Just when I Thought I've Heard It All.......

Shovelbone · #1 02-04-2010, 08:18 AM

I was relating this story to my teacher last night and I have meant to share it with my TB brethren but kept putting it off until now. About a year ago I was jamming with a guitard who is a local 'legend in his own mind - MySpace RockStar'. We were attempting to get through a 12 bar blues jam and I noticed he was just playing power chords. During our discussion I made reference to the 5 being dominant. He responded by saying "of course - I make it the loudest chord in the progression so yes it would be considered the dominant chord".
A few days before I mentioned to him that I had been working on my reading skills as well as theory and his response was "Why?"
I didn't have the strength or the inclination to try and explain myself in either of these encounters and needless to say I no longer play with this idiot.

standupright · #2 02-04-2010, 08:21 AM

FenderPunk · #3 02-04-2010, 08:29 AM

wwwwwwooooooooooooowwwwwwwww

rappa29 · #4 02-04-2010, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shovelbone

We were attempting to get through a 12 bar blues jam and I noticed he was just playing power chords. During our discussion I made reference to the 5 being dominant. He responded by saying "of course - I make it the loudest chord in the progression so yes it would be considered the dominant chord".

That is a funny reply!

However, it's not out of the question for many people that play music to not know that. Nothing wrong with that either.

73jbass · #5 02-04-2010, 01:23 PM

I had one at a rehearsal say "thats got to be the right key because it's on the fret markers".

plankspanker13 · #6 02-04-2010, 01:32 PM

Dunno how many opportunities I have blown by demonstrating the fact that I not only know my theory, but have perfect pitch too.

I once auditioned with an accomplished jazz composer, who promptly told me that we were playing a song in D. Trouble is, it was in F; he had the transpose function on his keyboard. He was gracious at the time, when I told him that his hands were in D, but the sound was in F, and we quickly remedied the situation and pressed onward, but I never got a callback either. Then again, the pay would not have been all that great, judging from some of the in-studio banter, and I am having more fun in the gig that I landed not long after that night, which is my current one, and making acceptable money too.

Some musicians resent being pushed into being better, or being prooven wrong. If you are about making the best ensemble sounds possible, there is no room for that kind of ego. Serve your material and your bandmates, and you'd be surprised at how much more love comes back from the audience.

SpamBot · #7 02-04-2010, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shovelbone

....12 bar blues jam....

There's your problem

Shovelbone · #8 02-04-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpamBot

There's your problem

It was staring me in the face all along!!!!!

rappa29 · #9 02-04-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plankspanker13

I once auditioned with an accomplished jazz composer, who promptly told me that we were playing a song in D. Trouble is, it was in F; he had the transpose function on his keyboard. He was gracious at the time, when I told him that his hands were in D, but the sound was in F

The composer is a freakin' cheater!

It's not like the tune was in Gb! That'd warrant the use of the Transpose function on a keyboard...if absolutely necessary! But to play a song in F (1 flat) using D fingering? WTH?? Why not just write the tune in F?

What happens if he's asked to play the piece on a real piano?? I guess he'd play it in D and it'd sound like D!

BTW - I'm a keyboard player so I'm allowed to bag on the use of the 'cheat' button! I've used it myself if having to transpose on the fly.

michael_atw · #10 02-04-2010, 02:18 PM

I can't say I really know any of that crap either. I took two semesters of theory back in High School and College but everything past elementary parts have escaped me.

Probably next time to right his "idiot-ness" is to tell him what it really means. That's how people learn.

86general · #11 02-04-2010, 03:26 PM

One need not know theory to be a good musician, of course, and knowing theory doesn't make you anything, except someone who knows theory. That said, there are workbooks available that anyone can finish in a matter of a few weeks that will teach you everything you need to know about theory. I play guitar mostly but love theory. Part of the problem, I think, is giving it an academic sounding name like "music theory." It should be called something less threatening, like "notation" or "mechanics" or something....

Oh, and in a blues, a traditional blues anyway, all 3 chords are dominants..... :-D

DudeistMonk · #12 02-04-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rappa29

The composer is a freakin' cheater!

It's not like the tune was in Gb! That'd warrant the use of the Transpose function on a keyboard...if absolutely necessary! But to play a song in F (1 flat) using D fingering? WTH?? Why not just write the tune in F?

What happens if he's asked to play the piece on a real piano?? I guess he'd play it in D and it'd sound like D!

BTW - I'm a keyboard player so I'm allowed to bag on the use of the 'cheat' button! I've used it myself if having to transpose on the fly.

I can't believe I never thought of this, I'm sure my fancy keyboard has this feature, I can play EVERYTHING in C now!!!

duff beer · #13 02-04-2010, 04:17 PM

I once very politely suggested to the rhythm guitard that he was playing the intro to a song wrong (uh...Bob, I hate to be a bother, but I think one of the notes in that intro is wrong). The song was very simple...New Orleans by the Tragically Hip. He said, "What do you know? You only play bass." So I put my bass down and asked the other guitar player if I could borrow his guitar. He gave it to me and I played the lick correctly. The drummer says "Hey, you're a better guitar player than Bob!!"

Bob wasn't happy and quit the band the next day.

plankspanker13 · #14 02-04-2010, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duff beer

"What do you know? You only play bass."

Therein lies the problem. It is that ignorance, succinctly stated, that is Bob's problem. Of course you showed him up, and...wook at what his widdow ego did; poor baby had to quit the band. Good riddance!

plankspanker13 · #15 02-04-2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 86general

Oh, and in a blues, a traditional blues anyway, all 3 chords are dominants..... :-D

Uh, no, the correct expression would be, "In a traditional blues, the chords are the tonic, sub-dominant and dominant; the I, IV and V respectively."

Bassman203 · #16 02-04-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rappa29

However, it's not out of the question for many people that play music to not know that. Nothing wrong with that either.

O yes there is. That's rather basic music theory right there, and I can understand people don't know even that sometimes and play really well since theory explains music, not makes music. But, in this case the guitarist was just trying to act smart while really being completely ignorant. Never an excuse for that.