48 posts tagged “music”
I've appreciated music for years, I played guitar as a kid but walked away from it once I hit high school because I was wrapped up as a 3 sport athlete. There were times when I'd still pull out my Ibanez DT-350 and pluck away at songs I knew. At 18, my parents sold my guitar and while upset, I didn't try to pick up the guitar again. It wasn't until the first Guitar Hero hit that it rekindled my interest in playing. I collected all the games because of the wide variety of songs on each setlist that the user can play. The game did help me with coordination and finger dexterity using the controller. That's it. I loved just playing the game for the sake of it being a game, but it felt as if something was missing. So, I bought a couple guitars and started to play again. I think had it not been for each gaming franchise, I never would've taken the initiative to start playing again.
The games offer the music to the gaming masses, it can help introduce people to other forms of music (rock, classic rock, metal, ect..). Maybe it can even help bring people over from gaming and into music (like myself). I think the dumbing down of music lies in rap. The same autotuning crap, recycled beats and nursery rhyme style lyrics into some non-coherent 'song' with the person talk-singing, that's not music.
While at the studio this week, my instructor showed a few techniques to practice which would help improve my finger dexterity and overall strength. I'll admit, it's frustrating at times. I know how it should be played, but it's one thing for my mind to picture it, another for my hand to actually do it. It's getting better. One of the things my instructor commented on was how fast I've come along in such a short amount of time. There have been several times he'll watch me play and just pick up his guitar and strum along. 'Paranoid', 'I wanna be sedated', 'The KKK took my baby away', 'Wicked game', all great tunes that I played in the studio where my instructor jammed with me. He even did some of the vocals during the session.
We'll transcribe the notes (sometimes tabs) and break it down (or make it more complex), that's where I'm thrown for a loop. He said that he's not trying to be a dick, just show me that there can be several ways to play that same section. He's right, damnit. Practice doesn't bother me, I'll just plug in my amp (other times not) and strum. I told him, that when I do practice or play, I feel like I'm apart of the music. I can just release myself and get lost in it. It's kind of crazy really, but I felt similar when I would train in the gym, you just get lost in the moment. I've pulled down quite a few new song sheets and it's just getting to each as I clear the previous song. I'll practice one song, play it, if I have any difficulties, I'll go back and break it down again.
If I feel stuck on one area, I move on (sometimes to another song), but I always go back to look at the previous one again. I told my instructor that at times I wondered how far along would I have gone with music had I stuck with it as a kid. He understood, he said that while I hadn't been playing, I was still training my ear because I've always been a music enthusiast. So while I wasn't practicing or playing over the years, my ears were still being trained. He's still surprised how fast I pick up what he goes over with me. Naturally, I play fast, I find it difficult to go slower. He said that could be a strength when it comes to speed picking or sweeps. I'll stumble when playing slow (4 beat, 56 tempo), I mean really stumble.
He said that by observing me play, I don't have to focus, I just play. But, when he has me go sloooooow, I focus to much on focusing and trip myself up. Eh, it happens right? Whatever it takes to make myself a better guitarist. As I'm tying this post out, I have my metronome in the background going. 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4...lol. On that note, I'm going to wrap this up. It's time I pick up 'Black Betty' and do some strum work.
Aus.
while listening to Hatebreed's S/T album. It's hardcore for the hardcore and I'm looking forward to their Dallas stop this coming November. I already bought my ticket, now I just need to buy a new mouthpiece because I'm going to be in the pit the entire night. Go buy the new album set to hit stores later today!
That is all.
Been laying in bed the past hour can't sleep. Was going to go train, decided to stay in. It also doesn't help that I drank a redbull lol. Going to try to watch tv (maybe) until I do fall asleep. I'll have to stack my training tomorrow though. I did get to practice on my guitar for a bit. I'm downstairs laying on the couch typing this out on my iPhone in the dark. I can hear the humming of my PC in the other room. I may still try and go train, But I know I'll be tired if I do go in. I just wanted to turn in at a decent hour so I wouldn't be out of it while at the studio tomorrow.
