General Music Chat

I ve kinda lost a lot of my theory knowledge thru the years, but the other night a very well studied guitarist i know showed up and made the statement, "I like how you were vamping between a Dorian and Lydian mode in that little jam session you guys got into" All I could say was thanks for the complement. I know it just sounded good at the time, it didnt matter what I was doing. But in our sets in my solos I tend to go all over the place, sometimes it falls on its face Im afraid to say, but most of the time I seem to land on my feet and our bassist will say something like "Man you were really burning on that one!" So all is good with me.

Actually when I took a lot of theory in college we had a numbering system we used for quick studio tabs. I really cant remember what we were doing now, but it was a quick way to get up to speed when trying to lay down tracks quickly. I guess I should get out all my old books and brush up. Cause these days a lot of this stuff just kinda comes natural to me without even thinking about it.

WTF ? Ok I give up. Send in the clones.

It's a more simplified version of keeping track of the notes, using a numerical equivalent to represent all chromatic variations (half tones etc.)

If you know how a regular chord is made, you can substitute the numbers for a sometimes confusing letter scale.

Seems pretty cool to me, but I bet it's hard to remember unless you practice it all the time.

yeah.....I'm intent on learning how to read sheet music so I can put my stuff on a staff to amaze sheet musicians and tab sheet music....I've noticed that all the theory in the world doesn't make you a talented person, it makes you knowledgeable, I'm just a bassist so I figure as long as I know where my notes are on the neck I'm good

ted - you're way ahead of the game, then. I'm amazed at how many ppl can't find a C# on their axes...makes me wonder how they play at all.

fisherman bob's music theory: get a good axe and amp then play your butt off until it starts sounding good then find a few other people who play different instruments get together and play your collective butts off until it starts sounding good then get in front of people and play your butt off and see if the people like what you"re doing if so then your music theory works. Then go fishing and play disc golf then come home and your wife is pissed off because you"re never home. Music theory gone awry....

thanks philby, yah a lil knowledge and some good technique seems to be what it takes to make it in this here industry, I got like 4 medleys I'm working based of open hammer hammer and thumb hammer with a lil bit of tap thrown in too, now to get recording this good stuff

Fisherman Bob has nailed it once again. Nice cast there Bob.
I do want to eventually be one of those guys who can sit in front of a sheet of music and play anything on his guitar, with anyone.
That would be very cool. To my way of seeing it. This is what seperates a guitarist from the musician.
As for now, I enjoy being a guitarist, on his way, slowly to musician.

Fisherman Bob has nailed it once again. Nice cast there Bob.
I do want to eventually be one of those guys who can sit in front of a sheet of music and play anything on his guitar, with anyone.
That would be very cool. To my way of seeing it. This is what seperates a guitarist from the musician.
As for now, I enjoy being a guitarist, on his way, slowly to musician.

I too appreciate and perceive the element of truth in FishermanBob's point of view,

HOWEVER,,,,,,

Philby alludes to a vital point as well. Not being able to produce a chord on his or her instrument, if and when I might call it out, would be grounds for dismissal in any serious band that I was trying to put together, irregardless of how astounding a solo said player could conjure up.
I like to play with golden eared jammers, but there is no substitute for knowin' your axe, and the nomenclature of harmony if you need to cook up reportore in a hurry. I put high priority on solid rythmn players.
HJ

Granted.
Rythmn players / playing is the infantryman of the band.
Some are born being atune to the various sounds, for most it is a labor of experience and repetiveness.
I fall into the second catagory for sure. It is a labor of love though.
At times I think it would be nice if we had a lead player. So I could focus more on being part of a solid rythmn section. I stand to lear a lot from Eric, our bassest. The only "musician" in our band.

I figure if you can't play any given note on every string on your axe, you prolly don't know enough to play with me. I stress this stuff to my students, but they often don't seem to get the point.

I won't waste time on ppl that don't comprehend the basics. The more unusual chords I can show you, or learn, if necessary, but if you don't know the notes on your neck, I'm wasting my time.

I'm no musical wizard by any means, but if you tell me what you're playing, I can find a bass line for it, or follow with my own chording as a rhythm guy, or figure out what needs to be done on the mandolin, within the confines of my own ability.

Being in a band means you hafta be able to communicate the music to others, & understand your bandmates. If you can't do that, the band you're in is either over your head & you need to study a lot, or they're too uneducated to work with you, & you prolly need to work with someone else.

Maybe theory would help me learn faster, but I've been able to keep up with some fairly sophisticated musicians (Jerry Dowell for example, check out JerryDowellband.com). Once I learn something I just about never forget it. I guess if you run into a wall, theory might help you get over it. But in some ways depending on theory for everything might be a wall of sorts. If you play your instrument a lot and play with other people a lot then over time you shoul be able to better yourself without knowledge of theory. I can't tell you what I'm playing half the time, I just know it works.

I figure if you can't play any given note on every string on your axe, you prolly don't know enough to play with me. I stress this stuff to my students, but they often don't seem to get the point.

I won't waste time on ppl that don't comprehend the basics. The more unusual chords I can show you, or learn, if necessary, but if you don't know the notes on your neck, I'm wasting my time.

I'm no musical wizard by any means, but if you tell me what you're playing, I can find a bass line for it, or follow with my own chording as a rhythm guy, or figure out what needs to be done on the mandolin, within the confines of my own ability.

Being in a band means you hafta be able to communicate the music to others, & understand your bandmates. If you can't do that, the band you're in is either over your head & you need to study a lot, or they're too uneducated to work with you, & you prolly need to work with someone else.

I concur 100% (a rare event)

I will get to that point in my ability to play my axe in time.
I do appreciate the importance.
Butt
I could sit in my corner memorizing notes.
Or
I can compose and play music to glorify my Lord within the confines of my skill level.

Easy choice for the majority of my practice time.