Self-Doubt, Failure, And Why You MUST Keep Going

[@beneunson]

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[@AJ_VLOGS_DAILY]

Chick Corea is my grandfather and I must say I didn't know him very well. My whole life I've had self-doubts in my pursuit of becoming a musician. It's a pretty high bar to live up to. This video was really moving to me. Lately, even though I'm progressing very quickly in music I write and technical proficiency, the imposter syndrome has been kicking my butt. Sometimes I forget that we're all individual in our own sound, and each contribute something new to the world within our pursuit. Thank you for this video.

[@beneunson]

Wow, thank you so much for sharing this. And thank you for watching, I'm so glad you found this to be moving. Don't let the imposter syndrome get you - I believe we have all the resources we need within ourselves, and we're all individual by definition. Keep going, I can't wait to hear what you come up with!

[@aleksik4028]

I think we forget why we started in the first place, joy. Then it becomes, if I just learn technique more, more theory, more jazz, more this and that. And never actually just play what we like. Theres always somebody more faster virtuoso, who can play "anything" like walk in the park. But music isnt about that.

[@aldentokuzato5729]

Holy cow! Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@SkotD93]

i keep fighting

[@beneunson]

Keep on playing 😀

[@jaredwilliams1031]

A based and wholesome message. I salute you, good sir!

[@beneunson]

Thanks Jared, I really appreciate it!

[@ben.reneer]

You’re the Mr. Rogers of musicians :) Thanks for the encouragement, neighbor.

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@HofiAgilAghov]

God bless you Ben. Please make more videos like that. Its not easy to go through this life as a devoted musician. The sacrifice, the struggle, the belief. Its all on the line. We need to encourage each other like you do. And we need to practice more.

[@beneunson]

Thanks Hofi, I'm so glad you enjoyed this video! It is all on the line, and I think we should encourage each other more!

[@guitarcafeguy]

I had self doubt for years when I realized I sounded the same as everyone else in guitar center; noodling the A minor pentatonic and only knowing basic chords. When I started learning theory and challenging songs related to that theory, it gave the boost I needed!

[@beneunson]

Fantastic insight, thanks for watching and thank you for sharing!

[@emanuel5880]

I'm not an advance guitarist at all, but I was struggling and now I'm not, I've came to a great conclusion that I bet it'll help you too. Music is effortless, we may think "I play the guitar" but when you're playing there is no clear distinction between you and the music, you can practice and all that, but when it comes to playing you aren't supposed to do anything, just let the music flow through you.

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for sharing your insight, I really appreciate it!

[@jacobryansr]

This is a very grounding video that’s well put together. Especially considering our rapidity competitive and self-aggrandising society, which rarely invites us to appreciate what we’ve already achieved and have to share with the world. Marvellous work Ben, you’ve earns yourself a subscriber.

[@beneunson]

I really appreciate your insight, thanks so much for watching and subscribing!

[@zThisPlay]

0:56 thats what i keep telling my parents

[@genegoranov5865]

Very lovely, I won't forget you mister..

[@beneunson]

Thanks Gene, I really appreciate it!

[@wack5416]

Ive felt like im in a bit of a creative slump lately, and this really hit close to home

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching, I have dealt with this as well.

[@Xinbaset]

Just in time. Thank you

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@HenryMcGuinnessGuitar]

Some nice points made. I never use the word "creative" any more - the word is so overused that I think we lose touch with the meaning. (same as how these ads between videos talking about "innovation" make me want to sleep) So what are we trying to do as musicians? For me I think of people going about their daily lives, which can get quite boring - but music can make those moments of the day incredibly magical. If I can share a moment like that with people by playing music, I've done something. I guess there's also a sort of intellectual appreciation of music (especially with jazz & classical). And somebody once said to Michael Hedges in one of his gigs "play something different, Michael!" - apparently he went all solemn and said "that's what I've been trying to do my whole life"

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much for sharing this, and what a fantastic story about Michael Hedges... he most definitely succeeded in doing something that hadn't been done before!