Yesterday was kind of funny, I had fallen asleep on the couch the night before. I kind if woke up, still out of it, I could feel one of my cats had decided to nap on my chest. I couldn't tell which because I didn't even open my eyes. I just pet the cat and passed back out. I woke up two more times and she was still on me. Ha! I stayed most of the evening at my parents house and watched the Huskers game with my dad. We talked about the season, having high hopes for the Huskers. We then talked guitar and music off and on between commercials. I was texting with Tane for part of the night while visiting the parents.
He pulled out his acoustic and I looked at it again, he's just going to buy a new one. He's going to swing by the guitar center and shop around. I really didn't do much aside from that, I pulled down some new sheet music to work on. I went through speed drills, playing scales, light work on some songs I'm fairly comfortable with already. I know, I know.....boring huh? :-)
Still, I had a good first day off this week. I'm off tomorrow too, errands, guitar practice, and who knows what else.
Sent from my iPhone
I think everyone can safely say that music is, or has been a big influence on their life. How it can define and clarify your current mood, bring back distant memories or define an entire generation. I think everyone has a particular piece of music that hits them the hardest; something that digs down deep and evokes the most emotion.
There are quite a few artists (and songs) that really "do it" for me. Most of these I'll listen to while training in the gym or just when I'm on the road since I don't listen to the radio anymore. The links to the songs listed are from within my Vox music library of tracks I uploaded. Just open a separate tab to listen to the track while you browse (or continue reading).
- Danzig - Cold Eternal & Come to Silver
- Korn - Alone I break, Did my time, Everything I've Known, Alive, Tearjerker, Throw me away & Hushabye
- System of a Down - Lonely Day
- Hatebreed - Empty promises, Afflicted past, Driven by Suffering, Healing to Suffer again, I will be heard, Perseverance, Proven, Unloved, A lesson lived is a lesson learned, Another Day Another Vendetta, Confide in no one, The most truth, Defeatist & Give wings to my triumph
- Heaven Shall Burn - Black Tears
- Slipknot - Danger Keep Away, Vermillion, Vermillion Pt. 2, Vermillion Pt. 2 (Bloodstone Mix), Dead Memories & 'Til we die
- Marilyn Manson - Great big white world & In the valley of the shadow of death
- Creedence Clearwater Revival - Someday never comes
- Cake - Never There, I will survive & Going the Distance
- Terry Reid - To be treated
- Nirvana - You know you're right, Oh Me & Where did you sleep last night?
- Linkin Park - Somewhere I belong
- 311 - Amber
- The Rolling Stones - Beast of Burden
- Johnny Cash - Hurt
- Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven
- Staind - It's been awhile
- Verve Pipe - Colorful
- Metallica - Astronomy, Turn the page, Tuesday's Gone, Fade to Black, Nothing else matters, The Unforgiven, The Unforgiven II, The Unforgiven III, The Outlaw Torn, Mama Said, The Memory Remains, Low Man's Lyric, Frantic, The Unnamed Feeling, Suicide & Redemption
- Stone Sour - Cardiff & ZZyyzx Rd.
I'm used to listening to these various artists on either my iPod or my iPhone during long road trips (more to come this fall now that college football is in season) to Lincoln, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, or where ever else I wanted to go for a day or two. I like how I can just sit there in my car and just let my emotions wash over me regardless of my current mood while my mind wanders.
This fluid feels like pain
This stoic mood is all in vain
I reach into the dark
I tear the sun and me apart
How many years ago
How many deaths I can't let go
My flesh is temporary, my God extraordinary
You.. can't.. kill.. my... mind
A man delivered can never make his way in darkness
I know tonight will end
but I won't give this life away again
Sifting through the seen debris
Oh my father call to me
This smoke is in my blood
This home is just no good
Save me from my bitterness
Give me up I did my best
Chalk this system full of shit
Lock this fucker lost in it
You.. can't.. kill.. my... mind
A man delivered can never make his way in darkness
I know tonight will end
but I won't give this life away
I won't give this life away again
A man surrendered
can never find his own forgiveness
I know my life will end
but I won't give tonight away
I won't give tonight away again
Oh yeah!
This fluid feels like pain
This ruin feels like rain
I reach into the past
My future's fading fast
How many years ago?
How many I let go?
My flesh is all I have
My face is happenstance
This smoke is in my blood
This life is not enough
This life is not enough
This life is not enough
\m/ Cheers \m/
\m/
Cheers
Cheers \m/
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