Big Poppa
Well-known member
Ok I posted this in the bass section. Bassmonkey was down on his playing and Jack paid me a nice compliment. I had just gotten back from Crossroads and was struck with some obvious things that unfortunately nobody teaches you so allow me this little rant and preaching on this beautiful Sunday Morning....
Thanks Jackie. I know where not to go on the bass. I dont get cocky. I watched one of the best players in the world yesterday underestimate the song country boy on a world audience. (crossroads) He should sit down and have a quiet talk with himself.
The next bit of advice that comes to mind is not playing every gig like your last or most important. I have watched so many players go through the motions or not take it seriously because it is a small crowd or the beer is flat or his girlfriend botched his waxing. You never ever know who is out there listening and it is kind of like flying a plane you only fly it one way....if you are going to be a musician then you must always give 100%. I dont care if it is a gig for the national Lesbian grandmothers in Mudflap Kansas...( I like lesbians dont worry, it just sounded funny)
you should approach it the same as playing Crossroads.
I was born with a little bit of natural talent. I also realized that my skilsets were perfect for the family business. I chose that instead of going "pro". I am self taught, but would be seriously a clueless hack if not for the opprotunity to play with John Ferraro and secondly Chad Wackerman. I was fortunate to start playing with Albert when I was 17 and have had a lot of support from various people. Playing with better people is always good.
Kbaim and some other forumites were at a JP clinic where JP pretty much insited that I play guitar with him in front of several hundred fans of JP's. I cant and dont play anything like him. Im not worthy on a techincal scale.
WHen it came time to start I started the jam in my kitchen and made him take it from there. I think I did ok considering the circumstances but the important thing is to publically once agian know not where to go and what I cant play.
Last night Vince Gill didnt trade stop breaks with Albert. I remember Vince Gill when he was a 18 peeking in the window of the Sundance saloon on the Tuesday night jams with Albert Lee Buddy Emmons Glen Campbell Don Everly and various raging Cats. Vince has studied Albert up one side and down the other as has all modern country players. Vince could have done it but I figure there were two things, 1. Albert rarely gets the audience he deserves anymore and VInce was a class act in giving him the whole enchilada, and 2 He had nothing to gain by trying to trade licks one on one broadcast internationally. Vinnie Moore refuses to play Country Boy...it scares the livin daylights out of Petrucci. He would rather lick hot pavement than have to play it. Morse and Luke love it. Luke calls it the "giant steps of country. It is soloing through major chords only...no pentatonic cheating. Poor Tyler got put in the Country Boy seat at the CLB and he had never had to play that stuff. Tyler went out and bought Ablerts videos and is learning that stuff nicely.
THe next playing tip is that yesterday Tyler got to play the second stage encore. There was Harvey Mandel who seriously overplayed and was just bad and I never bag on players, Jed Hughes an australian phenom who cut his teeth on Albert and came up to me and said, "Mr Ball, I saw you play in Tamworth Australia when I was 12" WOW.
SHeryl C rows old guitar player some louisiana guy and this hot australian chick. MOst of them didnt know how to jam. period. Tyler almost did. You got 6 guitarists up there playing "going down and they all steamrolled each other and most except for jedd tyler and the australian chick noodled over the others solo. It was impressive is you you wanted simultaneous notes but really a insensitive display of cluelessness and ego. Not one player laid out once. IN those situations pick your spots play your ass off when they point to you but in the mean time either sit out or play something that supports the song and the other players. As Miles Davis said...It wasnt the notes I played it was the ones I didnt. Did the crowd like it......yes
Now Im 52 and was thinkng of quitting playing live. I told Steve Morse that and he flew to California and we played a gig. Im not quitting anymore. We all get down. It is about breaking through personal barriers when challenged and accepting what you do.
Im now trying to make a little solo cd of what I do. I play pretty good bass, fair guitar, and am facinated and intriqued by all fretted stringed instruments. Bozouki, Uke Mando Mando cello baritone guitar etc.
I had a very good confidence boost recently from Rodney Crowell. He told me to stop booking other bass players in Biff Baby's....He said that I was Biff Baby's and the feel is best with me in it. I was defering that seat to anyone I could because I didnt play enough. Luke in his own way did the same\....so now Im doing what jackie said. Im playing and pretty secure and playing better than ever. I had a great night playing at brians wedding and it was a love fest because I ignoed the "monkeys in the back of my mind and the ones that had a condo on my back.
