Humbled... I am an imposter

[woodbox]

I just stumbled on to a YT video of Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler.

Seemingly effortlessly, casually smiling through a two song set dripping with nuance, dynamics, clarity, speed, and respect.. for the songs and each other.

I am humbled.

And there's no reason for me to ever claim to be a guitar player,
let alone own these fine instruments of mine.
Time to give away a bunch of guitars.

A friend of mine, who is an Iron Man finisher (many times), and a Martial Arts practitioner most his life.. in short, a tough guy.. told me how he observed a guy at an event, who just stood there and smiled at an adversary.
A split second later, the opponent was on the ground and apparently didn't want to get up.
My buddy said:
"You think you're tough, til you run into someone who really is."

And to think that Monday, I have to face a student who looks to me for guidance.
I'm a fraud.

Do you ever feel this way?


(EDIT update:
thank you all for commenting on this thread, I've read each of your posts..some twice)

[rokdog49]

No and you shouldn't either.
First of all, it isn't important, it's just guitar playing. Second, there are innumerable people who would give anything to be able to do what you are capable of. Enjoy your ability. Be grateful for that. You are teaching someone else.
Forget what others do that you can't. Nobody else really cares either.

[llew]

Of course. The fact of the matter is we will always run into that person who is an amazing player who makes us (temporarily) wonder why. I own better instruments than I can do that kind of justice to but I don't stop playing. Those guys are as inspiring as they are humbling. You are not a fraud...you are on the road with the rest of us finding our own way. Nothing more. Be an inspiration to your student as Chet and Mark have been to you. It's all about paying it forward. Be that guy...

[donlyn]

Originally Posted by woodbox

I just stumbled on to a YT video of Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler.

Seemingly effortlessly, casually smiling through a two song set dripping with nuance, dynamics, clarity, speed, and respect.. for the songs and each other.

I am humbled.

And there's no reason for me to ever claim to be a guitar player,
let alone own these fine instruments of mine.
Time to give away a bunch of guitars.

A friend of mine, who is an Iron Man finisher (many times), and a Martial Arts practitioner most his life.. in short, a tough guy.. told me how he observed a guy at an event, who just stood there and smiled at an adversary.
A split second later, the opponent was on the ground and apparently didn't want to get up.
My buddy said:
"You think you're tough, til you run into someone who really is."

And to think that Monday, I have to face a student who looks to me for guidance.
I'm a fraud.

Do you ever feel this way?

Woodbox,

Is this the video of which you speak?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wTVLIZaxMk




This is my all time favorite guitar video. I never feel humbled watching it, but rather I feel inspired that 2 people can play this well and actually play even better together.

Will I ever be able to play as well as they? Not the point. I will be able to play as well as I can if only I play as well as I can. Listening to this makes me want to pick up a guitar as soon as it's over. I find it a message of hope, not failure.

What was it that the ancient sage said? "There is no try. Only do or do not."

Αἰέν ἀριστεύειν‎ - Ever to Excel !

Don
.

[AcousticDreams]

Everybody feels like that sometimes Woodbox. Even the best of the best.

Because There is always someone better.

I am most certainly not a great player. But a get a great tone and enjoy the simple strum of a beautiful-lush chord. If you enjoy the brush of your fingers across the strings, then all is well.

That is all that really matters in the end.

[Duck916]

I don't feel like a fraud. I used to run marathons. Some of my race times were literally double that of the winners. I still considered myself a marathoner and actually felt a kinship with the winners, as we all pushed ourselves to our limits--their limits were a heckuva lot higher than mine, though.

I will never play like Knopfler, Atkins, or Quevedo. Never. I won't even try to be that good. But I will try to be better tomorrow than I am today. That's enough for me.

[JohnW63]

I never felt that way with Chet, because my Dad's collection of records of Chet ( and John Denver, if I am honest ) got me wanting to learn to play. I didn't know how good Chet was until much later. The one that had ME wondering what I had wasted my time trying to play, was Tommy Emmanuel. By then I had a better yard stick to measure with and it was a big hit to my thoughts on how I played, but...Tommy learned to play solo acoustic because of Chet and thought very highly of him, so it was a weird circle for me.

I decided to try and NOT waste my time noodling around anymore and actually spend real time learning, with an instructor. It was that or sell all the guitars !

[Wade Hampton]

Does anyone know what those jumbo guitars they're playing happen to be? I think I see "The Gibson" on the headstocks, but it's an unfamiliar model to me.


whm

[TBman]

No, music isn't a contest. It's for everyone.

[zmf]

Originally Posted by woodbox

I'm a fraud.

Do you ever feel this way?

Nope. Last night Welsh and Rawlings somehow got on the CD player while my lady and I were drinking wine. I picked up a 50 year old Aria laminate nylon and played with them for 30 minutes.

My lady said I was spot on the whole time, and she's a tough critic (I wasn't, but that's OK).

Bottom line is just get good enough to enjoy the music.

But I still envy Knopfler for creating all that music, and I still can't figure out Rawlings' single note runs.

[J185-4Me]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Does anyone know what those jumbo guitars they're playing happen to be? I think I see "The Gibson" on the headstocks, but it's an unfamiliar model to me.


whm

Mid-1980s Gibson J-200 Celebrities.

A closer view of a 1985:


Fred

[Wade Hampton]

Thanks, Fred - I knew if anyone would know, you would.

Were the ones Chet and Mark Knopfler were playing made of maple or some other tonewood?


whm

[J185-4Me]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Thanks, Fred - I knew if anyone would know, you would.

Were the ones Chet and Mark Knopfler were playing made of maple or some other tonewood?


whm

Pretty sure they were rosewood, Wade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wTVLIZaxMk

Fred

[woodbox]

Thank you all for your comments, and yes donlyn, that is the exact video I'm referring to!
I guess it just caught me at a time of reflection.

I'm not one who suffers from self-esteem issues as a rule, and Im not a timid performer...when I step out in front of an audience, I'm not asking permission.
But today I was preparing for tomorrow's gig with my Jazz Trio.. where I'm on drums and lead vocal.. pondering how fortunate I am to be playing with two really talented and nice guys.
I'm a much better drummer than guitar player and I belong in this band, but frankly they are both better players than I am,
and nicer guys too!
(not rude and obnoxious like me)
We all have a lot of respect for each other.

Well then I saw that video, and seeing two guys of that caliber was.. well, humbling.

Thanks for your comments and encouragement .. I'm better now.

[varmonter]

Ill bet mark and chet both felt humbled in each
others company. its all relative.