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Guitarists Noodling?
- Thread starter Flashback Bass
- Start date
jive1
Commercial User
This is it in a nutshell.
IME, when someone noodles tell them to stop, and most of the time they will stop. At a gig, it works for me 99% of the time. If not, I have no problem cutting off their power, removing their instrument cable, whatever. But most of the time, I just tell them to take a break and they will usually oblige.
At a rehearsal, if telling them to stop won't work, just stop doing anything until the noodling ends. If the noodler has any kind of clue, they will get it and stop. If it doesn't end even though you guys aren't saying anything, playing anything, or doing anything, you have a wanker on your hands which will need to be replaced sooner or later. It's a sign of much bigger problems.
jive1
Commercial User
Having been a part of that scene for a while, there are times when a little noodling is expected or acceptable between songs. To me, it's not noodling because there is something they are trying to accomplish such as being a teaser to a song or creating a motif on which to build a jam upon.
Alright, I confess I am a bass noodler, I will start playing "Brick House" and "another one bites the dust" riffs on my bass between songs/at gigs and practice to tease the audience.
usually the chicks dig it, my band members not so much, all though usually they will start playing AnotherOne bites the dust. I know this makes me a "unprofessional" but guess what I do this for FUN....
usually the chicks dig it, my band members not so much, all though usually they will start playing AnotherOne bites the dust. I know this makes me a "unprofessional" but guess what I do this for FUN....
Drumsticks aren't just for drummers!
Keep one handy and when the noodling starts, WHAMMO! The noodlers knuckles get it
Should get the message across.
Keep one handy and when the noodling starts, WHAMMO! The noodlers knuckles get it
Should get the message across.
A seasoned musician I used to jam with once said, "Noodling during rehearsal shows you don't practice enough on your own".
He actually said this very phrase when our other guitarist was noodling, not paying attention while we were discussing something. He got the point and immediately stopped. I've never forgotten that statement.
He actually said this very phrase when our other guitarist was noodling, not paying attention while we were discussing something. He got the point and immediately stopped. I've never forgotten that statement.
Exactly.
It's also rude and a sure sign of a maturity deficit.
If people want to noodle, schedule a jam session with no expectations or obligations and get everyone together for a noodle fest. I can be fun - but only when there is not other real work to be done.
That said, noodle-fests tend to only be fun for the noodlers. Put a couple discriminating ears in the room as audience members and watch how quickly they find a reason to leave.
Of course, you could ensure a captive audience by spiking the Kool-aid, but don't let that fool you into thinking that the noodles you're serving up are any good.
And I mean "you" as the ubiquitous, non-specific 'you', not you, Mr. Tapper.
Nothing more frustrating as a sound guy than trying to track down a equipment issue and having the drummer/bassist/guitarist wanking away because they're bored and too immature to stand still and not make noise for 2 minutes. And I've had this with every instrument I've mixed for, although the mandolin wasn't too bad as it isn't hugely loud unmiced.
Used to be in a band with a terrible, ego maniacal guitarist who was the WORST noodler on the planet. He had horrible, grating tone too. Had no idea how to dial in his $5000 worth of gear.
I'd be trying to work structure with the singer and drummer, and it would just be like WIDDLY WIDDLY WIDDLY WIDDLY. I'd pause, wait, get another 2 words in then WIDDLE WIDDLY WIDDLY SCREECH SCREECH SCREECH.
Then we'd all be screaming "DUDE, SHUT THE **** UP". And he'd be like "oh, sorry". Then 20 seconds later "WIDDLY WIDDLY WIDDLY WIDDLY DIDDLY DIDDLY DEE DEE DDEE".
I just don't understand it. Does he think we're impressed by his playing or something?
This is all at earplug requiring volume, here. That band imploded violently from his ego issues (all the other members including me organised a simultaneous quitting after a gig)
I'd be trying to work structure with the singer and drummer, and it would just be like WIDDLY WIDDLY WIDDLY WIDDLY. I'd pause, wait, get another 2 words in then WIDDLE WIDDLY WIDDLY SCREECH SCREECH SCREECH.
