Ridiculous Guitar Myths Debunked.

[@WkndWarriorGTR]

The myth that you should start learning on an acoustic before electric or vice versa is one I've heard before.

[@Resonance195]

Honestly I think starting on acoustic is good idea, because the strings are much thicker it is easier to play and press down on the electric after you are used to the acoustic's strings, that's what I did, but it isn't necessary by any means.

[@ehsanhaq155]

There is absolutely no rule to any of this. But i am one of those folks who advocate learning acoustic before electric and I will die on that hill. 20+ years in, I can look back and see that the people who went from acoustic to electric climbed much quicker. I personally dont think I would be where I am today as an intermediate without the acoustic guitar. My picking has seen massive benefits and my main picking technique is hybrid picking which allows me to be more expressive and navigate the guitar with greater ease compared to others relying solely on the picks or fingers, and I attribute this solely to the acoustic. Is this the best way? I don't know. Do i recommend it? Yes Is all this my personal opinion and thus unapplicable to one and all? Absolutely. What matters the most is fun and progress.. Have a good one folks.

[@noodle845]

Never understood why anybody wants to sound exactly like someone else. I'd rather be shitty old me rather than a poor mans version of someone else!

[@christiancordaway2181]

Hell yea

[@klepetar]

i have a EHV strat project that looks very close to the one eddie used on the first album.. i cannot play anything he plays.. i just use it to play some hard rock stuff.

[@rubbabubba6489]

Right on, been casually playing 40 years and I still don't know many songs. Lots of pieces tho!

[@AnthonySforza]

Admittedly, I think it may be in reference to playing songs we all know and love, but in a way that it sounds right.

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

I got a new amp recently, and my son came in and said “Why do you buy new stuff if you always dial it in and sound the same?” I thought “Yes! I have arrived at ‘my sound’.” Lol.

[@skinnygumbo9555]

Myth: you can have too many guitars

[@jonduke3919]

NEVER!😂😂😂😂

[@philbergeron5306]

12 and counting

[@MichaelSheaAudio]

You can absolutely have too many. I've had more guitars than I do now, and even now I'm thinking that I don't need them all. I've got two in standard tuning and really I'd be fine with just one. 😅

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

I need a Rickenbacker. Sighhhh

[@MrPhotonjockey]

I’ve got about 20 and it’s time to pare that down.

[@Artymofo13]

I debunk the expensive gear myth. I own a bunch of expensive gear and still suck.

[@michaelmele4888]

Thanks for the laugh.

[@thesjkexperience]

But I’ll bet you have great tone! 😊

[@Johnnynbk]

Forgot "Playing the guitar will get you chicks"

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Needs to be corrected slightly to "will keep".

[@ChockHolocaust]

One of the biggest myths in the guitar world, is that vintage guitars are somehow magic and nothing else can sound like them. We all know the usual suspects: '62 Strat, '59 Les Paul etc. Now I'm not saying it isn't nice to have one of those things, but if anyone imagines that instead of practicing for a long time and pushing yourself to be creative until you get good, that simply having the same guitar as one your fave guitarists, is going to make you sound brilliant and come up with the next Whole Lotta Love, they are in for one hell of a disappointment. And why would you want to sound like someone else anyway, when they've already been there and done that? Do your own thing! Another guitar myth, which always makes me laugh, is that all ceramic magnet pick ups are bad and need to be replaced. It is true that ceramic magnets are cheaper than other magnetic materials, which is why you often find them used in the pick ups on budget guitars, but what people forget, is that cheap and nasty guitar pickups, are usually cheap and nasty because they have far less winds of inferior wire on the pick up bobbin in order to to save on production costs. It's this combination of cost cutting on ALL the materials in a cheap pickup which can make them sound harsh. Alnico, Cunife and other 'fancier' pick up magnet materials do not produce some kind of magical high quality magnetism; magnetism is magnetism, so if a pick up is designed to utilise and compliment the strength of the materials and magnetic field that combination produces - whatever that material may be - then it will sound good. Repeat after me... Alnico 5, is not magic.

[@acarson8794]

this :)

[@KurtTischer]

Okay, I know I'm probably gonna catch a lot of flak for this, but if you want a dark tone, you gotta use a black guitar. For those red hott lixx, you need a red guitar. If you play the blues, well, you can see where I'm goin' here. Pick the right color guitar to color your sound and you just can't go wrong.

[@MrJacobThrall]

If you're covering Mr. Jones, you need a grey guitar. Got you.

