to think and act differently, but his point is that everything comes from nothing, a unique trait in a musician usually comes from them taking whatever they have, however uncool or unhip it may be, but tapping into what they LOVE and then continuing to do that. In that way...ANYONE can be a 'special' artist.

Daniel Lanois countered that you have to have good 'feel', and thats basically the only criteria.

So my suggestion is get an acoustic guitar, and play songs that your friends and family like. Sing from the heart, and keep doing it, even when current musical trends make your own music seem isolated and nerdy. Again, I have not 'made it' in the sense of a Brian Eno or Daniel Lanois, but I make a living doing what I love and I'm satisfied with that.

Had a dream last night about packing two equipment trucks while on tour and having to leave in 10 minutes, and everybody that was there (some bands I know and friends etc...) were SO HIGH that they couldn't get it together, and I woke up more stressed than I went to sleep.

,,,resisted the urge to write a bad song about it and waste three hours.

,,,resisted the urge to write a bad song about it and waste three hours.

Aw. That's the kind of stuff that'll make the bonus box.

resisted the urge to write a bad song about it and waste three hours.

Aw. That's the kind of stuff that'll make the bonus box.

Yeah, I'd be quite happy to listen to a song of the sort..."Stoned in the Trunk" maybe? Oh, the reference!

Had a dream last night about packing two equipment trucks while on tour and having to leave in 10 minutes, and everybody that was there (some bands I know and friends etc...) were SO HIGH that they couldn't get it together.

Wish I'd be there to see it

Had a dream last night about packing two equipment trucks while on tour and having to leave in 10 minutes, and everybody that was there (some bands I know and friends etc...) were SO HIGH that they couldn't get it together, and I woke up more stressed than I went to sleep.

,,,resisted the urge to write a bad song about it and waste three hours.

Apprehensive about touring, are we?

Sounds like my whole live music career thus far...luckily now I am surrounded by great people. I am sure you are too.