My saying is, " People can do Hard things, more than they know!" I learned this in the viet nam war in 68/69. tinkered on guitar most my life. After 4 hand surgeries Last winter at 74 I started up on a more serious level. Making progress learned 13 worship songs finger style, all in open D. Now my hands are much better and going to start standard tuning this winter. yes we can do hard things. Its about the journey! enjoy it! THANKS FOR SHARING!!!
Hey guys, I’m currently in China with limited access to the Internet so forgive me if I cannot reply to all of the comments but just to say thank you for the nice messages and I hope this video was in someway I help :-)
This is a great system "uncle Rob". Thank you for the inspiration. I have a Cerberus order in the works and I'm really excited. Any chance you are in China to visit the factory? I'd love to see anything that you can share
Thanks Rob. I'm reminded of the verse: "There's no duplicity in him." You are a good soul who wants to teach and wants us to be successful. Thanks again.
I love this, Rob. Thanks for sharing. There's so many messages in here that apply not only to guitar playing, but to anything... Fitness, job/careers, studying, relationships, life!
Thank you Rob, in this moment this is the speech I needed. You’re a genuine good person with great insight. You’re one of my biggest inspiration, you and Rabea. Music saves lifes and i'm so greatfull that I can focus on that in my darkest moments. Thanks for all really!
Great speech!! Years ago, I used to be a "tone chaser," trying emulate someone's sound and trying to scrape up money to buy these things. The owner of the shop I buy from nicely said, "Stop NOW, because it will never happen. There's two pieces of gear he has that you'll NEVER have - his heart, and his hands. You could plug into his rig at his house, and still not sound like him." Now I pass that off you, for anyone that reads this and is struggling with that.
I don't believe that story for a second, no music store owner would ever stop you from giving them money or be that rude to a customer. Most of us would have punched him in the mouth for that or knocked over a bunch of guitars and left.
Rob your videos are always so spot on. I guess I'm lucky because I have 6 guitars, none very special I have two Squiers, a Soloking and an EastCoast as well as two acoustics, but the important thing is they are all on a rack, none of them are locked away in cases. Consequently every time I sit down to watch TV I am looking at the beautiful creatures and every time I hear a melody I simply have to pick one up and try to copy it. Result ? Practicing guitar is easy, watching a TV program is next to impossible. 😂 My best practice amp ? No amp at all, once I can do it completely clean that's the time to move forward to amps and peddles 👍
A long time ago before internet fame you made a tuition video called "Why it is important to suck" and that was great advise for anything in life. I'll recommend it.
Thank you Chappers! Way back in the 20-teens when I was struggling to grow in my tone and style and had really hit a wall, I stumbled upon a video of yours about some amp. The perspective and attitude about gear and playing and being a musician that you presented just took a huge weight off of me. Nobody that hears me play will say "wow, he sounds like Rob Chapman" but any time I get stumped, I'm always coming back for more chappers. Thank you for posting this kind of stuff.
Hello Rob! I’m Mihai from Romania and I just want to say thank you for that clip! I play guitar for fun is like a hobby I m a bus driver but every day I put the alarm at 3 in the morning and I practice guitar 30 minutes before I go to work! Is very helpful and beautiful wen you play in silence! I love what you do and is very helpful for me! I wish you and your family all the best!🙏🏼😇
Hello Mihai, greetings from England. I also like to play early in the morning in the silence. There is indeed something beautiful about that. I am happy that I am not alone in doing this. This has made me appreciate the quiet and I can sit in the silence at any time now and enjoy that peace.
I needed to see this today, Robert. Thank you. I don’t mind life and I try and espouse all the philosophical aspects you talk about here. My problem is time and real life which just keeps on getting in the way, in terms of work and domestics. I need to prioritise better. Or retire from working. Like you say, it’s making the time. You’re absolutely correct, there’s no escaping it, no matter how you slice and dice it.
Thank you for this video Rob! It’s actually just what I needed to hear at the moment and not for musical reasons. It struck me that this can be applied to just about anything in life and it actually inspired me to study it a little bit more.
That came at the right time 👍 It’s really good to be reminded of the basics sometimes cause overthinking kills action. Your video helped to re-centre me. Cheers mate 🙏
I am 55 now, after I moved to Ireland from Austria in 2014, I decided to learn guitar inspired from the Irish culture. But sadly in 2019 I had a stroke, what leaded also in mental problems. Effected the right side of me it was impossible to play guitar. I did not want to accept this so I made finger training 24/7. Then I got a piano only to get the right hand working again. And it worked. Since 2022 I play guitar again, still beginner and problems to coordinate left and right sometimes. But my point is, Rob is right WE can do ! It need patience but we can do it.
