Sarah5string Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Tonight I decided that I look at the fretboard too much (ie all the time) when I'm play. With out debut gig at the end of next month (touch wood!) I've decided to do something about it. I donned a blindfold and proceeded to practice Some I struggled with.. but generally it wasn't too bad.. I managed to play Avenged sevenfold's easy and Alice in Chains' Them bones pretty much flawlessly which I was shocked at. Was definately an experience though.. lol! Anyone else got anything they can play blindfolded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Ha ha great idea, fingerboard watching is so overrated I play in the dark a lot (with my side marker lights off) to practice things so I can look at the audience rather than my fretboard ... That's the point, really ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 [quote name='Sarah5string' post='244850' date='Jul 21 2008, 09:45 PM']Tonight I decided that I look at the fretboard too much (ie all the time) when I'm play. With out debut gig at the end of next month (touch wood!) I've decided to do something about it. I donned a blindfold and proceeded to practice Some I struggled with.. but generally it wasn't too bad.. I managed to play Avenged sevenfold's easy and Alice in Chains' Them bones pretty much flawlessly which I was shocked at. Was definately an experience though.. lol! Anyone else got anything they can play blindfolded?[/quote] I asked my missus to play blindfolded, long story short one is now red. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Tub Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 [quote name='waynepunkdude' post='244868' date='Jul 21 2008, 10:08 PM']I asked my missus to play blindfolded, long story short one is now red.[/quote] Tea------>screen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Sarah , do you do it more when you're rehearsing with the band than you do practising alone?? Betting , if so , it's 'nerves' related. Nothing wrong with watching what you're doing but it does look better if you're eyes aren't glued to the fingerboard during gigs. Take my tip and find a nice bright fire exit sign to stare at. Pretend it's a person. That way you have something to focus on and the punters don't feel threatened by being stared at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 [quote name='Dr.Dave' post='245028' date='Jul 22 2008, 07:19 AM']Sarah , do you do it more when you're rehearsing with the band than you do practising alone?? Betting , if so , it's 'nerves' related. Nothing wrong with watching what you're doing but it does look better if you're eyes aren't glued to the fingerboard during gigs. Take my tip and find a nice bright fire exit sign to stare at. Pretend it's a person. That way you have something to focus on and the punters don't feel threatened by being stared at.[/quote] +1 If the venue has TV that is great if it has a TV with football on that is perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 In my old band we once played 2 songs in the dark.. and I mean it was completely pitch black. It certainly lets you know how good your muscle memory is ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnylager Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) [quote name='waynepunkdude' post='245031' date='Jul 22 2008, 07:23 AM']If the venue has TV that is great if it has a TV with football on that is perfect. [/quote] [quote name='Machines' post='245037' date='Jul 22 2008, 07:35 AM']In my old band we once played 2 songs in the dark.. and I mean it was completely pitch black. It certainly lets you know how good your muscle memory is ![/quote] Or isn't. Strobes for extended periods are funny too. 'How did I get that far up the neck?' EDIT: And more importantly - why? Edited July 22, 2008 by johnnylager Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah5string Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 [quote name='Dr.Dave' post='245028' date='Jul 22 2008, 07:19 AM']Sarah , do you do it more when you're rehearsing with the band than you do practising alone?? Betting , if so , it's 'nerves' related. Nothing wrong with watching what you're doing but it does look better if you're eyes aren't glued to the fingerboard during gigs. Take my tip and find a nice bright fire exit sign to stare at. Pretend it's a person. That way you have something to focus on and the punters don't feel threatened by being stared at.[/quote] I do do it more at practice yes, and my theory was if I can stop doing it totally at home then I won't do it as much when at practice/at a gig. In theory anyway.. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) [quote name='Dr.Dave' post='245028' date='Jul 22 2008, 07:19 AM']Nothing wrong with watching what you're doing but it does look better if you're eyes aren't glued to the fingerboard during gigs. Take my tip and find a nice bright fire exit sign to stare at. Pretend it's a person. That way you have something to focus on and the punters don't feel threatened by being stared at.[/quote] The thing to realise is that, your band aside, no one will notice if you fluff a few notes but you will get a great reaction from the punters if the whole band plays to them and looks at them (or appears to) rather than at each other or their feet or fingers. A tip from my presentation skills course is to look just above the heads of the people you are presenting to, or playing for, this is the same as looking at the exit sign or back wall TV, or just look at people's hair (rather than eyes) It will look like eye contact and that's the good stuff. And look around the room at many people rather than at just one person, even if they give you good face back .. That's also why you need musical and sound cues in the band rather than visual ones - with visual cues you have to look at the drummer or singer or whatever to pick up the cue, with an audible one you can be looking at, and entertaining, the crowd and still pick up the cue ... Another idea: if you are right handed, stand to the right of the drummer (stage right) so that when you are looking across at the rest of the band, the front person at centre stage and the drummer's foot, your fingerboard is just a small glance away from your eye line. If you are stage left you have to look away from the source of the visual cues to find your start notes etc ..... (reverse if you are sinister) Edited July 22, 2008 by OldGit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peted Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 [quote name='OldGit' post='244867' date='Jul 21 2008, 10:06 PM']Ha ha great idea, fingerboard watching is so overrated I play in the dark a lot (with my side marker lights off) to practice things so I can look at the audience rather than my fretboard ... That's the point, really ...