It's not a competition with others. It's with yourself. Do you enjoy making the videos? Because we enjoy watching.
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Considering Video Retirement
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
It's not a competition with others. It's with yourself. Do you enjoy making the videos? Because we enjoy watching.
I think you are a lot better than you give yourself credit for.
I gave up on watching YouTube/insta/whatever a long time ago.
I can spend 12 hours a day everyday for a year recording one 30 second video. All I need is one good take to post it online and have millions of people in awe at my ability.
But I’ve cheated them, I picked the best and presented it in a way that I can actually play. The reality is most people who do that stuff can’t play.
By that I mean, they can’t do in a room with other musicians. They can’t do it on stage under the spotlights. They can’t do it onstage under the spotlight to a sold out audience. They can’t do that night and night and nail it every single time. That’s the ability to play and that’s what matters but that’s not what people see.
I can spend 12 hours a day everyday for a year recording one 30 second video. All I need is one good take to post it online and have millions of people in awe at my ability.
But I’ve cheated them, I picked the best and presented it in a way that I can actually play. The reality is most people who do that stuff can’t play.
By that I mean, they can’t do in a room with other musicians. They can’t do it on stage under the spotlights. They can’t do it onstage under the spotlight to a sold out audience. They can’t do that night and night and nail it every single time. That’s the ability to play and that’s what matters but that’s not what people see.
drumvsbass
Commercial User
- Aug 20, 2011
- 1,981
- 4,324
- Disclosures
- I work for Long and McQuade Musical Instruments Canada in Sales.
Don't be fooled by mimicry. They can play it, but do they UNDERSTAND it. There are plenty of 5 year olds playing Rachmaninoff, but I have seen very FEW child musicians that I have ever thought 'Now there is a mofo'. They do exist, but are fewer than most people want to admit (everyone wants their kid to be the next whatever). And of course to criticize a child prodigy is frowned upon even if it's constructive. So what happens on the quality of music? We double down on mediocrity held up as virtuosity of youth. Nothing new. I can shred over Dean Town, no one cares because I have been playing for 34 years. My Dean Town video has been up for 3 1/2 years. Only 244 views. Maybe if I was cute with better hair. Ah well...
Doc, it's not a competition, it's about personal fulfillment or betterment. And I know you know that. There's always someone out there better than you are and younger when they could do it. I stopped worrying about being better than the other guys around me a long time ago and found great contentment in it. It frees me up to concentrate on just being a better "me" as a musician.
I saw an interview recently with Eric Johnson where he was asked (I'm paraphrasing all of this here) about "how much time before a tour does he need to practice and get his chops ready to be able to do what he does. He commented that he's been seeing 10 year olds on IG and YouTube that are playing "Cliffs of Dover" better than he ever was able to. And that maybe he should just hire one of them to tour and do the difficult parts for him." But I'm sure that's not going to stop him from doing his thing.
Continue posting your stuff. We all enjoy seeing it.
Remember the cutting contest in the movie ""Crossroads." It was head-to-head until the kid started throwing in classical stuff. The bad guy got schooled.
I think it's great to see young musicians playing. I don't feel threatened or intimidated; on the contrary I'm happy for them that they can perform at such a high level. On a personal level, I'm just glad I can still play the basses I have. As a sage once said, there will always those who are better, so don't waste time worrying about it.
I think it's a question of what appeals to your musical aesthetic. For me, music needs to speak on its own -- multi-modal presentations detract from what I feel is the essential experience. But lots of people disagree with me, from Scriabin to Cardi B. I suggest that you do what makes you happy, and to hell with what others expect, are used to, etc. Music should be joyful, not anxiety-inducing.
Don't give up! Here's the post you were talking about:
They're doing a great job but they're still learning the basics and I'm sure they learned this by breaking it into small chunks, playing slowly, and building up speed over time. It's a great song to learn and not too difficult when you approach it this way.
I recommend recording yourself to analyze your playing (both sound and technique) but focus on where you're at now and take the time to improve on the fundamentals. Resist the urge to jump to that "high bar" because it's super obvious when you hear players do all the bells and whistles but can't hold down a simple groove. Good luck and keep pushing!
