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No you can't. Stop lying to yourself......

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#41
AlmightyPancake said:
That is an inherently ego-driven statement, my friend.

Yes, sometimes things get to you. But retaliation never helps, particularly considering how collaborative music is at its core.

What if your statement actually discourages him from ever learning more? You could easily have suggested to him that there are flashy techniques that could improve the groove, or just smile and say you play different styles. Instead, you upped the idea of competitive musical performance, which is a bit silly to me.
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+ 1

Represent, don't disrespect. You are an endorsing artist. Maybe you should read your story out loud to yourself. As a manufacturer, (sponsering you, the artist) I would have issue with how you handled the situation.

Just sayin.
 
#43
Waterpilot said:
To be honest I'm not sure that I care enough about what some stranger who has no influence in my life thinks. If someone thinks they're better then me, so be it. That being said, I haven't been playing very long so they very well could be.

But... I also think there is something to be learned from everyone. Even if it's very small, it is still something.
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+1

About five years ago, I was doing a run of HAIR at the summerstock theatre and needed to sub out a gig. The guitarist got me a sub (the "regular" at that point in town) who came in and sat behind me one night during rehearsal, to get all the cuts, changes, etc..

During our break, he tells me everything I'm doing stylistically wrong and what he'd do instead. I smiled and nodded.

After he left, the guitarist asked why I even listened to him, and that he will give him a piece of his mind later. I told him it was no big deal, and maybe I could pick something up. Turned out that nothing he told me was new to me, but it didn't hurt listening.

A couple of months later, I got a gig from the keyboardist in that pit, because of my patience in dealing with my sub.
 
#44
Invalid Link Removed

:)

In all seriousness I agree the guy shouldn't have said anything. I don't think we should walk up to strangers and criticize them for something. However, you let that guy get under your skin (understandably) and didn't keep your cool. I definitely think there are better choices of actions for both sides. Much like a lot of responses in this thread; Things make us angry, we respond in anger. Not always the best thing. Mmmmmmmmm carrots.
 
#45
MikeBass said:
Oh, I did kinda be an arse back. When I was walking out I looked at him playing a bass. and said "Wow man, nice" to which he replied "Yeah thanks".
I said "I was talking about the bass, not you, don't get excited- listen thanks for the advice. But there isn't a gig you do, that I can't do. But there are plenty I do that you could never do".
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Um...kinda? :eyebrow:

Congrats on confirming everything he thought about you. You certainly came off as a dick in the store, and definitely here.

I've been here a long time, too. This story is pretty pathetic for someone with as much experience as you have. Your mom didn't teach you "two wrongs don't make a right?"
 
#52
I didn't have to read any further than your quote about what the guy said.

IMHO, anyone offering unsolicited stylistic playing advice in a music store is a douche. I probably would not have said anything to the guy, but just looked at him and made a "thumbs up" gesture. :)

My thinking is, it's a piece of wood with strings on it - just let people do whatever the hell they want (as long as they aren't trying to hit me with it).

I'm not going to go up to Stanley Clarke and say "Man, why don't you just play a regular bass instead of that piccolo and just grooooove." And, I'm not going to say to Michael Manring, "Man, why you gotta play with your tuners so much, just sit back and groooove".

It's a big world out there, I choose to keep my mouth shut and learn.
 
#53
Phalex said:
Meh. I suck. I gig.
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I hear that! I've only been in Knoxville for a week now and I've already played 3 gigs and have 2 more lined up for this weekend - all paying. If that guy said the same thing he said to you to me I'd just smile and say, "Yeah, I should give that a try sometime. Maybe I'll get a gig sometime." :p
 
#54
One Bad Monkey said:
+1

About five years ago, I was doing a run of HAIR at the summerstock theatre and needed to sub out a gig. The guitarist got me a sub (the "regular" at that point in town) who came in and sat behind me one night during rehearsal, to get all the cuts, changes, etc..

During our break, he tells me everything I'm doing stylistically wrong and what he'd do instead. I smiled and nodded.

After he left, the guitarist asked why I even listened to him, and that he will give him a piece of his mind later. I told him it was no big deal, and maybe I could pick something up. Turned out that nothing he told me was new to me, but it didn't hurt listening.

A couple of months later, I got a gig from the keyboardist in that pit, because of my patience in dealing with my sub.
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Yup, this is definitely the best way to deal with these situations.
 
#55
Punk Rock Jason said:
I don't know, maybe it's me, but I don't think that I would just go up to some guy I don't know from Adam and start trying to give advice on his playing style. I mean if someone's struggling with something and looks like they're looking for help, that's one thing, but to just out of the blue start offering critique is another.

I mean, I don't go into McDonald's and offer my opinion on how to cook the fries. Generally, (again maybe it's me) I think it's kind of rude to just go up to someone and basically say, "Hey, here's how you could do what you're doing better."
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This......Thank you.
You get my point exactly.


