The guy that wants to make you quit.
I just finished listening to a bunch of Johnny Smith records and it brought an old story to mind.
Back in the 40's the great saxophonist Charlie \"Byrd\" Parker was playing the juke joints in Kansas City. Then as has always been, the music scene was very competitive. Who could outplay who, etc...
There was another young saxophonist in town who heard how great Parker was. He picked up his horn and strolled down to the club \"Byrd\" was playing at determined to get up on the stage and blow him away.
He was barely in the front door, with a determined look on his face, when \"Byrd\" started to play. The story goes, he stopped dead in his tracks, completely mesmerized, and stayed that way for the entire set.
After the set was over, he picked up his horn, walked over to the Mississippi River and threw it over the bridge. After hearing Parker, He knew he would never be that good and just decided to give up.
I personally am a guitarist. I hear most things and think to myself, \"Given a little time, I can work those changes, riffs, etc.. out\".
The one guy after I listen to him that I know I will never be that good, that makes me think about quitting, is Johnny Smith. His tone, phrasing, technique, is some of the most amazing stuff I have ever heard. If I keep practicing one day I might be one onehundreth as good.
To read a little bit about Johnny Smith you can check out this link.
http://www.csindy.com/csindy/2001-03-15/cover.html
I was just wondering about the rest of you guys, on whatever instrument you're playing, If you also as well have that one guy that when you listen to him, the thought of throwing your stuff in the river crosses your mind because of inadequacy.
Just Wondering,
Tal
Back in the 40's the great saxophonist Charlie \"Byrd\" Parker was playing the juke joints in Kansas City. Then as has always been, the music scene was very competitive. Who could outplay who, etc...
There was another young saxophonist in town who heard how great Parker was. He picked up his horn and strolled down to the club \"Byrd\" was playing at determined to get up on the stage and blow him away.
He was barely in the front door, with a determined look on his face, when \"Byrd\" started to play. The story goes, he stopped dead in his tracks, completely mesmerized, and stayed that way for the entire set.
After the set was over, he picked up his horn, walked over to the Mississippi River and threw it over the bridge. After hearing Parker, He knew he would never be that good and just decided to give up.
I personally am a guitarist. I hear most things and think to myself, \"Given a little time, I can work those changes, riffs, etc.. out\".
The one guy after I listen to him that I know I will never be that good, that makes me think about quitting, is Johnny Smith. His tone, phrasing, technique, is some of the most amazing stuff I have ever heard. If I keep practicing one day I might be one onehundreth as good.
To read a little bit about Johnny Smith you can check out this link.
http://www.csindy.com/csindy/2001-03-15/cover.html
I was just wondering about the rest of you guys, on whatever instrument you're playing, If you also as well have that one guy that when you listen to him, the thought of throwing your stuff in the river crosses your mind because of inadequacy.
Just Wondering,
Tal
Comments
The person who makes realize how \"mortal\" I am is Doyle Dykes. I saw him at Larry Morgan Music, he represents Taylor guitars, and I nearly stepped on my tounge, when my jaw fell open as he began playing. :shock: He is a finger style player, smooth, fast and tastey, and must have eleven fingers on his right hand. I did not look at or touch my guitar for three or four days. Since hearing him I have purchased two of his CD's, and never grow tired of listening to them.
www.doyledykes.com
http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/t5/feature/Video.aspx?file=Doyle_Low.wmx
I think also Eric Johnson, makes my list of \"makes me want to quit players\". I saw Eric many many years ago as a warm up act for Santana, in Dallas, and one could tell he had it.
Thanks
Mike B.
But in my case, it might just be a \"guy\" thing.
You know, like almost every \"guy\" thinks if he gets in a situation and he has to, he could whoop anybody.
I can honestly say no one makes me want to quite!! Nor do I look at others as I'm not as good or I could never play like that. The fact is I want to play like Eric Partchey create my own style and be the best I can be for my God and Savior Jesus Christ!!! He truly is my audience of one!!Before I was a Christian I kind of thought like that, wished some day I could play like some one else say Kirk Hammett or George Lynch. These days I do realy respect and enjoy listening to and would not even mind emulating and sounding a little like Tony Placious Gurdians Lead Guitar Player I like his style and have at times prayed in my own spirit while listening to his stuff oh God to be able to play like that for your glory!!!
I just walked away and didnt play for about a month
Too freakin good.
Zak
WJ ;>
But If you've ever had the feeling that Tal's talking about, then you know what he means.
- Perhaps, \"EXTREMELY humbling\" or \"Smack'd back to reality\" :shock:
Holdsworth, Via, Gambale and Matheney kinda do it for me now, but I remember when it used to be the pair from Judas Preist. So I think it's in order to conclude that it changes (evolves) or that it can happen more than once.
