BigBeefChief

I've heard rslaing's playing, and when the dust settles, he will remembered long after Stevie Wonder is all forgotten about.

I mean, Stevie Wonder, it's just "POP" innit?

Ray Charles? That actor from the Blues Brothers? A poor man's David Essex if you ask me.

If they were REAL musicians, they wouldn't need that whole "blind" gimmick.

I PM'd that post to Jake 10 minutes ago and he nicked it off me.

Do I win?



God I miss drinking.

my dad could have your dad.

your mum is.

you are.

[quote name='ARGH' post='478569' date='May 3 2009, 09:33 PM']Shall I just get the tape measure lads.....[/quote]


Christ, I'd do badly at that as well.

[quote name='maxrossell' post='478565' date='May 3 2009, 09:31 PM']We're not REAL musicians.[/quote]


But in my case, that really is true! I'm dreadful!

[quote name='rslaing' post='478552' date='May 3 2009, 09:18 PM']Good point.........but I can't be arsed to try and convert another non reader in to the benefits of being able to understand why it is so important to understand a least a little of music theory. So I give in...........you win.[/quote]


There's nothing to convert! I understand an amount of music theory. I find it interesting. I also appreciate that there are plenty of musicians who are infinitely better than me that know absolutely no theory. I also don't believe that by learning to read they would definitely become better musicians. I judge the ability of a musician by the noises they make, not what they can write in a book.

[quote name='Eight' post='478544' date='May 3 2009, 09:09 PM']Reading has no baring at all on the kind of music you make. It's [i]one[/i] well-established and comprehensive system for accessing and recording music. But that's it. How (or if) you use it is up to you.

Again, other elements far beyond the scope of reading music are being brought in here to try and make a point.[/quote]

Either people who make crap music are drawn to learning to read, or people who learn to read make crap music. Not sure which is true, but one of them definitely is. Or maybe its both?

Whatever.

Bilbo used to be a right stud, leather trousers, long hair, thrusting groin, mother and daughter 3-somes. Learnt to read, now he's stuck in deepest darkest suffolk, working for "the man" and playing music that not even his dogs want to listen too.

[quote name='rslaing' post='478429' date='May 3 2009, 07:01 PM']So the people who can read music gave their 2p worth and their advice on what they think is the best way. Then the non readers jump in and assassinate.

As I said, f*** it, I am out of here, it's starting to get a bit like the freemasons...................[/quote]


You've been one of the most aggresive, provocative and patronising posters on this thread, and you're complaining about the non-readers??!!

Some people read, some don't. It's a personal choice. Its not through laziness that people don't learn (well, not in every instance). To some people, the percieved rewards aren't worth the effort. If I could read, it would be a redundent skill for the musicians I play with. One day, I might learn.

Likewise, I maintain that the majority of music you readers churn out is crap. It's like anything. Once you start getting geeky about things, it turns crap. If you play metal and add some geekiness, what have you got? Progressive metal. Which in my book makes you worse than a sex offender. Same with films, get geeky about it and you start watching 4hr long french art-house in black and white whilst smoking cafe cremes. Football? Same again. You go from arguing about the effectiveness of Peter Crouch with your mates down the pub to memorising the 1983 Bristol Rovers Reserve Squad.

Ironside was right in regards to his comments on punk and blues. Born out of "musical ignorance". Send those same players to Berklee for three years and they'd come back playing that the type of water-boarding jazz that a lot of you pretend to like.

The world needs players who read, there will always be sessions to record and jingles to perform. But the world also needs the variety, quirks and f***-ups created by those who have never had a lesson in their life.

Batteries in a bass guitar??


This Chief is not for turning.

Trouble is, you study music for too long, you end up playing rubbish. Simple, melodic basslines start to bore you, you start analysing everything you play, next thing you know, you're churning out suff like Jeff Berlin.

I always try and listen to the soundclips from various BC members, 'fraid to say (and I know you all really care what I think), the majority of you readers are playing music that only other readers and jazz perverts appreciate. Listen to WoT on the other hand, sounds great.

Now I'm sure some of you readers could keep in simple, but it seems that you lack a bit of discipline. If any of you are either near Tonbridge or London, I charge £50 an hour. Just because you can play it, doesn't mean you have to.

And before you all come back and say "I know exactly when to keep it simple thank you very much Mr Chief". No you don't. If you did, you wouldn't be playing all this "interesting" music which should really place you on the sex offenders register.


Well, I hope this all makes sense. I've just downed a bottle of TixyLix that I found in my cupboard. It went off in 1994 and tasted like chlorine.

Came all the way from somewhere else to drop off a bass to me in London. Lovely fella, great price, great bass, an impish grin and boyish charm.

What more could you want?


Deal with absolute confidence. And you can take that to the bank.

[quote name='Beefy' post='477159' date='May 1 2009, 04:53 PM']Dookie pretty much got me into all the good 90's punk bands[/quote]


There were punk bands in the 90's???!!

[quote name='fretmeister' post='473161' date='Apr 27 2009, 09:55 AM']Both of my bits are in perfect condition[/quote]


They won't be unless you get rid of this soon.

Ho Ho.

Just out of interest Bilbo, what type of music do you think you'd be listening to/playing if you had never bothered learning to read? Would you still be playing?

I know it's a difficult question to answer, but be interested to hear your thoughts.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='476996' date='May 1 2009, 01:35 PM']Whereas I know that I've spent most of my musical life playing original material to music fans who pay good money to listen[/quote]



Ah, well then they're not music fans. True music fans don't like anything that's popular enough for people to want to see. A true muso is at home searching for obscure jazz out-takes from Archie Stilton's "difficult" second album.

