I’m kind of lucky I guess, I messed my left hand up REALLY bad with a router, I needed hand surgery and 50 stitches (this is why I quit woodworking lol). I couldn’t use my hand for 3 months at all before I started physical therapy and started working back my muscle strength. I was able, miraculously, to get back about 98% hand function - pain gets in the way and sometimes I can’t get past it if I’m trying to shred. It was nice to build fresh muscle memory with a smarter mind though, and I became a better guitarist in the end, I just really don’t think I have it in me to get shredder fast and I came to terms with it.
80% of my practice is like that. The other 20% I push myself past that point, but I won't linger there, because I know what you're saying is true.Do you practice at a tempo that allows ZERO tolerance for the smallest mistakes?
Practice does not make perfect…practice makes permanent..so if you allow mistakes…
I have the picture if anyone wants to see a mangled piece of meatWow, sounds like you are VERY fortunate---all things considered.
Maybe a blessing in disguise, as you seem to suggest. Real musicianship is
a deep well where we can cultivate a wide range of skills and abilities. Speed
is not even the most useful, or essential, of those either.![]()
Glad you can play after that! That had to be difficult. It crosses my mind on occasion since I use routers and all manner of saws frequently during the week. But you just take the precautions you can take and learn to trust the tools, and mainly trust yourself. Like Maverick said, "if you think, you die."I’m kind of lucky I guess, I messed my left hand up REALLY bad with a router, I needed hand surgery and 50 stitches (this is why I quit woodworking lol). I couldn’t use my hand for 3 months at all before I started physical therapy and started working back my muscle strength. I was able, miraculously, to get back about 98% hand function - pain gets in the way and sometimes I can’t get past it if I’m trying to shred. It was nice to build fresh muscle memory with a smarter mind though, and I became a better guitarist in the end, I just really don’t think I have it in me to get shredder fast and I came to terms with it.
It was my fault. I was routing a cherry bookshelf top and I only had one clamp, too lazy to go across the shop to get another one. I clamped the left side of the piece and held the right with my hand, only holding the router in one hand. That mf hit a knot, got caught up, kicked up and landed plunge bit down on my handGlad you can play after that! That had to be difficult. It crosses my mind on occasion since I use routers and all manner of saws frequently during the week. But you just take the precautions you can take and learn to trust the tools, and mainly trust yourself. Like Maverick said, "if you think, you die."![]()
One of my practice licks is the run to start the Don't Stop Believing solo. Too many tabs show it legato, but Schon picks all the notes. Speed burst indeed!Schon speed bursts
I drive close by there almost everyday, just not quite that far east on Holcomb Bridge. So not familiar with the place, but may have to check it out some time.I just did a poster for a friend in Atlanta who hosts an open mic night. I did not plan and was not asked to do this, but apparently he and the cafe owner like it enough that they are going to have it professionally printed and framed! The odd thing is, this fell out of the sky as I was generating artwork for a song on my new album and this piece popped up which looks exactly like my friend so I had to turn it into a poster for his 70th birthday jam! Not only that, but the colors match the color scheme of the venue (thank you Matrix)! If you are in or near Atlanta (actual address is in poster below), this guy (Greywolf) hosts the open mic every Wednesday (and this event is an open mic night but you need to reserve a spot if you want to play) and he is a very cool Cat!
You should! I know this guy (Greywolf) strictly through the PRS Guitar Forum, but we have had a lot of PM's back and forth and shared a lot of personal information so I do consider us friends. I would definitely love to visit him at some point and go to his open mic, but he does have some serious health issues that may interfere with that ever happening. He has done so much for the open mic community there that I refer to him as a Legend (sorry Leon, not trying to steal from ya', but this guy truly is)! He is also a luthier of 40+ years and builds some beautiful guitars (he became a PRS addict about 3 years ago and I believe 16 of his 42 instruments are now PRS including several PS models). Wednesday nights are the open mic night, but he does the sound for many of the acts that play on other nights as well.I drive close by there almost everyday, just not quite that far east on Holcomb Bridge. So not familiar with the place, but may have to check it out some time.
Very cool!You should! I know this guy (Greywolf) strictly through the PRS Guitar Forum, but we have had a lot of PM's back and forth and shared a lot of personal information so I do consider us friends. I would definitely love to visit him at some point and go to his open mic, but he does have some serious health issues that may interfere with that ever happening. He has done so much for the open mic community there that I refer to him as a Legend (sorry Leon, not trying to steal from ya', but this guy truly is)! He is also a luthier of 40+ years and builds some beautiful guitars (he became a PRS addict about 3 years ago and I believe 16 of his 42 instruments are now PRS including several PS models). Wednesday nights are the open mic night, but he does the sound for many of the acts that play on other nights as well.