General Music Chat

My dad had a good ringer for modern-day country music - Just think of it as corporate-produced 80's rock.

that's exactly what i've been saying for some time about this "Nascar Pop" swill that passes for country music these days.....bad 80's rock stiffly played on top of the beat that sounds like they've all got a stick up their butt. you'd never know it was "country music" until some telegenic doofus fresh off the bus from LA or NY starts twangin' about how "my momma raised me right cos' we was poor but we had each other...that's how we do it countrystyle". mah gawd....gimme a friggin' break.

now a lot of the older stuff like up to the late 70's/early 80's was pretty good. old clint black, george strait, and of course merle, g jones, buck owens, willie, waylon.....some of that stuff is pretty cool and fun to play if you're not locked into doing a note for note carbon copy of the originals.

I hate to say it, but I went to school in western PA.
(I had a tough time with that crowd.)

Whenever I am in the southern states I tend to get questions like, "are you from the mid-west"?

Being an ex theater major, sometimes I pick up accents accidentally.

And I always say "yes-sir" or "yes-ma'am" because no one likes a foreigner visiting the area. My next trip will not be a visit.

And I know for a fact there is a lot of diversity in TX and that suits me fine.

And I only know a couple of Spanish cuss words, but that's ok.
Every time I use a cuss word, I tend to spent 30 days in jail, give or take along with a hefty fine.

I am trying to kick that habit before I need an auto loan to pay off my fines. LOL

I hate to say it, but I went to school in western PA.
(I had a tough time with that crowd.)

Whenever I am in the southern states I tend to get questions like, "are you from the mid-west"?

Being an ex theater major, sometimes I pick up accents accidentally.

And I always say "yes-sir" or "yes-ma'am" because no one likes a foreigner visiting the area. My next trip will not be a visit.

And I know for a fact there is a lot of diversity in TX and that suits me fine.

And I only know a couple of Spanish cuss words, but that's ok.
Every time I use a cuss word, I tend to spent 30 days in jail, give or take along with a hefty fine.

I am trying to kick that habit before I need an auto loan to pay off my fines. LOL

Thats okay I'll teach some spanish cusswords over a few Shiner Beers!

deal !!!

I think I am going to lock the doors and close the shades.

I just got another call from another C+W guy/group/whatever.

Normally, I'd give it a try but I don't think it's a good idea AT ALL.

I don't run with scissors, either. LOL

I am getting pissed at the hardcore but I'd do that with ZEAL before I lowered myself to that other genre.

Ok, time for 2 bananas and a liter of Sprite !!! LMAO

Hell Capt just admit it, you cant handle playing country!

Some of those licks are tough, I found that out the hard way.

I just don't like the twang of it.

I could tolerate the guitar twang I guess, but I'd be unhappy.
(I don't know the first thing about playing country music guitar.)

The vocal track would be a whole other issue.
(where's my bass! lol)

The lowest, cleanest form I care to explore would be stuff similar to what I've already done or older nonsense like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CQh0_2bGtc

Tales of Brave Ulysses. I thought that seemed interesting enough without being overbearing and just plain boring as hell.

I think I am going to lock the doors and close the shades.

I just got another call from another C+W guy/group/whatever.

Normally, I'd give it a try but I don't think it's a good idea AT ALL.

I don't run with scissors, either. LOL

I am getting pissed at the hardcore but I'd do that with ZEAL before I lowered myself to that other genre.

Ok, time for 2 bananas and a liter of Sprite !!! LMAO

As soon as I hear the twang of the c+w vocals, I just shrivel.

Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl...the most horrid thing I can think of is country vocals...might be even worse than opera...

I've played country many times, often you have no choice in bar bands. But I refuse to try and sing it...I hate country mainly due to the vocals. A lot of the musicians are excellent players, and as JW noted, some of their licks are very tough to try and play. Country has some incredible guitar players. I don't mind playing clean at all, I think a good clean sound is indispensable, even in rock. If you don't think so, just listen to some of the incredible clean sound Gilmour gets in some Pink Floyd tunes. Mark Knopfler on Sultans of Swing. Eric Johnson...

It's the vocals that makes my skin crawl...

Which is why I play country if I have to, but I refuse to even try and sing it...

Thing is though, my father tried to shove country down my throat. Screamed at me for 30 years ore more because I played and listened to rock. Not even playing high school band and jazz band, and learning every instrument in the place made him let up and accept the fact that I was a MUSICIAN...not just another guitar player. I'd mention the school jazz band and he'd start screaming "You'll never amount to nuttin' playing that sh*t you listen to"...which had absolutely nothing to do with the original topic, jazz band. I didn't play country so I was public enemy #1. Nothing ever changed his mind, and if that's the attitude that goes with it, I want nothing to do with it.

He's not the only one. A friend in Houston many years ago found out about all that, and usually listened to country and rock. Next time I came over, Dire Straits 1st album was on. Before I got to the door it suddenly went off, a country radio station replaced it and I never heard rock in that house again. Didn't go there much any more either. At least a dozen country listeners have done that. Finds out I hate country and think they have to force it on me. The most common comment is :Oh you'll get used to it if you listen to it for a while". I DID listen to it my entire childhood, hated every minute of it. Hated it more every time it was forced on me. Any time I asked my father to find something else on the radio he'd yell 'It's MY radio I'll listen to what I want to." And turn it up.

