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Topic: Going back to noodling for a while |
Curt Trisko
From:
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2014 8:33 pm |
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In my development of learning pedal steel, I'm not too bad anymore at playing uptempo, complex parts. I don't think that's where my effort is best spent anymore unless I just want to end up sounding like a robot. I listen to recordings I've done of myself lately compared to ones that I did of myself noodling around about 6 months to a year ago and I think I've lost something. My playing is becoming more precise, but not in the right way... at least not unless I want to relegate my playing to strictly supporting another instrument.
I've developed sensibilities and intuitions for what is "correct" or what "should" sound good and don't trust my own sensibilities the way I did before I knew what I was supposed to be doing. Back then, I'd noodle around and find riffs and licks and then analyze it later from a music theory perspective to figure out why it worked. Now when I improvise, I just default to where I know the licks should be and hit them without thinking to hard about dynamics or tension.
I think I'm going to take it easy the next few weeks on steel and see if I can recreate some of the feeling I had before. Maybe I'll just plug different chords into Band in a Box and see what happens. I want to develop a lot more touch than I have right now. I'm hoping that it's easier to develop it when you have to create something from nothing under challenging circumstances instead of trying to copy other people's recordings. I think it's that touch that makes the difference between something sounding layered-on and something that is seamless with the song.
I don't think this is as regressive as it sounds. I've heard people who went to music school say that once you're done with classes, you have to try to forget everything you've learned in order to really be musical again. What makes me think of all this now is hearing steel guitar recordings by comparative amateurs that are tastier than what I can do now. |
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Bud Angelotti
From:
Larryville, NJ, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2014 9:52 pm
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You are tasting freedom Curt. 
_________________
Just 'cause I look stupid, don't mean I'm not. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 6 Jul 2014 4:55 am
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Think the lyrics and meditate on them as you play.
There's more impact when you remember the content
It's like the difference between doodling and sketching. Until you have a subject in mind to sketch, it's ALL just doodling.
Until you have a subject to talk about, it's just muttering.
If you forget the subject, you're back to doodling, muttering or noodling. And sketching, talking and playing are more enjoyable than doodling, muttering and noodling.
Or at least that's MY take on it
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Don McGregor
From:
Memphis, Tennessee
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Posted 6 Jul 2014 6:36 am
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"First there is a mountain.
Then there is no mountain.
Then there is." |
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 6 Jul 2014 7:18 am
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That's a very cool theory, lane.
Curt, remember that great musical ideas sometimes happens 'by accident'. Early years of learning any subject matter has the most potential for raw creativity. I don't even try to play fast...when i'm playing a part or solo, I try to follow my ear rather than defaulting to licks. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 6 Jul 2014 7:26 am
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Tom, licks have their place. When it's your turn to "speak", you have to talk even if you don't know what to say. Having a large vocabulary of licks enables you to speak for your 16 or 32 bars without stumbling.
I don't know if you're familiar with the BBC radio comedy series "Just A Minute", but it's a hoot (and has been running for 47 years and still a blast).
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 6 Jul 2014 7:44 am
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We'd probably get into a very nuanced discussion over this subject, lol.
Following one's ear, sometimes leads to a repeated 'part' and it's components become 'licks' in the vocabulary for application to new projects. Accumulate that over 30 years and 99 percent of what one plays thereafter is 'licks'...lol.
Once a person develops a dictionary full of lick knowledge, that might be considered mastery but also may be musical sterility - when it becomes incredibly impressive for the audience and dull and routine to the performer..., don't know for sure..but following one's ear at relatively early stage should help develop an individualized style at minimum. |
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