PLAYING GUITAR LIVE

It’s a great feeling playing guitar live. Sometimes it’s hard for me to explain, the high you get from being able to express your creativity through an instrument. The sound of your guitar coming though your church’s system and gelling with the rest of the instruments. Playing a guitar solo and ending the measure perfectly and flowing back into the band with ease. It’s a sensation that one can take as an accomplishment. It’s that feeling of playing guitar live, showing off your personality a bit, playing with a band who are all on the same page. Just right. 

Have you ever had a time where that just didn’t happen? Your guitar just didn’t have the right tone, the band wasn’t clicking, you messed up the guitar solo? I’m here to tell you, it happens! It’s going to be okay!

Playing your guitar live is like having a date night. You expect a great time out, planned the evening perfectly and when you get to the main course (song, solo, etc.), and it’s totally not what you expected, and leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. It makes you not want to go back to that place again. But, there’s always a chance of having that same experience again somewhere else.

Now after what I would call a perfect analogy, (pat myself on the back) here’s what you can do after experiencing that: give it another try. Some of us have to because we are dedicated to bands and ministries. For some, it’s our first outing. If it’s your first time, things will get better. It just takes time and practice. If you’re seasoned, we know how it goes. We have those days. A major key in messing up live or hitting a wrong note or two, is to act like you have it all under control. If you freak out, make a face, or in some cases, stop playing on stage, people will notice. Keep your cool, collect yourself and keep moving.

Keep jamming, make sure you’re having fun and including your peers and teammates on the joy you get from playing your instrument live and worshipping together, I can honestly tell you from experience that it’s contagious! Also, take joy in practicing, it makes playing guitar live far more enjoyable and the satisfaction from all your hard work is a plus. Give yourself some credit for working hard and serving your church, but remember to always stay humble and live in humility. With keeping the mindset of all you’ve just read, you will surely be a sought after musician and valued amongst your peers. 

Hopefully this has inspired you if you’re in a tough time with your instrument or perhaps this blog gave you a small and new perspective on playing guitar live. This is only the tip of the ice berg when it comes to playing live, no doubt we’ll go further into this in future. Please, leave me some comments or questions here, or on Instagram or Twitter!
-AO