It sure didn’t happen tonight, that’s for sure!
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About consistency and playing without mistakes
- Thread starter Matt-bb
- Start date
A cool engineer/producer told us that it’s the minor imperfections, like a handmade leather jacket, that make it really cool.
But yeah. Clams. I still make ‘em. Don’t stop, keep going.
But yeah. Clams. I still make ‘em. Don’t stop, keep going.
This thread gives me hope.
I'm still mostly clams. If I ever do get to play on stage,
my stage name should probably be "chowder."
I'm still mostly clams. If I ever do get to play on stage,
my stage name should probably be "chowder."
What you deem as a mistake may not be to someone else. The higher my expectations the lower my serenity. Play and have fun.
Whatever happens, just continue with the music. It's important to realize that (a) you will always make mistakes and forget things, and (b) that the momentum of the music continues even if you screw something up. If you need to fake it for a bars, no one will notice, but you need to get back with the band. Over-practicing helps a lot to gain confidence. Also, you may lose 25-30% of your abilities under stress, so you have to be that much more well prepared (sometimes practicing songs WAY too fast is a good exercise that proves to yourself that you really know the piece, then playing it at normal speed seems easy). In any case, breath and have fun. Sounds like you're doing things right so far.
I spent 15 years playing bass trombone in a mid-level symphony. I was always more nervous in rehearsal than in performance. If a mistake happened in rehearsal the conductor could stop and call attention to it. In the performance the music kept going no matter what and the audience seldom was aware. As a result, we would usually nail the performances.
Everybody makes mistakes. When you drop a clam, don't make a face or tense up over it. Just keep going and chances are no one will notice unless it is a major bomb like playing in the wrong key. Little flubs here and there are hardly noticeable so just keep playing like it never happened and enjoy yourself. Good luck.
Concentration is a key point. I was playing a gig recently, did great 5 songs, then on the 6th instead of concentrating on the song I started thinking, "Man those first 5 songs went great..." a few clams later... then my mind starts wandering "Dang, I made some mistakes there during this song, etc... etc..." more clams.
I need really to get back into playing the song instead of letting the mind wander and continue tanking.
I need really to get back into playing the song instead of letting the mind wander and continue tanking.
This is a problem for me too, simply because trying to remember a huge repertoire of songs that I don't play very often leads to mistakes. I'm not alone in this.
This is sobering to try, but you should sing the bassline as you play it in practice (hum it on a gig if you need to). If you can't sing it, you don't really know it.
If you are trying to play something note-for-note from memory, for me singing along is the only way.
This is sobering to try, but you should sing the bassline as you play it in practice (hum it on a gig if you need to). If you can't sing it, you don't really know it.
If you are trying to play something note-for-note from memory, for me singing along is the only way.
At 49 and many life changes.... More coming... Most mistakes are from my mind wandering off and losing concentration
I had to learn this life lesson a long time ago and it applies here. Sounds to me that YOU WORRY TOO MUCH!
Yes, do your best because it's important to everyone, but even when your band reaches a point where everything is consistently tight, there's always someone making a little mistake. Musicians are usually the only ones who notice it. So carry on and enjoy what you're doing. If everyone was perfect all the time, it would be pretty boring.
Yes, do your best because it's important to everyone, but even when your band reaches a point where everything is consistently tight, there's always someone making a little mistake. Musicians are usually the only ones who notice it. So carry on and enjoy what you're doing. If everyone was perfect all the time, it would be pretty boring.
We are humans... far from perfect..
Best thing about mistakes, or happy accidents is you are going to develop speedy recovery skills.
I used to beat myself up pretty good when i would flub up, and it does not solve a thing, but head down and playing through puts it behind you.
One thing about a bad note, the good one is a fret away either direction from the bad one. Cheers!
Best thing about mistakes, or happy accidents is you are going to develop speedy recovery skills.
I used to beat myself up pretty good when i would flub up, and it does not solve a thing, but head down and playing through puts it behind you.
One thing about a bad note, the good one is a fret away either direction from the bad one. Cheers!
BobDeRosa
Commercial User
- May 16, 2012
- 2,444
- 4,402
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- Owner, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps
It's all about focused practice and more experience playing the tunes. Nothing else counts.
Master the art of the passing tone and you’ll never be out of key again.
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Mistakes? I don’t make those. 
Every note I play, relative to the song and its rhythm, is played purposely. Sometimes I like what I played and other times I don’t, and I’ll commit to not play it that way again the next time. 
Every note I play, relative to the song and its rhythm, is played purposely. Sometimes I like what I played and other times I don’t, and I’ll commit to not play it that way again the next time. 
You should totally fine yourself for each mistake. Channel that inner James Brown. Be ruthless. Put the money in a jar and spend it on more lessons.