[@josephkitchen3059]

Sitting here with my guitar this is a powerful message. Some days I feel content then others.. well.. it’s discouraging. Love your tone BTW. So relaxing….

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching, Joseph!

[@freddylopez7536]

Thank you Ben. Yes I’ve been uncertain lately. I’m a guitarist yes and I’m an old dog who wonders about life and why I’m here. But when I’m feeling my music and loving my guitar playing I’m grateful. Thank you for your very encouraging words. 🎶🙏

[@beneunson]

So glad you enjoyed this, Freddy! Thanks for watching

[@robertnesta1797]

Thank you Mr. Ben.

[@beneunson]

Thank you for watching!

[@AzSamad]

It's nice to hear you speak about this Ben. Thanks for sharing the Chick Corea story too. Wow.

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much for watching, Az!

[@AzSamad]

@@beneunsonyou’re welcome Ben! Always a treat to watch your videos

[@gluonone]

Thank you, Ben. My life has been filled with self-doubt. Almost no one seems to care about my passion for music and guitar. I'm old. But I'm going to keep pushing on. I love playing an instrument and constantly improving. It's all about the journey, I guess. Thank you for the positive message.

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching - don't lose your passion for music, we need as much music as possible! Enjoy the journey and have a great weekend 😀

[@yuungmung]

Thank you. A reminder is needed once in a while that Im the only one who can make MY music

[@beneunson]

Absolutely! Such an important thing to remember

[@RicardoGrilli]

You’re the man Ben! But I’ve known that a long time!

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much, Ricardo! Always appreciate your support and I hope you're doing well!

[@tdang9528]

My mindset of guitar is different from yours, I think of it as a vocalist, a person, and the instrument is a voice or singer. I want to hear that instrument sing and I am the listener. So obviously I want it to sound as beauiful as possible as often as possible. Its really that simple for me, and in doing this it neverr feels like labour and has a tendancy for me think musical rather than scalar or mechanical in my playing. I believe this is a reason why some guitarists give their instrument a female name. Also for this reason, I dont practice when I’m not feeling it and when I feel I’m not sounding good today, I tend to stop and come back later rather than force it

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much for sharing your insight!

[@christopherjones1649]

Everyday I get just a little bit better than I was the day before and I've been playing now for 31 years. The journey never ends and this is something I tell my students all the time. Thanks Ben.

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching and sharing your experience! I really appreciate it

[@EIiasGuitar]

This is great, I always feel like I should play differently because I sound too much like the solos I've learnt, but I sound like me by definition. It also helped to hear Albert king and SRV side to side, they sound quite similar in some cases.

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much for watching, and I completely understand!

[@sebastianacana3210]

thx Really motivating words... I love your music and I respect you as a guitarrist! here from Colombia Latin America I say hi!

[@beneunson]

Thank you Sebastian! So glad you enjoyed it!

[@cx777o]

I have felt a long period of self doubt (almost a year), which now slowly but surely passes. It is much more manageable now. The worst thing for aspiring musicians and the creative act of expression are people who talk others down and think there is only one way to play right. Its frustrating if these people are around you, because you will feel judged. The inner child somehow fears judgement, therefore hindering its playful selfexpression. One act which helps (even though its not easy) is compassion towards those who actively try to hurt other peoples creative expression. They themselves are hurt children, who never somehow got the recognition they wanted, so they continue the cycle. After a while you stop taking them seriously, even though it takes a lot of time.

[@beneunson]

So many great points here, thank you for sharing this insight!

[@anthonythelopez]

thank you so much ben. You are a wonderful teacher. this has really helped me. being a musican is full of these struggles and mind traps though loops.

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much for watching this, Anthony!

[@guyturck2015]

When I get discouraged I try to remind myself that it's my ego getting in the way and that I just have to relax and keep playing and things will work out. But now there's another motivation...the world needs more musicians. I love that. Thanks for sharing Ben :)

[@beneunson]

Absolutely, things will work out! Thank you so much for watching!

