Bilbo

My action has been tweaked three times in 26 years... Pick-up height seems to get more attention in my universe, for some reason.

I have no problem with people drinking, I just find talking/reminiscing about it dull! (if you think about it, as a non-drinker, it would be like me talking about Jazz at a Folk club). I remember as a much younger man, going to the pub with the 'lads' and listening to them talk about how many pints they had and how sick Fred was and who did what stupid things.... it got [i]really[/i] dull after a while. I have been thinking about the 'other' potential angles and have some things I can explore if I can get the time (Christmas don't half eat into your free-time, doesn't it?).

I have an idea or two but am not sure if I can be arsed (it would be something I wouldn't actually like). Problem is, as a life long teetotaller, I don't like 'drunk' stories and alcohol and its associated activities bores me rigid ('oooh look, he did something stupid when he was drunk; - the anecdotal equivalent of 'You've Been Framed' - 'ooh, look. He fell over!!). I guess I could think of something left field as a 'critique' of the pictured behaviour?

You all realise, of course, that, as a moderator, I decided early on that it was inappropriate for me to win so whenever anyone voted for me, I deleted the vote. I left a few in there because I didn't want to draw attention to my ploy. I actually got 207 votes but am sworn to secrecy..... I shall never tell.

Patience!!

I have seen people running home from a venue to get their guitars/bass/sax to sit in for someone who failed to arrive or got waylaid. I did one this year where I had to get a sax player 10 minutes before we were due to start. Got him out of his dressing gown, dressed, driven across town and onto the stage to lead a sax/bass/drums trio

Am an interested bunny! Can't do it now but three Christmas gigs could leave an adequate surplus!! All I need now is talent!

Where did you get the bargain on Miroslav software, Walman? I have looked at that before. I currently use a really old version of Edirol (I think? It was written before Bach died) and it is ok but I know the Miroslav stuff is better. I am also thinking of working on full orhestral composing in future but it is hard, not only because of the complexity of the arranging but because getting the software to work is a nightmare.

I am not a pro, Joe. I can see what you are trying to do and you have nothing to worry about in terms of being judged as a player. It is just that for people to hear what you are doing, they need a context. If the harmony instrument is clear, it is possible to hear the musicality in your ideas but, because the audio on your videos is low grade, it is difficult if not impossible to get a handle on what it is you are doing. Record it again with the head and you will get a better response. I suspect the people who have listened but not commented are a little at sea with where you are coming from.

Play the head. As the backing track is poorly reproduced, this is meaningless to anyone who doesn't understand the tune intimately. You are better than this and deserve to be represented more favourably.

I had 5 last time I looked, which, IIRC, put me in joint 19th piosition. Seriously, though, it is lovely to see that at least 5 people 'get' what I was trying to do. Winning has never been the issue for me; I jsut love the learning that I get from each composition. It's probably as good an experience as you would get in the average UK university in 2012. It is time well spent and really life affirming to see everyone getting a buzz out of a genuinely creative process that isn't necessarily a quick win or an easy path.

I kinda knew that but was wondering where this leads if you want something more formal?

Just curious whether anyone has ever started a music publishing company to protect their own compositions. Several of us are posting our own stuff here without protection (I don't care now but what if....) and it occured to me that setting up ones own company could be a way of protecting our interests. Has anyone ever gone down this route or know of any resource that tells you how to do it?

'Donna Lee' works better if you understand the harmony that underpins it (it is based on the chords to '(Back Home Again In) Indiana'). Without that knowledge, it is a stream of gibberish. If you play it along with the chords, it is perfectly melodic. And, for the record, it is a Miles Davis tunes, NOT a Charlie Parker tune. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Lee

Sounds to me that you are using too much pressure to fret the notes. You had the strength to do this when you were three, you just need to use your hand more efficiently and relax it. It should not be that hard to fret a note anywhere on the neck.

Open Your Eyes (You Can Fly) - Flora Purim (Alphonso Johnson)

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1353934502' post='1879842'] The first line in his wikipedia page reads: [indent=1]"Marcus Miller (born William Henry Marcus Miller Jr., June 14, 1959) is an American jazz composer, producer and instrumentalist.[/indent] [/quote] That'll be irrefutable then Seriously, condolences to the driver's family and friends and I hope the rest of the injured recover well and soon.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1353936644' post='1879894'] Isn't that slightly tasteless bearing in mind he could have been killed?! [/quote] More so because somebody else was....

BBC headline reads: 'Jazz bassist Marcus Miller's tour bus in fatal crash' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20486184 Trouble is, MM never plays Jazz. He plays [i]a[/i] Jazz, but I have not heard any Jazz being played by him for decades I think the new DG at the BBC should resign over this (and take his £300K bonus with him....)

Learn to read music. It not only helps you to get through a reading gig but also helps you to learn songs (I remember riffs/lines etc as visual images of staves, not as sounds)

Doesn't want to play on mine. May be a AOL thing!

Can't listen without buying, my friend. Is there a website or soundcloud page?

I would let it go, mate. I have tried lugging guitars around in not disimilar circumstances (aged 17 + ) and it really started to pish me off after about three [i]days[/i] never mind years.

No worries, charic. It's not that important. My 'sulk' joke was a comment on the quality of the other entries, not any real concerns about the imperfections of my own!

Am off to do a gig right after work and won't be home until after midnight so it literally is too late (I don't think it's going to make enough difference to warrant the effort anyway, Nigel )