OT: One of "those" transcendent musician moments

[adouglas]

Here's why I spend so bloody much money on this music thing, and why I keep on coming back for more.

It's not because I look good doing it, because I'm an ugly cuss.

It's not because I sound great, because there are many more people who sound better than I do.

It's not because I take satisfaction from having great chops, becase Lord knows I'm just a hack who can't even do the Guitar Center wank thing.

It's not because I'm successful and get paid, because I'm happy to play for free for anyone who'll listen and am like a puppy presented with a doggie biscuit if someone offers me money for playing.



No. It has nothing to do with any of that.



It's because, from time to time, I have these little moments when I'm playing with my friends and it's all just perfect, y'know?

It sounds great, it's flowing and you can do no wrong. You enter into a tricky line that you screw up all the time and you are its absolute master...totally confident. The whole band is on and the song is COOKING.

There is, quite literally, no place in the universe you'd rather be. If you happen to be doing it in front of others, it's even better.

These are pristine, perfect moments that burn themselves into your memory to remain there, crystalline and unchanging, forever. There is nothing better.

 

[Eggman]

I hear you - brother.

+1

 

[Spectre]

+2

Question, what is "the Guitar Center wank thing"?

 

[adouglas]

Ah, the GC wank.....

Walk into any GC and you'll hear people laying out their best 30 seconds of music.

Some sound really, really impressive.

For 30 seconds.

Over time I've learned that being able to do that has nothing whatsoever to do with being able to play well in a band.

I can play for five hours straight with my band and it'll be wonderful. But walking into a GC and sitting down by myself, it pretty much sounds like "uhhh....thump, thump, I-V-VIII-IV-IV-IV-V-I."

In other words, nothing that sounds musical.

 

[fly]

Here's why I spend so bloody much money on this music thing, and why I keep on coming back for more.

It's not because I look good doing it, because I'm an ugly cuss.

It's not because I sound great, because there are many more people who sound better than I do.

It's not because I take satisfaction from having great chops, becase Lord knows I'm just a hack who can't even do the Guitar Center wank thing.

It's not because I'm successful and get paid, because I'm happy to play for free for anyone who'll listen and am like a puppy presented with a doggie biscuit if someone offers me money for playing.



No. It has nothing to do with any of that.



It's because, from time to time, I have these little moments when I'm playing with my friends and it's all just perfect, y'know?

It sounds great, it's flowing and you can do no wrong. You enter into a tricky line that you screw up all the time and you are its absolute master...totally confident. The whole band is on and the song is COOKING.

There is, quite literally, no place in the universe you'd rather be. If you happen to be doing it in front of others, it's even better.

These are pristine, perfect moments that burn themselves into your memory to remain there, crystalline and unchanging, forever. There is nothing better.

nailed it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



you are so right.......nothing better man.



*ahhhhhh..........the memories*

 

[thunder]

can that brother get an AMEN!

 

[PocketGroove82]

I can dig.

I get into something like that sometimes (if i'm lucky and the band is playing tight) on our funk/r&b version of My Funny Valentine. It's those moments when it feels like I'm leaving a huge, giant amount of space in the groove, and then mysteriously play a smooth and wonderfully timed fill, right in a gap between drums, vocals, guitar, and piano. And our drummer looks over at me and gives up a little smile.

Thats when I feel that magic, and it's what it's all about for me.
No slapping, tapping, or fast playing whatsoever. Just laying something down tasty.

WORD.

 

[Kristopher]

Thanks for this, I've forgotten about those moments.

 

[T-bone]

It's kind of like that 250 yard drive right down the middle.

Nice post!

tbone

 

[roballanson]

I can dig.

I get into something like that sometimes (if i'm lucky and the band is playing tight) on our funk/r&b version of My Funny Valentine. It's those moments when it feels like I'm leaving a huge, giant amount of space in the groove, and then mysteriously play a smooth and wonderfully timed fill, right in a gap between drums, vocals, guitar, and piano. And our drummer looks over at me and gives up a little smile.

Thats when I feel that magic, and it's what it's all about for me.
No slapping, tapping, or fast playing whatsoever. Just laying something down tasty.

WORD.

Defo.....and now I going to sound like an old stoner, but when it all cooks together like that you can close your eyes and see the music flowing...

Let the force be strong gang.

 

[4stringer]

when it all cooks together like that you can close your eyes and see the music flowing...

HOW TRUE!!!

But then again, I'm constantly getting yelled at because my eyes are always closed.........


Todd

 

[DTG]

yup you got it,for me it has never been about the money or the girls or the rock star vibes......(never got much of any of that anyway!!) its just about the Bass,its never,ever about anything else just Bass.
Hard to explain to somebody that has never felt like that,my wife understands now but it took years for her to see it.

 

[ChazzM]

Why?

I work with this guy who also plays guitar, he's been at it for only a year or so and gets the usual grief from his wife.

He said "I think it's the musicians heart, she just doen't have a musicians heart"

There was a bit of silence -

"Dude, I think we had a moment there"

But it's true, my Bro-in-law was watching my 6 year old daughter play in our backyard. We have a nice set of Niles outdoor speakers and I made a CD of music for her with everything on it from Swinging on A Star by Bing Crosby to Join Together by The Who. A song came on and she just went crazy, ran to the swings, started swinging and singing. He saw the light in her face and said - "Remember how when you were a kid and a song could just posess you body and soul? I recalled the first time I heard "I Should Have Known Better". "Yeah?" I said

"Well it just happend to your daughter"

Made my year.

One of the things that happens in our band is that one or more of us get "caught listeneing" mess up and get called on it. "But you guys sounded SO GOOD!"

Hearing a song you love come on the radio is always a wonderful thing.

Working out the changes and harmonies and nailing that song well with your two best friends - so blessed I feel guilty.

And don't let adouglas tell you he's an ugly cuss. He's only an ugly cuss next to his DG Bongo!

 

[adouglas]

And don't let adouglas tell you he's an ugly cuss. He's only an ugly cuss next to his DG Bongo!

Sez you.

 

[ChazzM]

Wait a minute

I know that limb!

That's the calf from you last guitarist! No wonder he never returns calls!

OK, OK, you wanna do "Big Bottom"? We DO Big Bottom!

(I mean, look at the BONES!!)

 

[tiffles]

ah crap put it away!!