General Music Chat

Irminsul that'a a very nice piece. My wife plays harp, both celtic and classical and she liked it too.

The ratio of guitarists to bass/drummers here is about the same as everywhere both internet and otherwise. It makes it very difficult sometimes to find a band/gig situation. I also play mandolin, banjo and harmonica which sometimes helps but there a many more bands looking for bass/drums/vocals than there are guitarists. That's why we're all here!

The bass players don't hang out here 'cause they're all gigging already.

That is what I figured. I have actually thought of billing my self as a bass player since I can play bass and actually pretty well. I just don't get into playing bass like I do guitar.

Sounds like you have some other instruments under your belt and now we know of two harp players. Cool.

HA, loved the comment about the bass. Back in 1982, when I just moved back to Utah for a bit, I really wanted to join a band and get playing but no one seemed to want a keyboardist. EVery other band, however, was looking for a bass player. So I swallowed my agenda and showed up for an audition for a real power-hitter metal band, who also (ta daaaaa) advertised that they owned the bass equipment and just needed the player. I showed up and totally winged it, I had never played bass before in my life. They hired me on the spot and that gig ran for three years.

Judging from a peek at craigslist recently, nothing has changed. Everybody wants a drummer or a bass player, and I think that's because those positions are usually supporting ones for the "stars" at the lead vocal mic or lead guitar.

ON EDIT ----

I just peeked over to another forum thread and got a HUGE laugh out of this ->

Are There No Guitar Players Out There???
http://forum.bandmix.com/viewtopic.php?t=4199

Irminsul that'a a very nice piece. My wife plays harp, both celtic and classical and she liked it too.

The ratio of guitarists to bass/drummers here is about the same as everywhere both internet and otherwise. It makes it very difficult sometimes to find a band/gig situation. I also play mandolin, banjo and harmonica which sometimes helps but there a many more bands looking for bass/drums/vocals than there are guitarists. That's why we're all here!

The bass players don't hang out here 'cause they're all gigging already.

Thank you Jon, and I'm glad to hear you took up with a harper. We's good people!

The guitar player paradox: the guitar is relatively easy to learn a few chords and play a tune or two, but it is very hard to master. This keeps Guitar Center and sites like BandMix in business.

The guitar player paradox: the guitar is relatively easy to learn a few chords and play a tune or two, but it is very hard to master. This keeps Guitar Center and sites like BandMix in business.

True. It's one of those "instant gratification" instruments and I'm sure that's the big part of its draw to aspiring performers. When it's mastered, it's a wondrous thing.

The guitar player paradox: the guitar is relatively easy to learn a few chords and play a tune or two, but it is very hard to master. This keeps Guitar Center and sites like BandMix in business.

True. It's one of those "instant gratification" instruments and I'm sure that's the big part of its draw to aspiring performers. When it's mastered, it's a wondrous thing.

Instant gratification?

30 years and I am still trying to be gratified playing the stupid thing.

The more I learn the more I find out I don't know.

I have been getting into Rodrigo and Gabriela as of late and the way Gabriela plays is mind bending. Looks like more time inthe woodshed for me.

I have been getting into Rodrigo and Gabriela as of late and the way Gabriela plays is mind bending. Looks like more time inthe woodshed for me.

Holy Crap! I just got hold of a few of their tunes last month and, just for the fun of it, am in the process of figuring out "Tamacum". I agree on the way Gabriela plays is amazing. I could learn her parts but it would take weeks of having to learn her style and, honestly, it would be a waste unless I was going to play that all the time. Rodruigo's part is a lot of fun to learn...this is when I wish I had something better than an old, cheap, crappy Yamaha acoustic.

Instant gratification?

30 years and I am still trying to be gratified playing the stupid thing.

The more I learn the more I find out I don't know..

Yeah, that sounded a little funny didn't it. Let me explain. I meant that guitar is one of those instruments that someone learn a few chords on very quickly, and get some quick gratification in playing. Of course you are right, to master the instrument is a lifetime pursuit.

Oddly enough I keep telling people that harp is instantly gratifying too, but no one will believe me.

Instant gratification?

30 years and I am still trying to be gratified playing the stupid thing.

The more I learn the more I find out I don't know..

Yeah, that sounded a little funny didn't it. Let me explain. I meant that guitar is one of those instruments that someone learn a few chords on very quickly, and get some quick gratification in playing. Of course you are right, to master the instrument is a lifetime pursuit.

Oddly enough I keep telling people that harp is instantly gratifying too, but no one will believe me.

I do not know why they would not believe you. The harp is a beautiful instrument, I could see why being able to even play one song on it would be gratifying.

