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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
 Posted - 01/18/2009 : 16:46:51
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If you have been on here for some time, you have probably seen or read some of my rants about these crazy kids I jam with...stuff like claiming they couldn't be out of tune even though I just unplugged from a tuner because they tuned their guitar a few days ago, no mids in the other guitarists EQ but he thinks getting a larger (he already has a 150watt head) amp will solve the problem of the drummer (and the rest of us really) not being able to hear anything out of his rig but speaker farts and breathing when the full band is playing, etc...
Well check out what happened to me yesterday...The other guitarist has moved on to drumming for the last few weeks since the drummer has various personal issues...This in itself is a pain the arse because this guy is such a big Pantera fan, he is under the impression that the drums follow the guitar...Thanks Pantera and Slipknot for making some kids misunderstand what a drummer is really supposed to do...many kids on drums these days think that drumming is nothing but accents and fills...so pretty much this guy cannot keep time on his own, cause if I try to add some space to things by not playing every single second, he gets confused...But anyways, as ridiculous as that sounds, thats not my story...
They have mentioned how this kid in the neighborhood, that I sort of know but they are related to, plays guitar, and we should have him jam with us sometime. Okay, no problem...or so I thought. I didn't realize that sometime meant yesterday...The kid has played acoustic guitar for 2 years...cool, nothing wrong with that. But no one told me the kid has never played electric guitar! Plus that, and he has never really used a pick before! If that wasn't even enough, the kid does not really listen to metal, or anything similar to what the rest of us listen to...He just learned about palm muting yesterday while using Lil Dimes rig while Lil Dime was just playing too fast on the drums considering there is someone who has no clue to what do...Then to top it off, I think the other guitar was out of tune, but Lil Dime thinks that pretty much once you tune and lock the nut on a Floyd Rose that the thing will stay in tune forever or something...
I can't help but laugh about all this, cause its rather Spinal Tap-ish, and if it didn't happen to me, and someone told me about this, I would think they were making it up...but its all true...I could get annoyed by this all, but I am just seeing it as motivation to start using my 4-track and drum machine more cause I need a break from "bands" right now after all this...its not drama...its more comedy... |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2009 : 16:58:17
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With all your teles...start learning some country licks and play with some 'big boys' for a change...... .... |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2009 : 17:16:18
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| Oh man........ time for a break from bands, eh? |
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FunkenGrooven
Silver Member
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2009 : 17:18:17
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quote:
Originally posted by FRANZONI
With all your teles...start learning some country licks and play with some 'big boys' for a change..........
Second that Franz! Sorry to here about the misadventures of Lil' Dime, I bet right now they are cooking up an idea for you all to come on stage in some kind of Pod's or perhaps a mini "Stone 'enge" crank it to 11!!! |
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Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2009 : 19:10:03
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This is so recognizable Jack.
In my old band we once had a drummer who made the exact same mistakes on every song every week. Needless to say that it became pretty annoying after a month or so.
Plus, he had just decided to play with a double bass pedal.
Mind you, I love double kickdrumming, but whenever he applied it, he would put so much effort into his kicking that the rest of the kit couldn't even be heard anymore. It just overwhelmed everyting. 
Plus he couldn't really play in time very well.
Also, never try playing with 3 guitarists.
This is annoying as hell for a bassplayer (like me), for some reason they always try to be louder than everyone else, and be flashier than everyone else.
Which off course only adds to the overall noise level.
In my opinion only one guitar player should do something flashy at a time, so they don't get in each others ways, thus cleaning the overall mix.
That way it's also a lot easier to understand for your audience what the hell is going on. |
Edited by - Dirk on 01/18/2009 19:10:40 |
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2009 : 19:25:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Dirk
This is so recognizable Jack.
In my old band we once had a drummer who made the exact same mistakes on every song every week. Needless to say that it became pretty annoying after a month or so.
Plus, he had just decided to play with a double bass pedal.
Mind you, I love double kickdrumming, but whenever he applied it, he would put so much effort into his kicking that the rest of the kit couldn't even be heard anymore. It just overwhelmed everyting.
Plus he couldn't really play in time very well.
Also, never try playing with 3 guitarists.
This is annoying as hell for a bassplayer (like me), for some reason they always try to be louder than everyone else, and be flashier than everyone else.
Which off course only adds to the overall noise level.
In my opinion only one guitar player should do something flashy at a time, so they don't get in each others ways, thus cleaning the overall mix.
That way it's also a lot easier to understand for your audience what the hell is going on.