Hi Rob, this was literally one of the best videos I’ve ever watched here on RUclips, because you addressed everything that I have had issues with (and still do!) during the time that I have spent playing the guitar. When I was like 12 yrs old I wanted to be Yngwie Malmsteen, I mean I was obsessed with him, his playing, everything about him and it frustrated me to hell (and still does) that I can’t be him, but I am slowly accepting that I will never be him and I need to be me instead. Like you say, a little bit of him will come out in my playing style and that’s enough for me. I’ve also been obsessed with gear, much more so than actually learning to play, this has really got out of hand in recent years and has got me into debt which has lead to problems with my mental health. This is something that I am slowly addressing too, I have decided to scale everything down to just a few guitars and pedals, only the ones I actually need and use. It feels very liberating. I have grown to love Telecasters because of their versatility and simplicity, I am embracing this change. My practice room is a really nice space that I love to be in, I have artwork on the walls of my heroes (Yngwie and Randy Rhoads) and everything is there close to hand. I find that having guitars out on a stand is far better than it being in a case, because just the sight of it is enough to make me want to pick it up and play. Anyway thanks for making this video, it’s been a great help to me. All the best Howard.
Thank you for this video, been going through a really hard time after a trauma and I'm still struggling to find my way back. I really needed this video this morning.
This is such great advice and perspective. You know, life has been kicking me my whole time on this space rock. I was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy 20 years ago. I'll be 30 in two months, and I keep fighting everyday to try and play even though some things are going to always be out of reach. Making guitar videos can be especially tough because there's always that fear of messing up because my body can't make something happen. But I try to find what I think I can do and go for it. Having Kim Thayil as my guitar hero helps because I'm not going for an all out shred god but its still challenging enough. I have gotten some of the same gear as him for that reason (including two Guild S-100 guitars) but I at least don't always sound like I'm trying to copy. Growing has been tough since I can't go out and play with anyone and I don't have the best practice habits but I notice incremental improvements all the time. But my challenges have pushed me to be more creative since playing your own stuff tends to be easier and more natural. I actually have plans to start making some of my own music soon, would be great if I could share it with you, Rob (and I'm down for you to be my guitar "uncle" haha). Anyway, this is a long ass comment, but I've really had to dig deep for the motivation to play when I think everyone will look at me like a chump for not being able to do simple things. But I'm proof that anyone can do it no matter what they've gone through. For anyone else reading this, please do that thing you've always wanted to. Unlike me, the only thing holding you back is your mind. Don't be scared to go for it!
This was helpful video to watch. Just turned 30 this year and I have a good amount of life ahead of me. Doing my best to work on myself and think about how I am going to live it and what is going to be best for me. Wanting to write and record music for a long time and financial instability is always at play for what I can and cannot do. Thank you Mr. Chappers for the helpful motivation :) \m/
A lot of great advice in here, thank you Monsieur Chapman. I can confirm at least for two of them : having set up my room with cool goodies from my favorite games (too many Warcraft books in here...) and a lot of instruments really help me get motivated and inspired. Every time I look around, I will see my favorite game universes, or some cool instrument that I bought, like my Oud and start noodling in Phrygian Dominant. I bought my first second-hand gear a few weeks ago. A Malmsteen Signature Strat that I never had the money to buy new, and I couldn't be happier, no "second-hand" feeling with it. (But now I want to scallop all my Ibanez guitars...) So thank you, I'll go shred now :)
Good chat Rob, appreciate it. I was just telling my wife I want to get star/galaxy projector for my little practice room. She gave me a funny look so I’ll definitely get one now. lol Cheers
Rob Chapman, you accidental behaviour analyst, you! I have been in long term depression for more years than I wish to consider. I was surruptitiously taught applied behaviour analysis whilst studying for my master's in educational psychology. What you are talking about here has a shitload of research backing it up. This is called behavioural activation: setting up the environment to make the desired behaviour more likely to happen. Setting goals and the measurement of progress is absolutely essential: without it, you will always be lost. This might be my favourite motivational video ever.
Agreed. I am 63 and studied music since 6 on recorder and clarinet, and achieved many certificates and performed many times while at school. Later I self taught myself guitar (bad idea), and gave up for a while when my career outside music took off. I then went to see Floyd in Paris, France in 1994 and that one evening re-sowed the seed in me, and so I bought a US Standard Strat from a work colleague and worked tirelessly to learn Gilmour's style and riffs and tone. Rob is 100% correct that you cannot be the same as your idols, but you can get much from it and improve yourself immensely along the way. I had decided that I would do some low key Floyd tribute gigs, mainly around the PULSE tour playlist as well as the entire DSOTM. It took me about a year to get the songs right, including programming backing tracks to give a better experience, but then came the pandemic and all venues closed just as I was ready to launch. This put me in a deep depression, and a number of recent health issues have de-motivated me again to play, but I want to change this and Rob's words have helped tremendously, as have yours.
