Slow Hands

"Punk rock killed practice"

When I started playing the goddamn guitar, I took it seriously. So serious, that I swung my arms up in the air whenever I hear something that involves the guitar. I was obsessed by it. Always eager to learn how to play better, cleaner, and tighter. One of the first songs I learned was this:

 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication

                     
I was friends with this guy back in high school. He was some sort of a "competition" for me because, at that time, he played like a beast. I wanna be like him and I butchered myself into learning a song everyone was amazed he can play:

    Coheed and Cambria - The Crowing

That was probably the start of it all. The reason why am I so obsessed with Coheed stems back to my obsession with the guitar. And that was the reason to, probably, 40% of their fanbase. Learning The Crowing was a challenge and it took me a week to learn it on it's full, and it was just my first month of playing. Oh god, dem callouses.

 I learned all the songs in this album. 

I continued practicing in my bedroom, like a mad man. But that doesn't mean I became a guitar god overnight, I can say that I was a decent player. Then came punk rock:

                                           Minor Threat - Guilty of Being White

                                          Dead Kennedys - California Uber Allies

                                          Pageninetynine - In love with an apparition                 

So on, and so forth.... This "in your fucking face" music that doesn't care a bit about technicalities. It was all about attitude, and having fun. While being angry about something, or letting people know that you believe about this certain thing. You firmly stand by it, and people will acknowledge that. And it was wonderful.

No one hates you for being a shitty guitar player, as long as you're a confident fuckface onstage. People don't care if you miss your notes on a simple solo, you can play it as loud as you want, as sloppy as you want. As long as it's good, and has passion. People will be amazed by it. I was amazed by it, so I played like these punks.

I forgot how important practice was, until I realized that my younger brother is already a better guitar player than me. When I realized I was a front for a metal band with amazing guitar players. I felt inferior. 

And now, I am regretting for not being serious about practicing. Doing daily exercises. Scales. Arpeggios. Proper Staccatos. Sweeps. Chord changes. So on and so forth. I am ashamed that I even mess up the solos I've written. I mess up MY OWN FUCKING SOLOS, damnit.

Bottom line: I need to fucking practice from now on. If I am to be srs with this band thing, I need to be better.