[@JeremyAndersonBoise]

You’re over here playing chess while the rest of us are playing checkers, my man!

[@Rummy73]

True. I only play green guitars because I am into money.

[@shakebabyhitler]

Yeah, this one is actually true.

[@acarson8794]

excellent 😄

[@tigranayvazyan5974]

Another myth: Thick(er) gauge strings for big(er) sound

[@Lord_Raptor]

I wouldn't say "bigger" sound, but string gauge does have an effect on tone. Especially the low end. I mainly play 7 strings, now and I always used 10s (59-10) I decided to experiment with a lighter gauge to see if I preferred the feel...So I used 54-9...while I did end up liking the feel better, I did notice a lot of low end cut and the chunkyness wasn't quite the same, so I switched back. Now, going from 59 to 54 is a drastic change, but even when I went from 48-10 to 46-10 on my 6 string, I noticed a low end dropout. But, don't take it from me. I encourage people to test it for themselves. 🤘🤘

[@christiancordaway2181]

I jelq my strings

[@bkmeahan]

@@Lord_Raptor A lot of that difference is in how you play. When I switched from 10s to 8s (7s on my 25.5 scale) It took me a good 6 months to get used to using a lighter touch and not fretting everything sharp, especially on the lower end. Once I got used to it not only was the "big tone" still there, my dynamics got better.

[@MikeG691]

Stevie Ray played 12s

[@RoadkillPinata]

@@MikeG691 Only because they lasted longer and he thought they held tune better.

[@Jamjam1256]

I heartily disagree with the idea people are not born with the talent or ability to learn and play guitar at a high level. That’s exactly why people have different skill levels at things like instruments or sports. Some people, just at a genetic level will be able to process the information to learn the guitar more easily than others. That’s how you get child prodigies. If you do a scientific study and have one hundred people learn to play the guitar for exactly the same amount of time per day, each will be at a different level of skill by the end of those practice sessions. It’s ludicrous to say there’s no such thing as natural talent.

[@seanmiller7889]

I completely agree with this one. I heard an interviewer ask Alex VH when he knew Eddie was a Virtuoso, the answer was very young. I'm not saying that talented players don't work hard but there are some that are born to excel in certain disciplines. I could have practiced right out of the womb 18 hours a day and I would never achieve Malmsteen or Gilbert status. I was born to suck at guitar. But I'm Scottish and stuborn.

[@Jamjam1256]

@@seanmiller7889 I hear you. I’m in my mid 40’s now, and have been playing guitar on and off since I was about 16, and my skill level is around beginner to intermediate level of playing. I’ve just never had the desire, love, and passion to want to take the hours upon hours of practice needed to be even a proficient player.

[@MichaelSheaAudio]

Right, some people are just better at certain things than others. Some people pick things up very quickly and can do what took you 20 years to accomplish in 2. It just be like that. The issue is that people throw around the word talented for everyone who's good at something, which is of course not remotely true.

[@michaelkarlsson5966]

yes, I agree BUT talent or disposition alone doesn't get you anywhere. Practise is a must, work ethics too.

[@rickdixontn]

Born with talent is not a myth. Great guitar players are those born with talent, who work hard at their craft. No talent and dedication (me), can produce someone who can play the guitar ok, but will never be a great player. Hard work and dedication by itself is no substitute for talent in any skilled profession.

[@liamguitars]

said by a man who could have practiced more.

[@MickH60]

I agree 100%, some people have a natural affinity to do anything, some have it to do one thing, but having "it" is a major advantage, you've only have to have taught a few people to know this.....

[@MickH60]

@@liamguitars That's an assumption and a pretty stup1d comment...

[@michaelkarlsson5966]

so, let's say I have a talent for language. I learn language pretty fast but I have to practise and dedicate myself to become reasonably good. Same thing?

[@thesjkexperience]

Unfortunately, I agree, but, lack of talent hasn’t stopped thousands from making millions with their music. ❤. Maybe better to say born with potential.

[@LewisShieldsUS]

Gear - the wallet way Skill - the hands way Tone - the Steinway

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

When I was a kid, I entered a contest to win a Steinway baby grand. It occured to me after mailing the entry that I lived in a mobile home and couldn’t get the thing through the door even if I won😂

[@MikeG691]

Frank Sinatra... I did it my way.

