how many of you are actually guitar players?

[locash]

would love to know how many are you that are writing for a living... writing/producing for tv and film are actually guitar players. im not talking about many of you who can ALSO "play" the guitar. Those of you who guitar is your main (instrument you have studied) instrument.
-has your keyboard chops improved over the years?
-do you write your stuff on guitar first or simply on paper?

just interested....thanks.

[Jaimo]

I'm a guitarist. It's my main instrument, although I also studied piano as a kid, and kept it up as the years went on.

I was a jazz guitar major at North Texas State in the early 80's, and studied some piano there as well.

I don't work in film or TV, but record production. My "skills" as a keyboardist allow me to do more on the records I produce, and it also brings in other types of work that I wouldn't get as a guitarist alone.

[Steve_Karl]

Guitar is my first and main love - hate relationship.
I only record now using computer and samples. :-)

[belbin]

guitarist-
can't do nothin' else but program(midi).


Belbin

[Worra]

Been playing since 1971, that makes, (gulp...) 35 years......

[Alexcremers]

Been playing since 1971, that makes, (gulp...) 35 years......

Then why don't you show us what you're made of and sample one? And remember, 16 layers per note!

[Worra]

Then why don't you show us what you're made of and sample one? And remember, 16 layers per note!

Actually, I've been kind of planning this for some time. Being a guitarist, I have some ideas on how to do this with a different approach.

[Inkfingers]

Guitar is my main instrument, and though I prefer to be thought of as a composer, it can be very financially lucrative to be known for guitar. ;) Once people know you can read music and play classical, gigs seem to line up (for me, anyway). And there are always new students wanting to learn guitar.

My keyboard chops remain woefully mediocre, but it's something I'm working on improving.

I usually begin writing by turning off the computer and improvising on the piano until I stir up ideas. This occassionally works on guitar, especially when I'm writing for solo strings (the guitar strangely helped a lot when writing a cello piece last year), but piano is the usual way to go.

[Bela D Media]

Guitarist are a dime a dozen :p

Bassist of 24 years here!

[Worra]

Guitarist are a dime a dozen :p

Bassist of 24 years here!


Ahhhh, I've heard that bassists are just frustrated guitarists....:p

[Aaron Dirk]

Guitar 26 years
Piano 32 years

I actually feel the opposite. The piano made me a better guitarist. All these years trying to conquer Rachmaninoff gave me really strong fingers. I once read Eddy Van Halen attributed his guitar skills from growing up playing Mozart on piano.

[Bruce A. Richardson]

I'm a guitarist. It's my main instrument, although I also studied piano as a kid, and kept it up as the years went on.

I was a jazz guitar major at North Texas State in the early 80's, and studied some piano there as well.

I don't work in film or TV, but record production. My "skills" as a keyboardist allow me to do more on the records I produce, and it also brings in other types of work that I wouldn't get as a guitarist alone.

Hey, do you know Tim Kobza, Ted Cruz, Greg Beck, Mike Dane, Earl Harvin, Matt Chaimberlain, Dave Palmer, et al?

Didn't know you were up there at that time...I have a bunch of dear old friends who were NT of that period....

B.

[James W.G. Smith]

Guitar for about 10 years now. Piano for... 1 hehe. Actually, I don't use either when I am composing orchestral stuff, I do that by hand, just works better for me but *warning* it is VERY slow going. I do fiddle with my MIDI controller sometimes while I am writing but I have never used my guitar, I think because I am so used to playing certain things on it that it is just too constrained. However, I use it constantly when I am writing heavy stuff (of course).

James

[locash]

reason i asked.... is that I am planning on going back (im now 30) to school to study music (never went to music school before). To study guitar and music theory etc. I have no musical training and desire to have a better understanding of whats in my head and how to execute it more effectively. Reason i am picking guitar is that i have been playing guitar for 12 plus years and am much more proficient at it than piano (but still would not call myself a "guitar player"). And there is no way i would get into school playing keys. For the past 3 years i have been writing and producing music for tv and a couple video games (i create and program on teh keyboard but all by ear). But i feel in order to go to the next level i need some schooling. I have a family now so this is a huge step and decision for us. So i just wanted to hear some of your experience and thoughts. Thanks for the posts.

[Inkfingers]

reason i asked.... is that I am planning on going back (im now 30) to school to study music (never went to music school before). To study guitar and music theory etc. I have no musical training and desire to have a better understanding of whats in my head and how to execute it more effectively. Reason i am picking guitar is that i have been playing guitar for 12 plus years and am much more proficient at it than piano (but still would not call myself a "guitar player"). And there is no way i would get into school playing keys. For the past 3 years i have been writing and producing music for tv and a couple video games (i create and program on teh keyboard but all by ear). But i feel in order to go to the next level i need some schooling. I have a family now so this is a huge step and decision for us. So i just wanted to hear some of your experience and thoughts. Thanks for the posts.


locash - if matters for anything, you have my utmost endorsement for your plans. I realize formal music education may be looked upon as snobbish in some circles, and that's how I felt before I started it. But my education has helped me immensely in my guitar playing- I've gone from guitar player to guitarist, from amateur to pro. And it's helped me in composition, something I only remotely dreamed of before I began learning the techniques to make it happen.

Once you get past your basic theory courses, I'd strongly recommend classes in form and analysis (VERY important, IMO), orchestration, counterpoint, conducting (gives you a different perspective on composition), and 20th century techniques is it's available. It seems like so few amateur film/tv composers realize the importance of 20th century techniques. After all, John Williams even used 12-tone serialism in the Indiana Jones series.

Good luck!

[locash]

Thanks Marc for that. I need the encouragement as i am constantly asking myself if this is the right thing to do. (makes total sense musically but more at stake because of my age and family).
Even though i am a risk taker this is one of the more bigger decisions i have (am making) in my life. Moving our family down there (i live in Canada..moving to LA) pressing pause on my business here, renting our house, and dropping big coin is a bit scary.
I have tried to figure out cheaper ways of doing this (online, local schools etc) but i dont think im disciplined enough for that. Plus the networking and relationship building time is pretty important to me (if not as important as the schooling).
Deep down i am so excited to immerse myself into schooling and guitar. But until our house gets rented and i get accepted im not getting my hopes up. :)

-Mitch

[jovan]

I'm a guitar player.
I'm playing classical guitar now since more than 40 years.
Here an small example (recorded when I was a student):
http://music.v4m.net/ove4/PesecMalats_SerenataEspanola_original.mp3
I composed a lot of pieces 4 classical guitar.
Here an example from my concerto 4 guitar & orchestra:
2. movement: The Anxiety
http://music.v4m.net/ove4/2_TheAnxiety_ove4_GS3.mp3

I wrote my compositions for guitar directly into the score.
I cannot play keyboard.

:-) Jovan