Specialising

Hey SG. Thats a good question and you're probably going to get alot of different answers. I've only been playing 1.5 years so take my answer with a "grain of salt".

I think in the beginning especially its very important to get familiar with alot of different styles. But its even more imporant to find things that get you jazzed about playing because it will make you pract.... errr play more. Of course, all this is after you get down the basics and are making musical sounds.

Good luck to ya
Geoo

my playing took a meandering route. the kind of music I wanted to play decided things for me.

I think it is important to be as versitile as one can be.
that said, one cannot be everything.

I began learning simple leads, but really liked rythm guitar.
then, power chords came into the mix. then I found myself working simple triads up and down the neck.
then open tuning and slide entered.

what I am saying I guess is to not narrow yourself. learn the instrument. see where it wants to take you. pay attention.

Ive learned a few cowboy licks, a few jazz comping styles, opne tuning doesnt scare or befuddle me. in this way I =can be ready for just about anything.
I know my limitations.
I am first off saying I dont have pyrotechnic licks.
what I have I own. they are tasty.

My experience is similar to Dogbite's. I let my style develop by working on whatever interested me at the time. One week it might be acoustic strumming and the next week lead electric playing. For me, the key was to focus on what I was interested in. That kept it exciting and kept bringing me back to my guitar to play.

In my opinion, when you're beginning on guitar, specilization shouldn't even cross your mind. When learning the basics, I agree with Dogbite and FenderBender, just play whatever style it is at the moment that gets you picking up the guitar every day. Once you get to an intermediate/advanced level though, then it depends on what you really want out of your guitar playing. If you goal is to be a classical guitar virtuoso, then playing progressive metal lead guitar is probably not helping you reach your goal...and a goal like that is going to take just about all of the guitar-playing energy that you have to give. However, if your goal is to be able to sit around and entertain friends with your guitar or play with whoever wants to play, no matter the style, then specialization would be almost detrimental. That's just my take on it though. In the end, it can never hurt to learn something new; you never know where it will be applicable.

A lot of what you read in this thread, I'm sure, will seem quite subjective, but there is alot of objective information here.

I'll try to clarify/add some. :D

It's good early on to just play guitar whatever. It'll help you stretch your fingers and get used to picking and generally make you realise it's a great instrument. This being said, it's not essential you play anyone style and so people will find themselves start in the area they thought they wanted to play guitar for, but most likely continue to pull out all the "cool bits" of different styles. This in many ways is a good thing as it widens your techniques and ideas.

HOWEVER. When you are sure that the guitar is your thing and you want to invest more into it (be it time OR money) then you'll soon realise something. That you could play lead and almost exclusively lead and I'm sure you'll become highly skilled in bending, runs picking and other associated skills. In one sense, you'd be better technically at lead than someone who floated about between things. Perhaps if you only ever wanted to play covers in a band this would be ideal. But should you want to write your own material, you might find it very hard to write your own stuff AND VARY IT (which is key) without the cool bits (knowledge/theory/ideas) you would have otherwise picked up if you played a variety of styles.

I'm not trying to scare you and no-one else is, but yes, it does make a big difference as to what route you take.

It's important to remember also, that mixing styles is very common in certain areas. Look at metal. Often the guitarists will exhibit a wide variety of skills (to varying degrees) of classical guitar. Eg. Yngwie Malmsteen

This can go as far as being the guitarist in a three piece, where you will have to be equally good at rhythm as you are at solos. Don't think that either form is diluted, as you'll see with John Frusciante and Jimi Hendrix, it's far from.

-SUBJECTIVE STUFF DOWN HERE V- :D

Personally I play rhythm guitar in a band, but that by no means I don't play lead and solo and play my Hendrix/Frusciante/Greenwood when I get back home. In this way, I actively ensure that I maintain a solid lead guitar ability (watch out in the thread about uplaoding your own stuff, as I'll shortly put something of me playing up :) ).

*I think I did a pretty job of being really subjective throughout that, but help this all helps.

:D

Another take on it, from a different perspective: most people who play guitar don't really aim to be the best, or even the best they can get. Most people want to have fun playing guitar, like most people who play football every now and then don't aim for the Liverpool first eleven. If you are one of these people then use the following rule:

If you're having fun, you're doing fine.

thanks for you're replies,
I think that i'll try as many styles as practical and see what i can learn from them

thanks again