[@WutipongWongsakuldej]

And she is buying a Steinway ….. to heaven~

[@thesjkexperience]

Thanks 😊

[@gilguisler2215]

Myth. 20 watt heads aren’t loud enough to keep up with a loud drummer. I play a Friedman Dirty Shirley Mini and a Friedman JEL 20. I rarely get the master past 3 when I’m playing bar or club gigs. When I put the master at 5 it’s seriously loud. If your drummer is playing over you when the amp is that loud, you better be playing some kind of concert venue where the owners don’t care about volume (which let’s be honest, how many of us really get to play those kinds of places.) I also think people confuse stage volume to what people in the audience are hearing. I’ve played many gigs where I couldn’t hear myself that good but the crowd heard me fine. One final note, if your drummer is playing over you with a 20 watt head, you have a drummer problem, not an amp problem. Just my .02

[@jerrymckenzie1858]

Who needs 20 watts? My Marshall SV20 on the 5 watt setting is painfully loud haha.

[@conjob2112]

Truth!

[@guithawk-ij8is]

That was a very good tip for small stubby fingers. I majored in classical guitar, and I had to do some gymnastics to reach certain chord voicings. I developed my finger strength so I could do some voicings without using my thumb at all. Developed tendinitis and had to sit out a semester, but I did eventually graduate. These days I just re-voice chords so they are easier to reach for me. Been playing almost 50 years and I haven't had any wrist problems since college.

[@Rummy73]

As a person who techs, one does not need expensive gear. However, getting some inexpensive/budget gear up to snuff can be a money pit. Common issues I have seen include: a poorly cut nut, uneven frets, cheap tuners, lack of shielding, bad wiring, anemic-sounding pickups, etc. These can add up to fix or replace. They can also be barriers to a new guitarist, who could get discouraged. Having to fight an instrument is generally not a positive thing. My advice is to wait to get a better instrument or to shop used.

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

I agree. On the flip side, some dudes enjoy modding or learning repairs, etc. That can be kind of a hobby itself.

[@stratdx]

I must debunk your debunkment: I play way better on expensive gear… no, wait, I FEEL better playing expensive gear… no, wait, I don’t actually feel that good at all. Please disregard.

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

HA!

[@jeffbaker5038]

You need to do a tribute to John Sykes. What an incredible talent.

[@64siskat96]

i think he did a small one in his livestream but i agree a video would be cool RIP legend

[@markr.devereux3385]

John Sykes well technically shredding like a beast at 20 yrs old and at a time when few were doing it shows a inborn talent imo. I can't say much about his quality output but it looks above average and only with y.t. have I seen any in depth interviews. maybe a book or memior would be in order.

[@GuitarQuackery]

When I was little, believed the myth that putting more winds of string on the tuning posts will increases sustain.

[@Eelbackwards]

I literally had next to nobody to provide me direction when I began playing guitar. My Dad's 60s Decca neck had action that was incredibly high from the fretboard. Equally, my first electric was a 60s Silvertone which only had 18 frets preventing the use of some notes. Years later, the day I got my first Les Paul was a very big deal! Having better equipment or having your equipment professionally set up, is a must. Not only that but taking care of instruments like an acoustic is ongoing oil for the neck, humidity for the top and body. Gear doesn't take care of itself, the player does. Myths aside, the best advice I can recommend is: play with as many people as possible. One may show you a different way or playing or doing something that you may not learn on your own. And playing with others exposes you to all kinds of different styles of music which will add to your growth and development as a player. Thanks Robert. Rock On brother!

[@GUNFREAK2000]

Love that NORAH RIFF!! I teach my students the number one rule is “there are NO rules in music”

[@tomusic8887]

I am bad at keeping time that is a rule you might want to obey its very useful also in tune in key.....your music will get very messy if you ditch them, we need to learn skills and then let loose not the other way around

[@Koffieleuter]

I love playing Van Halen on my 40th anniversary Squier Jazzmaster 😃

[@Artefracture]

The 40th Anniversary JMs are fantastic.

[@mikestillwagon5675]

Strats (in their stock configuration) are not wired out of phase in positions 2 and 4.

[@jmwise80]

Really enjoyed the playing. Wish I could have heard the rest of those ideas.

[@MaxCrush99]

Yes, dedication is paramount to your development and achieving personal goals. Attitude is everything of course. That said, "god given talent" is a thing too. An example of tone coming from the hands is when you adjust your technique to improve clarity while playing electric guitar thru an amplifier by using more upstrokes to accentuate the higher frequencies of chords. Another myth happens when popular KZbin guitar channels, created by people with no credibility, are constantly presenting misinformation. Not you though man, you Rock!

