What's your "Guitar Player IQ"

[billder99]

Of course there really is no such thing, I am making this up, but it makes sense.

We take it for granted that people are born with different mental capability, which is measured as Intelligence Quotient (IQ). I will define intelligence as the ability to grasp concepts and apply them... the natural ability to learn.

The same is true for physical abilities. Some people are born with better coordination, or better balance, or more fast twitch muscle fiber, or a body perfectly designed for a given sport (think Michael Phelps), etc..

With guitar, it follows to reason that we are not all born with the same ability to learn to play guitar. With the same investment of time, some people become good (or even great) really quickly, others play for years and hobble along.

Only for fun (don't get all serious on me here)... Here is a Guitar Intelligence Scale (GIS... my own creation, so not scientific), somewhat akin to mental IQ... what is your perception of your score:

70 = Way below average... even working with focus for 5 years, can't get rhythm timing, rhythm speed, single note play, fingerstyle patterns, barre chords, etc... just can't seem to play music that sounds really good, not nearly good enough to play in public.
100 = Average... after 5 years, play well... play in good time, use dynamics well, both single note and pick-rhythm proficient, proficient enough to play in public, etc... sometimes you are excellent, but most of the time just average... still progressing, but obviously lagging well behind those that have "IT".
130 = Guitar Pro... you can play multiple styles at a professional level, people beg you to play for them.
145 = Guitar Savant... you are Tommy Emmanuel, or Paco de Lucia... 99% of Pros can't touch your creativity, sensitivity, ability to tap into the emotion of the music.

My score: I rate my own ability GIS-100... after 5 years, I play many things well, adv-intermediate level... but no where near Pro level. Compared to others, I am average.

[murrmac123]

probably 123 ...

[Rosewood99]

I would say 110 for me. I'm a test case to see how much hard work and practice can overcome lack of natural ability.

[Sponserv]

A couple observations.

You would be well served to add a 40, 50 and 60 level in here too. A lot of folks on the forum are, like myself, only two or three years (or less) into this pursuit of competence.

The second thing is...you live in one of my favorite places on the planet. Where are you down there? I used to spend an awful lot of time exploring the peninsula. I miss it.

[roylor4]

Somewhere between 100-115. The middle of average for me. I have excelled at a few things in life - guitar ain't one of them.

Been playing seriously for just over 3.5 years and get paying gigs 4-5x a month. I still have good and bad nights, so not as consistent as i would like. My solo ability/single note work is not good but my rhythm work kinda makes up for it ( I hope).

[jcmccorm]

Can I apply for disability based on my score?

Cary

[llew]

Originally Posted by jcmccorm

Can I apply for disability based on my score?

Cary

Yeah...I want in here too!

[state-it]

Originally Posted by roylor4

Somewhere between 100-115. The middle of average for me.

Wouldn't that be 85-115?

[SFCRetired]

Kinda depends. What I play I'm way up there. But I don't play Jazz, I don't play Blues, I don't play hard rock. But what I do play I'm pretty good at it.

So you ask what do I play? I play some country, old and new, I can semi functionally Flat Pick, I am a pretty darn good strummer/rhythm player, and I can Finger Pick in the style of John Denver.

So I don't consider myself a guitar player, I am a player of songs I like and songs I want to learn.

Can I walk into a studio and be handed a song list and expected to hit the floor running? No way. But you can give me a song to learn and I will learn it.

[kak1154]

104

I got to 100 after 5 years or so. I haven't progressed much since.

[Earwitness]

My guitar hands are a 95. My guitar mind is about 120.

I explore and discover so many beautiful things on the guitar but my hands are donkeys. Will not do what they are told.

[M19]

114.963343911323...









...approximately!

[Zegie]

Fun thread. Not to sure about the basic assumptions though.

Don't be under any illusions, to get good, really good you need to work, work hard, work really hard, really really hard.

Given an average body in good working order and a brain of sorts most under 25 can get good at whatever they set their mind to. It get difficult after 30.

It's not physical - it's mental. Get the mental bit right and the physical bit follows.

Oh and also to get good, really good you need a (un)healthy dose of OCD.

Me? I get bored and distracted too easily!

Er....What was this thread about?

[Transylvania]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

I would say 110 for me. I'm a test case to see how much hard work and practice can overcome lack of natural ability.

I feel you, Paul. Put me down for 110 as well.

[WmRob]

Somewhere between 115 to 120.