Smokin' Toaster said:
I'd say you have some issues if you let such a comment bother you. I think I'd have limited my comment to "free country, bro, this is what I choose to do. chose on..."

And FWIW, I'm probably known as a hothead here in TB.

Also, I would never go on a "how good I am" rant in a forum or in conversation, and I tend to dismiss those who do. If you can play, if you have chops, if you know theory, I'll hear it. And if you don't I won't.

It's sorta like the guy who's always talking about how he has sex with any woman anytime he wants... he's probably not getting any at all.

Flame me back if you want... you asked.
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Hey, never claimed I was the best. And maybe it appeared that way, but it wasn't a "how good I am" rant. But I'm kinda finding it odd that when someone says that they can play a bit they have an ego all of a sudden.

thomasthecat said:
I can slap, I can tap, I can sweep, and I know some theory....having said that I do like grooving more then all that stuff but I would never tell anyone that grooving is the only way to play.THATS IGNORANT. If they can use a bunch of techniques and still make it musical I can completly appreciate that. If said person can find a bunch of people to play the same kind of music together well, thats even better. But each person chooses what and how they play and to try to alter someones style is kinda dumb
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I agree.

ggoat!!! said:
Why in the hell would you care so much about what someone else thinks of your playing?

Better yet...why the hell would you care so much about HIS playing?

For someone who supposedly plays sooooooo much better than everyone else and who has done more gigs than all of us combined...this guy's uppity egotistical insecure attitude sucks.
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Ok, see this is simple........I don't play soooooo much better than everyone else.
In this guys case, yeah, sorry walk up to some one and CONDECENDINGLY (which I think most have missed here) and make a comment like he did....yeah, I was having one of those days.

And sorry if it bothers you that yeah, I've been lucky enough to play a lot.
I had to. It was my only vocation for a long time.

CalboDaGo said:
Soo...a young musician should never say anything to an "accomplished" musician outside of "yes sir,thank you sir,and please bless us with more of your GC virtuosity?"
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One, you read into he was a younger musician. He was, but that was far from my point.
And two, maybe you missed it...he ran his mouth and to be honest, I see that crap all the time on here, in guitar shops, YouTube or where ever.
If you're gonna lay claims to crap like he did, well, back it up. Why is that so hard to understand?
If you tell me or anyone else that you can do something, but you're choosing not to, cool. Great. Awesome.
But if you go AT someone saying that, it's a different world.

4OnTheFloor said:
To OP: Are you a guitar player? You sound like most of the 6-string gurus I know.
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How so? (and no, I'm a pretty piss-poor guitar player!).

I have good fundamental basic ability on my instrument. And I've put it to great use and exploited it to a great extent to become a career choice for a long time (not so much anymore as I switched focus on things).
And I stated that pretty much in a rougher tone in my first post.
And that makes me have an ego?
Because some jackwagon got under my skin and I, like ANYone else here HAS done and/or WILL do- because we're human, was having a less than steller "P.C." day.
And if you think that anyone of us would never have a moment like I did, well, you're lying to yourself.
 
#56
I can kinda understand why so many bassist in my area behave anti-socially. Most bands have multiple guitarists,multiple vocalists, multiple keyboards, multiple horns...ive seen big rock bands with 2 drumkits on stage at once. But with only a few exceptions ive seen, the bassist usually stands alone. Guess its easier for us as bassists to develop the"mine mine mine" mentality.
 
#58
I'm backing the OP up on this one, and I'm no monster bassist. Also, it was probably not cool to hose that douche down at the end, but whatever, he did start it. The whole "I choose not to play that way, but rather to groove" when he couldn't play that way if he wanted to is sour grapes, plain and simple. Also, playing 8th notes or quarters or whatever simple/sparse line you do *does not mean inherently that you are grooving*! Often being able to feel the finer sub-divisions and lock on that, even if you aren't playing them, is what really makes a groove. And if you can really feel them, then you can play them. Too often I hear criticism of virtuosic playing here on TB and it just sounds like sour grapes to me. If I could play like Victor Wooten, I sure as hell would- not all night on every song, but on a couple of choice numbers I would and I think in general people in the audience would be as pleased as punch about it.
 
#60
Swampman Cory said:
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:)

In all seriousness I agree the guy shouldn't have said anything. I don't think we should walk up to strangers and criticize them for something. However, you let that guy get under your skin (understandably) and didn't keep your cool. I definitely think there are better choices of actions for both sides. Much like a lot of responses in this thread; Things make us angry, we respond in anger. Not always the best thing. Mmmmmmmmm carrots.
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Shut up Cory......;)

here's irony for those who think I went on a "I'm so good rant"- which I didn't:
Abbey Rondo Performing "Mr. Big Stuff" - YouTube

LOL!!!!
(and yes that's me playing bass....)
 
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