Jeff Young 1/26/23 Jeff Young 1/26/23

10 Things Guitar Players Hate

1. Bad guitar maintenance

Bad guitar maintenance can be a major source of frustration for guitar players. It can cause a variety of issues that can negatively impact the performance and longevity of the instrument.

One of the most common problems caused by poor maintenance is a build-up of dirt and grime on the guitar's fretboard. This can lead to decreased playability and a dull, lifeless sound. It is important to regularly clean the fretboard with a soft cloth or a specialized cleaning solution to remove dirt and oils.

Another issue that can arise from poor maintenance is a lack of proper string tension. This can cause the guitar to sound out of tune, even when the strings are properly tuned. Regularly checking and adjusting the guitar's truss rod is necessary to maintain the correct tension on the strings.

Another issue that can arise is neglecting the guitar's hardware. Rust and corrosion can develop on the guitar's bridge, tuners, and other metal parts if not properly cleaned and lubricated. Neglecting this can cause the guitar to become harder to play and can lead to costly repairs.

In addition, neglecting the guitar's finish can also be a problem, as it can become dull, scratched, and damaged over time. Regularly cleaning the guitar's finish with a soft cloth and a guitar polish can help to maintain its appearance and protect the wood from damage.

Overall, bad guitar maintenance can lead to a variety of issues that can negatively impact the performance and longevity of the instrument. Regular cleaning, maintenance, and repairs are crucial to keeping a guitar in good working order and sounding its best.

2. Out of tune instruments

Out of tune instruments can be a major source of frustration for guitar players. When a guitar is out of tune, it can make it difficult to play accurately and can negatively impact the overall sound of the instrument.

One of the biggest problems caused by an out of tune guitar is that it can throw off the entire band or ensemble. If the guitar is not in tune with the other instruments, it can create a discordant sound that is jarring to the ears. This can make it difficult for the musician to play in time with the rest of the group and can make the overall performance less enjoyable for the audience.

Another issue that can arise from an out of tune guitar is that it can make it difficult to play in tune by oneself. When a guitar is out of tune, it can be hard to play in key with the other instruments or with recordings, this can make it difficult for the musician to practice and improve their skills.

Additionally, an out of tune guitar can also be a sign of poor maintenance, which can be frustrating for the musician. If the guitar is not regularly maintained and tuned, it can lead to a variety of issues that can negatively impact the performance and longevity of the instrument.

Furthermore, playing an out of tune guitar can also be detrimental to the musician's ears. When a guitar is out of tune, it can create a dissonant sound which can be hard on the ears and can make it difficult to hear the accurate pitch of the notes being played.

In conclusion, out of tune instruments can be a major source of frustration for guitar players. It can throw off the entire band or ensemble, make it difficult to play in tune by oneself, be a sign of poor maintenance, and be detrimental to the musician's ears. Therefore, keeping the guitar in tune is crucial for an enjoyable and accurate performance.

3. Feedback from amplifiers

Feedback from amplifiers can be a major source of frustration for guitar players. Feedback is the unwanted, high-pitched squealing noise that occurs when the sound from the guitar's speakers is picked up by the guitar's pickups and amplified again. This can happen when the guitar is too close to the amplifier or when the volume is turned up too high.

Feedback can be disruptive and ruin a performance. It can be difficult to control and can be hard to stop once it starts. It can also be very loud and can be uncomfortable for the musician and the audience. It can also be a sign of poor equipment setup or an issue with the guitar, which can be frustrating for the musician.

Another issue that can arise from feedback is that it can make it difficult to hear oneself and other musicians. The high-pitched squealing noise can overpower the sound of the guitar and make it hard to hear what one is playing. This can make it difficult for the musician to play accurately and can negatively impact the overall sound of the performance.

Feedback can also be hard on the musician's ears. The high-pitched squealing noise can be hard on the ears and can make it difficult to hear the accurate pitch of the notes being played. This can make it difficult for the musician to practice and improve their skills.

In conclusion, feedback from amplifiers can be a major source of frustration for guitar players. It can be disruptive, difficult to control, hard on the ears, and can make it difficult to hear oneself and other musicians. Therefore, preventing and controlling feedback is an important aspect of guitar performance and sound quality.

4. Poor sound quality from equipment

Poor sound quality from equipment can be a major source of frustration for guitar players. There are several examples of poor sound quality that guitar players may experience.

One example is poor sound quality from an amplifier. An amplifier that is not properly set up or has malfunctioning components can produce a distorted, muffled, or otherwise poor-sounding output. This can negatively impact the overall sound of the guitar and make it difficult for the musician to hear themselves and other instruments.

Another example is poor sound quality from a guitar's pickups. Pickups that are worn out or not properly adjusted can produce a weak or inconsistent output. This can make it difficult for the musician to achieve the desired tone and can negatively impact the overall sound of the guitar.

