He's human!!! He's really human!!!

[DarkArwen]

So I had been feeling guilty about the whole "peeking at my left hand" thing. I thought I was subtle about it until I saw some pictures someone took at a recent show. You would think it would hurt to roll your eyes that far around in your head. Well, tonight i stumbled onto this little gem!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iim6s...eature=related

Now granted, I have seen other vids where he doesnt for one second pay his left.. i mean right hand any attention what so ever. Not this time! Makes me feel a ton better.

P.S. I put this here instead of in bassist because I don't want to get in trouble for posting a recording.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Andres Segovia stared at his fretting hand almost all the time. Unless you're in a band that requires posing for the crowd, ignore any comments that say you "shouldn't" look at your hands.

[nukes_da_bass]

Frank Zappa too. Zappa was funny enough when I saw him live in the 80s to have a prepared speech for it as well..."You know I watch videos and I'm not as talented as today's soloists...I watch my fretting hand and cant look directly at the camera while i pose with one leg up on an amp while a giant fan blows back my beautiful hair- I'm just not that talented!".

[DarkArwen]

@nukes
That had to be awesome!

[MikeBass]

If anyone says it's "wrong" to look at your fretting hand while you're playing is an idiot.

[john m]

Most of the time I have to watch the chart and the
conductor (leader). When I don't have to do that I watch the scenery.

john m

[GregDunn]

Originally Posted by nukes_da_bass

Frank Zappa too. Zappa was funny enough when I saw him live in the 80s to have a prepared speech for it as well..."You know I watch videos and I'm not as talented as today's soloists...I watch my fretting hand and cant look directly at the camera while i pose with one leg up on an amp while a giant fan blows back my beautiful hair- I'm just not that talented!".

Missing Frank a lot. Even on his last tour in 88, he just scorched when playing solos; if it takes looking at your fretting hand to do that, so what?

He could tell you what mode he was playing in too, every time.

[bottomzone]

He's human, too, although a phenomenal one!

http://www.stanleyclarke.com/

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

[kesslari]

Jeff Berlin is another hand-looker.

Me - I'm told I have good looking hands, so I look to be sure

I'd rather look and not suck than suck and not look.
(and yeah, I know those aren't the only two options)

[John Bigboote]

Originally Posted by DarkArwen

So I had been feeling guilty about the whole "peeking at my left hand" thing. I thought I was subtle about it until I saw some pictures someone took at a recent show. You would think it would hurt to roll your eyes that far around in your head. Well, tonight i stumbled onto this little gem!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iim6s...eature=related

Now granted, I have seen other vids where he doesnt for one second pay his left.. i mean right hand any attention what so ever. Not this time! Makes me feel a ton better.

P.S. I put this here instead of in bassist because I don't want to get in trouble for posting a recording.

The irony, of course, is that he isn't really playing at all...

-jb

[Zeb Norris]

When I saw Al DiMeola he NEVER seemed to take his eyes off the fretboard. On the other hand, John McLaughlin and Jeff Beck never glanced at it all.

[dvh]

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

Andres Segovia stared at his fretting hand almost all the time. Unless you're in a band that requires posing for the crowd, ignore any comments that say you "shouldn't" look at your hands.

+ a million...

[DarkArwen]

Originally Posted by John Bigboote

The irony, of course, is that he isn't really playing at all...

-jb

I was so happy about him looking I COMPLETELY missed the obvious... Shows how smart I am.

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by John Bigboote

The irony, of course, is that he isn't really playing at all...

Consummate showman that he always was, he was trying to make it look realistic! (even when not plugged in!)

[ilovenofrets]

Billy Sheehan makes a joke about this in the Mr. Big documentary video produced by Guitar For The Practicing Musician, released in 1991, talking about the unison runs with Paul Gilbert in "Addicted To that Rush".
Sometimes, no matter how slow or fast, simple or complicated the line may be, ya gotta look. There's nothing wrong with it at all. There's nothing wrong with not looking either. However you're most comfortable is what matters. I'd rather look and hit the note than look 'cool' and totaly blow it.

[plangentmusic]

When I'm reading a chart, I obviously never look and it's fine, but I do tend to look otherwise. It focuses me. Plus, I "see" what lines I want to construct in advance.

Check out Steve Harris. He "plans" when not to look -- usually when playing one note. Then he'll pose, run, gesture or acknowledging the audience. Otherwise, he's LOOKING.

It's actually very clever, cool and professional.

[phillipkregg]

The only good reason not to look at your neck is to look at chicks. Nuff said.

[M0ses]

To be fair, Paul hadn't been playing bass for ALL that long at that time.

[colcifer]

Anyone seen a pic where Phil Lesh isn't looking at his hand?

On that vid, why look if you're miming?

[OOZMAN]

How do you guys know he's not really playing?