[@joosboer1030]

While expensive does not a good guitar make, a good guitar does help make a good player. I once met a veteran musician when I was starting out and what he said stuck with me. He said “You’ve heard a bad workman always blames his tools but, it’s also true that a good workman has good tools.” And I reckon he’s right. How much easier it is to play well and sound good with good instruments and amps.

[@paulbyrne6062]

myth : tonewood I would be willing to accept that different body materials could cause a different frequency response spectrum while a string vibrates, but any impact on tone is immensely overshadowed by choice of string / pickup / pick / player / amp / EQ / the room / pedals. the list goes on. its silly to say material A = bright sound, material B = warm sound.

[@MrJacobThrall]

Completely. The pickup is not a microphone that's detecting the wood's resonance, it's just detecting the vibration of the string as it interferes with the pickup's magnetic field. So, for the wood to make a difference, it _must_ be due to any damping effect it has on the resonance of the string that's stretched across it (and any sympathetic vibration that might possibly be present in the pickup that's screwed to it, but that's always going to be negligible in a solid body guitar). The difference between the performance of various woods in this regard is simply too small to be detected by a human ear.

[@MrFingersofdoom]

@@MrJacobThrall @paulbyrne6062 Yes. Thanks to both of you. Hopefully, we can finally put this myth to rest. "Tonewood" is only relevant when it comes to acoustic instruments that are built with a resonance chamber. The resonance of a solid body guitar has little to no effect. Compare the thicknesses between the top, back and sides of your typical dreadnought as opposed to the thick slab of a Tele body! Both use similar materials, but serve different purposes. Who uses swamp ash for acoustic guitar tops? No one.

[@danafooteable]

You beat me to it. Wood feels different against your body. No sound difference.

[@MrJacobThrall]

​@@danafooteable Indeed. And the difference in feel may influence the player, and therefore the style of their playing - and maybe the settings they therefore dial in because of what suits their playing - but that's very different from the concept of tonewood! Fingerboards feel different from each other too, so it's very easy to be kidded into thinking they have specific tonal qualities. I know that the feel of a rosewood fingerboard under my fingertips is different to that of maple - whether that's to do with grain density, friction coefficients, thermal conductivity or anything else - but I know damn well that frets are metal and bridge saddles are metal, and that's ultimately what the metal string is stretched across! The way my hands move across the wood will be influenced by the feel of that wood, and so I could well be kidded into thinking that "maple has a tighter, more staccato sound" or "rosewood sounds richer, warmer..." As far as I'm concerned though, that's because rosewood seems to feel nicer (to me and my particular fingers, anyway), so my hands slide around it more fluidly: my playing is more legato because that feels more appropriate to the feel of the instrument. So, softer, warmer sounds from a rosewood board. But that's because it's _me_ that's playing that way - the guitar isn't doing it for me.

[@andrew6889-p5c]

100% correct. Where wood matters is weight. Way nicer to play a 7lb guitar than a 9lb beast.

[@ScottMacLeodCompany]

You need to start on a cheap acoustic. Don’t waste your money. You might not stick with it.

[@SamMusca]

Hi mate, have been following you for a while and decided to subscribe. I like your channel and your commentary especially about sounding like someone else. I’m in the band The Australian Santana Experience here in Perth Western Australia. I grew up with his music (I’m now 64…. Will You still need me will you still feed me etc… haha) although I use a Santana PRS and a Mesa boogie I will never sound exactly like him and I’m glad I don’t instead I use his influence to make me a better player overall. Yes, I can play all the Santana classics but not note for note and that is a good thing, it’s then me playing a Santana tune, my way as a homage to him. I also grew up with Duane Allman, Dicky Bets, Clapton, Beck ad infintum. Love your channel. Thanks , keep em coming. Sam Perth Western Australia🎸

[@ianmartens5286]

the whole born with talent thing is different than work ethic. I'm a guitar teacher as well and i've seen tons of different students over the years and some just naturally get music quicker than others. people are gifted differently at birth. that doesn't mean that you can't excel at guitar if you're not musical, it just means that you have to work harder than the naturally gifted person. also, often the musical people are maybe more motivated to practice more because it's easier and therefore more fun and it just snowballs from there. Musical people still work hard, they just progress faster than others.

[@donanders2110]

Exactly it is no different than athletic ability. Not everyone can be an NFL quarterback no matter how hard they work.

[@digitalpracticeroom409]

myth: fingerings = modes. The pitch inventory and the fingering belong to a set of modes, the one you are playing has to do with how you build tension and release and when present, the harmonic rhythm. For instance, you can play a minor pentatonic a half step away from the root of the chord and you get M7,altered sounds. a m3rd away and the minor third in the fingering is a b5 against the chord which clashes with the P5 in the chord for Phrygian, #11 sound.