Another example is poor sound quality from a guitar's strings. Old or worn out strings can produce a dull, lifeless sound. This can make it difficult for the musician to achieve the desired tone and can negatively impact the overall sound of the guitar.

Additionally, poor sound quality from cables and pedals can also be a problem. Cables that are worn out or have poor connections can introduce noise and distortion into the signal, while pedals that are malfunctioning or not properly set up can produce a poor-sounding output.

In conclusion, poor sound quality from equipment can be a major source of frustration for guitar players. Examples can include poor sound quality from an amplifier, pickups, strings, cables, and pedals. These issues can negatively impact the overall sound of the guitar and make it difficult for the musician to achieve the desired tone and sound quality. Therefore, regular maintenance and check-up of the equipment is important for guitar players to ensure they have the best sound quality possible.

5. Broken strings during performances

Breaking a guitar string during a performance can be a frustrating and stressful experience for guitar players. It can disrupt the flow of the performance and cause a variety of problems that can negatively impact the overall sound and feel of the performance.

One of the most immediate problems caused by a broken guitar string is that it can make it difficult or impossible to play the guitar. If the string breaks while the musician is playing, they will have to stop playing and try to fix the problem. This can disrupt the flow of the performance and can be jarring for the audience.

Another issue that can arise from a broken guitar string is that it can change the tuning of the guitar. If a string breaks, the tension on the other strings will change, which can cause the guitar to go out of tune. This can make it difficult for the musician to play in tune with the other instruments and can negatively impact the overall sound of the performance.

Additionally, breaking a guitar string during a performance can also be a sign of poor maintenance or equipment issues, which can be frustrating for the musician. If the guitar is not properly maintained or if the strings are old or worn out, it can increase the likelihood of a string breaking.

Furthermore, breaking a guitar string during a performance can also be embarrassing for the musician. It can make the musician feel like they are not professional and can cause them to lose confidence in their playing.

In conclusion, breaking a guitar string during a performance can be a frustrating and stressful experience for guitar players. It can disrupt the flow of the performance, change the tuning of the guitar, be a sign of poor maintenance, and be embarrassing for the musician. Therefore, regular maintenance and check-up of the equipment and guitar strings are important for guitar players to avoid breaking a string during a performance.

6. Playing in bad acoustics

Playing in bad acoustics can be a major source of frustration for guitar players. Bad acoustics can refer to a room or venue that has poor sound quality, echo, or other issues that can negatively impact the overall sound of the performance.

One of the biggest problems caused by bad acoustics is that it can make it difficult for the musician to hear themselves and other instruments. Poor sound quality can make it hard for the musician to hear their own playing and can make it difficult for them to play in time with the other instruments. This can negatively impact the overall sound of the performance and can make it difficult for the musician to achieve the desired tone.

Another issue that can arise from bad acoustics is that it can make it difficult for the audience to hear the performance. Echo, reverb, or other issues can make it hard for the audience to hear the musicians clearly and can negatively impact the overall listening experience.

Additionally, playing in bad acoustics can also be hard on the musician's ears. The poor sound quality can be hard on the ears and can make it difficult for the musician to hear the accurate pitch of the notes being played. This can make it difficult for the musician to practice and improve their skills.

Furthermore, playing in bad acoustics can also be frustrating for the musician because it can make it difficult to achieve the desired sound and tone. The musician may have to make adjustments to their playing style or equipment in order to compensate for the poor acoustics, which can be frustrating and time-consuming.

In conclusion, playing in bad acoustics can be a major source of frustration for guitar players. It can make it difficult for the musician to hear themselves and other instruments, make it difficult for the audience to hear the performance, be hard on the musician's ears, and make it difficult to achieve the desired sound and tone. Therefore, playing in good acoustics is crucial for an enjoyable and accurate performance.

7. Inconsistent guitar setups

Inconsistent guitar setups can be a major source of frustration for guitar players. A guitar setup refers to the adjustments made to a guitar to ensure that it plays and sounds correctly. These adjustments can include things like the action, intonation, and pickups.

One of the biggest problems caused by inconsistent guitar setups is that it can make it difficult for the musician to play the guitar. An inconsistent setup can mean that the action of the guitar is too high or too low, which can make it difficult for the musician to press down on the strings and play accurately. This can negatively impact the overall sound of the performance and can make it difficult for the musician to achieve the desired tone.

Another issue that can arise from inconsistent guitar setups is that it can negatively impact the musician's technique. An inconsistent setup can mean that the intonation of the guitar is off, which can cause the musician to adjust their playing technique in order to play in tune. This can negatively impact the musician's overall technique and can make it difficult for them to improve their skills.

