[vfdfv]

I can read classical notation well enough for my purposes. I listen to Janacek, Sibelius, Delius, Schubert, Faure, Scriabin, Sorabji, Mompou, and other composers you would probably consider legitimate music. I just don't limit myself strictly to the music of dead white men.

EDIT: Let's hear some music you've created, with all your vast ability and knowledge. I'll post some of my own and we can let HN users be the judge...

[rebootthesystem]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem

[vfdfv]

Ok, I felt slighted by your presumption that I can't read classical notation.

Can we turn the discussion around? I'm legitimately curious about what music you like. My dad tried to make it professionally as a classical guitarist (a long time ago), so we may have more in common than you think in terms of musical taste.

Here's an example of music I really like that can't be adequately described by classical notation. Jan Jelinek's "Do Dekor"...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkpaDpwdSUI

Jelinek's music is actually fairly tonal but has static-y, noisy textures with arhythmic clicks and pops. I think you might like it.

That though is actually fairly traditional compared to some of the noise music and harsh metal that I enjoy. Here's another example, some blistering avant-garde instrumental death metal:

https://soundcloud.com/willhill/refulgent-shadow-sunspot

[rebootthesystem]

I'll say I am fairly "traditional" in my taste. From all the great Spanish composers to Pink Floyd. No taste for metal, sorry. I like some Gypsy (not necessarily Gypsy Kings) and other non-traditional string music like Greek and Middle Eastern in origin. I tried my hand at the Oud many years ago. Didn't have the time and discipline to master it. Of course, being a traditionalist also means I like all the great composers.

Love writing code to the Brandenburg Concerto and Mozart's Requiem. Back on guitar, I like just about anything recorded by Segovia, Romeros, LA Guitar Quartet (I studied briefly under a disciple of the guy who wrote Pumping Nylon), John Williams (not the Star Wars guy, just in case), Paco de Lucia, Piazzolla (not guitar but often accompanied by strings and interesting), Strunz & Farah can be interesting (sometimes formulaic). On the modern side, most of the tracks on the Gypsy Soul album are interesting.

I think this girl is going places:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe8YgTYnjpc

I remember back when I could finally play the Lute Suite 4, it felt amazing. Not sure I ever played it that well. I was way too busy with work to put in the hours required to get really good. The more you play the more you hear small problems that require hours of practice to fix.

This, BTW, is one of my go-to pieces to explain that there are no shortcuts to being able to play like this. The only way to get there is through tons of practice and traditional practice at that. Yes, there are people who have gotten there self taught but it is a horrible struggle that does not develop proper technique, dexterity, etc. In looking through this girl's videos and the repertoire she has I just can't see a self taught guitarist getting there. It's just like gymnastics, one can learn a bunch of stuff and go to "American Ninja" and do well, but the Olympic Gymnasts only get there through a well understood traditional progression that develops various aspects of the athlete over time (lots of time). And a lot of it ain't fun at all. I once had to play scales for four hours straight just to fix a detail with a piece I was learning.

Here's the guy I mentioned I studied under. Before he decided to ruin his career and become an actor and later kill his girlfriend's rabbit and eat it. No bullshit, reality is stranger than fiction:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhqUMEIR8So

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQKGEs0cshg

Incredible guitarist. Years of training. He kicked my ass every lesson. So sorry he screwed up his life.

[vfdfv]

Ah, yep, we listen to a lot of the same stuff!

Piazzolla did compose some guitar material, his "Tango Suite" for two guitars written specifically for Sergio and Odair Assad. The second movement is my favorite:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNDlnNnxfhw

Carlo Domeniconi's "Koyunbaba" is another guitar piece I've always really liked, performed here by the not-Star-Wars John Williams:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNDlnNnxfhw

And of course other greats like Villa-Lobos, Tarrega, Granados, Albéniz, etc.

I do realize the singular devotion and training that is required to reach the highest levels of classical guitar playing. It's astounding! My dad took master classes from Eliot Fisk (whose playing I don't really like that much) and got the opportunity to play in front of Julian Bream a few times (whose playing I DO love).

Thanks for that nice performance of Lute Suite #4. It was my mom who instilled in me an early love of Bach. If you've never heard Angela Hewitt or Alicia de Larrocha playing Bach, then I'd highly recommend checking them out!

And damn, your teacher is a ferocious guitar player. Both pieces are great!

[rebootthesystem]

Too bad the guy self-destructed.

For the longest time I was incredibly frustrated because I couldn't "play" guitar. In other words, my life was about very strict technique development and playing from scores. In the meantime, some of my friends could just grab a guitar and play great sounding rock and roll riffs. I simply couldn't do that.

Until one day I could. I mean, I could play anything. And my repertoire expanded with ease. And my friends were still playing the same ten pop songs five years later while I could approach just about anything. The difference was effort and discipline. I think the same applies to anything, be it music, engineering or business.

[vfdfv]

I approached learning electric guitar similarly, with heavy emphasis on technique. Early on I really wanted to be able to play a jazz fusion style a la Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Shawn Lane, etc. I got derailed for many years by a wrist injury, which has since finally healed, but in the meantime I got very into making electronic music. I'll never be the greatest guitarist ever but I'm good enough to incorporate some of my improvising into the electronic music I make and that's been really satisfying.

I agree that the same discipline applies to engineering, coding, etc. but the end result, creating beautiful music, is a unique feeling for me. It just seems more magical somehow. Good luck on your musical journey!