[/quote] +1. I often practice in the dark to work on the muscle memory in my fingers so I'm not staring at the fretboard. Now I tend to find that I stare at the set-list! What I tend to do is pick out a door, sign, or beer pump at the back of the room and smile at that most of the night. About 6 months ago I played a pub venue which had a little stage and a TV pointing into it (there was normally a pool table on the stage). I realised mid-set that I'd been watching the TV for about 20 minutes/5 songs and hadn't made any effort to engage the audience. I'm terrible, me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_the_bassist Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 [quote name='OldGit' post='245082' date='Jul 22 2008, 09:22 AM']reverse if you are sinister[/quote] tea===>keyboard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 [quote name='phil_the_bassist' post='245362' date='Jul 22 2008, 01:55 PM']tea===>keyboard[/quote] Oh dear That's the third tea>'puter incident I've caused on BC this week .. Sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I don't think that it's really all that beneficial to practice blindfolded. I agree that it is much better to look at the audience during a gig,but during practice this becomes irrelevant. Everyone looks at the fingerboard when playing-it's only natural,especially if you have to make large jumps up the neck. If you just practice as normal,you will find that when you do gig,you will be comfortable with the songs and won't look at the neck much anyway-especially as you are doing backing vocals. Having said that,the best way-i think-for learning to not stare at the fingerboard,is to read.That way you are focused on the notes on the page,and have very little time to look at the neck,other than an occasional reference glance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 [quote name='Doddy' post='245385' date='Jul 22 2008, 02:33 PM']I don't think that it's really all that beneficial to practice blindfolded. I agree that it is much better to look at the audience during a gig,but during practice this becomes irrelevant. Everyone looks at the fingerboard when playing-it's only natural,especially if you have to make large jumps up the neck. If you just practice as normal,you will find that when you do gig,you will be comfortable with the songs and won't look at the neck much anyway-especially as you are doing backing vocals. Having said that,the best way-i think-for learning to not stare at the fingerboard,is to read.That way you are focused on the notes on the page,and have very little time to look at the neck,other than an occasional reference glance.[/quote] I think you've missed the point. Reading is great but not on stage in a rock/metal band The blindfold is just a way of practicing playing without looking at your fingers. Looking at your sheet music or shoes or set list or mic stand or inside of your eyelids or through yoru dark sunglasses all the time is just as bad from an entertainment perspective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 You're right about reading not being good on stage for a rock/metal band-but it is a far more useful way of practicing without looking at the neck than wearing a blindfold. Playing blindfolded means you can play blindfolded-that is all. I just think that there are better ways of learning to not stare at the fingerboard,which will give better results,and having a chart in front of you-while practicing-is the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peted Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I think it's just your choice of distraction really. Whether that be musical notation, blindfold, or the latest swim-suit calendar - anything which gets your eyes off of the fretboard will make you a more engaging player with the audience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedontcarebear Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 We used to turn the lights off at practice and play in the dark, but that is mainly because we're stupid and were bored, did it quite often though surprisingly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 [quote name='peted' post='245420' date='Jul 22 2008, 03:10 PM']I think it's just your choice of distraction really. Whether that be musical notation, blindfold, or the latest swim-suit calendar - anything which gets your eyes off of the fretboard will make you a more engaging player with the audience.[/quote] Good old internet porn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowhand_mike Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 see i REALLY struggle with looking up when i play live, i dont necesserily stare at the fret board but i have a real problem looking out at the audience (if there is one ) it freaks me out a bit, even staring at the back wall or sign feels uncomfortable. though we did do a gig on the same night as the world cup rugby final, not much of an audience but i did have something to look at there but it was also extremely distracting as i lost me way a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 i think your avator picture is kind of ironic for this conversation doddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinynorman Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Do what I did at one gig and take a good hard look straight into a Par 56 floor can. Couldn't see anything for three songs, let alone the neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 [quote name='metaltime' post='245472' date='Jul 22 2008, 04:09 PM']i think your avator picture is kind of ironic for this conversation doddy[/quote] Absolutely nothing wrong with a porkpie hat I think Doddy and I are talking about dfferent things though, or different objectives, anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I always look at the t'n'a in the audience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 [quote name='OldGit' post='245082' date='Jul 22 2008, 09:22 AM']Another idea: if you are right handed, stand to the right of the drummer (stage right) so that when you are looking across at the rest of the band, the front person at centre stage and the drummer's foot, your fingerboard is just a small glance away from your eye line.[/quote] Now THAT'S a smart idea ... file under [i]Why didn't I think of that?[/i] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.