Additionally, inconsistent guitar setups can also be frustrating because they can make it difficult to achieve the desired sound and tone. The musician may have to make adjustments to their playing style or equipment in order to compensate for the inconsistent setup, which can be frustrating and time-consuming.

Moreover, Inconsistent guitar setups can also lead to equipment failure, such as string breakage, poor intonation, and fret buzz.

In conclusion, inconsistent guitar setups can be a major source of frustration for guitar players. They can make it difficult for the musician to play the guitar, negatively impact the musician's technique, make it difficult to achieve the desired sound and tone and lead to equipment failure.

8. Playing with untrained musicians

Playing with untrained musicians can be a major source of frustration for guitar players. Untrained musicians refer to those who may not have the same level of skill or experience as the guitar player, and may not have the same understanding of music theory, timing, or other important aspects of playing music.

One of the biggest problems caused by playing with untrained musicians is that it can make it difficult for the musician to play in time with the other instruments. Untrained musicians may not have the same sense of timing or rhythm as the guitar player, which can make it difficult for the musician to play in time with the other instruments and can negatively impact the overall sound of the performance.

Another issue that can arise from playing with untrained musicians is that it can make it difficult for the musician to achieve the desired tone. Untrained musicians may not have the same understanding of music theory or may not be familiar with the same types of equipment, which can make it difficult for the musician to achieve the desired tone and can negatively impact the overall sound of the performance.

Additionally, playing with untrained musicians can also be frustrating for the musician because it can make it difficult to communicate effectively. The musician may have to spend more time explaining basic concepts or making adjustments, which can be frustrating and time-consuming.

9. Not being able to hear oneself over other instruments

Guitar players can often find it frustrating when other musicians play too loud during a performance. Playing too loud can refer to any musician playing their instrument at a volume that is excessively loud or overpowering compared to the other musicians.

One of the biggest problems caused by playing too loud is that it can make it difficult for the musician to hear themselves and other instruments. Excessive volume can make it hard for the musician to hear their own playing and can make it difficult for them to play in time with the other instruments. This can negatively impact the overall sound of the performance and can make it difficult for the musician to achieve the desired tone.

Another issue that can arise from playing too loud is that it can make it difficult for the audience to hear the performance. Excessive volume can make it hard for the audience to hear the musicians clearly and can negatively impact the overall listening experience.

Additionally, playing too loud can also be hard on the musician's ears. The excessive volume can be hard on the ears and can make it difficult for the musician to hear the accurate pitch of the notes being played. This can make it difficult for the musician to practice and improve their skills.

Furthermore, playing too loud can also be frustrating for the musician because it can make it difficult to achieve the desired sound and tone. The musician may have to make adjustments to their playing style or equipment in order to compensate for the excessive volume, which can be frustrating and time-consuming.

10. Playing with poor technique or posture.

Playing guitar with poor technique or posture can have a number of downsides for guitar players. Poor technique refers to playing guitar in a way that is not efficient, accurate or effective, while poor posture refers to playing guitar in a way that is not comfortable, safe or healthy for the body.

One of the biggest downsides of playing guitar with poor technique is that it can make it difficult for the musician to play the guitar accurately. Poor technique can lead to inaccurate finger placement, bad timing, and other issues that can negatively impact the overall sound of the performance and make it difficult for the musician to achieve the desired tone.

Another downside of playing guitar with poor technique is that it can negatively impact the musician's overall technique. Poor technique can lead to bad habits that can be hard to break, and can make it difficult for the musician to improve their skills.

Additionally, playing guitar with poor posture can also be frustrating because it can cause physical discomfort or even injury. Poor posture can lead to issues such as hand or wrist pain, muscle strain, and back pain. This can make it difficult for the musician to play for extended periods of time and can negatively impact their overall performance.

Furthermore, playing guitar with poor technique or posture can also make it difficult for the musician to achieve the desired sound and tone. The musician may have to make adjustments to their playing style or equipment in order to compensate for the poor technique or posture, which can be frustrating and time-consuming.

Jeff Young 12/9/21 Jeff Young 12/9/21

Jam at Ge0ph’s (Jeff’s)

December 30th, jam session at my place. No need to bring any equipment. All equipment will be provided, just bring yourself. Bring your own refreshments and snacks. This day was chosen because Trailer Park Rebels will be playing in town the next night, New Year's Eve.

Facebook Event

Jeff Young 6/21/21 Jeff Young 6/21/21

Steampunk

I’m working on my next project. It is called “Steampunk” and will include new songs written by me and some covers too. The goal is to have this done by the end of 2021. New material will be released as the project progresses.

Some cover songs are already done. Such as “Ih-Ah! - Devin Townsend” and “Heroes - David Bowie”.

All songs will be added to my YouTube channel as they are completed.

Jeff Young 4/6/20 Jeff Young 4/6/20