Members d03nut Posted February 20, 2007 Members Posted February 20, 2007 Is playing your forte or are you better at songwriting? A performer at heart or recording genius? Jack-of-all-trades (or trade-ins?) or "specialist"? And so on
Members guitarist21 Posted February 20, 2007 Members Posted February 20, 2007 My strength is soloing. On electric guitar. But I can't help that I love songwriting and playing acoustic sooo much more. Ellen
Members dmn23 Posted February 20, 2007 Members Posted February 20, 2007 Jack of all trades here, master of absolutely zero. I thought I was merely a mediocre guitarist and writer/lyricist until I set up my Cubase home studio a few years ago. Now I've come to discover I'm a mediocre bassist, pianist, producer, writer/lyricist, drum machine guru, and engineer.
Members smatel Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 Strengths huh? I play guitar by avocation. Although it has been a part of me for some time, I never really feel like I'm getting "there." I started playing and singing, and did only that for years. I'm pretty good at that, but I'm not really a singer. I listen to a lot of instrumental music and that influences my playing. I'd rather play fingerstyle, with all the parts going, and I can be pretty good at it, when I set my mind to it. In some ways my strength is also my weakness. I have a catholic taste in music, and that makes it challenging to focus long enough to make good progress in any given genre.
Members kwakatak Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 I'd say that my greatest strength is that I can hear the melody in my head even when I'm not playing my guitar. The trick is translating a melody that pops into my head, translating it to the fretboard and then fleshing it out to chord changes.
Members Hudman Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 I have trouble rating myself on guitar. I tend to be pretty hard on myself. I guess my "musical strength" is the same strength I display in most aspects of my life: I'm rarely shy. I will pick up a guitar (acoustic or electric) and play it in front of anyone without hesitation or fear. Why? I'm not out to impress anyone. I play because I love to. I admit it is a bonus when others enjoy listening to me play but I can live without the approval. I'm the kind of guy that will grab a Strat in Guitar Center, plug it into a tube amp and jam in the middle of a sea of goth metal kids wanking away on shred riffs. Live and let live. I tend to feel more comfortable playing electric guitar (blues and classic rock - I'm a lead player at heart). However, I enjoy playing acoustic guitar more than electric guitar. I also feel that I improved a bit as an acoustic player over the past year. I'm also getting a bit more comfortable singing. I am discovering that people are less critical of your vocals if your playing sounds good and you can sing in tune. Singing is still new to me. My first experience was in a bar last spring during karaoke night. No one threw beer bottles at me. I started playing and singing around the campfire last summer. My friends were very encouraging. They really seemed to enjoy my "campfire concerts". It will be a long time before I will feel comfortable with my vocal skills, but I intend to keep working on it.
Members g6120 Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 I'm with you Hudman. I finally have learned to just relax and play. I am discovering that with this approach all kinds of music is flowing out. It has been locked upin my brain for decades. So for me the music is all in my head. I hear it there and then I play it how I hear it. Trying new things every day and having fun with it!
Members knockwood Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 On the rare occasions when I play live, what I do a minute or two before I go on is pick out the biggest member of the audience and beat the living {censored} out of him - or her, as the case may be. This puts fear in the audience and also distracts them from my hideous playing and singing. I am pretty bad. I make up for it, though, by really enjoying and loving it anyway. What irritates me is that I've leaned heavily on my writing abilities all my life, yet I can't write song lyrics worth dry {censored}. In music, lyrical composition has turned out to be unequivocally my weakest skill. I just cannot figure that one out. So good writing tends to be what I most admire in the musicians I favor.
Members brahmz118 Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 I don't know if 'talent' is the right word, in my case. Maybe 'competency.' Here's a rough outline of things I do at least a little bit, some much better than others: AccompanimentSoloingImprovisationCompositionSongwritingArrangingEnsemble PlayingOrchestrationConductingSinging / Playing Other InstrumentsRecording / Mixing / MasteringAnalysis / Theory ApplicationSightreadingComprehending Chords, Melodies, Rhythms, etc. by EarMemorization / Maintaining RepertoireTeaching In all of these areas I have heroes and mentors who are lightyears beyond me. But again I'm just working hard to be more and more competent in these areas, not outstanding or brilliant. I'd love to add other areas (like building and repair) but refining the things on the above list could keep me busy for a few lifetimes.