Not many people really understand why I hate country, but after going through that kind of thing for 30 years, I want nothing to do with it. I won't play a lot of rock on the stereo if I have visitors who are not into it, usually I just turn it off entirely. The people I've been around who listen to country have no such consideration, they think if they like it you have to like it too..if not, they'll just force it on you.

Scott all I can say is do what you think is best for you. I've turned down chances to play for outright country bands. I usually play for variety bands, since the places I've lived you don't get gigs unless you do play some country. At least enough to keep them from booing you offstage...but not a full time country band, not me...

Do what you want, I wouldn't even have to think about it twice.

NOPE, See ya...

As soon as I hear the twang of the c+w vocals, I just shrivel.

Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl...the most horrid thing I can think of is country vocals...might be even worse than opera...

I've played country many times, often you have no choice in bar bands. But I refuse to try and sing it...I hate country mainly due to the vocals. A lot of the musicians are excellent players, and as JW noted, some of their licks are very tough to try and play. Country has some incredible guitar players. I don't mind playing clean at all, I think a good clean sound is indispensable, even in rock. If you don't think so, just listen to some of the incredible clean sound Gilmour gets in some Pink Floyd tunes. Mark Knopfler on Sultans of Swing. Eric Johnson...

It's the vocals that makes my skin crawl...

Which is why I play country if I have to, but I refuse to even try and sing it...

Thing is though, my father tried to shove country down my throat. Screamed at me for 30 years ore more because I played and listened to rock. Not even playing high school band and jazz band, and learning every instrument in the place made him let up and accept the fact that I was a MUSICIAN...not just another guitar player. I'd mention the school jazz band and he'd start screaming "You'll never amount to nuttin' playing that sh*t you listen to"...which had absolutely nothing to do with the original topic, jazz band. I didn't play country so I was public enemy #1. Nothing ever changed his mind, and if that's the attitude that goes with it, I want nothing to do with it.

He's not the only one. A friend in Houston many years ago found out about all that, and usually listened to country and rock. Next time I came over, Dire Straits 1st album was on. Before I got to the door it suddenly went off, a country radio station replaced it and I never heard rock in that house again. Didn't go there much any more either. At least a dozen country listeners have done that. Finds out I hate country and think they have to force it on me. The most common comment is :Oh you'll get used to it if you listen to it for a while". I DID listen to it my entire childhood, hated every minute of it. Hated it more every time it was forced on me. Any time I asked my father to find something else on the radio he'd yell 'It's MY radio I'll listen to what I want to." And turn it up.

Not many people really understand why I hate country, but after going through that kind of thing for 30 years, I want nothing to do with it. I won't play a lot of rock on the stereo if I have visitors who are not into it, usually I just turn it off entirely. The people I've been around who listen to country have no such consideration, they think if they like it you have to like it too..if not, they'll just force it on you.

Scott all I can say is do what you think is best for you. I've turned down chances to play for outright country bands. I usually play for variety bands, since the places I've lived you don't get gigs unless you do play some country. At least enough to keep them from booing you offstage...but not a full time country band, not me...

Do what you want, I wouldn't even have to think about it twice.

NOPE, See ya...

Pete, I hear ya...
Real C& W came from the likes of Gene Autrey, Hank Williams, Charlie Pride, George Jones, etc... and it was a true American genre. But Then we got "Hee-Haw", a countrified version of Lawrence Welk... The C& W scene's worst mistake was fusing itself with Rock. That was so dishonest and outright disgusting...(for both genres). In the 70's We entered into the age of the 'drug-store' cowboys. It was a whole lot less about the music and more about image and attention grabbing. I blame Nashville for perpetuating the modern country-bumpkin appeal and making a bunch of skoal-chewing ranch hands believe they were somehow, important in the country music industry.

Its no wonder you were put out by the vocals. Somehow, they thought that attacking the theme of trucks and broken hearts would go down better with a dose of "stuck-pig' whiney voices...

I watched the CMA awards show the other night and enjoyed it more than many of the other music shows, I guess Im getting old, but the newer country is just rock to me.

Brad Paisley and Kieth Urban both kick ass on guitar, Im actually going to start trying to incorporate more of thier "country pickin" in my own playing.

I watched the CMA awards show the other night and enjoyed it more than many of the other music shows, I guess Im getting old, but the newer country is just rock to me.

Brad Paisley and Kieth Urban both kick ass on guitar, I'm actually going to start trying to incorporate more of thier "country pickin" in my own playing.

John, when I watched Melissa Lambert doing a new tune I presume she had written, I kept thinking this is NOT COUNTRY MUSIC! this is blasphemy in the highest order!.. Merle Travis was prolly turning in his grave.. it was concert rock from the 1970's!

I'm not a big fan of country, especially the current Top 40 pop country. I do think that if you HAD to play it though, playing guitar would be the most fun (read: bearable). Some of those guitarists (when they're not playing the typical R&R licks with the distortion cranked) are really talented I think.

LOL@ PEG and the bearable statement..

YEAH HEE HAW IS NO WAY TO GO THROUGH LIFE>.

I respect all musicians and the ability to play whatever you play is unique to each and every person, but not all people can play everything..def not.

I am 100% with you Pete.

I might be able to slog through it depending on what's played but I would be crying on the inside. LOL

My soul cries all the time, no need to stab it further lest we see some real waterworks or even worse, bad temperament. (gulp-trying to beat that down)