As the NIke ads said, Just do it...but start with the right eq, the right GPS, be sensitive and supportive musically to others and make sure that you have the right attitude.....
Thanks Jackie. I know where not to go on the bass. I dont get cocky. I watched one of the best players in the world yesterday underestimate the song country boy on a world audience. (crossroads) He should sit down and have a quiet talk with himself.
The next bit of advice that comes to mind is not playing every gig like your last or most important. I have watched so many players go through the motions or not take it seriously because it is a small crowd or the beer is flat or his girlfriend botched his waxing. You never ever know who is out there listening and it is kind of like flying a plane you only fly it one way....if you are going to be a musician then you must always give 100%. I dont care if it is a gig for the national Lesbian grandmothers in Mudflap Kansas...( I like lesbians dont worry, it just sounded funny)
you should approach it the same as playing Crossroads.
I was born with a little bit of natural talent. I also realized that my skilsets were perfect for the family business. I chose that instead of going "pro". I am self taught, but would be seriously a clueless hack if not for the opprotunity to play with John Ferraro and secondly Chad Wackerman. I was fortunate to start playing with Albert when I was 17 and have had a lot of support from various people. Playing with better people is always good.
Kbaim and some other forumites were at a JP clinic where JP pretty much insited that I play guitar with him in front of several hundred fans of JP's. I cant and dont play anything like him. Im not worthy on a techincal scale.
WHen it came time to start I started the jam in my kitchen and made him take it from there. I think I did ok considering the circumstances but the important thing is to publically once agian know not where to go and what I cant play.
Last night Vince Gill didnt trade stop breaks with Albert. I remember Vince Gill when he was a 18 peeking in the window of the Sundance saloon on the Tuesday night jams with Albert Lee Buddy Emmons Glen Campbell Don Everly and various raging Cats. Vince has studied Albert up one side and down the other as has all modern country players. Vince could have done it but I figure there were two things, 1. Albert rarely gets the audience he deserves anymore and VInce was a class act in giving him the whole enchilada, and 2 He had nothing to gain by trying to trade licks one on one broadcast internationally. Vinnie Moore refuses to play Country Boy...it scares the livin daylights out of Petrucci. He would rather lick hot pavement than have to play it. Morse and Luke love it. Luke calls it the "giant steps of country. It is soloing through major chords only...no pentatonic cheating. Poor Tyler got put in the Country Boy seat at the CLB and he had never had to play that stuff. Tyler went out and bought Ablerts videos and is learning that stuff nicely.
THe next playing tip is that yesterday Tyler got to play the second stage encore. There was Harvey Mandel who seriously overplayed and was just bad and I never bag on players, Jed Hughes an australian phenom who cut his teeth on Albert and came up to me and said, "Mr Ball, I saw you play in Tamworth Australia when I was 12" WOW.
SHeryl C rows old guitar player some louisiana guy and this hot australian chick. MOst of them didnt know how to jam. period. Tyler almost did. You got 6 guitarists up there playing "going down and they all steamrolled each other and most except for jedd tyler and the australian chick noodled over the others solo. It was impressive is you you wanted simultaneous notes but really a insensitive display of cluelessness and ego. Not one player laid out once. IN those situations pick your spots play your ass off when they point to you but in the mean time either sit out or play something that supports the song and the other players. As Miles Davis said...It wasnt the notes I played it was the ones I didnt. Did the crowd like it......yes
Now Im 52 and was thinkng of quitting playing live. I told Steve Morse that and he flew to California and we played a gig. Im not quitting anymore. We all get down. It is about breaking through personal barriers when challenged and accepting what you do.
Im now trying to make a little solo cd of what I do. I play pretty good bass, fair guitar, and am facinated and intriqued by all fretted stringed instruments. Bozouki, Uke Mando Mando cello baritone guitar etc.
I had a very good confidence boost recently from Rodney Crowell. He told me to stop booking other bass players in Biff Baby's....He said that I was Biff Baby's and the feel is best with me in it. I was defering that seat to anyone I could because I didnt play enough. Luke in his own way did the same\....so now Im doing what jackie said. Im playing and pretty secure and playing better than ever. I had a great night playing at brians wedding and it was a love fest because I ignoed the "monkeys in the back of my mind and the ones that had a condo on my back.
As the NIke ads said, Just do it...but start with the right eq, the right GPS, be sensitive and supportive musically to others and make sure that you have the right attitude.....