[@grogueQ]

Ted Nugent was touring with Van Halen way back in the day, and he asked Eddie if he could check out his rig. He was thinking, "oh I wonder what kind of magical stuff he's got". He said when he played Ed's guitar he didn't sound anything like Ed.

[@robertthomas906]

That you need to get big thick calluses on your fingers to play acoustic guitar. Lower action and lighter gauge strings will work just as well. Also that only a Gibson is good enough. It`s more like if it`s a Gibson you can be sure you`re wasting your money.

[@graysongerni]

You spend $50 on lights?! My impression working in film full time is that the price of media gear puts the price of audio gear to shame.

[@friendofbeaver6636]

I'm a self-taught hobbyist. I've played for over 50 years. I have 7 guitars, various cheap keyboards and percussion instruments. My twenty=year=old $99 Samick ST-06 still challenges me every time I pick it up!

[@user-no1cares]

Not in the hands? Slides, Hammer ons, Pull offs, Vibrato & Bends, even Timing, are a product of skill & feel. Tone is in the hands.

[@sheahargett356]

When I think tone I think of the “sound” of the guitar and amp. The things you’re referring to I think if as technique. Of course excellent technique will sound better. I think that’s what Robert is saying.

[@hkt48man57]

Golf and guitar playing are similar in that if you have good gear (expensive amps, guitars, clubs, cables, balls, etc.) you won't have to practice as much to play/sound great.

[@leviathan_is_me]

"Every guitarist needs a ___ in their collection." No. I hear this mainly about teles. I don't like teles, myself. I don't like the feel, the way they play, not a fan of the sound (when I play them), etc. I don't think any player needs any specific guitar. Luckily, the myth of "only ___ can play ___." i.e. teles and country, or SGs and rock, is mainly dead and gone.

[@mattjackson7859]

I agree. I have a tele, it’s awesome. I really like the bridge it’s very comfortable for where I place my picking hand and my playing style/ technique. Les Pauls look great and sound great and when I try them I can’t stand how high the bridge is and I don’t enjoy them. You need guitars in your collection that feel great the moment you play them not guitars that you have to adapt to.🎸

[@MrJacobThrall]

No idea where my comment has gone, so sorry if everyone else can see it and this duplicates it, but yeah - totally agree. I went guitar shopping and really thought I'd get a Tele - even found one I thought I'd buy - but the second I played a Les Paul, I knew that was right. It was like it was playing me. There was no knack to sounding how I wanted to sound. No matter how much I wanted to want a Tele, the LP just felt perfect in my hands.

[@doak1851]

I must admit, I’ve purchased every pedal and signature guitar and amp. I still don’t sound like Mr. Van Halen. However, I enjoy playing and sounding like… well, myself. Great video🤙🏻

[@willdenham]

I didn't think that people actually believed a signature guitar would make them play like that guitarist.

[@tahoemike5828]

The one thing I can't seem to get my hands to do is that Jimi style thumb over the top barre chord thing. I can, and do use it as a mute to control the low E, but getting that last little bit over the top to actually fret the string, and still have any agility with the rest of my hand is still just out of reach.

[@mookiewilson6783]

30 years playing ...same here my friend.... learn to mute the A string (taking the 5th out of the chord) other then that randy roades had small hands too

[@TheBdriver]

As smaller hands I have a very difficult time doing anything related to Hendrix thumb over the top of the board thing. Just can't do it

[@charlesb7831]

The whole " Tone is in the hands " , prime example.....SRV, hands down, Eric Johnson etc.

[@patrickdufresne8485]

NOT a myth: string tree/retainers look fkn nasty on any guitar over $135.

[@Innerspace100]

Correct. It's an opinion.

[@michaelkarlsson5966]

"A strat sounds better tuned down to Eb - proof is Hendrix and SRV". That is such a silly myth because 1) how many extremely great and awesome sounding strat players are there that DON'T tune down to Eb? 2) does it actually sound better? How will judge that? What is "better"? Maybe it would sound fantastic tuned up to F#?

[@josephpessano]

Myth - when doing a string change do not cut the strings off without detuning first. Doing this will damage the guitar because it’s not good for the guitar to lose all of that tension. If this was true, then every time someone does a dive bomb with their trem, their guitar should be damaged. I can say after having done my fair share of dive bombs, my guitars still work great

[@MilesTippett]

Feel and attack are in the hands... EQ curves are not affected.

