I can sit down and pick out just about anything if I work at it long enough- but I often notice a few weeks later if I go back and play with the record after playing a solo on my own for awhile, I'm playing it a little differently- not better for sure, but not necessarily worse I don't think. I think we all hear things a bit differently, and our sense of timing and phrasing sometimes varies a bit. What I have yet to really get good at is improv- to me that's when you've really mastered your instrument. I have to sit down and "compose" solos to stuff I write- I can't just take off and let it flow out of me. Maybe someday...
The main limit I have these days- other than time- is dexterity due to a bit of age-induced arthritis in the hands. I don't think I'll ever be able to play as fast as some bluegrass pickers. Some bluegrass is so fast I can't even imagine being able to play it. I think some of it fast just for fast's sake- like some heavy metal guitar, and I really don't care if I can never do that... Bill in Nashville On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 12:44 PM, Topher Gayle <surfns...@gmail.com> wrote: > > One time, I heard an animal trainer being asked whether dogs were > smarter, or cats. He said dogs were smarter at being dogs, and cats > were smarter at being cats. I like that answer. > > Topher > > > > > On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 10:40 AM, Steve Cantrell <sec...@bellsouth.net> > wrote: > > I had one of the best comments I'd ever heard on my playing last > Saturday. A > > friend I hadn't seen in a while said, "Damn, sounds good. You've come a > long > > way. You even have your own style." I suppose the style he could have > been > > referring to was "suck", but I don't think so. I've just gotten > comfortable > > with what I can do, and know where to go. > > > > I know I'll never play the mandolin like Mike Compton or Bill Monroe or > > Chris Thile of whoever the hell--that's just my limitation, but I do a > more > > than passable job at playing like Steve. I also know that I'm constantly > > learning and being more adventurous with it and try to be more confident > in > > playing like myself, which is easier said than done. I try to kick myself > > and say, play harder and practice harder, but the minute this stops being > > fun and feels more like the shit I do every day sitting at this desk then > > there's something wrong. > > > > A banjo buddy asked me if I could pick mandolin on his group's CD today, > so > > I can put a notch on the belt for "Steve-style". For the record, that > > involves one very red eye and NOT sucking. > > > > ________________________________ > > From: 14strings <perrypale...@gmail.com> > > To: Taterbugmando <taterbugmando@googlegroups.com> > > Sent: Wed, November 4, 2009 1:33:24 PM > > Subject: Re: Norman's sage advice > > > > > > Lot's of good discussions here. > > > > Andy Statman's point about completely learning ONE style I take to > > heart for I am a professional Jack of all Trades and master in > > none! :) I'm a member of the lazy club too.. > > > > I think the intention of the Norman's Blake comment was not to invite > > laziness but to take advantage of the natural tendency of our own > > inherent "phrasing". Therefore give the best of what we have > > unforced,naturally. I don't think Norman was suggesting to leave out > > chunks of content. > > > > Perry > > > > > > > > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to taterbugmando@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to taterbugmando+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
