I think that can be a problem in itself, if you love what you play then you should never change it to please your audience, if what you do has quality then people will listen to it and you'll make money but once making money becomes a driver the thought process changes.
We play a lot of Floyd in our band. I was never a great fan before then, but I am, now. Forcing myself to learn Gilmore's solos and vamping has informed me that what he lacked in technical ability was amply compensated for by his musicality and lyricism. His solos in Time, Money, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, and Comfortably Numb (all of which I play) are superbly structured and very beautiful. I never tire of playing them. Floyd presented ordinary punters with an acceptable route into the otherwise arcane world of prog rock, although, in time, they effectively broke away from the prog hard-centre and created their own niche, with others like Genesis and Yes.
It's not just how good I think he is, as I've explained in other posts. And I think it's very possible to appreciate somebody's mastery of their instrument, even if you don't care for their music. I've cited ELP as an example. As a musician, I can easily appreciate their high technical ability. But do I like the end result? No, I dont.
I don't think you can be, or can afford to be, that self indulgent. If your musical tastes are that eclectic, they may not be viable to play to a wider audience. Yes, you will maybe find a smaller one who will listen, but you have to make some concessions to the paying public, in general.
I don't think it's being self indulgent though, if you play because you enjoy what you do then why should you change that? You might not make any money but you stay true to what you feel is right and the music becomes more honest. With the technical proficiency thing I think you have to be a musician to look at music that way and it makes me quite glad that I'm not one.
One of my fav stories regarding music. Mudhoney were playing a concert and Duff McKagan from Guns n Roses was to be a guest on a song, just before they were due to go Duff turns to the singer/guitarist Mark Arm and says "what key are you in?" Arm replies "what's a key?".
Music (and especially guitar) is probably one of the very few subjects on which I find it difficult to wum. It's probably due to the fact that it is something that is very precious and important to me.
I understand. It was my life. But, I got married, it was a precarious, uncertain living in those days and so I reluctantly had to give it up. But, I still play the odd gig, and for myself at home all the time.
Yeah, there are a lot of stories like that across the world of rock. The story goes that Clapton can't read music. Well, in my (better than average) experience of rock and blues musicians, that probably accounts for the majority of guitarists, so it's not really saying very much. However, anyone who has studied and learned, as I have, Clapton's first solo on "Crossroads" will tell you that, whilst the man might not have been able to read music, he damn well sure knew his way around the minor and major pentatonic-blues scales! He covers every position over the entire fretboard in that one solo, in a very well constructed piece of music. Again, I was never a fan of Clapton's, considering him too lacking in technical prowess to be of any lasting use to me, in the days when I was pushing myself hard to become as good as I could get; but after learning that piece for the band, I developed a respect for Clapton. Anyone who wants to learn how to play guitar should get an experienced tutor to teach them that song, including the fantastic ending, because in that piece you will learn every scale (in the key of A, but the ideas and scales can be transposed), and just about every blues lick that was in practical use up to the time that Clapton played that solo.
Yes indeed. He learnt a lot about music from Jack Bruce, who was a very fine musician and probably one of the best bass players I've ever heard.
Agreed. He, along with John Paul Jones, Noel Redding and John Entwistle are my favourite rock bass players.
Joe Satriani is going on tour soon and is playing Cliffs Pavilion Southend which is a good small sized venue
I saw him when he played a large venue close to me. What a player! The man who taught Steve Vai how to play. Street cred in the modern era of the electric guitar really doesn't get any better than that. The man has everything. I defy anyone to listen to "Flying In A Blue Dream" and not be both dazzled and moved. If you are a musician, you will also marvel at his facility for playing and his very great technical skill.
ok break it down into words that a 55 year old non musician would understand - what does tasteful shred mean
Look up a few vids on youtube of Satriani playing live and ask yourself if you will enjoy it. He's not heavy, like Malmsteen or Slash, but he is just as blisteringly fast, and he has all the chops - sweep-picking, whammy-bar madness, tapping, etc - but he uses everything judiciously and with great taste (in my opinion). He's referred to a a "rock fusion" player (whatever that may be). For me, Satch is simply a very great player, whose music I find to be lyrically interesting and very inventive.
If you like your music post some here........ http://www.not606.com/threads/foredeckdaves-music-thread.63139/page-1158#post-7959627 You leave the wumming and footy banter at the door.
