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Best musical advice you ever got
- Thread starter davec
- Start date
- Jul 30, 2006
- 2,315
- 453
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist:Regenerate Guitar Works Carvin, Micheal Kelly Guitars
Very early on, my bass teacher told me something to this effect:
First, be a musician - not a rock star. If you're in it for the sex and drugs and money, you're wasting your time. You might as well be a pimp. If you're gonna be a musician, it's got to come from your heart. It's got to get deep down in your soul. It's gotta be what gets you out of bed in the morning. It's gotta get you excited every day, just like the first time you heard your favorite song. If not, you're just farting in the wind. You have to do it because you love it, because you probably won't ever get rich off it. Maybe, but probably not. In fact, you may spend more money on gear, and lessons, and other stuff, than you'll ever get back. But, the money, and the big time, are all secondary if you're truly a musician. Yes, success will come. But, that doesn't necessarily mean great riches. Music, and the love of music, and making music with other musicians - that's the thing. TOMMY ROCK
That's about as close as I can remember it. It's helped me to keep it all in perspective, when I think back on it. hrb
First, be a musician - not a rock star. If you're in it for the sex and drugs and money, you're wasting your time. You might as well be a pimp. If you're gonna be a musician, it's got to come from your heart. It's got to get deep down in your soul. It's gotta be what gets you out of bed in the morning. It's gotta get you excited every day, just like the first time you heard your favorite song. If not, you're just farting in the wind. You have to do it because you love it, because you probably won't ever get rich off it. Maybe, but probably not. In fact, you may spend more money on gear, and lessons, and other stuff, than you'll ever get back. But, the money, and the big time, are all secondary if you're truly a musician. Yes, success will come. But, that doesn't necessarily mean great riches. Music, and the love of music, and making music with other musicians - that's the thing. TOMMY ROCK
That's about as close as I can remember it. It's helped me to keep it all in perspective, when I think back on it. hrb
tune your bass everytime before you play: a friend of mine
and 'i don't charge anything when someone wants to learn music. i just ask that you don't charge anyone either. if a 10 year old kid comes up to you and says he wants to learn bass you show him what you know free of charge.' my friend's father. and i have helped my friends who want to be able to play something on the bass free of charge. i will continue to do that as such
and 'i don't charge anything when someone wants to learn music. i just ask that you don't charge anyone either. if a 10 year old kid comes up to you and says he wants to learn bass you show him what you know free of charge.' my friend's father. and i have helped my friends who want to be able to play something on the bass free of charge. i will continue to do that as such
Dont overplay, stay in the pocket .. its not about how many notes you play as much as the right ones at the right time.
Use your pinkie. You've got four fingers. Use 'em all. Get it involved, and use it as much as the other three, until it's just one of the four.
On giggin': Be early. Be prepared (spare for everything you can fit). Be Professional. Be straight. Be fearless. Smile! Don't stop if you screw up.
If the drummer is good, lock in on the drummer. The rythym section is the cake. If you're solid, then the rest of the band is going to sound good. All they got to do is ice the cake.
Take good care of your gear. It's the tools of your trade. Treat 'em like it.
Play with as many people as possible. The older guys will make you stretch. The younger guys you can help along. We all could have used the help, coming up.
Play with the radio. You never know what song is coming up next. I'll keep you on your toes, and you'll learn new things.
All from Tommy Rock. hrb
On giggin': Be early. Be prepared (spare for everything you can fit). Be Professional. Be straight. Be fearless. Smile! Don't stop if you screw up.
If the drummer is good, lock in on the drummer. The rythym section is the cake. If you're solid, then the rest of the band is going to sound good. All they got to do is ice the cake.
Take good care of your gear. It's the tools of your trade. Treat 'em like it.
Play with as many people as possible. The older guys will make you stretch. The younger guys you can help along. We all could have used the help, coming up.
Play with the radio. You never know what song is coming up next. I'll keep you on your toes, and you'll learn new things.
All from Tommy Rock. hrb
Long thread. I didn't read every single post so this may already have been touched on. This also isn't advice that I've been given, but rather advice I wish that someone had given me.
Always strive to play with people "better" than you at what they are doing. The only way to improve is to actually do it. Playing with someone who is a specialist in a certain style or just an all around great player can provide impetus for getting off your butt and stepping up your playing. Conversely, playing with lesser musicians can stunt your growth as a musician.
