| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/2/2008 1:08:43 AM | learn to handle disappointment, critisismn be it constructive or the non constructive type your going to get alot of them along the way and if your the type that just explodes or goes off and cries a bit/gives up your not going to get very far.
But take on board things that make sense, even if it was buried among a ton of colourful langauge.
Like everyone else said here.. practise, you seriously cannot practise enough be it with an instrument, or software/hardware. Theres alot of knobs and buttons and configurations you can discover.
experiment, bands like floyd for instance didnt hit the status they did without that and sounding the same as everyone else unless your a tribute band.. aint good.
Learn from your heroes, but dont emulate them.. grow with them, if you become famous and get asked who your influences are and you sound very little like them they'd be at home in their little socks and a dressing gown watching that tv interview and feel alot better to know they influenced.. and you didnt plagaurise.
If you sequence something (electronic muso's) make sure you can play it again live, its no good making the most amazing chord sequence breakdown, that would make even god cry with happiness to have been blessed with ears if you can't actually play the thing.
Try to learn more than one instrument, 95% of all instruments come from a "family" familiarise yourself with the cousin, the dad etc your versatility will make you very popular if your say.. a session musician.
Dont be afraid to let others listen to your stuff.
Remain open minded at all times.. listen to everything, even if you hate it.. work out why you hate it .. and then avoid them reasons in your own work, you'll be suprised how many times you'll go over a hated riff yourself, think it sounds good when in reality its maybe 2 notes off that annoying tune that made you want to eat your stereo and jump in the bath holding the toaster.
and PRACTISE again!. | |
|
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/2/2008 9:30:09 PM | work hard, because its hard work. Be prepared to pay to play. Be nice to venue owners and thier staff(security/bar and in house sound person).
Learn to adapt, there are bad stages with no production at all be able to handle that stuff. Carry spare mics. help everyone lug the gear(singers Im looking at you).
Tour nothing gets attention like on tour or just back from a os tour. We couldnt get arrested in our hometown but after doing 2 or 3 interstate tours then they were throwing gigs at us like they were out of fashion.
Tune and retune then tune again.
remember with out a drummer your just a folk band!!! | |
|
| |
| |
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/12/2008 11:01:06 PM | Agreed. If you lose the passion, it's over, and it translates to an audience.
Don't feel as though you have to be an "artiste" or learn and accept a certain school of thought. If you only know 3 chords, but translate them well with heartfelt rhythms, you can go far.
I worked in a store with 4 other teachers. The attitude from each one of us varied wildly. One guy was a Jazz purist, and got upset when a 9 year old asked him to teach Back in Black. Another spent alot of his time showing off.
I always figured, hey, if it means something to you, and it gives you a reason to pick up your guitar, let's do it. I had so much fun with those kids. One time a mother called the store just to tell me that her daughter, who was 12, had suddenly opened up at home and began showing some self confidence! Imagine that! I was blown away. So whatever we learned (and I don't remember) in those saturday lessons took a whole new path, which is what music should do...bring people together. I try not to have rules. Be passionate, enjoy what you do, play Back in Black through a Marshall JCM and a GIbson SG...put the gain on 83/4. We're all gonna die someday....make life count...and play your ass off....do the bar gigs, if you need financial stability, keep a side job, but never stop believing that you have some music to offer the world. | |
|
| |
42 4 U
|
Joined: 2/18/2008
Msg: 57 | |
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/16/2008 10:39:59 PM | | Some excellent posts.I would like to add,its important to have patience and tolerance for other musicians.It seems like theres one in every band,that lead guitarist or singer that thinks they're god gift,and they have the right to boss everyone else in the band around.If you're playing on their original song,then its fine for them to play the dictator,but theres no place for people like that in a cover band or jam session.They take all the fun out of it. | |
|
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/17/2008 3:31:35 AM | I play guitar and piano and I sing and I'm getting better at it. I want to learn the
cello or violin this year as well.
My advice as a musician? Be open minded, don't just listen to one style of music.
There's nothing worse than a person who thinks their choice of music is better
than others. My idea of music is like a big Ice Cream store.
41 flavours please! there's plenty of room on the bus!
