Are You Experienced?

Isn't it interesting how you usually never notice yourself getting better at something? One day you just sort of realize, "woah, this used to give me serious trouble, and now its becoming reflexive/second nature." The worst part is, you can't ever explain how you got there. All those days of awkwardness and clumsiness just sort of build up. I used to get EXTREMELY frustrated when learning guitar. Many tutorials and how-to's and lessons show all these complicated patterns and keys and the like, but almost every single one had the disclaimer towards the end about how one day you'll just be able to DO it. Which of course begs the question, 'Well, shit. How do I get there? This is bogus.' Everyone's heard the artist/musician talk about how they just let the art or music 'flow' at some point. 'Feeling it' I can't express how much those words piss off beginners.

BUT. One day, the novice isn't paying attention and suddenly realizes, 'wait, I CAN just play what I'm hearing in my head.' That day when your hands and fingers can keep up with the expectations in your head has to be something like what Enlightenment feels like. Watching people play this way is amazing, no matter what genre you're into. I read an interview in which John Mayer calls this point "getting into that headspace." You can tell when people are there, too. The artists who play with their eyes closed, mouths open, eyebrows dancing... I can watch that for hours.

I've got to the point where I can find my 'headspace' for a few short sweet minutes, then lose it. But those notes are ME. Almost so personal you don't want to let others hear it. You can read right into somebodies fucking SOUL when you're listening to that. Jimi Hendrix played that way, each night was different because depending his mood, background, and yes, intoxication was reflected in each note of his solos. John Mayer's so-called 'O-faces' and contortions are a product of the same. Getting in that 'headspace' is a whole other level of playing. Hendrix even talks about it in several songs. Its almost funny how people who haven't been in that headspace don't even get it. Most think he's talking about drugs. He's not. Its a double-entendre, an inside joke for other musicians. "Have you ever been experienced? Not necessarily stoned, but... beautiful. Are you experienced? Well, I am. Let me prove it to you... [insert solo here]"