General Music Chat

I went to an open jam last week in Detroit and jammed with a few black musicians. Cool cats, we found things in common and they invited me to another bar they were playing at Thursday. I went and had a great time; we made plans to jam again this Tuesday. My point is, if you're bored or things are stagnant, get out of your usual routine and challenge yourself.

I'm always looking for a gig with musicians better than myself. My best gig last year I hired a couple of top notch jazz guys to sit in for a garden party. They kept me jumping and focused all evening!!

I bet you were. The older I get the more I appreciate jazz.

Yeah, playing outside of your comfort zone is the ONLY way to improve.
Nothing ventured - nothing gained, huh?
.
At least 50% of all the new songs I write contain a new chord or a new technique for me. . . . or something I can't do so good . . .
I am unable to adequately play about 65% of my last 10 songs.
. . . yet . . .
Many of my songs take me 3 - 12 months of practice before I'm willing to play them in public.
Still, I gain a new 'public-song' every 2 - 3 weeks.
And most of these songs have something in them which I couldn't play a year ago . . .
Originals or covers - same thing.
Find music that you can't play, and try to play it anyway.
It all mostly comes from determination, a willingness to work, practice, and, maybe, a little bit of natural ability. You CAN improve what you are able to play. No matter WHO you are . . .
You may or may not approve of your attempts . . .
. . . BUT . . .
Play outside of your comfort zone, and you WILL get noticably better.

It all comes down to WHAT you practice, huh?

You remind me of a time that I was invited to be part of a trio experimental/ambient group that opened for the 80's band "Dead Or Alive" (yeah, Pete Burns. The same. He was a HOOT). The group was tentatively called "Winkin Blinkin and God" and one of the guys "played" some kitchen appliances like the hum of a refrigerator that he miced and manipulated using various digital delays. It was crazy, it was pure fun and it was very good at just prying my mind open - which was sort of blocked at the time.

There are so many different styles & categories of music out there to choose from, It can make your head spin! At times. If you like alot of everything. I am into covering 'Modern Country' at the present time. I like the way Country of today adds more orchestrated strings in the background. Violin, piano, Banjo, steel guitar, mandolin, etc. Of course, For me, The low B-string on the bass guitar gives it all that little extra punch! I think a 6-string bass will be my next challenge to tackle, When it comes to music? Never sure what is next!...........Peace.

I've always been interested in a Hammer Dulcimer.
.
. . . get a few truly experienced Musicians (that's with a capital 'M') playing together; one on Hammer Dulcimer, one on Bass, and one on harmonica, and - ahhh, . . . you can hear some of the sweetest music . . .
Maybe some day I'll pick up a Hammer Dulcimer . . .
. . . in the meantime, I have 312 quadrillion things I have not yet learned about the instrument I am already attempting to master . . .
.
I figure that if I practice five times as much as anyone I've ever met, and learn a few new techniques every single day, that . . .
Hmmm . . . the math tells me I'll die of old age first. But - when I'm dead, I'll be a pretty good musician!