Ever Been Tempted...

[Johnny Deeper]

...by an offer to play a style of music that's not really your thing?

 

I'm jamming tomorrow night with (among others) drummer Virgil Donati. Badass monster drummer to be sure. They're all big league L.A. players. Flattered that they think I'm up to the task. I'm comparatively very D.I.Y. - I got pretty good at the bass by years of doing it. Sorta by default. But I have very little background in this kind of shredder metal/fusion.

 

But I've been made an offer here - not really where my heart is, if you know what I mean. But I'd like to think I could learn something from these guys. Not much $ in this picture either...

 

Do any of you take work just because it's higher profile than your usual thing? I'm talking here about making the sort of records that you would never ordinarily buy.

 

Opinions? Advice? I know I'm new here, but you guys seem like nothing if not straight shooters.

 

Thanks.

[mrcrow]

old hymns with a chord change on every note...thats 4 per bar..usually and some freaking chord patterns..

 

 

and written scores...they are ok to pick up new ideas...but can be monotonous..

[Johnny Deeper]

Originally posted by mrcrow old hymns with a chord change on every note...thats 4 per bar..usually and some freaking chord patterns.. and written scores...they are ok to pick up new ideas...but can be monotonous..

 

No written scores - I gotta fly by the seat of my pants with these guys. I'd prefer monotony to this particular scenario! I'm expected to contribute. Another fine mess...

[Jazz Ad]

Most of the time, what I play isn't what I listen to.

[Johnny Deeper]

 

Originally posted by Jazz Ad Most of the time, what I play isn't what I listen to.

 

 

Being very particular about the genre has severely limited my options in the past. I'll find out tonight if I'm even up to the task at hand. Thank you mrcrow & Jazz Ad.

[g.ghost]

I was always a rock music kind of guy.

 

I've hooked up with a singer who has primarily country & western roots. I used to say there are 2 kinds of music I hated....country ......and western! But I gave it a try and figured I'd learn something and guess what. I learned something .Some of those more contemporary country tunes are pretty good.

 

I also hooked up with a keyboard buddy of mine who was setting up a band with his daughters singing. They were into music by Allisia Kees, Christine Agliera, Faith Hill , Kimberly Lock etc.

I had an open mind and gave it a try. Some of those songs are actually fun to play but I wouldn't listen to them before I was introduced to them

 

New / different types of music that is outside of your primary music interest is a good way to become a more versitile and well rounded player.

[rikshaw]

Originally posted by mrcrow old hymns with a chord change on every note...thats 4 per bar..usually and some freaking chord patterns.. and written scores...they are ok to pick up new ideas...but can be monotonous..

 

does that mean yes?

[timmerz]

Johnny, isn't there some way of eking out some cash for all the hard work you're going to be putting out? It's been my experience that when someone or some organization of people is backing a project there's usually a soft kitty fund for misc. expenditures, like gasoline, hotels, that sort of thing...

Higher profile is nice, because it can lead to greater and better-paying gigs, but it's always nice to have some cash in pocket to cover everyday expenses....

Is there any room for negotiation on this deal at all? Like, mentioning that it sure would be nice if the gig didn't have to cost you quite so much?

[sultan417]

 

Originally posted by Jazz Ad Most of the time, what I play isn't what I listen to.

 

 

 

Oh Lord have i noticed that as well!

 

 

What i listen too:

Sade

Joe Cocker

C.O.C.

Marvin Gaye

BLS

Dio era Sabbath

Thin Lizzy

 

What i play sounds like:

Cephalic Carnage

Dying Fetus

Black Daliha Murder

Crowbar

 

I love playing metal, but i can rarely listen to it. Its just too moronic, most of it anyways. Especially the newer metalcore!

 

Although if i had a chance to get in a band like COC or Thin Lizzy i would, just never seems to go that way.

[SpaceGhost]

Actually yes. The main band I play in is more experimental/prog (King Crimson and Yes are our heroes) but when I was invited to play in an R&B band, I was a little apprehensive. I like R&B/Funk music but I really didn't know if I would be able to competently and confidently play in one but after several practices and a gig (the whole reason the band was assembled), I literally changed everything I would see myself "comfortable" in. I

[LanEvo]

 

Originally posted by Johnny Deeper Ever Been Tempted...by an offer to play aby an offer to play a style of music that's not really your thing?

I think you can only benefit from this kind of thing. Listening to and trying play play all kinds of different styles can only open up your repertoire and make you more creative. It's like learning how to cook with Thai spices after years of cooking only Italian. It adds new colors to your palate and helps you come up with something uniquely your own.

 

Playing with people above your ability level pushes you to get better. As long as you disn't misrepresent yourself as being better or more prepared than you actually are then there's no downside. If it goes well, you improve and learn something. If it goes poorly, hey...you weren't really interested in that syle anyway, right?

 

What have you got to lose?

 

Emre

[Johnny Deeper]

I really appreciate the input from everyone! This is the reason I joined this forum. My wife and my friends can only listen to so much shop-talk. Thanks for the advice!

[Moody Johnny]

The strangest style (for me) I've had to play was...

 

tango.

(Shh! Don't tell anyone.)

 

And I'm a black metaller. (I really had to dabble in finger picking for that one.)

 

I somehow ended up playing the bass in the background band for an outdoor play telling the story of a famous tango composer who finally committed suicide. Dark stuff... And actually fun thing to play, and I learned a lot musically.

 

 

Oh, and congratulations on the Virgil Donati thing!

[SoundwaveLove]

The more you learn, the better you'll be at what you want to do.