[@kaleidoscopeguitar5757]

Great Message!

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much!

[@Howzernn]

Thanks Ben. This was really encouraging to me. The best part about this video is that it's not full of feel-good nonsense; you're actually saying true things.

[@beneunson]

I really appreciate that, I'm so glad you found it to be helpful!

[@michaelgarcia6851]

Thank you!!

[@beneunson]

Thanks for watching!

[@aldentokuzato5729]

Thank you Mr. Eunson. I’m watching via subtitles right now. Will rewatch when I can play the audio. Really appreciate you’re being willing to tread on the psychology of this journey.

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@CommenterFromJupiter]

Beautiful words Ben. Saxophonist Jackie Mclean once posed the question, "What's the purpose of being a great musician if you're not a great person?" I think you, like many great classical and jazz men (and women), fit that description.

[@beneunson]

Fantastic quote, thank you so much! I really appreciate it! 😀

[@garailac]

Thank you Ben! I needed this today

[@beneunson]

So glad you watched this, thank you!

[@kadenkoniszewki2252]

I’ve only been playing jazz for a couple of years. I transferred to a jazz studies program in hopes to get a degree in it. I’m able to transcribe and play difficult solos yet I have trouble improvising my own and it’s very discouraging. Once I get my degree I was thinking of giving up, until I found a record signed by Herb Ellis and Barney Kessel at a flee market. I took it as a sign to keep going, I’m still having trouble with my confidence but I will get through it and so will you all, this video found us for a reason Thank you Ben

[@beneunson]

What a fantastic story, Kaden - I have often looked for signs of my own when I felt similarly. I really appreciate you sharing your insight, thanks for watching!

[@Anthony-ix3rp]

Thank you Ben, some fine words of wisdom. When I take my guitar into a classroom of young children. Several always ask me if they can play my guitar. I always let them, so they can feel the new experience. They might play something for me very simple, but I make sure I praise them.

[@beneunson]

That is fantastic, Anthony! Thank you so much for sharing this

[@michaelstevens8]

Great video as always Ben. Everyone has periods where they Plateau and don't make progress. Especially someone just starting out on Guitar. But it's important to remember that these periods are Temporary. As long as you keep Practicing the Right Things in the Right Way, which depends on your Musical Goals, you will Come Out on the Other Side. Let's also remember the Wise Words of Trumpet/Flugelhorn player and Educator Clark Terry. First you must Imitate. Then you can Emulate. Then you can Innovate. I hope this helps anyone reading it. Thanks.

[@beneunson]

Thanks Michael - that is a fantastic quote from Clark Terry! Very wise and helpful words!

[@peekaydesign451]

Thank you, very timely and great to hear a guitar teacher talking about things that go beyond just learning guitar.

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching, I really appreciate it!

[@tommeloman6969]

The message we all needed to hear ! Thanks so much Ben !!!

[@beneunson]

Thank you for watching, Tom!

[@tommeloman6969]

My pleasure ! Cheers

[@uberjam-sam8512]

Thanks, I need that 😊

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@lipanmesh]

👍 thank you 👍

[@beneunson]

Thank you for watching!

[@lipanmesh]

@@beneunson 👍

[@gregmaslyn]

My first recording session as a band leader is coming up in October -- this couldn't have come at a better time! I'm knee deep in David Becker's amazing book "Getting Your Improvising Into Shape," and while I can feel my mind stretching and growing with the new ideas, those doubts and fears are waiting at every turn to pull me back down. You are a real homie for this video, and I'm gonna go hit that book even harder now!! 😼🎸

[@beneunson]

That's fantastic to hear Greg! Thanks for watching and best of luck for your upcoming recording. Looking forward to hearing it! 😀

[@floriangrange]

Thank you Ben, great advices

[@beneunson]

Thank you for watching, Florian!