Always strive to play with people "better" than you at what they are doing. The only way to improve is to actually do it. Playing with someone who is a specialist in a certain style or just an all around great player can provide impetus for getting off your butt and stepping up your playing. Conversely, playing with lesser musicians can stunt your growth as a musician.
A lot of well thought out profound statements here.
Here are some that have influenced my approach to music.
Two were read. Two were spoken to me.
Play each note as if you meant it. Ornette Coleman
This is serious stuff. People have died for the music. J.B. "Dizzy" Gillespie
Don't try. Do it! Franscois Rabbath
I like you. I won't charge you for this lesson, but you aren't getting another one. Keep your day gig. Joe Pass
Here are some that have influenced my approach to music.
Two were read. Two were spoken to me.
Play each note as if you meant it. Ornette Coleman
This is serious stuff. People have died for the music. J.B. "Dizzy" Gillespie
Don't try. Do it! Franscois Rabbath
I like you. I won't charge you for this lesson, but you aren't getting another one. Keep your day gig. Joe Pass
Hmmmm..........Best musical advice that I've ever received.Alright.Here goes,and I'll even do the quotes and set up the whole scenario.
******************************************************************It had taken place in a bar (Don't it always??).I was shootin' the bull with a fellow bassist,that just happened to be playing in the other band that "fateful,blessed-by-God" night.
It went something like this:
Other bassist:"Hey Steve,have you played the 5-string basses that's out now???They have a low-B string!!!"
Me:"No.This hick-ass town that I live in is really slow when it comes to new gear and technology in general.Hell,the river runs just 3 days a week."
Other bassist:"I just copped one,man!!Walk over here,I'll let you check it out"
Me:"O.K.,sure."
-Scenario- (Me flailing away on this wonderful,new,yet weird bass that I had took to, like,"A fish to water."
(Here comes the advice part)
Other bassist:"Man,you really need to buy one of these 5-string basses.You can do so much with'em,man.The possibilities are almost endless,man!!"
****BTW,back in the day,if you were the coolest of the cool (yes,I was.lol),you'd use the word "man" a lot,when talking.****
And that,my friends,is the best advice ever handed to me,hands down.PERIOD.
******************************************************************It had taken place in a bar (Don't it always??).I was shootin' the bull with a fellow bassist,that just happened to be playing in the other band that "fateful,blessed-by-God" night.
It went something like this:
Other bassist:"Hey Steve,have you played the 5-string basses that's out now???They have a low-B string!!!"
Me:"No.This hick-ass town that I live in is really slow when it comes to new gear and technology in general.Hell,the river runs just 3 days a week."
Other bassist:"I just copped one,man!!Walk over here,I'll let you check it out"
Me:"O.K.,sure."
-Scenario- (Me flailing away on this wonderful,new,yet weird bass that I had took to, like,"A fish to water."
(Here comes the advice part)
Other bassist:"Man,you really need to buy one of these 5-string basses.You can do so much with'em,man.The possibilities are almost endless,man!!"
****BTW,back in the day,if you were the coolest of the cool (yes,I was.lol),you'd use the word "man" a lot,when talking.****
And that,my friends,is the best advice ever handed to me,hands down.PERIOD.
when I decided to play music for a living my Mom said;
"No matter how many people are in the audience, Play like you mean it"
"Learn every style of music so you'll always work"
+1 to "record practice" from the OP
"No matter how many people are in the audience, Play like you mean it"
"Learn every style of music so you'll always work"
+1 to "record practice" from the OP
"get a rich girlfriend."
that way you have someone to support you while you spend your time playing.
that way you have someone to support you while you spend your time playing.
Here's my best piece of advice, I think:
"If you're gonna screw up, don't play the next few notes. Come back in a measure that you can recover in. If not, and you HAVE to screw up, make sure it's well executed!"...from my keyboardist, ML.
Personally I have offered this advice: "Never give up, never give up, never give up"...Winston Churchill
It works for me.
R...
"If you're gonna screw up, don't play the next few notes. Come back in a measure that you can recover in. If not, and you HAVE to screw up, make sure it's well executed!"...from my keyboardist, ML.
Personally I have offered this advice: "Never give up, never give up, never give up"...Winston Churchill
It works for me.
R...
there was a wise man that owned a music store in my town that told me when i first started playing
"your left hand turns the pages....but you right hand tells the story"
"your left hand turns the pages....but you right hand tells the story"
