How "Whiplash" changed my life.

[Clef_de_fa]

for your struggle, sometimes it isn't bad to not listen to the band and just stay focused on counting in your head to be sure to be at the right place. especially effective when you know how many bars there is before the next section. In Jazz it is absolutely important that you know the chords of the song you are playing, so knowing them you can count like : C-2-3-4, F-2-3-4, Bb-2-3-4 etc

I did it often because you never know if someone will screw up and need you to be strong so they can come back ... or if they throw out a solo or a syncopated drum beat that would and could destroy everything if the band isn't solid so the contrast is cool and stay cool.

 

[CryingBass]

A good friend of mine is the drummer and BL for 2 jazz bands in Chicago ( 1 big band and 1 Cicago/Chase/etc). He did not like the movie which surprised me. But it is a killer movie ( like in emotions ).

Regarding timing: A company named Jeanius made a device called the Rusian Dragon ( get it? ). You feed your playing into 1 channel and the "reference track" into the other, and lights on the front help visualize how much you are slowing down or speeding up. I really wish someone would start to make them again! Playing to a click is for dix. Oops

 

[FirewalZ]

I think the underlying message as it relates to gear/GAS is to don't let it become your focus. Gear is simply a tool to help you "get the music out". The Music Lesson by Victor Wooton contains a similar message and was equally inspiring to me.

 

[Ewo]

Hey, thanks for posting about that movie. Didn't know about it; just put it in my Amazon cart.

I've pondered the issue for a long while, too. Seems like there are two polar opposite ways of thinking about the question of how to get better. One is unrelenting self-criticism (as in the movie, judging from that clip and the blurb). The other is Kenny Werner's _Effortless Mastery_ thing: recovering the childlike joy of making sound, and diminishing self-inhibiting thoughts.

Thinking back on my musical career (such as it's been), Werner's method seems to work better for me--seeing as I internalized ruthless self-criticism as a child, in other areas of my life. Guess the best approach is the better fit for the individual player's personality and career goals. But I'm still mulling it all over...

 

[Jazz Ad]

I liked the movie but yeah, not inspiring to me. It treats music like some kind of hardcore sport.
However, the old saying applies. Less eBay, more Mel Bay.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

It's a cool movie but one of the worlds best drummers gave it a little review on a Facebook post saying it's completely unrealistic but with suspension of disbelief it's a great movie in its own right.
I thoroughly enjoyed and J.K. Simmons has been one of my favorite actors since Oz.

 

[Bullitt5135]

 

[Oddly]

Not seen the movie yet, but as said elsewhere, anything that gets us practicing more, and shopping around for the perfect gear has to be a good thing, right?
Best of luck with your musical progress!

 

[HaphAsSard]

I had initially thought your thread was referring to the Thrash Metal band Whiplash (I highly recommend them)

Funny, I'd never heard of them but I thought of the Metallica song, which this band may or may not have taken their name from.

 

[Plutonium244]

Agreed. They practice to the point of hating the music. One reason I chose not to pursue an education in it.

There is some truth to this. But at the same time, the miserable experience can help. I played the violin individually, in groups, and in the orchestra from the age of 5 to 16. I remember being in 5th grade, and faking getting beat up on the way home from school to try to get out of going to my after-school violin lesson, which I hadn't prepared for. The way it was more or less forced upon my by parents, the lessons, the practice, and finally the "zero hour" 7:30 AM orchestra class in HS really grated on me until finally I grew some balls and quit. I took up the rock n roll life style instead and started playing bass. Well, I had much more passion for modern music (which wasn't even allowed in our house until I was 14) and that passion changed everything. I played by feel and passion and never took a bass lesson-- but I already knew a lot of foundational stuff about music by the time I took up bass.