@@isthereanybodyoutthere9397 Thank you so much for commenting ... that last sentence brought a tear or two, not gonna lie. Yeh ... the pandemic buggered it up for many of us. I missed playing. But I'm very glad that, like me, you're coming out of the other end of a process that is a proper bastard to go through. I think this video of Rob's has hit a nail for many of us. What pleases me is that he hasn't pushed a ton of platitudes out on us: this really is stuff that has been applied in other settings - particularly in mental health, education, developmental support, and work. He has given us great tools to develop strategies for ourselves. I like that. Again, thank you so much for responding. And fair play to you for getting back to things you love doing, like music. My very best wishes to you. I'll let Rob add his own words for you as and when he has chance.
@@isthereanybodyoutthere9397 Thank you. I did write a reply last night but YT decided to call it lunch. Your last sentence got me weepy a bit. It's lovely to see my input appreciated so.
I'll bite. Hi Rob, great videos. I work 80 hours per week, have a 660 mile commute over that time and am a family man. I'm currently struggling with a range of mundane but significant stresses and, to top it all off, have a tendency to beat myself up and slip into some serious ruts now and then... Anyway, I played guitar prolifically as a teen, was going to go to ACM but then stopped. I picked up the guitar again two years ago (I'm recently turned 39) and instantly was like 'Why the F did I put this down?' I've been practising every day without fail for two years. I've made time to get weekly lessons and, although I'm exhausted when I attend them, they're essential for my well being. I'm ensuring my practice time is varied but I have a range of aspirational goals. After two years of going from 'Hey, I used to know what a guitar is' and basically remembering the C major scale and its relative minor, I'm now learning songs for my grade 8 performance and studying for grade 5 theory. After that, I'll continue to learn and will see what happens. Also making time to perform with jazz/blues based concert band (largely brass instruments) which is very different for me (for I worship at the altar of Gilbert and Vai). But yeh...everyone is busy but make time for what you love. No, I don't sleep much but frankly I'd still get as little sleep even if I didn't do everything else. My philosophy is that staying busy enables you to experience your life to the fullest. If life is short or long, at least you'll know you won't have wasted a moment. :)
Thanks for this Rob. I'm sure there's alot of people that needed to hear this today. You're a really nice chap, man. So it's funny that your name's Chapman. 👌🙏
Hi Rob, thank you very much for this video, it comes right on time for me. For some times now, I’m feeling down, I played (guitars and sing) with bands since 1993, I’ve always played with bands and other musicians, musically speaking, I’ve never felt my place, I started with Metal, and Hard Rock, but when I was doing Metal I was feeling incomplete because I loved the blues and blues rock so much, in 2015 I started a blues rock trio playing mainly originals, played more or less 200 shows, with some interesting as opening act and of course a lot in small bars in front of 5 to 10 peoples, but it is not what pays the rent so I don’t care, I was only enjoying it. Last year, the bass player and drummer, who becomes friends decided to stop because they’re tired of moving all the gears for only few people to enjoy and it’s true to sacrifice most of their weekends. I am living on the country side of Belgium and there’s not a lot of serious musicians around here. I had found a drummer and a bass player, but seems I have lost my motivation to play with and trust other peoples. Is there a way to find it back? Honestly I feel like an unwanted end to a relationship :(. I have put a set together where I play first part of the set acoustic/voice and the second part electric/voice over backing track I made, it’s fun but not as much as sharing stage with friends. Thanks I know it is a long message 😊
Life knocks you down on the floor, keeps kicking and when you get up it knocks you down again. After a while you get so numbed it doesnt matter anymore.That is when life lifts you up:)
Excellent- love this. 👏My motivational items are a treasured signed picture of Gary Moore and the pickguard of my Les Paul that was signed at a guitar show by none other than Mr Bernie Marsden. Very much needed this positivity today Rob. Enjoy China 🇨🇳.😁
One of the best bits of advice I ever got was from you. When you where just a lowly you tuber with 900 subs hahahaha. You said, I wanted to be endorsed by 3 companies, and I wrote those brands down. Then I made it happen. I use this kind of thing all the time, so thanks man! Joebot out!
I play at home almost exclusively now. Been pickin' for 40+ years. I chose family over a music career 25 years ago. Now that my children are grown, I find myself in a musically depressing situation. I still possess skill and inspiration but have no audience except my wife and dogs. I'm kind of a musical leach. Meaning that I get inspired from the energy from the musicians that I am on stage with. I think my largest issue is that I don't want a music career but I need an outlet for my "art" that will interact with people in-person. However, where I live is a black hole for musicians. There are only a couple really good musicians near me and they are extremely difficult to pry away from home. The ying and yang of an introvert artist? 😊😊😊
I got hit with Covid hard in 2021 and never recovered. its been a br00tal 3 years not being able to go out or play music or do much more than eat my one meal per day (because digestion is incredibly brutal). You have no idea how much i would love to go on stage and play just one song. Take it from someone who is brutally disabled and can barely walk : If you can play your instrument, with a group, whether its a rehearsal or in public, YOU'VE ALREADY MADE IT.