[@reno145]

On the topic of not sounding like someone if you buy their signature gear, I agree. Hundreds of thousands of guitars sold and nobody sounds like Les Paul. :)

[@cer_ruzz]

My myth is, that you have to block the Floyd every time you remove the strings or else the edge of the blades will be damaged. By that logic, you're not allowed to use the Floyd at all because it will damage the edge of the blades... No vibrato, no dive bombs, no flutter. Just block that damn thing and never touch it again.

[@chinatosinthiti3076]

Adding my thoughts on the talent point: instead of being born with talent, I think there is a strong natural attraction to the activity, a natural variation on how long can you sustain your attention on the interest, how much patience you have for that activity even beyond honeymoon or new guitar phases, how are you still drawn to guitars after something difficult has happened in your life or to your music endeavors, heck they can be intrusive when my mind's supposed to focus on adult responsibilities too. This is something you can't just learn or copy from someone else.

[@rickdixontn]

Tone is in the hands is not a myth. Steve Lukather once said that he and Eddie Van Halen swapped guitars. He said the result was Eddie sounded like Eddie playing Steve's guitar and Steve sounded like himself playing Eddie's guitar. A simple G chord is not the test. The way a player picks, strums, attacks, etc. the guitar creates the "tone." I would say your gear creates the sound, your playing style creates the "tone."

[@RoadkillPinata]

Yet, any really dedicated, studios guitarist can sound like anyone else, it's all technique and head space.

[@MickH60]

@@RoadkillPinata No they can't, everyone has little idiosyncrasies that can be almost impossible to replicate, just look at how many ways people hold their picks for a start...

[@RoadkillPinata]

@@MickH60 They can still, identifiably, sound like another guitarist if they put in enough time and effort. And, guess what? Some guitarists can't even sound like themselves album to album and/or studio to live performance.

[@nataliebeach6148]

As far as tone being in the hands, the difference is because of all the little things you tried to control for. You know, the differences in how we each use our hands.

[@SisyphusGuitar]

Better tone on single-note bluesy lines can be achieved by picking more like Eric Johnson. Eric often uses a sort of bouncing movement of his picking hand. Imagine making a loose fist and knocking on a door. Now exaggerate that knocking motion. Hook slightly under the string with a quick downward flick, then bounce your hand a little farther back out. Softer touch, better tone.

[@jamesmarkham7489]

If tonewood exists. Then the lack of wood also affects tone. Correct? So the inlays have an effect on tone. Size material and other factors all affect tone.

[@michaelcottle6270]

Myth: Heavier strings = better tone

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Smart repair techs: just turn up your amp.

[@profileproductions4462]

TONE IS IN THE EARS, TECHNIQUE IS IN THE HANDS

[@Stands-In-The-Fire]

I have relatively big hands, and I play bass and guitar. I mean, neither particularly seriously at this point, but I do play em. And bass has *always* been easier for me to get around on, as dealing with the little ittybitty 6-string spacings can be tough sometimes. Big hands for some folks and to some extent may be a help, I'll grant people that, but it can also be a hindrance.

[@shanemeehan5683]

Myth. A guitar with a maple fretboard has a bright sound and has a warmer sound with a rosewood fretboard.

[@philoshaughnessy906]

Some guitarists have small hands and some of us have hamster paws. Go figure

[@keithowens2554]

I think G2 was a little heavy on the low E string. Compared to G1

[@dw7704]

Your hands do matter, and what you do with them, how you use them is important So tone is in the hands/fingers, but it’s also in all other parts of the equation-starting with your mood and your brain, heart and soul.

[@jeffreyhutchins6527]

Not born with talent ? How do you explain a 6yr old playing better than a person that has been playing for 4 times as long as the 6yr old has been alive.

[@2livedrew337]

I agree with you to a degree because people certainly have a genetic predilection towards specific things. However, a regimented practice schedule coupled with solid direction (e.g. a good teacher), and a passion to get better goes a looooong way. I feel like that goes with anything. I definitely feel like some skill sets come more naturally than others, but if you want it bad enough, you’ll make significant improvements and progress. This is only my personal opinion though.

[@markmoriarty7388]

@jefferyhutchins6527. MOZART

[@donanders2110]

Exactly!! It is no different than athletic ability. Not everyone can be an NFL quarterback no matter how hard they train. Music is no different. I do not know why talented people get so defensive. I play in a cover band every weekend and I wish someone thought I had “born with talent” 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@MrJacobThrall]

Well, OK, but it's partly because of greater neuroplasticity in the critical learning period: young kids pick things up quicker because of their malleable minds. If you grow up speaking three or four languages as a kid, for example, you'll almost definitely speak them more fluently, more instinctively than someone who starts learning them later in life.