I like all sorts: Porcupine Tree, Goo Goo Dolls, Tool, The Crystal Method,
Sarah McLachlan, KISS, Prince, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Janes Addiction,
Iron Maiden - you name it...as long as there's a
decent hook/melody going on - I want to listen!
Oh yeah and don't think you're a rock star - on or off the stage - I think that whole
attitude died with 8O's glam metal. Be humble - don't be an arsehole.
 | |
|
| |
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/18/2008 2:30:14 PM | Play to your audience. If they are not into your line up of music of your choice
prior to your gig. Have a back up plan. Nothing more than disappoints me
is a band that will start off great, great dancing music. Then end with Hair
Banger Music, and not willing to change.
I was out one night when this happened. They were great, the crowd was dancing.
Then they changed and started with a much harder rock. NO ONE DANCED!
So I asked if they would change and they did not.
If you want to be liked... Don't the people you play to have to enjoy what you
are playing to keep them coming back to listen to you????
If everyone in the place was dancing and then everyone just stops....
Wouldn't that be a sign to change it up? | |
|
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/20/2008 12:10:28 AM |
What are some extremely important things, tips, and facts a musician should know?
- Listen.
- Don't judge your talent until you develop your craft.
- Once you develop your craft, don't judge your talent.
- Work on your technique so you can express, not impress.
- The more technique you master, the more you can express.
- Technique comes from accuracy. Accuracy comes from practicing slowly at first. Practicing slowly is for allowing yourself time to find and correct inaccuracies, not for mindlessly waiting until you play another note.
- How you practice is how you will play.
- Use people who can play what you can't as inspiration, not discouragement. If you keep saying "I'll never be that good," you'll probably be right.
- Never accept criticism from someone who can't explain it to you.
- Learn to take criticism constructively, not personally.
- Listen.
- Know your instrument.
- Train your ear - it's your most important asset. Learn to recognize what you hear.
- Use knowledge to augment your creativity. Don't fool yourself by thinking that education limits it.
- If you think you have nothing more to learn, you're not paying attention.
- The only rule is, "If it SOUNDS good, it IS good." Everything else is a guideline.
- If you choose to play music for a living, remember that there are two words to the term "music business."
- When you play for people, remember that they want you to do well. Stay out of your head and give your music to them. Rip them off, and they will act accordingly. Don't be stingy and they will cheer for you.
- Listen.
- Go to the source - listen to your influences' influences. Learn where your music comes from.
- Use a metronome.
- Music involves notes AND rests. Learn the power of silence.
- If you INTEND to say something, you will never over- or underplay.
- If you can sing what you hear, you can play it.
- LISTEN. | |
|
| |
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/21/2008 4:20:51 AM | learn theory then experiment as much as possible.
Play with other people either in a band or just jamming.
If you like your own songs then f*ck what other people thing of them.
You probably shouldn't listen to that last if your trying to make money haha | |
|
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/21/2008 9:14:26 PM | Be true to yourself!
If nothing else, just be true to yourself (meaning play what you enjoy, not what sells).
Fads come and go, popular one day, hissed upon the next day. If it do not sell now, wait a few years. If it do sell now, be prepared that in time, it may stop (or sell more if you are good).
Besides, who wants to play something that you just really do not enjoy playing (remembering of course that sometimes the crowd will want to hear one of "them" songs so it is ok to know a few crowd pleasers as well). | |
|
| |
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/25/2008 4:38:41 AM | | Louder doesn't make you better. I have worked with musicians who seem to think the louder they play the better a musician they are. It's actually the complete opposite. It's being able to play the subtleties that prove a musician's true level of talent. | |
|
| |
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/26/2008 6:06:03 AM | You should learn the following songs for a Jam.
Born to be Wild
Rocky Mountain Way
Honky Tonk Woman
That way, if they start playing any of those three songs, you know it's time to go home.
p.s. what does it mean if there's drool coming out of both sides of the drummers mouth?
The stage is level!
| |
|
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/26/2008 7:49:44 AM | Guitar:-
1. Get into your scales straight away. Bugger mull of kintyre and wild thing..
2. When you write, leave out the corny cliches...it's not big or clever.
3. Construct a shrine to jimi hendrix
4. Keep the ego...it's good for creativity.
5. Don't fall into the technophile trap and spend the rest of your life botching your axe and talking crap as opposed to making good music.
