• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Best musical advice you ever got

#301
Here's something from Miles Davis: A Kind of Blue documentary.

"Listen first, and then play." That's what he said to a musician in his group.

I recommend this 200%.

The idea is that you anticipate exactly what should happen based on the input by all the other musicians and then play.

Been trying this out as much as possible during the last two gigs and jams I attended and I like this simple rule a lot now.
 
#302
bassman03 said:
"Don't think about it while your up there, like as if you've forgotten everything you've been taught so there's nothing to think about." - my baseball coach, i just related it to bass also.

"A person who is good at what they do, do it til they get it right. A person who is great at what they do, do it til they can't get it wrong." - my football coach, related to bass again
Click to expand...

W
W
W
W
W
W
W
Wwwwwwow!


Just plain wow! Good advice, I like both of those!

Al
 
#306
This one's been on this thread a bit but "If you mess up don't stop, keep playing." - Guitarist from my worship team

"Breathe." - my wife, apparently was holding my breath at times.

"You don't get better unless you play with people who are better."
 
#308
#1."I'm paying you more for the notes that you don't play as well as the notes that you do play" As said by record producer and TB member pacman. The intervals or spaces between the notes are as important as the notes themselves.# 2." I would rather have a tour bus full of average players, that I can get along with than all the best musicians in the world that are pre-madonna's" As said by C/W artist Ricky Van Shelton and talk bass member gmstudio99. Don't be hard to get along with. #3Watching you is like watching paint dry" As said by my band member and talk bass member bobthebassist. I used to stare at my bass neck for fear of making a mistake. Look out into the crowd, establish eye contact, put on a show. #4. "Are you afraid of your bass,play the hell out of each note like you would if you were in front of the bathroom mirror" As said by my music teacher and talkbass member dropbass. #5. " Surround yourself with better musicians, if you don't you will stagnate" As said by my music teacher and TB member willbass44. # You are only as good as your equipment. And if you don't sound good you can't blame it on your equipment" As said by me after 25 yrs of playing!
 
#311
pedulla-2007 said:
No one but you said that your equipment was lesser.
Click to expand...

Misunderstood. It's my lack of english composition skills (not an english native speaker.):hmm:

Regarding "You are only as good as your equipment" I was asking if my equipment sucked or not, to the point of hindering my musical abilities. I wanna know your and other people's opinion, that's what this thread is about right? Musical advice?

BTW I've seen old white-bearded dudes making music out of a pretty beaten up bass.

OK so... Would musical advice include: "Buy high tech equipment" or "Don't let your equipment take over your music"?

The way I see it: You buy a bass for better tones or different feel etc. You don't buy a new bass or new amp because it will improve your musical abilities. I would appreciate an explanation of your musical advice ("You're as good as your equipment")

(Just in case of thin skinned... no hard feelings at all. I didn't mean them if that was your interpretation)
 
#312
All I can remember is hearing the bass great (google him), as saying on the last page of a BASS PLAYER MAG. is that everyone should own or play some high end equipment at least once in their lives. High End equipment is usually expensive. Did'nt mean to offend anyone.
 
#318
pedulla-2007 said:
# You are only as good as your equipment. And if you don't sound good you can't blame it on your equipment" As said by me after 25 yrs of playing!
Click to expand...


The quality of your performance is going to be either compromised or enhanced by your equipment. While this certainly is true, it only is if you're good enough to sit and listen to in the first place.

It also sounds a little confused. You're only as good as... but if you don't sound good you can't blame... ? You create a rule here that you can only be as good as your equipment will allow. Then you make the equipment blameless of any fault. A little stringent I think- the equipment serves you, not the other way around.

If my amp suffers a compromise due to a problem inherent to it's manufacture, I'm not to blame- the equipment is.

Anyway I don't mean to be picky- but this is advice, and I want to pick it apart for clarity's sake, is all. Some good advice in the thread here though!
 
#320
Even if you're playing wrong notes- don't stop! The 'bottom' suddenly disappearing is worse than the wrong notes you're playing still being there. No one will know for a whole measure or so that you're playing wrong notes! You have time to pull it together.

I got that from several teachers at Berklee when I went for a year back in '85. It was a staple sermon in the bass dept.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back