[@michaelkarlsson5966]

kids in general pick up easier and faster because their brains aren't "stuck" yet. Fo example language. It's easier to learn a language when you are younger than 20 years old. Must be the same learning an instrument. I wouldn't say there is no such thing as talent because there is talent but it's also PRACTISE and structured work ethics.

[@Psichlo1]

Agree with just about everything on the list. However, I think that there is a such thing as "natural talent". not in the way people think. It's like being mechanically inclined or having a knack for computer programming. Some people have a natural inclination to understand and pick up things quicker. That's not to say that if you put in the work they will always be better, but somethings come easier for some people, all things being equal.

[@k2rocksstl]

Ridiculous: slamming a Les Paul bridge gives better sustain. It's minimal at best. You have pickups. There's your sustain. Figure it out without overdrive. THEN want to add locking tuners so they don't have to wind strings. Which ACTUALLY adds mass to the headstock area.

[@brianm.9062]

gear, if a guitar feels good its yours, I have played a lot of expensive planks and my Hondo humming bird has a fantastic sound, the neck is a cheese cutter, so just stay down the bottom. love what you have. great vid.

[@OutontheRanchwithDrLee-xb4lo]

The guys on the Dr.Z forum refer to my friend Buddy Whittington's fingers as "Tone Sausages!" He's one of the greatest guitarists imho, with hands similar to your dad's. You just have to learn to use what God gave you!

[@howardcoleman4748]

Thanks I'm glad you said that about born with talent you have to work hard study and mostly you don't have to play many notes to sound great

[@weets69]

You are a naturally gifted guitarist. Oops. Add this before watching the full vid🤘😎 The greats don’t practice that much anymore.

[@denverrandy7143]

Gorgeous intro!!! Beautiful lil jazzy number.🤙

[@The..Butterfly..Effect]

Great video - Must admit that sometimes cheap equipment sounds better than expensive equipment. And I'm not referring to the brand, I'm referring to the material.

[@CharadesIntheWestLoby]

Myth: Name on the head stock is what truly matters.

[@terrellgruber]

Most all of us started with not so good equipment. A killer video for you would be to show beginners how to sound Like EVH on Squire Teles and Strats!!!! I started on a Stella 6 string like thousands of beginners in 64

[@jerrymckenzie1858]

I agree that talent must be combined with hard work. Alex Van Halen acknowledges in his book that Ed had superior natural talent and also played his guitar obsessively. I also have known players that have worked hard and just don't have it. My 2 cents.

[@Chuck-Bob]

Segovia had stubby, fat little fingers. Segovia.

[@benpowersguitar]

Great video Robert. Good stuff.

[@kinflow]

Please debunk the myth on string gauge. Light strings sound just as good as other gauges. Just ask the rev. Billy Gibbons.

[@DropkickJimmy]

all of these resonate with me lol i got a Jiva 10 but cant match Nitas runs. My £300 7 string gets played WAY more than my jiva 10. When trying to play along with Nitas runs, they could not sound any more different but playing along with riffs/chords is negligible differences. I wasnt born with talent, or money or much of anything tbh. its been many years of training and graft. Several years were without a guitar because i had to sell them to live so id practice with friends guitars as often as possible. Big hands can deffo be a hinderence, i have big hands which yes they can be useful because i can do some strange things with chords but on the opposite side of that coin, even basic chords can be trouble because i accidentally mute strings in places.

[@rinkydinky-ob9pe]

Come away with me anniversary edition is my go to holiday album, love it 🥰

[@josephmatlockjr7005]

The biggest myth I get sick of hearing: Guitar has to be a lifetime learning process and there are no, "short cuts." Can it be a lifetime of learning? Sure. Does it have to be? No. "Short cuts," is the wrong phrase. Most people are just looking for a focused path towards a specific goal, and that's what they really want. Some want to, "learn it all," but most want to learn only what they need to reach their first big goal. They might turn to a lifetime of learning and adding to that afterwards. The person who can lay out direct paths for the various guitar careers stands to be that better-mouse-trap guy. Almost no one is willing to do it.

[@RaccoonHenry]

the worse version of "born with talent" is "god gave you the talent". it always infuriates me, so my answer is always no, I work hard to be able to do things. it's all effort and hard work.

