PLaying A Lot OF Instruments

[Paul262]

Balderdash,

I'm thinking of purchasing some Tabla drums to improve rhythm and have the luxury of a percussion set that won't take up half my room.

 

[cliffbass]

Dudes Let me tell you my opinion,Studying theory of other instruments it stands nice to me but playing a lot of instruments wont make you good to something if you want to continue

 

[Jazz Ad]

I am dedicated to one and only one, the music.

 

[GianGian]

Sometimes, being an OK player on a lot of instruments is better than being a awesome bassist. Look at McCartney, John Paul Jones. They were not virtuosos on any of the instruments they played, but they knew very well how to put them on the music, and they made lasting contributions to rock bass playing without having a particulary desirable technique or playing a thousand notes per second.

 

[jarrhead]

I think that learning one well then moving to another is the way to go.

This way it gives you a lot more knowledge musically and you can focus on one.

I played viola for years, came to bass, and theory was a breeze. I knew how to use my fingers as well and I can do a fretless pretty easily.

Also alto is only one half-space away from bass clef, the transition was a bit easier.

 

[calebbarton]

I consider myself a very conscious and musical musician. I may not be a virtuoso bassist, but I can GROOVE like there's no tomorrow (it is my favorite out of all the instruments). I think more about what the rest of the band is doing that what I am doing, because I understand what it means to work FOR the music, not for my own bass-playing glory..

+1000000000000000000000

 

[fdeck]

Piano is good to learn if you get a chance to do so. It's probably the best instrument for learning theory.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

If you can play a lot of instruments pretty well is a very good thing.

But I think you should find the ONE instrument that you really feel for it and love to play. A lot of people can "jive" on different instruments but don't truly mastered. I strongly suggest that you find your voice.

Sly

I don't know a musician who has mastered the instrument, in the sense that they have nothing else to learn or no place to grow. And "master(y)" is by no means a benchmark of "finding your voice." In fact many who have a very distinct and overt "voice" are far, far from "mastery."

 

[Asher S]

Hello,I think playing a lot of instruments wont help you...If you want to become good you must dedicate to One And only one

If you're not a professional musician, and play music for the sheer enjoyment, there's no point limiting yourself to one instrument if other instruments also grab your interest.

If you are a professional musician and rely on music to put food on the table, you'll have a much higher likelihood of survival and perhaps even success if you focus on 1 instrument. That being said, exploring "supportive" instruments (such as drums, or piano for bassists) may help you achieve that goal.

Then there's the controversial 10,000-hour theory to becoming a master... There's also the issue of what and how to practice, that Jeff Berlin has commented on many times, i.e. quality over quantity of practice. There are only so many hours in a day. If you want to master an instrument, it will take a specific amount of time. If you want to master 2 instruments, it will take roughly twice as long. But if you just want to have fun playing music on several instruments, then just do that.

 

[sirpug]

Dudes Let me tell you my opinion,Studying theory of other instruments it stands nice to me but playing a lot of instruments wont make you good to something if you want to continue

Huh?

Piano is good to learn if you get a chance to do so. It's probably the best instrument for learning theory.

+1billion. I just learned this myself. In fact, I started another thread last week about this very opinion.

 

[lunarpollen]

Two words: Roy Wood

 

[WalterBush]

I'd say easily, the vast majority of my bass technique now was affected positively by studying classical guitar; economy of motion, practical application of theory on a fretboard, changing tone and feel with fingers alone instead of reaching for an effect or EQ knob, these are all things that are routinely taught to guitarists studying classical music, but I have yet to find more than a couple of bass teachers who go over it with their students.

Charles Mingus' bass playing wasn't hindered by his study of piano, and Jaco's playing wasn't hindered by studying how Frank Sinatra sang, or by learning sax lines along with bass solos. Don't limit your learning to one instrument exclusively; there's plenty of time to learn multiple instruments. The idea that bass exists in its own musical vacuum and you'll only suffer by taking focus away from it is flawed; it's all the study of music, and it all applies to being a good bassist.

 

[Snarf]

 

[slybass3000]

I don't know a musician who has mastered the instrument, in the sense that they have nothing else to learn or no place to grow. And "master(y)" is by no means a benchmark of "finding your voice." In fact many who have a very distinct and overt "voice" are far, far from "mastery."

Hopefully (for you) you must know that there are many levels of mastery. I consider myself mastering the bass guitar to a certain level but that level is far,far,far away from Victor Wooten's mastery of the instrument.

 

[jarrhead]

Hopefully (for you) you must know that there are many levels of mastery. I consider myself mastering the bass guitar to a certain level but that level is far,far,far away from Victor Wooten's mastery of the instrument.

All opinions. I feel that victor wooten may have mastered his theory, but his groove is absolute crap. He hits millions of unneccessary muted notes and plays way too fast and it takes away from most of the musical quality IMHO.

:scowl:

...and then there was some guy with the last name McCartney...

:scowl:

Jesse? Haha I caught my mom watching a Jesse McCartney conert the other day.

 

[slybass3000]

All opinions. I feel that victor wooten may have mastered his theory, but his groove is absolute crap. He hits millions of unneccessary muted notes and plays way too fast and it takes away from most of the musical quality IMHO.

Well I suggest you go buy a ticket or buy a CD of Victor. Then come again and tell me that the guy is so off like you say. He is one of very few musicians that can play something in the other galaxy and still have his feet on the ground imo. He is a truly master at the instrument.

 

[jarrhead]

Master of the instrument, maybe.

But most of his groove sucks. I don't think he realizes that playing 1000 notes a minute degrades the quality.

 

[SpamBot]

Master of the instrument, maybe.

But most of his groove sucks. I don't think he realizes that playing 1000 notes a minute degrades the quality.

Why don't you repost that video of you playing your "black belt" song? Then we can asess how well YOU groove and see if, in fact, you can groove better than Victor.

 

[slybass3000]

Master of the instrument, maybe.

But most of his groove sucks. I don't think he realizes that playing 1000 notes a minute degrades the quality.

VW may not be your cup of tea but I can assure you that he knows how to hold on to a groove like any other groovemasters without overplaying if he wants too because he knows about that stuff too and he does it. May be you just didn't heard him do it.

Sly

 

[GianGian]

Why don't you repost that video of you playing your "black belt" song? Then we can asess how well YOU groove and see if, in fact, you can groove better than Victor.

I have never understood why some people think that in order to criticise somebody you have to be able to make it "better".
In music, and in art in general, there is no better.