Rob , Thanks for this video. I play bass. Although I have been writing on 🎹 piano. Okay keyboards. Wait an app on my tablet 😂 Recorded on the tablet. Great Fun. Best of life ,Bob
Had someone ask me once, "don't you want to figure out how these guys are doing that?" I answered, "I'd rather they were trying to figure out what I am doing." I am in no way a performer, I just hear music in My head and have to drain it somewhere. My guitar is My mental spigot.
Ever since Covid, the band I’m in slowly started falling apart. Our drummer had to take up more responsibilities and started working graveyard shifts, and our bassist was barely showing up to practice and when he would, we would have to teach him his parts all over again… I lost my job and haven’t been able to find work again, and have found myself in a really deep slump that I just can’t get myself out of. I can’t find the motivation or even the energy to do this anymore but I know that if I quit, everyone that believed in us, will be disappointed.
In my practice space, I made a point to put up some of my favorite album covers on the wall. Van Halen 1, Texas Flood, Diary Of A Madman, Santana/Lionhead Album and Passion and Warfare. I also have a picture of Angus Young and John Lennon as well as a poster of Jimi and one of Stevie Ray. Definitely helps motivate me.
2nd!! *update* great vid! That advice about “ you can play anything if it’s slow enough” is so true. Sometimes I have to slow shit waaaaay down just to process the notes I’m hearing.
*orders an Yngwie poster and Beethoven Statue immediately after this video* Seriously though, why did I ever get rid of inspirational artworks and things? Not only would the teenage me would be disgraced but it is psychologically important for the subconscious for sure!
I still have a Peavey Delta Blues and I still love it. Way underrated. Only get it out to test a new guitar, then go back to modelling amps. I’m a bad man lol
Thx for this vids they often are more helpful than the next lesson about alternate pickin 😂.. wanted to tell u that on Guitar Summit 😅😅 but on these events it seems hard to catch someone not already deep in a conversation 🤣 +loads of never seen gear and great people, is just much to process for someone not used to these shows. But absolutely lookin forward to next year 🤘🤘
Great motivational video Mr. Chappers! I turn 50 next year also lol! Still trying to find one of guitars here! Would love to have one. They look very amazing
Some great advice here sir :) Unfortunately personally too far down the rabbit hole of even the thought of picking an instrument up is depressing lately.
Thanks for that, Robb. Thankfully I never got to into the guitar hero worship thing. Guitar for last 42 years has been a study of self. 55 now .. I'm still approaching my 13 yo self when I play. The question is ... Dare we go there more deeply?
Pickups and speakers, try to buy new, but everything else, used is not only good, it can be even better, but those 2 elements will define your sound. I still use the same brand of PU’s (I’ve tried others) and the same speakers , EVM 12L’s a fiat response speaker was my choice that plus its efficiency. But there are other schools of thought, re speakers that are equally valid, for some inefficient is actually better, open back closed back, multiple single research is necessary, and a used cab can be the quicker way to find out, but once you do, new means you know what to expect, However good speakers can almost always be reconed….so if you like old JBL’s or Altec, (also flat response) used could be really good.
It's great that you released this video and said those words. It's something that's been missing from guitar youtube.Thanks for sharing!
My saying is, " People can do Hard things, more than they know!"
I learned this in the viet nam war in 68/69.
tinkered on guitar most my life. After 4 hand surgeries Last winter at 74 I started up on a more serious level. Making progress learned 13 worship songs finger style, all in open D. Now my hands are much better and going to start standard tuning this winter.
yes we can do hard things.
Its about the journey! enjoy it!
THANKS FOR SHARING!!!
Hey guys, I’m currently in China with limited access to the Internet so forgive me if I cannot reply to all of the comments but just to say thank you for the nice messages and I hope this video was in someway I help :-)
This is a great system "uncle Rob". Thank you for the inspiration. I have a Cerberus order in the works and I'm really excited. Any chance you are in China to visit the factory? I'd love to see anything that you can share
Thanks Rob. I'm reminded of the verse: "There's no duplicity in him." You are a good soul who wants to teach and wants us to be successful. Thanks again.
I love this, Rob. Thanks for sharing. There's so many messages in here that apply not only to guitar playing, but to anything... Fitness, job/careers, studying, relationships, life!
Thanks Uncle Rob, we need more of this. :)
Cheers Rob! So valuable for both music and general life motivation :)
Thank you Rob, in this moment this is the speech I needed. You’re a genuine good person with great insight. You’re one of my biggest inspiration, you and Rabea. Music saves lifes and i'm so greatfull that I can focus on that in my darkest moments. Thanks for all really!
Great speech!! Years ago, I used to be a "tone chaser," trying emulate someone's sound and trying to scrape up money to buy these things. The owner of the shop I buy from nicely said, "Stop NOW, because it will never happen. There's two pieces of gear he has that you'll NEVER have - his heart, and his hands. You could plug into his rig at his house, and still not sound like him."
Now I pass that off you, for anyone that reads this and is struggling with that.