[@Georgie_B_]

Didn’t know how much I needed this, wonderfully uplifting advice Ben. Thanks! Always bowled over by your music!

[@beneunson]

So glad you enjoyed this, thank you for watching!

[@cx777o]

This video came at the right time!! Synchronicities at work!

[@beneunson]

So glad you liked it! Thank you for watching 😀

[@justinrobichaud1574]

great message and great video. as someone who studies guitar in college, i often find myself in these period of self doubt. it’s great to hear that what i do does matter, and that hard work will pay off if i keep going at it. thanks ben!

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much for watching Justin, and thanks for sharing your experience. What you do does matter, and I think that keeping on going is a great path! All the best to you on your path.

[@henrybeazely2908]

Thanks Ben - your message means a lot to me and hopefully others too

[@beneunson]

So glad to hear it, Henry! Thank you for watching!

[@naz4154]

Hey Ben, Naz here! Glad to see you still playing beautifully. Thanks for this video hope you're well brother!

[@beneunson]

Naz! Great to hear from you. All is well, and I hope you're doing well too!

[@jdguitar1040]

Thoughtful & helpful post, Ben. Thanks. Observation 2 was/is particularly important, I believe. Rock on...

[@beneunson]

So glad you found it to be helpful, thank you for watching!

[@matthiasscheffler548]

Very, very good insights. Thanks for sharing! And I agree that one must keep going. Because, if you're continuously doing the right exercises, there's no other way than progressing, perhaps not as fast as a prodigy would, but nevertheless in the right direction. Right now my busy schedule doesn't allow me to focus on improvising. Instead, I love to play elegant riffs of others. But the rare occasions where I did focus on improvisation, it actually came out nicely. So there you have it. Thanks again for sharing, Ben.

[@beneunson]

Thanks for watching, Matthias - and thanks for sharing your insights! And I agree, if you keep going you'll likely end up heading in the right direction!

[@AlanBram]

Sweet! That put a smile on my face.

[@beneunson]

Thanks Alan!

[@InnocentAbyssinianCat-eb7ge]

Good advice I needed to hear I'm often hard on myself because I'm always looking outward for inspiration which may help me improve but sometimes not feeling like I'm good enough when I see the high quality skills that others have

[@beneunson]

I hope my advice was helpful for you, thank you so much for watching and sharing your experience

[@MattiasBrahammar]

Great encouragement Ben! I definitely recognise myself in what you're saying, as well as how much a moment likes yours with Chick can really inspire you from that point and on. The world also needs more positive content like yours, among the massive "noise" of scale suggestions, arpeggios and gear reviews ;-) Thanks!

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much for watching Mattias, I'm really glad to hear that you found this video to be helpful. I think we need more positivity as well - by the way, your trio sounds great!

[@adriandennis5226]

Thank you Ben - this perfectly adresses certain things that have been present in my thought process around music, and your delivery is warm and encouraging. Its often hard to really step outside of ourselves and see that as human beings, we are each quite a force to be marvelled at. You really are your own harshest critic. Carry on my friend and thanks for the beautiful message!🎉

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much Adrian, I really appreciate you watching this and I'm so glad to hear it resonated with you. Thanks for sharing your insight and for watching!

[@humblegeorge]

Great video Ben .First words to come my way this morning and I have been playing for 58 years and I do sound like me :>)

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching, keep on playing the way you play! Have a great weekend 😀

[@jeffzafiropoulos2393]

You're a Guitar Philosopher. Great job

[@beneunson]

Thanks for watching, Jeff!

[@ChristopherBarkman-z8c]

You’re a heck of a player, and a great dude, Ben. Thanks for all you do with music and your channel :)

[@beneunson]

I really appreciate it, Christopher! Thanks for watching!

[@clarkbowler157]

👾 Thank You!

[@beneunson]

Thank you for watching!

[@Bvnterslovshe]

This video was amazing! Thank you for this perspective, Ben!