We only have 2 guitarists on guitar at any give time...but its funny you mention the double bass pedal, cause the "drummer" keeps talking about getting a double bass pedal like its going to be some sort of magic bullet that will make everything better or magically make him play drums so much better...Not to mention the Vinnie Paul (ex-Pantera, Damageplan drummer [HellYeah is so crappy I hate to even admit he's involved with that]) Signature Snare drum he was talking about...yeah uh, why don't you learn to play drums a bit better and perhaps upgrade from the cheap *ss no name set first, before thinking about getting a $300 snare drum
Anyways, yeah, these guys are my friends, but I think I am going to have to come up with an excuse in the next few weeks about why I cannot make the jam session. I think I may have to sit through one more though with this weird lineup cause I told the bass player I'd go to his stepsons birthday party after the session next weekend...so I can't really not go to jam but show up at that, I mean I guess I could but I'm sort of hoping that after week #2 they get the idea this isn't going to work... |
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Disco Stu
Silver Member
USA
303 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 04:57:54
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Just get one of your bandmates' girlfriends who has developed her own arcane form of Hindu Astrology/Numerology/Palmistry to schedule your practice sessions according to the planetary cycles.
Then all will be well . Maybe get a few dwarves that can dance, too. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 10:22:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Disco Stu
Just get one of your bandmates' girlfriends who has developed her own arcane form of Hindu Astrology/Numerology/Palmistry to schedule your practice sessions according to the planetary cycles.
Then all will be well. Maybe get a few dwarves that can dance, too.
You growin' or brewin' something on that plantation of yours you shouldn't be....... ........... |
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zestystrat
Silver Member
USA
283 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 15:37:40
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Stu - I got the Tap reference.
I once had a singer audition go so off the charts....
We had a rhythm track that a bassist & i were jamming to and the audition was basically to improv some sort of vocal line. We had some lyrics if nec. No pressure, we know you just heard this, we don't expect gold just an idea of what you can do.
That was the audition. Some people respectfully ran out the door (if there was a way to do that) or just flat out said that they couldn't do that. Great then you wouldn't be able to hang anyway, no big deal.
But this one guy was so freaked out yet so arrogant here is what he did:
Well of course he didn't do what we asked, but he didn't say that he couldn't either. Instead he became confrontational and started a debate about the scriptures and asked very loudly if we read the bible. Yeah so we aren't a Christian rock band, just a rock/funk/jam band.
I strongly believe this is why you either have jaded jerky musicians or crazy lunatics that call themselves musicians but have spent more time perfecting their onstage wardrobe or stack size then their "craft".
just my opinion.
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Edited by - zestystrat on 01/19/2009 15:38:34 |
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Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 17:56:13
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quote:
Originally posted by zestystrat
just my opinion.
Mine too.
I also wholeheartedly dislike "musicians" who tell you and strongly believe that making music and drugs go hand in hand and that one can't be executed without the other.
That same drummer I mentioned earlier used so much Speed during the weekend, that when we'd rehearse on monday he'd forgotten everything we told him the week before.
Now who's missing the point?!  |
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 18:06:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Dirk
quote:
Originally posted by zestystrat
just my opinion.
Mine too.
I also wholeheartedly dislike "musicians" who tell you and strongly believe that making music and drugs go hand in hand and that one can't be executed without the other.
That same drummer I mentioned earlier used so much Speed during the weekend, that when we'd rehearse on monday he'd forgotten everything we told him the week before.
Now who's missing the point?!
Then I wonder what our former drummer was on, because he often couldn't remember the beat he just stopped playing 5 seconds ago... Seriously...he could not remember... |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 18:42:14
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| All Drummers are a bit nuts....... |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 20:25:57
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Too bad people are so ego-centric.. er.. maniacal where they don't actually want to sonically fit into music so actually sounds good. Everyone plays a part in a band, not fighting guitarists, bassists vs. drummers, or vocalists each wanting "more me". Its so sad.
I'd like to hear of success stories where each member contributes effort & ideas for the good of the whole with no selfish agenda. Bands that work together seamlessly for the production & joy of creating beautiful music.. |
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Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 17:45:53
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I agree DeFrag, but even big name bands fall to prey.
Do you remember any off the basslines on Metallica's "And Justice for all" album?
Have you ever heard that Axl Rose claimed the Guns N Roses name, and wanted Slash, Duff and the others to sign a contract that they were just hired bandmembers?
Needless to say, this is one of the things that led to the splitup in '94, I'm not counting the "new" Guns N Roses (with hired bandmembers).
Just to name a few. |
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FunkenGrooven
Silver Member
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 23:13:20
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Yea a little tip, If when you begin to play you can no longer hear anyone else...You're to loud! If everyone is aware of each other things seem to work.
PS You know how to get a guitar player to turn down?...put sheet music in front of him |
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zestystrat
Silver Member
USA
283 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2009 : 03:05:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Dirk
quote:
Originally posted by zestystrat
just my opinion.
Mine too.
I also wholeheartedly dislike "musicians" who tell you and strongly believe that making music and drugs go hand in hand and that one can't be executed without the other.
I was in a band where we played the Abby Road medley and one night everyone 'cept me were shrooming. After we got off stage everyone was high 5ing each other - "that was awwwwwesome". I was like WTF guys! That was awwwwwful.
They had no idea. |
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Latest "band" misadventure....
