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How often do you get distracted by gear/technique?
- Thread starter g-dude
- Start date
I'm not at all distracted by gear. Today, I only have one package from Sweetwater, and one from Zzounds being delivered.
When there are musicians in the crowd watching your gig
I see no joy, therefore I assume there are no musicians in that picture. To me, that looks like a 4 hour meeting at a bank's central offices was interrupted by a fire drill, and they want to go back to the meeting and sleep.
OK...they really want to go home, but they don't want to get fired.
JazznFunk
Supporting Member
The only time I pay attention to gear or technique in a super close fashion is if I hear something tonally in a player's work that I like and want to investigate. I like to know at least in passing what axe a bassist is using, what strings, and what their technique/concept is for getting that tone. 'Technique' used to 'wow' me in my younger days, but I grew fatigued at technique for technique's sake (like we see in so many YouTube bassists). I also used to think, as many of us do, that if I just had the same bass as someone I admired, that I'd get that same tone. Nope! A wise teacher told me once that 'technique' is always in the service of getting the sound and expressiveness out of your instrument that you desire, and has nothing to do with 'flash or smash.' Once it was reframed for me that way, I really started paying attention to technique again, but in the service of individuality and tone. Here's a perfect example: Charlie Haden has long been my tonal benchmark for double bass in terms of depth of sound, economy of notes, and expressiveness. Charlie's technique was definitely unorthodox, and some would say borderline damaging in terms of his wrist/arm alignment and posture. None of that mattered, because the music Charlie made was DEEP. I became less critical of where someone's hands where, and instead listened to the sound they made, and then tried to take away whatever it was in their sound that hit me and see if I could discover it in my own way. In the last couple of years I got a specific set of strings that got me more in the ballpark of a version of Charlie's sound as well - a gear purchase that definitely influenced me in a big way - but man if I STILL don't sound like ME, just in a different shade of a new color. So nah, I don't get distracted... I get curious.
Aint that the truth!When there are musicians in the crowd watching your gig
You can't help but be distracted by the gear other bassist are using and comparing it to your own . I saw Leland Sklar years ago when he was playing with Toto and was amazed by the Dingwall bass he was playing . Over the years I never thought the bass was for me , but watching his videos got me thinking about buying one......I did .
As I am essentially happy with my sound (really for the first time in decades), I rarely pay much attention to gear, unless something sounds really unpleasant. I ALWAYS notice the bass, but if it's a Fender, I don't try to determine which P or J it is, there are so many different variations! When I read some of the TB posts about different models I'm afraid my head will explode! I'm old. When I started playing there were 3 Fenders: P, J, and Mustang (ok, ok, Coronados, but...). When the Musicmaster came out it was BIG news!
Technique - If I hear something especially cool, or an interesting take on an old chestnut, I definitely take notice.
BBB
Technique - If I hear something especially cool, or an interesting take on an old chestnut, I definitely take notice.
BBB
I watch everyone to see what they do, how they do it, and what they do it with. Hang out and just enjoy the background music? No way. It's study time.
To be fair, I always look like that. Even before I cared about that stuff or even considered myself a musician.When there are musicians in the crowd watching your gig
I don't exactly get distracted. I care a lot about gear, but when someone is playing music, I only really pay attention to stuff that is currently being used. For example when I see a pedalboard and I notice there's a EHX Pog on it, I don't care about that until the person uses it. Then I can make a connection between gear and how it's used, and I find that really fascinating.
Same thing with technique really. When someone is playing a certain way, I only care about that when I can see the connection to the music that person is playing. I don't go out of my way to judge peoples technique, unless I'm interested in the music and how it's made. That's why I know so much about Les Claypool, because I really liked the music and then started wondering how he does it. And that's when I paid close attention to what he does and why he does it. Which then gives me a reference point to compare to other musicians and why they might choose to do something differently. I just don't like the thought of developing a single way of playing music, when there is so many people out there that might know something that I don't!
I also don't ever take pictures or videos. I will say however, when there is videos of shows online, I might go out of my way to check what gear a specific musician is using, just because I'm curious. But I would never go to a show and get distracted by the gear to a degree where I would not be paying attention to the music.
Same thing with technique really. When someone is playing a certain way, I only care about that when I can see the connection to the music that person is playing. I don't go out of my way to judge peoples technique, unless I'm interested in the music and how it's made. That's why I know so much about Les Claypool, because I really liked the music and then started wondering how he does it. And that's when I paid close attention to what he does and why he does it. Which then gives me a reference point to compare to other musicians and why they might choose to do something differently. I just don't like the thought of developing a single way of playing music, when there is so many people out there that might know something that I don't!
I also don't ever take pictures or videos. I will say however, when there is videos of shows online, I might go out of my way to check what gear a specific musician is using, just because I'm curious. But I would never go to a show and get distracted by the gear to a degree where I would not be paying attention to the music.
I'm moved by the music. I certainly hear great instrumentalists with some amazing gear, but if the song ain't happenin', who cares ?
I’m kinda interested in gear, although nothing is really that radical these days. I enjoy not seeing the obligatory Fender probably most.
I try being more in the moment trying to have the music take precedence. Usually, if I start to focus on the gear/technique over the actual music it means I'm not really liking the band. I'm never/will never be above geeking out over other bass player's gear, especially in the rare chance I can chat with somebody about it!
Reminds me of the old-as-dirt joke about trumpet players:
How many trumpet players does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Five. One to screw it in, and four to stand around with their arms crossed muttering, “I could do that better.”
How many trumpet players does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Five. One to screw it in, and four to stand around with their arms crossed muttering, “I could do that better.”
Kinda depends. If it’s one of the bands I am a gigantic fan of (Priest, Maiden) I am already wildly familiar with what they do so I lose myself in the experience… but I do keep an eye on guitars/basses especially if I see something new.
I do pay attention to how bands communicate with one another on stage, little cues, everyone has their own.
For example, I recently notice Scott Travis (drummer, Judas Priest) putting up his fingers (seven, this time) to indicate how many hits they would play on the root to end the song.
I do pay attention to how bands communicate with one another on stage, little cues, everyone has their own.
For example, I recently notice Scott Travis (drummer, Judas Priest) putting up his fingers (seven, this time) to indicate how many hits they would play on the root to end the song.
