Jesse Screed
It gets kind of old hearing how stupid, lazy, spoiled, and lowbrow we kids are. 

Just because you don't want to hear it doesn't mean it isn't true.
 
I'm kidding. You're absolutely right that there are plenty of talented players in every generation. I am not at all pessimistic about the future of music. 
 
What we old farts are really complaining about is fadishness. When you're young you're more easily manipulated by propaganda, by commercialism, by the need to be stylish. Why do advertisers concentrate on the youth market? Is it because they have all the money? Hardly. It's because young people are malleable. Trust me, we've no grounds for feeling superior - somewhere a photo exists of me in bell-bottoms, silk scarf and ankle-length army coat flashing a peace sign.
 

I put in a lot of years and hard work to achieve curmudgeon status. I'll nay be givin' it up without a fight. Or a least a long winded diatribe about how good things used to be.

Guitar playing styles come ...Guitar playing styles go...Just like the passing Clouds in the Sky.
When in doubt , just be the best example of what you want too be and hear as a guitar player ....
Keep at it until you carve you own thing playing the guitar ..
Nobody in this World can do your thing better than you ...Can They ?
 
Kenny
 

Jesse Screed
You all need to search a bit more.  There are some fantastic musicians from my generation that can play well, and want to do more than shred. 

Links or it dinnit happen.

bapu

Jesse Screed
You all need to search a bit more.  There are some fantastic musicians from my generation that can play well, and want to do more than shred. 

Links or it dinnit happen.

Woooohhhttt ... sausage (links) for breakfast! Who wouldathunk it?

Jesse Screed
You old guys slay me.
 
This is about the nth "what's wrong with kids these days," thread in the last month.  I think I'll start a thread called "old people know everything except when to stfu."
 
You all need to search a bit more.  There are some fantastic musicians from my generation that can play well, and want to do more than shred. 
 
It gets kind of old hearing how stupid, lazy, spoiled, and lowbrow we kids are. 
 
Sorry for the rant, go ahead, ban me, or pillory me, or ignore me, or whatever else you old farts do when someone young calls out your BS.
 
The coffee house is all yours gramps.
 
Jesse Q. Screed

Assuming much, aren't we? 
 
Instead of suggesting that people search more, how about you take the time to actually read what is written?
 
Had you done so, you'd seen that I included a lot of folks my age, therefore adressing the issue as a trend, not one of age group.
 
You'd also see that nowhere did I write that no young musicians could play with gusto. 
 
I'll not blame your jumping to conclusion on your age group either, though I think it is a most deplorable attitude.
 
 
 

tom1
 
You tell 'em Jesse.  I would have said the same thing 50 years ago   :)

Best post by tom1 EVAH!!!!!!

Someday I hope to have a lawn so I can yell at punks to get orf it... 

I was recently regaled by/subjected to a concert by Tommy Emmanuel on PBS as part of an old fart oriented pledge break (they are all old fart oriented if you had not already guessed). This guy clearly has much more than a few riffs playing over and over as in the OP, but nonetheless I was underwhelmed. It is not the lack of a ability to manage basic stuff, but the fact that the arrangements were far more designed to highlight his undisputed virtuosity, than to enhance the music. The fact that you can do amazing things with an instrument, does not answer the question of whether you should do amazing things. When showcasing the technique of an undoubtedly accomplished performer becomes dominant over making the best music possible with the technique, the listener, and the music loses. 

Being old, and a guitar player who learned how to play from the Beatles and the other musical groups of the 60's.... yeah I can relate.
 
I see YouTube videos of kids, posted on Facebook ... both boys and girls who can flat out shred a guitar fretboard.  And in the one that comes to mind, the little girl (she looks to be about 12 years of age)  is setting there shredding to a Metallica song or some other technically advanced song and not a hint of emotion on her face or in her playing. None.... Just the display of the technical skills and ability to play at a high rate of speed.  Perhaps one day she will hear some Santana and that will touch her and she will learn about soul and how to incorporate it into her technical prowess.

I have seen that, and like so many others here, had the proverbial, "I should burn my guitars and quit playing" moment. However, I remember there are guitarists like Carlos Santana, Mark Knoppler, Chet Atkins and so many other really talented and tasteful players. Too many to recall or name. And I want to align myself with that group. The ones who touch the heart and soul of the listener.

Give me a choice between technical shredding and tasteful soul and I'll take the slower, tasteful, emotional playing every time. It may not be fancy and the Metallica crowd would likely find it boring, but it touches the deeper parts of the listener's soul and if it takes them away for that brief moment, it was all worth it.