If you look at music as more of an art form and a way for someone to be expressive, rather than a physical sport type competition, then there is no \"I'm better than you\".
There are people that have the mechanical gift and can run thru sweep arps etc. (And believe me they work at it religiously) as if they were making a pot of coffee. And others like myself that have to seriously WORK at it. Not only WORK at it but do it on a strict time schedule to keep the fingers warm and develop the muscle memory required to \"maintain\" that certain level of chop. We're talking about many hours in the day to maintain, of which many of us do not have. And I'd bet hard currency that those that can and do all those guitar gymnastics have the time to keep it up.
I know a classical guitarist (locally) who has some serious chops and skills. I once asked him about his practice regiment. He told me that he plays nothing but scales and arps for 3-4 hours a day....Every day. I thought to myself....\"I wish I had the time to do that\"........But if I did, my business would fall apart and my family would leave because there wouldn't be any time or money to spend on/with them.
Keep it relative to your own circumstances.....And enjoy the art!!!
You can actually tell how long someone had been a \"slave\" to the fretboard by the intensity of their technique. Looking at where they are in their lives and how good they are, really says alot about a person.
Awesome points, this needs to be a new thread. Subject, possibly \"Why do we do it?\"
- I bet there would be alot of interesting responses from the whole range of players, young and older.
\"Band making money\", \"The chicks\" \"Personal release\" or one of my favorites \"It's all about the music man, the music!\"
But I agree that those kind of players should be an inspiration. Not a frustration. Vai was a student of Satch's at one point. And I'm sure that many years ago Mr John Petrucci was a rookie who idolized a few players and sometimes thought he'd never have what it takes...
The thing which keeps me up when I think things like these is: after all it's the music you make that counts. Hendrix didn't play like Petrucci, Satch or Vai. Look at Malmsteen: I'll never play like him but I do not even want to because I don't like his music. Listen to Cirith Ungol: their solos seem so easy but they are full of ideas and very creative. Music isn't always about technique... it's better to play something easy and to do it well than to play something hard and to mess it up.
Certainly, there are some kinds of music where technique is very important: classic, metal, jazz, fusion... but as I stated before: Cirith Ungol *was* a heavy metal band and they had grea solos which had a touch of Tony Iommy but were trademark solos nevertheless and which did not need high speed sweepings to sound great. So there are exceptions. The thing you gotta learn is: Be the exception! And that will make you unique.
IMHO,
Gwar
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=14239
Link to NPR \"All songs considered\" for the entire version of \"Moonlight in Vermont\" for the windows media player.
http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/asc/asc25.smith.asx
If you don't like the windows media player here is the link to the real player recording of \"Moonlight in Vermont\"
http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/asc/asc25.smith.ram
Remember the above links are streams of the ENTIRE tune. NOT a clip.
If you're a guitar player you owe it to yourself to listen to this guy. Even if you don't like the material you have to admit, what tone, what phrasing, It's Johnny Smith
See Ya,
Tal
Of others, I've always been very impressed with Joe Pass. He can make the guitar into a piano with such proficiency that I could never hope to accomplish. Same can be said for many great classical guitarists.
Eh, enough of this negative thinking. Off to Carnegie Hall.
- Ilia
Y'all enjoy.
http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/signature/doyle-dykes/Videos.aspx
Mike B
There are a lot of great players out there, some of them completely stunning.
One thing that I always remember when sizing myself up against those great pickers is this; They may be great but most of the virtuosos achiceve no super economic success, because the public does not really like them that much. The public likes simple music the most. By that I mean instrumentally simple although the productions may be complex. Therefore there is a place for me somewhere in the music business if I wish to persue that.
But I just lilke playing on a daily basis, it is my main interest in life as far as hobbies/personal persuit goes. However well others can play has absolutely no bearing on what I do with my instrument.
Of course when I hear Steve Morse (of the Dregs days) on my CD player, Or John McLaughlin, or Al Demeola, and a host of other virtuosos I realize what a real great can do with a guitar.
But it don't slow me down any.
Make me want to quit messing with digital recording?
Everyone on this forum that can at least post something
for others to listen to. Not that I have anything really worth
sharing. I would still love to be able to record my music, burn
it on CDs and have them when wanted.
This schtuff is driving me CRAZY.
Oh, and by the way, I HATE my @!%$#&* computer!!
Almost all guitar pickers intimidate me. And when I hear one that doesn't, and I start feeling a bit more secure, they always have to go and do something else that does intimidates me. But then we all intimidate someone. That's a point we don't consider very often.
Mike