🙏
I don't believe that story for a second, no music store owner would ever stop you from giving them money or be that rude to a customer. Most of us would have punched him in the mouth for that or knocked over a bunch of guitars and left.
I appreciate the positivity and encouragement, Rob. Much needed in today's world. Thank you 🤘✌️
Rob your videos are always so spot on.
I guess I'm lucky because I have 6 guitars, none very special I have two Squiers, a Soloking and an EastCoast as well as two acoustics, but the important thing is they are all on a rack, none of them are locked away in cases.
Consequently every time I sit down to watch TV I am looking at the beautiful creatures and every time I hear a melody I simply have to pick one up and try to copy it.
Result ?
Practicing guitar is easy, watching a TV program is next to impossible. 😂
My best practice amp ?
No amp at all, once I can do it completely clean that's the time to move forward to amps and peddles 👍
A little inspiration every now and then is nice. Thanks for posting this.
A long time ago before internet fame you made a tuition video called "Why it is important to suck" and that was great advise for anything in life. I'll recommend it.
I need to put this on repeat. Driving home right now. Got three hours to be creative before bed.
No truer words spoken! A great life lesson right here 👍🏻
Thank you Chappers! Way back in the 20-teens when I was struggling to grow in my tone and style and had really hit a wall, I stumbled upon a video of yours about some amp. The perspective and attitude about gear and playing and being a musician that you presented just took a huge weight off of me. Nobody that hears me play will say "wow, he sounds like Rob Chapman" but any time I get stumped, I'm always coming back for more chappers. Thank you for posting this kind of stuff.
this is the Rob I have missed for years, nice to see you again.
This is genuinely beautiful and most welcome. Thanks uncle Rob :)
Absolutely brilliant. Great life advice. Guitar players always want to be fretboard burners within a month. Patience is essential...
Thank you Uncle Rob 😊
Thank you for this wonderful gift of a video
Thank you so much for this - i needed it
I needed to hear this. Thank you Sir ☮️❤️🎸
Hello Rob! I’m Mihai from Romania and I just want to say thank you for that clip! I play guitar for fun is like a hobby I m a bus driver but every day I put the alarm at 3 in the morning and I practice guitar 30 minutes before I go to work! Is very helpful and beautiful wen you play in silence! I love what you do and is very helpful for me! I wish you and your family all the best!🙏🏼😇
Hello Mihai, greetings from England. I also like to play early in the morning in the silence. There is indeed something beautiful about that. I am happy that I am not alone in doing this. This has made me appreciate the quiet and I can sit in the silence at any time now and enjoy that peace.
Rob, you sir are damn good dude! Only a kind soul would say these words. Thanks for being a bright shining light. Keep on smiling brother. 🤘🏻
I needed to see this today, Robert. Thank you. I don’t mind life and I try and espouse all the philosophical aspects you talk about here.
My problem is time and real life which just keeps on getting in the way, in terms of work and domestics. I need to prioritise better. Or retire from working. Like you say, it’s making the time. You’re absolutely correct, there’s no escaping it, no matter how you slice and dice it.
Thank you for this video Rob! It’s actually just what I needed to hear at the moment and not for musical reasons. It struck me that this can be applied to just about anything in life and it actually inspired me to study it a little bit more.
Cheers Rob 👍🏻👍🏻 Much appreciated.
Thanks uncle Rob 🙌
That came at the right time 👍 It’s really good to be reminded of the basics sometimes cause overthinking kills action. Your video helped to re-centre me. Cheers mate 🙏
I am 55 now, after I moved to Ireland from Austria in 2014, I decided to learn guitar inspired from the Irish culture. But sadly in 2019 I had a stroke, what leaded also in mental problems. Effected the right side of me it was impossible to play guitar. I did not want to accept this so I made finger training 24/7. Then I got a piano only to get the right hand working again. And it worked. Since 2022 I play guitar again, still beginner and problems to coordinate left and right sometimes. But my point is, Rob is right WE can do ! It need patience but we can do it.
Brilliant, Rob. So very true!
Hi Rob, this was literally one of the best videos I’ve ever watched here on RUclips, because you addressed everything that I have had issues with (and still do!) during the time that I have spent playing the guitar. When I was like 12 yrs old I wanted to be Yngwie Malmsteen, I mean I was obsessed with him, his playing, everything about him and it frustrated me to hell (and still does) that I can’t be him, but I am slowly accepting that I will never be him and I need to be me instead. Like you say, a little bit of him will come out in my playing style and that’s enough for me. I’ve also been obsessed with gear, much more so than actually learning to play, this has really got out of hand in recent years and has got me into debt which has lead to problems with my mental health. This is something that I am slowly addressing too, I have decided to scale everything down to just a few guitars and pedals, only the ones I actually need and use. It feels very liberating. I have grown to love Telecasters because of their versatility and simplicity, I am embracing this change. My practice room is a really nice space that I love to be in, I have artwork on the walls of my heroes (Yngwie and Randy Rhoads) and everything is there close to hand. I find that having guitars out on a stand is far better than it being in a case, because just the sight of it is enough to make me want to pick it up and play. Anyway thanks for making this video, it’s been a great help to me.