Then we'd all be screaming "DUDE, SHUT THE **** UP". And he'd be like "oh, sorry". Then 20 seconds later "WIDDLY WIDDLY WIDDLY WIDDLY DIDDLY DIDDLY DEE DEE DDEE".
I just don't understand it. Does he think we're impressed by his playing or something?
This is all at earplug requiring volume, here. That band imploded violently from his ego issues (all the other members including me organised a simultaneous quitting after a gig)
Arabs, and those who agree a good shoe throwing sends the ultimate message "stop that you fwit"
Last band I was in, the noodling and extraneous/irrelevant conversations got so bad with the ________ and __________ players that I was going to bring a stopwatch to the next rehearsal to time (on the sly) all the noodles and blahblahblah-ing, then add them up and show everyone how many songs we could've practiced had we not pissed away the time. But luckily for me the BL fired me before next rehearsal for being too serious and for expecting people to deliver on their commitments, and so now there's no more noodling problems. I love it when things work out!
I tend to scream into my vocal mic as loud as I can, "WHY IN F--- AM I HEARING GUITAR NOISE RIGHT NOW???????" and then turn and stare at the offending player. Well, not really "tend to." Actually, I ALWAYS do that.
The thing I hate the most is when they tease the audience with a signature guitar intro of a very popular song (Sweet Home Alabame for example), and it isn't a song that we even perform. The crowd start hootin and hollerin, and then they get mad because we don't play the song.
Worst noodler I met was when our bandleader invited a guitarist out to a private corporate party (that is another issue entirely) to audition (our currennt guitarist who was leaving the band soon). He kept on noodling between songs, during songs, playing over other people's solos. He even started noodling while the party host was giving a speech and presenting awards. I had to pull his slider down on the PA , and he still kept on.
He told the bandleader later that he wouldn't just stand around and not be playing during the song, he was going to fill up ALL of the empty spaces. Our bandleader thanked him for coming out and told him he needed to go practice his whole note rests.
Worst noodler I met was when our bandleader invited a guitarist out to a private corporate party (that is another issue entirely) to audition (our currennt guitarist who was leaving the band soon). He kept on noodling between songs, during songs, playing over other people's solos. He even started noodling while the party host was giving a speech and presenting awards. I had to pull his slider down on the PA , and he still kept on.
He told the bandleader later that he wouldn't just stand around and not be playing during the song, he was going to fill up ALL of the empty spaces. Our bandleader thanked him for coming out and told him he needed to go practice his whole note rests.
Don't even worry about it, just get rid of them.
This occurs with players of all instruments under the sun and it is always quite annoying.
There is musicians and mature players, and then there is timewaster wankers the like of which you are describing.
I don't even ask any more why they do it.
Let them waste their own time, not yours.
Jive, the post I was replying to was talking about noodling WITHIN a song, not between songs.
I am firmly against noodling BETWEEN songs, even in the jam band context.
There is the occasion when you have to adjust your settings and need to noodle a bit to get your sound right. But incessant noodling either at practice or a gig in unacceptable, as most of us agree.
I played with a guy that would wait until we were all on the stage, with the lights on, then start screwing around with his effects. Of course, he made all kinds of noise trying to get the tone he wanted. Then the drummer would start noodling around.
So, I talked it over with these guys. We got on the stage, kept the lights off, and were quiet. Then, 1, 2, 3, 4, hit the lights, and start the first song. Much more professional.
Noodling at gigs or at rehearsal is not professional. Screw around on your own time; not mine.
So, I talked it over with these guys. We got on the stage, kept the lights off, and were quiet. Then, 1, 2, 3, 4, hit the lights, and start the first song. Much more professional.
Noodling at gigs or at rehearsal is not professional. Screw around on your own time; not mine.
I don't mind noodling at rehersal if nothing better is going on. I recently got a new distortion pedal and I was trying to dial it in but every time I did anything both the drummer and guitarist started noodling. I had it dialed in for my practice amp. I kept asking them to be quiet for a few minutes, but that lasted about 10 seconds. Eventually I just gave up and was pretty annoyed the rest of rehersal because now I had to try to dial it in during songs. It took the entire session before I even got close.