[@GuitarQuackery]

My favorite myth is, how much better a guitar sounds with a bone nut. Yeah, man, I can really hear the difference when I play a Cm chord, barred on the 8th fret.

[@jamesc8563]

I’ve had the best luck for tuning stability with a bone nut on Bigsby-equipped guitars, though. Even over Tusq. Your mileage may vary of course.

[@MyScooter57]

Me, my dad, my brother,my daughter, and my granddaughter play. If I would’ve put the work needed to, I probably would’ve been a great player. It is a gift because there is people out there who will never be able to play an instrument. It is a gift, but you have to work hard at it. Instead of partying your life away, which is what I did. Now I’m old but, I play every day.😊

[@ronaldgeary4649]

Another myth: "Guitar is easier than Keyboard." I started out as a Keyboardist. Learned Guitar to understand the guitarist in the band. Trust me, Guitar is the easiest instrument to play that will kick your ass. It's easy to play an Arpeggio run up and down the Keyboard without even thinking. Try that on guitar without breaking into a sweat... 🤣🤣🤣

[@GuitarQuackery]

Here's a good one that one of my customers believed, in his drunken teenage years. It's better if I tell the story of the repair. So, he brought to me a Gibson Les Paul with a broken headstock that had previously been repaired - but badly, so he wanted me to fix it. How the headstock broke to begin with is hilarious. You really can't make that $#!% up. Basically, one of his buddies told him that the Gibson headstock is so string, that you can literally lay the guitar to the ground and stand on it. So, to check the claim, he did what any other reasonable drunken teenager would do. He laid his Gibson Les Paul onto the ground and stepped on the headstock. Surprise! It snapped.

[@andreasjohansson1990]

The G chords sound different for sure.

[@TedSchoenling]

Talent only goes so far. There is a natural talent that goes to a point.. BUT the work that goes into it to get to that level is so much more than folks realize. Tone is in the hands... tone is not just the the frequencies.. it is note choice, it is vibrato choice, where you pick, how hard you hit, how much pressure you put on the strings. as for my hands... they are short and stubby. I cannot stretch far even with the techniques you mentioned, 3 notes per string is not impossible... but I hate it because the stretch is too much for me and I end up having to slide, so I don't use it. The limitations I have make me make choices in how I play.. a little slower, fewer notes, more deliberate note and phrase choices. things that folks want to do anyways. Besides, when playing with a band you don't need full chords so I play a lot of diads and triads and inversions of them even for solos. makes things sound different

[@stevepelham9010]

Talent will create an fundament practice will make it rise and shine.

[@akaboo69]

Tone is definitely not in your hands I agree. Technique is but yeah

[@undermoonlightglow]

I've seen many young guitar players and piano players, too, on KZbin, who are brilliant.

[@trystensmith819]

Another myth I’ve heard all the time is theory steals the feel in your playing.

[@user-no1cares]

Ignorance of music theory might.

[@robdavis8307]

Articulation is in the hands. Tone is in the gear.

[@Nick-ul2nu]

In some sense you are born with talent but not like people think, some people are more musically inclined which is the proper terminology

[@MrJbinchrist]

Myth: Certain woods sound different with electric guitars. Truth: On classical and acoustic instruments, wood variations can affect tone, but in the world of electrics, your electric gear drives your pallette.

[@yetimatzenightcat8702]

I think that tele sounds fantastic 🔥

[@kevliao]

Do people still think buying signature gear makes them sound just like their hero? I buy it only because I like the specs and the way it looks.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

"Saddles to set action; neck relief for no buzz." Totally WRONG. Frets level to 1st to 12th, then gradually descend in height from 13th to last. With that accomplished, saddles, nut slots, AND neck relief set your string height and 'action'.

[@MackAxyzz]

some people ARE just born with natural talent; most would NEVER reach EVH level no matter how many hours they practice

[@stephanwolff8601]

Do you know that most of the greatest piano players have short fingers? They were told "you never become a good piano player", and some of them started to practice hard!

[@jerrylong4651]

That lick on the squire sounded like james taylor!

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

James Taylor stuff is amazing. I was playing the guitar part from Norah Jones song Don't Know Why

[@kenthhamner2641]

Natural ability is a talent but it must be developed to come to fruition.

[@grantthepilgrim]

Imagine how much better Angus Young would be with big hands 🤣

[@guitarhole]

Myth: Wait 24 hrs. after your guitar is delivered to play. Perhaps not a myth, but I bet no one ever did.