All the best
Howard.
Thank you for this video, been going through a really hard time after a trauma and I'm still struggling to find my way back. I really needed this video this morning.
Thanks Rob. As always, spot on.
Actually really needed that.
Yesssss! Thanks Rob. ❤
Nobody:
Chappets: A yo just fake it till ya make it brotha!
Wise words - thanks 🙏
Man, I needed this… thanks for all you do.
This is such great advice and perspective. You know, life has been kicking me my whole time on this space rock. I was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy 20 years ago. I'll be 30 in two months, and I keep fighting everyday to try and play even though some things are going to always be out of reach. Making guitar videos can be especially tough because there's always that fear of messing up because my body can't make something happen. But I try to find what I think I can do and go for it.
Having Kim Thayil as my guitar hero helps because I'm not going for an all out shred god but its still challenging enough. I have gotten some of the same gear as him for that reason (including two Guild S-100 guitars) but I at least don't always sound like I'm trying to copy. Growing has been tough since I can't go out and play with anyone and I don't have the best practice habits but I notice incremental improvements all the time. But my challenges have pushed me to be more creative since playing your own stuff tends to be easier and more natural. I actually have plans to start making some of my own music soon, would be great if I could share it with you, Rob (and I'm down for you to be my guitar "uncle" haha).
Anyway, this is a long ass comment, but I've really had to dig deep for the motivation to play when I think everyone will look at me like a chump for not being able to do simple things. But I'm proof that anyone can do it no matter what they've gone through. For anyone else reading this, please do that thing you've always wanted to. Unlike me, the only thing holding you back is your mind. Don't be scared to go for it!
Some great advice, thank you!!
Thank you ❤
This was helpful video to watch. Just turned 30 this year and I have a good amount of life ahead of me. Doing my best to work on myself and think about how I am going to live it and what is going to be best for me. Wanting to write and record music for a long time and financial instability is always at play for what I can and cannot do.
Thank you Mr. Chappers for the helpful motivation :) \m/
Thank you Rob! I appreciate your kind words and I needed to hear it! Life can kick you in the face, but you have to stand back up! 😂
Words of wisdom 🙂Thank you for the positivity ♥
A lot of great advice in here, thank you Monsieur Chapman.
I can confirm at least for two of them : having set up my room with cool goodies from my favorite games (too many Warcraft books in here...) and a lot of instruments really help me get motivated and inspired. Every time I look around, I will see my favorite game universes, or some cool instrument that I bought, like my Oud and start noodling in Phrygian Dominant.
I bought my first second-hand gear a few weeks ago. A Malmsteen Signature Strat that I never had the money to buy new, and I couldn't be happier, no "second-hand" feeling with it. (But now I want to scallop all my Ibanez guitars...)
So thank you, I'll go shred now :)
Thanks Rob that was just what I needed today!
Good chat Rob, appreciate it. I was just telling my wife I want to get star/galaxy projector for my little practice room. She gave me a funny look so I’ll definitely get one now. lol
Cheers
I love those motivational videos, I still remember old motivational Lord Monkey with especially the £5 note part. Thank you Rob. Dziekuje bardzo
Thank you Rob
Exactly what I needed to hear this morning Rob. Really appreciate you doing this video, very helpful.
Great motivation speech Rob - I love the "Slow it down" analogy
Love this! Thanks Rob!
Thanks Rob ☮️❤️🤘
Rob Chapman, you accidental behaviour analyst, you!
I have been in long term depression for more years than I wish to consider. I was surruptitiously taught applied behaviour analysis whilst studying for my master's in educational psychology. What you are talking about here has a shitload of research backing it up. This is called behavioural activation: setting up the environment to make the desired behaviour more likely to happen. Setting goals and the measurement of progress is absolutely essential: without it, you will always be lost.
This might be my favourite motivational video ever.
Agreed. I am 63 and studied music since 6 on recorder and clarinet, and achieved many certificates and performed many times while at school. Later I self taught myself guitar (bad idea), and gave up for a while when my career outside music took off. I then went to see Floyd in Paris, France in 1994 and that one evening re-sowed the seed in me, and so I bought a US Standard Strat from a work colleague and worked tirelessly to learn Gilmour's style and riffs and tone. Rob is 100% correct that you cannot be the same as your idols, but you can get much from it and improve yourself immensely along the way. I had decided that I would do some low key Floyd tribute gigs, mainly around the PULSE tour playlist as well as the entire DSOTM. It took me about a year to get the songs right, including programming backing tracks to give a better experience, but then came the pandemic and all venues closed just as I was ready to launch. This put me in a deep depression, and a number of recent health issues have de-motivated me again to play, but I want to change this and Rob's words have helped tremendously, as have yours.