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching, I'm glad you found it useful!

[@yanivgheber4566]

I've been following you for quite a while now and this is your best video yet in my opinion. Thank you for this important message!

[@beneunson]

Thank you Yaniv, I really appreciate this! Glad to hear you enjoyed it 😀

[@guitarviruscom]

Very nice video and great advices, thank's ;-)

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@davidkeller6156]

Thanks!

[@beneunson]

Thanks David!

[@melaniefayemusic]

Wow! Thanks for the first chord! While it was super easy for me to find on the fretboard, I am stumped as to what to call it… I originally thot it was an Esus4, but then I realized it still has the 3rd so that can’t be it. Then I realized that the 4th you played is actually up an octave from where I was perceiving the root to be (open low E string), so I figured it’s an Eadd11. But then I experimented with the chord by adding the open A string which is the 4th, so that can’t be it either.. So with all of that being said, does that make it an Eadd4? Or were you conceptualizing it completely different? Super excited ta hear back

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching, Melanie! So glad you liked that chord. You could definitely call it Eadd4 - in this context, I'm playing it over an F# Minor sound, which would just make it a rootless voicing for F#min11. But then again, if I played this exact voicing over an A bass note, I'd have Amaj9(omit3)... Always fun to see how many ways we can use these voicings. Thanks again for watching!

[@JohnCoughlan_JAC]

Nice message! Appreciate the encouragement. 😊

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much for watching, John!

[@Frederick.Apollon]

Thank you Ben , Very inspiring 🦅

[@beneunson]

Thanks for watching, Frederick!

[@tarotguitars]

tasty notes, wise words.

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much for watching 😀

[@guitarlots]

Great advice from a pro

[@beneunson]

Really appreciate it! 😀

[@hevertonrocha7707]

Great Video Ben!! I was looking for something like this!!

[@beneunson]

Thank you for watching, Heverton!

[@Day_Dream_Studios]

I’ve reached a competence with comping and soloing…now feels like I’m faking it… I know it sounds ok…but now I know how I want to sound.

[@beneunson]

It's always amazing to know exactly how you want to sound - best of luck on your musical journey!

[@easyejohnson9199]

🙏

[@kaspersderlund5573]

❤

[@craigtodd8297]

Its an irony that while there is a guitar in almost every home hardly any of them get picked up and played. I think for 3 reasons. 1, no one wants to learn the fretboard. 2, People place too high an expectation at the beginning (wanting to play comfortably numb). 3. Forgetting how powerful simplicity (Done well) is.

[@beneunson]

Great points, simplicity is incredibly powerful and often under-utilized

[@kylanmcnichols6525]

Where can we find those synth pads to play over changes with? I like that they aren't just static although that would be cool to have too

[@beneunson]

Thanks for listening! It's a synth pad orchestra sound I programmed

[@seanmiller7889]

I am Scottish and stubborn. I will get this guitar thing down eventually.

[@beneunson]

I understand! Thanks so much for watching!

[@Anthony-ix3rp]

What model Ibanez is that ? I love the brown wood on the sides.

[@beneunson]

It's the Ibanez AS93BC, i'll be releasing the full video of this guitar improvisation this weekend.

[@trainman999]

what is this guitar called please? model?

[@beneunson]

Ibanez AS93BC

[@Doty6String]

I've been trippin on not having a definitive musical "style"...I produce all kinds of tracks in all sorts of styles, genres and mashups none I can really call my own....does it even matter?

[@beneunson]

It's always great to experiment with musical elements and styles - everyone's musical journey is unique! Thanks for watching 😀

[@dananthony6258]

I feel like a sloppy guitar player. Probably from growing up with grunge and idolizing Jimmy Page.

[@beneunson]

Thanks for sharing this, Dan - I certainly have days/periods where I feel my playing is sloppier than I'd like it to be, I understand.

[@SeanLongFitness]

This truly was a great and needed video - thank you

[@beneunson]

Thanks for watching, Sean!