Getting Back on the Horse

[bbass75]

Janek,

I walked onto a gig today and had a complex latin chart put in front of me that was a bit too much for me to handle. I was messing up some of the figures and found that I had to focus so hard on counting and just getting the chart down with the right notes that I didn't even feel like I should've been there weighing the band down while everyone else was killin it. I know a lot of musicians have preferences to what style and genre theyre best at, at least I know I do. However, I know that one time or another I'm going to have to perform in the styles that I've unfortunately neglected a little bit just because I'd rather play something else. Have you ever been in this type of situation or one where your weaknesses were exposed and how did you deal with that as far as overcoming those weaknesses? Thanks for everything, Janek.

James

[bbass75]

Tiny bump just incase, I know you're busy with the Jem tour and all though, no rush

[Phil Smith]

Practice what you're weak at if you're going to play stuff that you're weak at. This is part of being a professional musician and assuring that people call you back.

[Rich Guastella]

Good evening...my D and G strings...disappear...My E and A strings can knock down walls!!!.....I Play a Schecter C-4...thru one of the new Acoustics,(B200 combo...1-15 with 200 watts)...wuts up with that???...Amp, Strings, Battery??

[janekbass]

k, first of all... Rich Guastella:

this is not the gear section of the forum, I repeatedly post that on here and there's a sticky at the top of the forum asking people not to post gear questions. I know nothing about it, don't want to know anything about, and am therefor not much use to you for that kind of advice at all.

There are sections of this forum so devoted to gear that you might not be able to read all the text there in an entire lifetime.



back to this thread.....

I just practice more of what I find difficult. There's no way to be prepared for every last style of music on the planet, you have to be more specific in your practice and playing otherwise you'll lose your mind. But you can prepare your reading for instance, which would have made playing the chart you talk about a little easier.

It's a question of spending more time with the instrument than you currently do, and working on whatever you find to be a weakness of yours. he more you play, the more you'll find out about your playing, and then the more you'll be able to focus on the weaknesses and become a much better player.

Easy,

Janek