Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t criticizing a choice to use a different beat, just that the one you selected had a rather uncomfortable inside swing factor at that tempo, or that tune, or perhaps simply from fighting the played guitar. Quite honestly, the further from the original something can get AND STILL WORK the better!

I also wouldn’t put any stock on the pro/amateur distinction. I’ve heard amateurs that blow me away and paid professional players that were horrible..! The only distinction is how willing you are to chip away at weaknesses until you achieve realism. As a guitarist, you might notice them more than the average listener…

Speaking of which..! You have to remember that an arranger forum is NOT where you go to play stuff to the ‘average listener’. Whether skilled or beginner, everyone here filters their impression through the lens of being an arranger player themselves. Quite honestly, the ‘average listener’ tends to be a lot more brutal than we do! You don’t get any brownie points for attempting to emulate a guitar sound, or how good the basic sound is, you simply get a ‘What the hell is that guitarist doing?!’

Most ‘average listeners’ don’t know why a groove might not be working, they just know it don’t get their toes tapping, and they fast forward to the next tune.