Thread: Musicians Central

*nods* I'm not knocking formal training, I just don't have any on guitar or bass. I did take keyboard lessons for a couple of years when I was a kid, and I started out on accordion.
That doesn't mean I'm not up on theory though. The lead player in my band was a Berklee grad, and I read the literature that's available. I'm just self-taught. Can read music but I usually don't bother.
Playing in time is huge. I learned how to do that early and it's stuck with me. As a bass player, my primary job was to hit a note in tandem with the bass drum. I also learned how to play ahead or behind the beat to influence the mood of the piece, and to emphasize certain beats (funk on the "one", rock on the "two" or "four").
As a one-man band, versatility is the key. I need to be able to make any sounds that fit what I'm writing, and function in any genre. I'm basically a progrock act anyway...
Zappa taught his band to play any of their material in any style, and had hand signals for them to do so at the drop of a hat. Our band used to do that, and play commercial jingles, etc, while someone was tuning, just to keep the people involved.

Originally Posted by Sigg

i tend to put more of a focus on how the notes are played rather than just something like playing fast.

To that end, I've started writing -- or more accurately, planning my lead solos. Here's one I thought out note-for-note and I'm really happy with it. The song's in progress -- so just scrawled filler lyrics.

Also, caught on to recording two rhythm tracks, which makes a big difference. I like the tone of the lead, but not the rhythm -- again through the Pod and and not my amp.

http://76.12.0.196/dont_take_me.mp3

Originally Posted by moderan

*nods* I'm not knocking formal training, I just don't have any on guitar or bass.

I don't have any either. I don't even know the names of most of the chords I play. I learned by listening and playing by ear. So far, it hasn't been a drawback.

nice song joe, i can tell that you put time into working out the lead, i like the tone too.

as for formal training... i think as a beginner it can be important to have the structure and organization that private lessons or classes in school can bring.

how useful the theory actually is really depends on what style you play. the southern rock or blues doesn't really need much knowledge of musical theory to play. i personally love both of those styles but when im playing the blues im not thinking about harmonies or musical structure as much as i am just jamming to a riff or beat.

on the other hand if im playing something with a much more rigid structure, like neo classical, you really do need to be aware of how it is put together to be able to create your own parts in that style.

that's not to say that you can't learn theory on your own, as moderan said, i just think the classroom environment is more conducive to learning those sorts of things.

also, learning theory in conjuction with the piano is decidedly more intuitive and easier to do than any other instrument ive encountered.

Good solo. Has a nice flow and ring to it, very fitting to the material. I like that rhythm sound, actually, has a nice growl to it that gives the material a little heft. You might consider getting closer to the mike when you're singing to get more bass in-that's a tad thin-sounding.
Learning chord names is simple...you can buy books or a chart-I have a big poster on the wall of my office here that has most chord variations on it. The fun comes in when you're using fragments or composite chords, then you have to rely on theory to name them *laughs* I had to learn a lot of that to use Band in a Box as a composition tool, and it was a good lesson. Instead of telling someone to "put your fingers here", which I can't do in netjams anyway, I can tell them to play E7#9/G in the open position and wonder whether they use the thumb or the pinkie to fret the low G.
That's a scenario in which a lack of chordform knowledge could be a potential drawback...but you sound good, Joe. I can hear improvements and I can hear your instrumental confidence building. That's very cool.
If you want your twin rhythms to sound REALLY fat, make em just a hair out of phase. I like to do that, and change the panning-one set will be 50% l/r, and the other something like 75% l/r, so there's some separation. Gives a track some beef. The alt-method would be to singletrack each part and pan them apart. That works too but I have a mania about a balanced stereo field.

Originally Posted by Sigg

nice song joe, i can tell that you put time into working out the lead, i like the tone too.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Sigg

the southern rock or blues doesn't really need much knowledge of musical theory to play.

Yeah. Good thing.

Good solo. Has a nice flow and ring to it, very fitting to the material.

Thanks too.

Originally Posted by moderan

I can hear improvements and I can hear your instrumental confidence building.

I feel that also. I play a lot better with a better drummer too. You can hear us playing off each other in that solo.

Originally Posted by moderan

Instead of telling someone to "put your fingers here",

Heh. That reminds me -- I'm teaching my wife to play bass. She's played some acoustic guitar and seems to be picking it up quickly. Should be interesting.

And thanks too for the recording tips, as usual.

Any time. Good luck with your new bass player

Originally Posted by moderan

Any time. Good luck with your new bass player

Heh heh.

Finally -- an opportunity to tell her what to do.

I loved them all....yall are really, really good.....now how about some Christmas songs? Sigg already has my request.

Originally Posted by terrib

I loved them all....yall are really, really good.....now how about some Christmas songs? Sigg already has my request.

I'm gearing up for Christmas. Every year, our family has a "show" on Christmas eve. My sister writes a play and we all have parts. My dad reads a story or poetry. We all usually sing something and play our respective instruments -- so I'll record mine when I'm practicing.

sounds good, joe-joe....any idea what you might play?

Well, my brother plays drums. I'd like to do "Little Drummer Boy" the Bing Crosby, David Bowie thing. One of my sisters or brothers will have to sing it with me, so I don't know if we can get it all together.

This is pretty wild if you've never seen it. You may want to fast-forward past the corny dialog -- but it's kind of amusing.

Bing and Bowie:

YouTube - David Bowie & Bing Crosby - Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy

yeah, I like that...you wouldn't think those two could sing good together but they do....sorta makes me sad in a way....this is the first Christmas that I will not be spending with my family since I've been born....looks like I'll be all by my lonesome this Christmas...

Originally Posted by terrib

yeah, I like that...you wouldn't think those two could sing good together but they do

Heh. I wonder what Bing is really thinking though.

Originally Posted by terrib

....sorta makes me sad in a way....this is the first Christmas that I will not be spending with my family since I've been born....looks like I'll be all by my lonesome this Christmas...

That really stinks. Sorry to hear that.

thanks....but I'll be ok....I'll count the lights on the tree or something...lol

YouTube - Goin' Home - YellowJackets, Fusion LPW

Fresh from school earlier today. I know the sound may suggest otherwise, but this was a brilliant performance by everyone. Really enjoyed this one.

And terrib, this is mine too. First Christmas away from home. And my parents decided the year I'm gone to take a holiday to Egypt without me. Life is so unfair