@@isthereanybodyoutthere9397 Thank you so much for commenting ... that last sentence brought a tear or two, not gonna lie.
Yeh ... the pandemic buggered it up for many of us. I missed playing. But I'm very glad that, like me, you're coming out of the other end of a process that is a proper bastard to go through.
I think this video of Rob's has hit a nail for many of us. What pleases me is that he hasn't pushed a ton of platitudes out on us: this really is stuff that has been applied in other settings - particularly in mental health, education, developmental support, and work. He has given us great tools to develop strategies for ourselves. I like that.
Again, thank you so much for responding. And fair play to you for getting back to things you love doing, like music. My very best wishes to you. I'll let Rob add his own words for you as and when he has chance.
@@isthereanybodyoutthere9397 Thank you. I did write a reply last night but YT decided to call it lunch. Your last sentence got me weepy a bit. It's lovely to see my input appreciated so.
Crazy good advice, thanks for the video!
I'll bite. Hi Rob, great videos.
I work 80 hours per week, have a 660 mile commute over that time and am a family man. I'm currently struggling with a range of mundane but significant stresses and, to top it all off, have a tendency to beat myself up and slip into some serious ruts now and then...
Anyway, I played guitar prolifically as a teen, was going to go to ACM but then stopped. I picked up the guitar again two years ago (I'm recently turned 39) and instantly was like 'Why the F did I put this down?'
I've been practising every day without fail for two years. I've made time to get weekly lessons and, although I'm exhausted when I attend them, they're essential for my well being. I'm ensuring my practice time is varied but I have a range of aspirational goals.
After two years of going from 'Hey, I used to know what a guitar is' and basically remembering the C major scale and its relative minor, I'm now learning songs for my grade 8 performance and studying for grade 5 theory. After that, I'll continue to learn and will see what happens. Also making time to perform with jazz/blues based concert band (largely brass instruments) which is very different for me (for I worship at the altar of Gilbert and Vai). But yeh...everyone is busy but make time for what you love. No, I don't sleep much but frankly I'd still get as little sleep even if I didn't do everything else.
My philosophy is that staying busy enables you to experience your life to the fullest. If life is short or long, at least you'll know you won't have wasted a moment.
:)
Thanks for this Rob. I'm sure there's alot of people that needed to hear this today. You're a really nice chap, man. So it's funny that your name's Chapman. 👌🙏
Hi Rob, thank you very much for this video, it comes right on time for me. For some times now, I’m feeling down, I played (guitars and sing) with bands since 1993, I’ve always played with bands and other musicians, musically speaking, I’ve never felt my place, I started with Metal, and Hard Rock, but when I was doing Metal I was feeling incomplete because I loved the blues and blues rock so much, in 2015 I started a blues rock trio playing mainly originals, played more or less 200 shows, with some interesting as opening act and of course a lot in small bars in front of 5 to 10 peoples, but it is not what pays the rent so I don’t care, I was only enjoying it. Last year, the bass player and drummer, who becomes friends decided to stop because they’re tired of moving all the gears for only few people to enjoy and it’s true to sacrifice most of their weekends. I am living on the country side of Belgium and there’s not a lot of serious musicians around here. I had found a drummer and a bass player, but seems I have lost my motivation to play with and trust other peoples. Is there a way to find it back? Honestly I feel like an unwanted end to a relationship :(. I have put a set together where I play first part of the set acoustic/voice and the second part electric/voice over backing track I made, it’s fun but not as much as sharing stage with friends.
Thanks I know it is a long message 😊
Thanks Rob . Your videos are a 💡. Good effort dude
Thank you Rob !
Keep this kind of content coming. 🖖
Life knocks you down on the floor, keeps kicking and when you get up it knocks you down again. After a while you get so numbed it doesnt matter anymore.That is when life lifts you up:)
All GREAT advice! Thanks Rob!!!
Love you jokes as well!! 🤣
Thanks uncle rob😊
Nice video Rob, positively breeds positively ❤
Thank you
Excellent- love this. 👏My motivational items are a treasured signed picture of Gary Moore and the pickguard of my Les Paul that was signed at a guitar show by none other than Mr Bernie Marsden. Very much needed this positivity today Rob. Enjoy China 🇨🇳.😁
Great motivational speech, thank you for all these ideas to improve ourselves!
One of the best bits of advice I ever got was from you. When you where just a lowly you tuber with 900 subs hahahaha.
You said, I wanted to be endorsed by 3 companies, and I wrote those brands down. Then I made it happen.
I use this kind of thing all the time, so thanks man!
Joebot out!
I play at home almost exclusively now. Been pickin' for 40+ years.
I chose family over a music career 25 years ago. Now that my children are grown, I find myself in a musically depressing situation. I still possess skill and inspiration but have no audience except my wife and dogs.
I'm kind of a musical leach. Meaning that I get inspired from the energy from the musicians that I am on stage with.