6. Listen, listen, listen
7. Learn how to boil strings
8. Be aware! Don't ape!
9. Never ask someone to feel your caloused fingers  | |
|
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/29/2008 10:28:12 PM | For every Jimi Hendrix or Clapton there's a million musicians
you've never heard of before who are talented. Hard work is important
but luck is even more important, and I know this sounds shallow but good looks
is even more important than talent if you want to make lots of money and be
famous - someone explain Ashley Simpson's success for me? thats the industry today. Personally I'd rather just play for my friends and drink beer with them. I could care
less for putting out a record. | |
|
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/30/2008 11:21:39 AM | Plan ahead. Be open, but don't count on anything happening until it does.
Know the difference between a promise and an agreement.
When you make an agreement, get it in writing. This includes fellow musicians.
Read everything before you sign it.
Deal-making involves negotiation. If someone only gives you one chance to make a deal, either they're hiding something or they don't believe in you.
Anyone who "has your best interests in mind" also has theirs. Beware of anyone who says otherwise.
If someone asks you to trust them, they should be willing to tell you why.
Make sure everyone is on the same page before money becomes an issue.
Know what to expect from anyone providing you a service for money.
Learn about the different types of royalties available. Don't give away your rights without knowing what they are.
Know the difference between an advance and a royalty.
Be clear about what "recoupable" means.
Get a lawyer experienced in entertainment law. | |
|
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 3/30/2008 2:07:16 PM | 1. the most important one for me would be to play on quality gear that's in good shape. not saying you need the highest end insturment, but it should sound good(and in my case, my guitar should stay in tune, it shouldn't feedback inappropriately . . .that's what I mean by quality gear) and should be set up to suit your needs. example: a slide guitarist shouldn't have strings that are close to the fretboard
2. I lied. this is also just as important as the first one . . lol . . I'm pretty sure everyone in this thread is saying, practice. but I have a twist on this. practicing scales or excersizes is a waste of time as you're not learning how to be musical. I would suggest finding a technique that you want to work on and then find an actual song that makes good use of that technique you want to learn, and practice the song. this way you're killing two birds with one stone. and not sounding like you're just running scales all the time. example: I want to learn arpeggios in depth as well as improve my non scalar playing. to fill those learning needs, I found this
http://www.jazzguitar.be/bach_classical_guitar.html
it's a section of a bach composition for solo violin adapted to guitar. I'm learning what I want to know and practice AND learning it in a musical way.
3. find people to teach. this will drive you to be much better than you are. . .you have to be ahead of the student at all times as you're the teacher (it does work for me, it might not work for you.). now whether or not you want to charge for this is up to you.
4. find other musicians who either share your taste in music or are open minded and willing to learn what you play . . provided you're open to learning what they're into playing as well. if you don't like other styles other than the one you play, disregard the second half of that suggestion. but performing with others no matter if it's just indoors or for an actual performance is irrelevant. get out there and share the music, that's the point ! | |
|
| |
| What are some important things you should know when you're a musician?
Posted: 4/5/2008 7:52:00 AM | Make the people you are playing with look good, and play what the song requires.
One note can sometimes be far more effective than fifty, and silence can sometimes be more powerful than a note.
Technical prowess is a good thing, but feel is everything. Music is , in the end, emotional.
Love your instrument, and never forget that it's supposed to be fun for you and the people you play with. That's what made you pick up the instrument, and never forget that.
Listen to a wide variety of music, and see if you can pick up ideas from them in all areas of your understanding of music.
Just because you play one type of instrument, don't forget that you can use it in other ways. A guitarist can be a percussionist ( just Google Tommy Emmanuel, and check out his YouTube "drum solo" on amplified acoustic guitar) , and a percussionist can play melodies.
Don't discount any instrument's value. If you want to see what I mean, check out Jake Shimabukuro's ukulele playing on YouTube, where he really proves that the ukulele can take it's rightful place as a musical instrument. | |
|
| |
Home
login 
