General Music Chat

Not intended to be an analogy about picking skills or taste.

What I said was more about freedom of expression and individual taste. There are always some who like it, some some don't. Music is freedom of expression. A song gets into a musicians head and comes out of his fingers. Sometimes it comes out better than what his ears heard, sometimes worse. Composition and taste... qualities that mature in time.

Complaining that a musician uses someone else's licks or composition is petty. There is more than enough room for speed freaks, scale players, melody driven pieces, or mood music. The point is that it is music. I work to get what I want out of my head and out of my guitar. And some don't like it, some do. Just the nature of the beast.

I've heard guys fawn over some cute chick musicians stuff before. When I went to listen, I just heard a bunch of flat and sharp vocals that were not impressive at all. I found no reason to post and say that. Why try to crush the spirit of someone who is trying? I don't understand why someone would go out of their way to crush someones spirit when they could simply not comment. When someone complains and tells someone what they don't like about their style more than once it seems to me more like their problem.

I have tripped over stuff and almost killed myself trying to get to the radio to kill a pop song, or a rap tune, or some country or rock composition that my ears found objectionable. Yet I can find something good in any genre or style from time to time. Tribute bands do not capture my attention either. But some people prefer to hear them over groups performing their own material. It's all music and there is more than enough room for everyone to express themselves.

I try not to imitate chops, but we all do at times.. even if we have never heard them before. We may think they are our own, but somewhere someone else is playing them.

If that wasn't the case we would all be playing the same songs the same way. I never really got into Hendrix. It wasn't for lack of drugs.
There were just too many really good jazz and fusion musicians I preferred to listen to.

Hey Slacker, I put the Sky Down solo in my profile so you guys could take a listen.

Like I said, not much to it, but Ive had people come up to me and say it gives them goose-bumps live. That's the biggest compliment I think a musician can get.

Keep in mind the solo starts with the swells at the end of the melodica. I do that live as well.

Anyway, tell me what you think.

I'm not taking sides, I'm not trying to stroke Shredd's ego. I got chills that started on my head, then arms then legs. When the solo jumped up the octave the chills came back. This is a clear example of less is more. I'm not kidding.

Ok, Sean. I haven't weighed in on anything you've posted yet, so I will now. You're a pretty good player (not my style, but pretty good). I do like the two-hand tap techniques that you use...definetly reminds me of VH a ton. But by the same token...I really don't use it that much because it's really easy to over-do it. It's better used as a short accent, then get the hell out of it and back to the rhythm.


I see that you've got something goin' with Colors and a couple of others here, but to state it as a challenge...it kind of makes me LOL. Much like Shredd6, I'm a REAL shredder that also knows how to lay back and let the song breathe. To guys like us, everything you've posted is very basic, although it does show that you've got some skills.


With that being said...rock on man! Don't try to challenge anyone here and just keep jammin' and comin' up with stuff just as we all do. Don't make me have to pull out the good ol' butt-hurt report form...

There's a song I have on our new album called Sky Down. In the lead there is one single note that kills doing a scale. And that's not my words really. I get props for it at our shows. It's a slow lead, not much to it technically, but it sucks you in from the first note.

awesome bro, I love your bands sound, I friended them on myspace, gonna have to grab your cd when it's available. I agree, that in music, your lead solos, need not follow a set "trick" or be too technical in fact, my band screams simplicity, and I wrote most of the songs, but it seems like Seans intention with these videos is to highlight his technical prowess and trick bag. Thats great but too many and I lose interest. Playing with a live band in a show setting is totally different than what he's doing, that bag of tricks gets old quick to a live audience.

oh and by the way, sean, I liked most of what I've heard so far, in context, I'd like to see videos of you playing with a live band, and see how you implement all of that into the song..I don't feel qualified to judge you, because frankly I can't do any lead whatsoever, my brain just doesn't wrap myself around that technique...I am in awe of anyone who can play lead successfully because if there we're one other art I would master if I could would be that. Some people aren't hardwired for it tho. Thats my theory anyway.

Shredd, your solo sounds out of key!

In any event, I like anyone from Las Vegas, I go 4x / year, I hang out at the kitty Cat Lounge at Mandalay Bay, I love that place.

Shredd, your solo sounds out of key!

Not even close to out of key. I can't imagine what would make you say that.

Slacker G wrote: I don't understand why someone would go out of their way to crush someones spirit .

I'm with you on this and just about everything in your rebuttal, I think Sean said it alrady; listen if you like it move on if you don't.


Now if you'll excuse me I think the hot dogs on the grill are ready.

Yea, I guess you’re right, it kind of in key, however, his fingers sound very tense. I love the bass line, great song, reggae is awesome! Good for drinking in the summer. Let me put a solo on it, send the song over without any guitar! I donlt mean to be mean, I love the song!!!

Now that is something I would love to hear.

Sean, it's not a home recording. I don't have a version like that.

It's ok for you to have any opinion you want on my playing, I don't mind at all. But I guess my point is, I believe you CAN do really good solos. I've said that before, and still think so.

If you wanna do a reggae solo, record one. Not really a whole lot technical going on in the rhythms. Pick 2 chords, skank them out, and record a solo to it. You know, when I record practice stuff at home, I don't even use a Bass guitar. I take a regular guitar, use the neck pickup, turn the tone knob all the way down, take out all treble and mids in the mixer, and record a Bass line. It's not a "killer Bass tone", but it works for practicing.

Great playing Shred, I'm getting bored with every one not being able to hear what is real and what is not. This thread has kinda gone gabongzo.
I know Sean can play but why does any one want to feed us BS.

At least when we talk politics we call all the BS out. This is the fourth or fifth thread about this crap ,,,,,and you guys keep adding to Seans BULL.

Sean post some more of your REAL music, With a REAL Band, with true musical talent, and stop taunting these guys. I'm getting bored with you and your pushing me to list the reasons why BO has betrayed his oath of office,maybe broken the law, and in general liven up this site with ANOTHER POLITICAL DISCUSSION. Do you want that on your concience? It's up to you.

How did I switch topics so quickly, Ask CHIPPY.

Shred,

I liked your Sky Down ride. You did a real nice job on that. I really like Reggae too, so that gives it some extra push. Melodic rides are always the the ones that capture my attention the most.

I see that you've got something goin' with Colors and a couple of others here, but to state it as a challenge...it kind of makes me LOL.

Sean is just searching for validation. I don't know why; that's an internal thing. Maybe a therapist could tell you why he needs validation so badly.

I just get tired of him posting the SAME videos over and over. Seen 'em a few times now. Same sh*t; nothing new and nothing inspiring. Nothing to compliment a song. It's just wanking over and over. Tricks without context.

That's the worst thing - it's all without context. Sean claims to be a big EVH fan, but Eddie did everything (except Eruption) in the context of a SONG. Eddie's solos served the song; they made the song better.

Sean's solos just serve Sean's ego.

And I still haven't seen him with a real band. It's all sh*t in his basement; backing tracks laying low so he can play tricks over the top. Neato.

I'm interested in music. I can get all the tricks I can stand by watching instructional videos.