Man.. It's getting harder and harder to come to these forums. No matter what the question, or statement, the pompous, hipster, douche, condescending, better than thou, brigade has to ride in and poop all over everything. It's a real bummer.
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Playing behind your head
- Thread starter Dead Set Dave
- Start date
Not for me. The more people tell me I'm doing everything wrong, the more I feel I must be on to something.
Q: Which is better; to stand out, or to be a lot like everybody else?
A: That depends. Do you want to stand out, or be like everybody else?
Me. I want to play my best and have a good time, and hopefully that translates to the crowd having a good time. Play behind your head, set your bass on fire
, do the splits, or what ever. If you are having a good time and so is the crowd then all is well. Me I can't look down my nose at anyone doing their thing if they are having a good time and entertaining the crowd. Loved your video, by the way. Looks like you guys put on a fun show and everyone has a good time!
Jimi Hendrix, on playing with your teeth:
"The idea of that came to me in a town in Tennessee. Down there you have to play with your teeth, or else you get shot. There's a trail of broken teeth all over the stage."
I'm sure Jimi was trying to be funny, and exaggerating a bit, but in truth, way back in the early days of blues, people would play guitar behind their back, or their head, or between their legs, or whatever, to entertain the audience, and stand out from other players.
I've heard a lot of guitar players say that he didn't really play with his teeth; he was just doing hammer-ons, but that's not true; he used his incisor to pluck the string. That's what Arthur does. He's got great big scary incisors, like fangs, and you can hear the attack in his playing. I wouldn't do it, because a bass string is a lot different from a guitar string, and I value my dental work too much for that sort of thing, but it's cool.
If you listened to the video right to the end, there just happened to be a young lady sitting at a table near the camera that is just blown away by what she has witnessed.
It seems cliche, or overdone to some of us players, but you have to think about the audience, not other players.
"The idea of that came to me in a town in Tennessee. Down there you have to play with your teeth, or else you get shot. There's a trail of broken teeth all over the stage."
I'm sure Jimi was trying to be funny, and exaggerating a bit, but in truth, way back in the early days of blues, people would play guitar behind their back, or their head, or between their legs, or whatever, to entertain the audience, and stand out from other players.
I've heard a lot of guitar players say that he didn't really play with his teeth; he was just doing hammer-ons, but that's not true; he used his incisor to pluck the string. That's what Arthur does. He's got great big scary incisors, like fangs, and you can hear the attack in his playing. I wouldn't do it, because a bass string is a lot different from a guitar string, and I value my dental work too much for that sort of thing, but it's cool.
If you listened to the video right to the end, there just happened to be a young lady sitting at a table near the camera that is just blown away by what she has witnessed.
It seems cliche, or overdone to some of us players, but you have to think about the audience, not other players.
I get bored watching dudes play, I love it when someone does something different. It's a personal thing, but punk gigs are built around energy. Trying to engage the crowd and create something interesting takes a little more than just playing along. At the very least you have to been running around the stage like a man on fire.
i used to do it, mixed response.
wait for a pause, flip it up, do not shag up or you will be laughed at, and my advice, keep it to 2 measures or less.
wait for a pause, flip it up, do not shag up or you will be laughed at, and my advice, keep it to 2 measures or less.
Here's my thoughts on the matter:
I do not play for other bass players. I do not care what other bass players think of what I do. Volunteer your un-requested negative opinion about what I do and I'll be happy to show you where the exit door is located. I'm sure a hundred years ago, these same boring old farts who say "Playing behind your head is stupid" would have been the ones saying, "Standing up with a strap is stupid," or "Singers who don't stand in one place are stupid."
I truly despise people who try to quash all manner of enthusiasm and showmanship in musicians. Frankly, I think they're jealous that they're so boring to watch.
I do not play for other bass players. I do not care what other bass players think of what I do. Volunteer your un-requested negative opinion about what I do and I'll be happy to show you where the exit door is located. I'm sure a hundred years ago, these same boring old farts who say "Playing behind your head is stupid" would have been the ones saying, "Standing up with a strap is stupid," or "Singers who don't stand in one place are stupid."
I truly despise people who try to quash all manner of enthusiasm and showmanship in musicians. Frankly, I think they're jealous that they're so boring to watch.
Man, thinking about teeth on strings makes me cringe the same way nails on chalkboard or metal utensil on metal cookware does.
memories...
I used to finish my solo with a Yeaaarnnooowwwwshwing front tooth thing. THen I got bumped. and my tooth got broken in half. A few weeks ago the repaired tooth rebroke on a punty. I have to wait two more weeks for the repair. Totally worth it.
I was gonna like your post, but that felt weird. They should have an "appreciate" button
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