It's pretty simple WoT:

Enjoyable music = Worthless

Obscure Jazz noodling used during water-boarding = Worthwhile

[quote name='stevie' post='476976' date='May 1 2009, 01:18 PM']I wonder how many of you non-readers realize how much music is available for free on the web. There are literally thousands of midi and Guitar Pro arrangements all over the place with a full bass line. For example, following the recent thread here on Blues tunes, I downloaded the following midi files earlier today for a practice session tonight – me and my trusty laptop orchestra.

Crossroads
Born under a Bad Sign
Thrill is Gone
Into the Night
Cocaine
I Shot the Sheriff
Lay Down Sally
Tears in Heaven
Wonderful Tonight
Need Your Love So Bad
Pride and Joy
Texas Flood

And while I was at it, I picked up a few others that I fancy playing.

Jessica
Walking in Memphis
Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
Birdland
And some some others including a few jazz standards and Air on a G String for string quartet.

I’ve only played two or three of these before but I will probably get most of them 90 percent down this evening. I certainly couldn't it without the dots. It takes longer to actually memorize them, of course.

I’ve only been playing for two years but I decided right from the start that I was going to learn to read. It’s made all the difference. I suspect that reading from the very outset is the way to do it, rather than learning to read once you can already play. As this thread makes only too clear, it is easy to find a perfectly reasonable excuse why you need not bother.[/quote]

But again, its the Skegness Theatre argument. Good for you, but I have no desire to play those songs. The musicians I play will will never have heard of them. If I were to play them, I wouldn't play the bass line as recorded.

[quote name='Eight' post='476898' date='May 1 2009, 12:14 PM']It really isn't.

I promise you - learning to read notation seems scarier than it is. Learning the notes on the F clef (bass clef) would take you ten minutes - with a few short practice sessions over a few days to be able to pick them out quickly. A MUCH harder part is knowing where the notes are on the fretboard, something which you've probably already mastered.

Say, fifteen minutes a day practicing reading rhythms (a structured approach would help) would see you at a functional sight reading level before you know it.

And just because you can read, doesn't mean you have to. Turns out I can still memorise bass lines even if I have them in notation - weird eh!

Edit: Don't do it if you don't want to... but don't kid yourself that its too hard or time consuming for you.[/quote]


Unfortunately (for those listening to me), I don't get 15 mins a day to regularly practice. I doubt picking up the basics is difficult, especially for a genius like me, but to actually site read, I'd assume it takes some real graft?

And no, I don't know where the notes are on the fretboard either!

[quote name='maxrossell' post='476769' date='May 1 2009, 10:23 AM']Similarly, I reckon if I went through your record collecton I'd discover that more than half your favourite musos are more or less competent at reading classical notation.[/quote]


I'm not so sure - I tend to lean towards pub rock!

Don't get me wrong, being able to read is hugely impressive as a skill, but it doesn't make you a great musician.

The argument that makes me laugh is when "pros" use the "I site read for a local production of "Rent", and I would never have got the gig if I couldn't read".

As if we're all insanely jealous of you playing the Embassy Theatre in Skegness! Lot's off us I'm sure have no desire to play the gigs that you site-readers have access to. I rather stick pins in my eyes than dep for the local jazz quartet.

I should add that there is nothing wrong with playing provincial theatres, it's just not for everyone.

[quote name='maxrossell' post='476754' date='May 1 2009, 10:13 AM']I don't think anyone (in their right mind) would somehow suggest that knowing how to read music is somehow a [i]hindrance[/i] - I really don't see how learning more about music theory could make you a less good player.[/quote]


Whoops!

If you site readers actually churned out some decent music I'd be more convinced. As it stands, you churn out such tosh that I prefer those who just wing it.

Learning to read is a big time investment. Maybe you're better off using that time just playing and developing your own groove?


When you learn to read, you run the risk of turning into one of those pricks who describes a certain peice of music as "clever". If I want clever, I'll read a book (or take Vorders up t'other).

Unpopular as this view may be, I believe that learning to read increases your propensity to listen to and play rubbish chin scratching music. You seem to start liking songs because they are technically clever, and not becuase they sound good.

On the flip side, I'm immensely impressed by people who can read. It's quite a feat. As long as you don't inflict your "Berklee Grad" style music on me I won't cut your face off.


Peace in the Middle-East.

[quote name='4000' post='476595' date='May 1 2009, 12:54 AM']Yup. Happens with every niche band who outgrows the niche. "Oh they sold out", yadda yadda yadda. Same with the Chilis and a billion others. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn. Threads like this are funny. I used to be like this when I was about 14. What do I hate now? Racism, bigotry, cruelty, war, etc etc. If you don't like a band don't listen to them. Simple as. Im sure they won't lose sleep over it, and neither should you.[/quote]


But the Red Hot Halapeno Brothers are also rubbish, always have been. Nothing to do with selling out.

Fortunately, racism, bigotry, cruelty and war don't effect me, but Green Day do. Occasionally I listen to the radio (only in the car - no CD player) and occassionally Green Day are played. This means I have to change radio station, which takes effort. Effort takes energy, gained through eating food. The way I see it, skateboarding tossers like Green Day owe me a small refund on my food bill each month.

That's why I think they should probably be killed.

[quote name='Russ' post='476280' date='Apr 30 2009, 06:42 PM']They've got money, big houses and gold discs galore. What do they have to be pissed off about anymore?[/quote]


Running out of mascara?