They're doing a great job but they're still learning the basics and I'm sure they learned this by breaking it into small chunks, playing slowly, and building up speed over time. It's a great song to learn and not too difficult when you approach it this way.
I recommend recording yourself to analyze your playing (both sound and technique) but focus on where you're at now and take the time to improve on the fundamentals. Resist the urge to jump to that "high bar" because it's super obvious when you hear players do all the bells and whistles but can't hold down a simple groove. Good luck and keep pushing!
Those kids would likely sail through it.[/QUOTE]
yeah with forty year younger eyes. reading that might be a breeze! Stay in key fake it call it improv
yeah with forty year younger eyes. reading that might be a breeze! Stay in key fake it call it improv
Some of us are at the same or lower level as you, we need you. I can't feast on stellar YouTube performances alone. I relate more to someone just above my skill set rather than way above, and sometimes learn more from the video as a result. Plus you have a good screen personality. There will always be someone better, don't give up on the many of us that are still coming up.
drumvsbass
Commercial User
- Aug 20, 2011
- 1,981
- 4,324
- Disclosures
- I work for Long and McQuade Musical Instruments Canada in Sales.
Hey Doc I have been enjoying your posts for years! I don't watch those videos with the latest wunderkid because I can't play like that. I watch videos of folks that are a bit more grounded to what I can do. So really the type of vids I look for are done by folks like you! Rock on!
What’s your YouTube channel Doc ? I tried Dr. Cheese and was actually about cheese.
Doc, you do great. Don't kid yourself.
I've posted videos and audio recordings around here that have seen very few views and zero comments, including one earlier this week. I must truly suck.
In 16 years of posting here, by far my most viewed thread had something to do with Gene Simmons, which is a guaranteed way to draw fire around here. It's like pouring honey onto the dirt and marveling at the number of ants who show up.
You on the other hand have a nice little brand going. People look at your videos because they like you and want to see what you're up to. That's where you want to be!
I've posted videos and audio recordings around here that have seen very few views and zero comments, including one earlier this week. I must truly suck.
In 16 years of posting here, by far my most viewed thread had something to do with Gene Simmons, which is a guaranteed way to draw fire around here. It's like pouring honey onto the dirt and marveling at the number of ants who show up.
You on the other hand have a nice little brand going. People look at your videos because they like you and want to see what you're up to. That's where you want to be!
There will always be players who are far cleaner, faster, more even, with more skills than I have.
There will always be players who play faster than me and sound better doing it.
There will always be players who play slower and simpler than me and sound better doing it.
Once I came to grips with those realizations, it helped me to play for people again and not stress the criticisms so much.
I came to those realizations thanks to you, Dr. Cheese, and your eloquent yet clear and simple post about your own acceptance of your own, and thereby everybody's, limitations.
We ALL have limitations and areas we want to improve. No matter how advanced or inexperienced.
I'm happy you will continue your videos. I personally only use youtube, not the other networks you mentioned, so it's all good to me. You can always turn off comments on youtube
There will always be players who play faster than me and sound better doing it.
There will always be players who play slower and simpler than me and sound better doing it.
Once I came to grips with those realizations, it helped me to play for people again and not stress the criticisms so much.
I came to those realizations thanks to you, Dr. Cheese, and your eloquent yet clear and simple post about your own acceptance of your own, and thereby everybody's, limitations.
We ALL have limitations and areas we want to improve. No matter how advanced or inexperienced.
I'm happy you will continue your videos. I personally only use youtube, not the other networks you mentioned, so it's all good to me. You can always turn off comments on youtube
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If nothing else please keep the IPad recording when you go to the music stores. The tones you get are much more pure than a lot of the over produced reviews designed to get clicks.
I'm carrying around a story in my mind that European audiences are more into music. There's this dude named Wojtek Pilichowski who somehow has made a career out of playing exactly like Mark King - he lives in Poland and posts videos playing concerts in front of thousands of fans.My teacher left Illinois for Finland and I now have morning internet class with him weekly.
I'd love to start a band built entirely around bass wanking, but I think in Colorado if I actually paid every person $50 to show up at the club I could still only get a few dozen to bother.
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