BUT-- if it weren't for everything I'd been forced to learn against my will for those years, I don't know if I'd be half the musician I am now-- if I'd be a musician at all. It was more or less baked into my character and skill set, ingrained in me, by all that early work and exposure. I know guys can and go get damn good without starting that young or having classical training... the guitarist Ronnie Earl (Roomful of Blues, Fabulous Thunderbirds, etc) never touched a guitar until he was 20 and didn't start actually taking an interest in it until he was 22. But I know for me, that forced work had a lot to do with later skill and enjoyment of music of MY choosing. So, while I didn't enjoy it, I feel that I have that background to thank for my continued interest in and appreciation of music throughout my life.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

There are times in the movie where the main character comments on the gear of the other drummers, particularly when he gets into the main band. So he is definitely into drum gear. Also, I am willing to bet all of those students care a lot about gear/ instruments. But yeah, playing comes first. I didn't really start getting into gear so much until I had been playing a long time. Mostly because I couldn't afford it until later in life.

 

[Tommyc]

I saw Whiplash. Like most movies about musicians whether they're classical or jazz or whatever the genre, it's B%^&sh(t. To address your timing problem you need solutions and leave the B*******t to Hollywood.

Skip ahead to where Carol Kaye talks about her timing. It starts at 10:00 and goes to 11:05. You need not confine this kind of work to a metronome either. A decent drum machine is a great companion for a bassist. Do yourself a favor as well and watch the entire film when time allows. And please fellas don't get on her about not being like this guy or that or she's not Jamerson etc. She was 78 years old at the time this was made.

 

[acmeseed]

I find that as I get better I focus less on gear. When I got back into playing I started buying gear, ended up with 6-7 Fender basses. Now I am pretty much using 2, American P & Jazz, started listing the others for sale.

I loved the movie though, mostly the music.

 

[project_c]

Just wanted to add a thought to this - i agree with this sentiment but also think sometimes an instrument will not allow you to progress beyond a certain point (a precision with a wide neck for example) and an upgrade can definitely help once you hit a wall, as long as you know why you are hitting that wall. Certain things are just impossible if you have physical limitations (e.g. small hands) and there is no amount of hard work that will get you beyond those limitations if the bass you're playing is giving you a handicap. So sometimes there is a difference between pointless GAS and a necessary upgrade.

 

[pfschim]

is Whiplash the movie where the drummers hands start to bleed during the big earth shattering drum solo at the end ?


still, whatever motivates you to focus on the music and not just the gear involved.
good luck OP

 

[hrodbert696]

I'm glad the movie inspired you and I think it's great to learn to focus on practice rather than gear.

At the same time, I HATED the movie. Can't believe I watched it to the end. World's worst teacher and in the end, they gave the impression that he was vindicated. What the guy failed to appreciate is that Charlie Parker got a cymbal thrown at him ONCE. That inspired him to go be better, and older musicians came alongside and coaxed him. He didn't get cymbal after cymbal thrown at him over and over until he turned into a genius. GEEEZ.

 

[BazzaBass]

My favourite from the Movie: Poster of Buddy Rich on Andrew's wall: IF YOU DON'T HAVE ABILITY, YOU WIND UP PLAYING IN A ROCK BAND

 

[derylgallant]

gear should be an extension of what you can already do... in hindsight after playing 25 years now I can see the merit in having just passably acceptable gear, working really hard on it, finding the true limitations of the instrument vs the limitations of your skill....getting some better gear, finding out again...what was limiting you with the old gear..and what is still the same ( ya know...dropped all this cash on gear and I still sound not so hot.....sooo guess I need to practice more .. ) ..

I recently got a pro piece of gear and have found just that... yes, my previous instrument was limiting my tone, and my ability to do certain things....but certain things I still sound like A$$ on and know I just need to shed more...

( I cringed the entire way through the movie... wanted to shut it off after 4 mins.... such a terrible caricature of real life.....or..maybe I'm just lucky and have never experienced such an awful environment... this all being said the movie had ZERO to do with music and all to do with character building and situational reaction in a dramatic fashion... there's no sense trying to equate this movie to real life .... though as others have said, I'm glad you were able to see through the junk and glean from it something that inspired you.. )

 

[DirtDog]

It changed my life too. Now, when my drummer speeds up, I slap him in the face and say 'not my tempo'

Not really, but I sometimes want to.

It's very liberating to actually do that!

 

[S-Bigbottom]

How did they get there? Not by perusing pawn shops 3 days a week, I'm sure. Not by buying the latest and greatest instruments. Just hard, extensive practicing.

Good job on breaking your shopping addiction.


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