I think my largest issue is that I don't want a music career but I need an outlet for my "art" that will interact with people in-person. However, where I live is a black hole for musicians. There are only a couple really good musicians near me and they are extremely difficult to pry away from home.
The ying and yang of an introvert artist?
😊😊😊
Similar story. But I lost the family and the music. Trying to pick up the pieces, decades later.
I got hit with Covid hard in 2021 and never recovered. its been a br00tal 3 years not being able to go out or play music or do much more than eat my one meal per day (because digestion is incredibly brutal). You have no idea how much i would love to go on stage and play just one song. Take it from someone who is brutally disabled and can barely walk : If you can play your instrument, with a group, whether its a rehearsal or in public, YOU'VE ALREADY MADE IT.
Go and do it then.
Dude can you read?@@isthereanybodyoutthere9397
@@isthereanybodyoutthere9397 I already did ur mom
Amen Brother
Rob , Thanks for this video. I play bass. Although I have been writing on 🎹 piano. Okay keyboards. Wait an app on my tablet 😂
Recorded on the tablet. Great Fun. Best of life ,Bob
Had someone ask me once, "don't you want to figure out how these guys are doing that?"
I answered, "I'd rather they were trying to figure out what I am doing."
I am in no way a performer, I just hear music in My head and have to drain it somewhere.
My guitar is My mental spigot.
Ever since Covid, the band I’m in slowly started falling apart. Our drummer had to take up more responsibilities and started working graveyard shifts, and our bassist was barely showing up to practice and when he would, we would have to teach him his parts all over again… I lost my job and haven’t been able to find work again, and have found myself in a really deep slump that I just can’t get myself out of. I can’t find the motivation or even the energy to do this anymore but I know that if I quit, everyone that believed in us, will be disappointed.
Don't ever quit. Not for "everyone that believed in" you. Just for you.
oh Chappers!!!!!!
Thanks man.
Your a legend!
In my practice space, I made a point to put up some of my favorite album covers on the wall. Van Halen 1, Texas Flood, Diary Of A Madman, Santana/Lionhead Album and Passion and Warfare. I also have a picture of Angus Young and John Lennon as well as a poster of Jimi and one of Stevie Ray. Definitely helps motivate me.
“There is no try, do…or do not”. Yoda
2nd!! *update* great vid! That advice about “ you can play anything if it’s slow enough” is so true. Sometimes I have to slow shit waaaaay down just to process the notes I’m hearing.
I believe in the killer guitar riff, yet to be found, that Page has not yet discovered but that will go great within a larger instrumental.
*orders an Yngwie poster and Beethoven Statue immediately after this video* Seriously though, why did I ever get rid of inspirational artworks and things? Not only would the teenage me would be disgraced but it is psychologically important for the subconscious for sure!
I still have a Peavey Delta Blues and I still love it. Way underrated. Only get it out to test a new guitar, then go back to modelling amps. I’m a bad man lol
I practice in my truck. With my spark Mini amp. Telecaster of course.
Thx for this vids they often are more helpful than the next lesson about alternate pickin 😂.. wanted to tell u that on Guitar Summit 😅😅 but on these events it seems hard to catch someone not already deep in a conversation 🤣 +loads of never seen gear and great people, is just much to process for someone not used to these shows. But absolutely lookin forward to next year 🤘🤘
Great motivational video Mr. Chappers! I turn 50 next year also lol! Still trying to find one of guitars here! Would love to have one. They look very amazing
nice and interesting :) thx
Flesh Puppets is a great name for a band!
Definitely misread this as flesh puppies. Very different meaning
Some great advice here sir :)
Unfortunately personally too far down the rabbit hole of even the thought of picking an instrument up is depressing lately.
Thanks for that, Robb. Thankfully I never got to into the guitar hero worship thing. Guitar for last 42 years has been a study of self. 55 now .. I'm still approaching my 13 yo self when I play. The question is ... Dare we go there more deeply?
I live 50 minutes north of Seattle and need someone to jam with…( old school hard rock and metal)
👍
Pickups and speakers, try to buy new, but everything else, used is not only good, it can be even better, but those 2 elements will define your sound. I still use the same brand of PU’s
(I’ve tried others) and the same speakers , EVM 12L’s a fiat response speaker was my choice that plus its efficiency.
But there are other schools of thought, re speakers that are equally valid, for some inefficient is actually better, open back closed back, multiple single research is necessary, and a used cab can be the quicker way to find out, but once you do, new means you know what to expect, However good speakers can almost always be reconed….so if you like old JBL’s or Altec, (also flat response) used could be really good.
I bought second-hand. It’s a 2014 ML2 Classic.
Nice one, Rob! Great advice! Your first amp was in Canada? Did you live in Toronto? For how long and why etc. We need deets, man! :)
I totally recommend you practice in the park somewhere. Practice standing up too.
Great stuff again. Applies very well to my journey into learning the harmonica ... maybe not the secondhand bit - they are just spit boxes!
Must have been difficult breastfeeding and playing guitar at the same time rob !!!😅