What’s your excuse for missing a note?

[Corevalay]

So, this happened at a gig a few weeks ago. I thought i was actually pretty funny...

We're playing a pretty packed gig in NYC. Lots of good looking people all dancing along. I'm looking over the crowd as usual. As I'm looking towards this one particular young lady, she decides to do a move which basically exposes her entire (not small) chest for a good 8-10 seconds. It caught me so off-guard that I actually completely stumbled on what I was playing. Like, REALLY bad sounding notes. I couldn't help but start cracking up. The drummer looked at me with a "What the hell was that" face. I just yelled to him "remind me to tell you later". We had a good laugh.

 

[40Hz]

Doesn’t happen with me very often these days. If I do bork a note I just keep playing and say “sorry” if anybody notices. Most times they don’t.

 

[birminghambass]

Not sure as I've never made a mistake. I once thought I did but I was wrong.

 

[Michael4bass]

I wiggle the jack and act like it's the cable.

Bassically, Michael

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Who has time to make excuses? Eye roll, laugh and go on to the next thing.

 

[ak56]

 

[ctbass]

space. (not outer or brain fart)

 

[Turtle71]

The go to for everyone in my band for missed/incorrect notes?...."Just trying something new there"

 

[WheatPenny]

“I’m creating tension”

 

[Spidey2112]

In learning tunes, I go through a period of learning (1) , a period (2) in which I know the tune well enough to play it provided I'm paying attention, and then (eventually) get to (3) where it's automatic

So true...

 

[Thumpin6string]

What note? I didn't see it! It's not my fault!

 

[two fingers]

I start looking around on the floor for it and indignantly ask other band members if they took it.


(True story)

 

[Thumpin6string]

Wait for it, wait for it, AAWWWW you missed it.

 

[jcerio]

Darn things keep moving around on me!

 

[Mastermold]

As Victor Wooten says, it ain't live music if you don't make a mistake once in a while. Roll with it!

 

[StatesideRambler]

Refer to the Vic Wooten quotation in my sig (below).

 

[TjMetalhead]

I never miss notes on my original tunes but covers I tend to flub a note or two. Especially if it's a technically difficult cover.

 

[lfmn16]

When you have every intention of hitting a note, but, for some reason, it either doesn’t happen or you play the wrong one. Kinda like missing the point, I suppose.

Well, not to be argumentative, but there are really two situations here; playing a note other than the one you wanted to play, but still a note within the correct choices or hitting a clam so bad that it would make a billy goat barf. For the former I don't say anything as I don't really consider it a mistake. For the latter, I own up. I'm the most prepared one in all of my bands so it doesn't happen too often.

And for the record - playing the wrong note because you are inept is NOT jazz. And playing the wrong note twice doesn't fool anyone; they just think you are too stupid to learn from your mistakes.

 

[db59]

I don’t miss notes, but what excuse do you mortals use?

View attachment 2885068

Brain or fingers

 

[comatosedragon]

I didn't know it was there?