Members Hudman Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 On the rare occasions when I play live, what I do a minute or two before I go on is pick out the biggest member of the audience and beat the living {censored} out of him - or her, as the case may be. This puts fear in the audience and also distracts them from my hideous playing and singing. I am pretty bad. I make up for it, though, by really enjoying and loving it anyway. What irritates me is that I've leaned heavily on my writing abilities all my life, yet I can't write song lyrics worth dry {censored}. In music, lyrical composition has turned out to be unequivocally my weakest skill. I just cannot figure that one out. So good writing tends to be what I most admire in the musicians I favor. I enjoy great songwriting, but I tend to be more interested in the actual music. I have trouble "opening up" in my writing. I swear I have ADD. I get great ideas, and I lose my focus. I think you should try writing stuff that displays your sense of humor.
Members Cripes Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 I don't try to write songs anymore. The operative word is "try". When I do it's because the song is obvious, can be done quickly - usually in a few hours - and won't leave me alone until it's written. Songs now come on and leave like a headache. I rarely get them and they leave quickly. The lyrics and tune just come together naturally and the whole project works itself out. I really prefer to play instrumentals. If I can get a decent recording of something, I'm satisfied. Then, instead of over-working the life out of it on guitar, I can play it back and hear where changes need to be made. But, I'll only record if I think I've struck something that's remarkable for me. If anyone asked me to play live I'd probably beg out of it. I'm not a performer. I don't do this for show.
Members kwakatak Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 All this talk of songwriting has me squirming. It seems to me that everything I try and write is either sappy (when it's happy) or downright maudlin (when it's sad). For example, right now I'm trying to write lyrics to a sad song and it's putting me in a place I really can't be without getting all depressed.
Members bigby Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 My musical talent is evenly distrubted throughout my loin region...
Members Dan Hall Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 I'm a singer. At least that's what they hired me to do in the garage band oh so many years ago. My brother, bless his heart, got all the instrumental talent in the family then for a variety of reasons lost it. I'm trying, but it's a struggle every inch of the way with my playing. Modes, and flat 13ths, flat 5ths and 9ths, nashville numbers and all that staying in key stuff just kills me. I ain't dead yet though. And Bigby, yer full of it mister. You got everything talent wise most of us are striving for.
Members knockwood Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 And Bigby, yer full of it mister. You got everything talent wise most of us are striving for. Waitaminute... You've seen Bigby's loin region? Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Members Dan Hall Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 Naw, but I did hear "It sucks being you" take a listen, you might identify with something there.... :D Oh, new song title; "I think I'll go back to prison, you meet a better class of people there"http://media.putfile.com/Sucks-To-Be-You-95
Members bigby Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 I think I may have misunderstood the question... And tryin' to remember if THIS was the forum where I posted the black and white pictures of my loins....black and white because for some reason that format makes every picture seem "artistic"....
Members Hudman Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 I'm trying, but it's a struggle every inch of the way with my playing. Modes, and flat 13ths, flat 5ths and 9ths, nashville numbers and all that staying in key stuff just kills me. I ain't dead yet though. The key is NOT thinking too much about it. Play music and the theory crap will sort itself out.
Members Dan Hall Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 I think I may have misunderstood the question... And tryin' to remember if THIS was the forum where I posted the black and white pictures of my loins....black and white because for some reason that format makes every picture seem "artistic".... Hey bigby, I been listening to George Strait this afternoon in between with Stephen Temple. You do "If it wasn't for Texas"?
Members bigby Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 Hey bigby, I been listening to George Strait this afternoon in between with Stephen Temple. You do "If it wasn't for Texas"? Actually I haven't; I'll have to check that one out. I've covered a few of his tunes in the past (Baby Blue & Easy Come, Easy Go) but haven't really pulled any of his stuff out of late. Great tunes..
Members knockwood Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 Naw, but I did hear "It sucks being you" take a listen, you might identify with something there.... :D Oh, new song title; "I think I'll go back to prison, you meet a better class of people there" http://media.putfile.com/Sucks-To-Be-You-95 Whoa. Pretty schnazzy piece of work! Really nice playing. I likeit. Maybe I identify and maybe I don't, but that isn't important right now...
Members Krash Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 My greatest musical talent is listening. Been doing it over 50 years. Yep, I can listen with the best of them. It's also my only musical talent.
Members Cldplytkmn Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 don't have time to type out a length response, but i think my strengths lie in recording/production... i'd rather write and record than play live ANY day.
Members bigby Posted February 21, 2007 Members Posted February 21, 2007 Naw, but I did hear "It sucks being you" take a listen, you might identify with something there.... :D Oh, new song title; "I think I'll go back to prison, you meet a better class of people there" http://media.putfile.com/Sucks-To-Be-You-95 Great idea for a song title! The recorded stuff on the "Sucks To Be You" album was more of a gag; no real attempt at anything special. Just finally had some time to sit down with old high school friends, drink some beers and throw together some light-hearted tunes. Not the typical stuff I've done.
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