I do not know why they would not believe you. The harp is a beautiful instrument, I could see why being able to even play one song on it would be gratifying.

Well here's an odd but true tale for you...

I once got hired, years ago, to play for (get this) a group of deaf people attending a large convention involving legal issues for The Deaf. I couldn't believe the lady who called me, I said "Is this a prank call? Why would you want me to play for people who cannot hear?" (I thought for a second that it was a friend who was punking me out and insinuating that the only audience who could possibly enjoy my music was one that couldn't hear it LOL). But the woman was totally serious and said that they can actually feel the vibrations of the instrument and make sense of the sound in their head in a way that sort of transcends what you normally call "hearing". I was intrigued, so I accepted. So I show up, had a ASL interpreter to my right (ASL = American Sign Language) as I was talking about the instrument, and then when I started to play one lady made a motion to me asking if it was OK for her to touch the harp as I was playing it. I nodded. So she comes up and places her hands on it...and her eyes light up, she smiles and feels the vibe for a bit, then more people come up and do the same thing. At times there were six or seven people with their hand on the harp, and they all "felt" the music that was coming from it. I just couldn't believe this sight. It was bringing me to tears.

So the moral to that tale is...if a bunch of deaf people would want to lay their hands on a harp, why wouldn't a hearing musician want to?

I do not know why they would not believe you. The harp is a beautiful instrument, I could see why being able to even play one song on it would be gratifying.

Well here's an odd but true tale for you...

I once got hired, years ago, to play for (get this) a group of deaf people attending a large convention involving legal issues for The Deaf. I couldn't believe the lady who called me, I said "Is this a prank call? Why would you want me to play for people who cannot hear?" (I thought for a second that it was a friend who was punking me out and insinuating that the only audience who could possibly enjoy my music was one that couldn't hear it LOL). But the woman was totally serious and said that they can actually feel the vibrations of the instrument and make sense of the sound in their head in a way that sort of transcends what you normally call "hearing". I was intrigued, so I accepted. So I show up, had a ASL interpreter to my right (ASL = American Sign Language) as I was talking about the instrument, and then when I started to play one lady made a motion to me asking if it was OK for her to touch the harp as I was playing it. I nodded. So she comes up and places her hands on it...and her eyes light up, she smiles and feels the vibe for a bit, then more people come up and do the same thing. At times there were six or seven people with their hand on the harp, and they all "felt" the music that was coming from it. I just couldn't believe this sight. It was bringing me to tears.

So the moral to that tale is...if a bunch of deaf people would want to lay their hands on a harp, why wouldn't a hearing musician want to?

Wow. That is actually a beautiful thing. I must agree, I do not know why someone who hears would not want to. It is an extremely beautiful instrument. It is not my style, thus I never have wanted to learn it. But it does send heart soothing sounds permeating through the atmosphere. Thus, I do not know why anyone would criticize it. I think some people just cannot appreciate the sound of such instruments. Many people hate violins, I wish I could play one. I suppose it has to do with taste. Look, I found the stuff I heard of yours beautiful, if a harp can do that I do not know why people would dislike it.

I wish I could take my guitar and play things that are on a harp on it. But, it would be near to impossible to transcribe that over, plus it would not have the same feel. I thought that piece you wrote "My Tapestry" was brilliantly composed. The instruments perfectly support each other. Once more though, who can account for taste, or lack of musical feel.

Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

I wish I could take my guitar and play things that are on a harp on it. ....

Why not try it out? I like what Carlos Santana once said about finding your true "players voice" (I guess that means personal style). He said he found his by shutting himself in a pitchblack room, just he and his guitar, and playing around for hours. Whatever it was, it came through.

I wish I could take my guitar and play things that are on a harp on it. ....

Why not try it out? I like what Carlos Santana once said about finding your true "players voice" (I guess that means personal style). He said he found his by shutting himself in a pitchblack room, just he and his guitar, and playing around for hours. Whatever it was, it came through.

I respect Santana, so I will keep those words in mind. He is a very creative writer. I guess I can attempt to, it is very hard though. I will take a closer listen at some of your pieces, but I doubt I could figure them out. Although, I am enjoying figuring out Farid al-Atrash's oud pieces. I guess if I can figure those out by ear I can figure out anything. *Shrug*

I will take a look at it, thanks for the words of encouragement.


Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

It's funny, I'm a jazz nut who is just trying to learn to play sax so I'm used to sites where everyone and their dog plays tenor sax. Seeing so many guitarists here is kinda weird for me, and I don't have a clue about the music that is brought up here either. I look at checking in here as an expanding of horizons exercise