The Relatable Musician 8

If there is an ignorant thought that annoys me a lot, it's the fact that people think that guitar is the easiest instrument to learn.

Ignorant people think "Oh, if I just put my fingers in these places on the fretboard and strum, I'll magically make music!  It's so simple!"  

Unfortunately, it's not that simple.  A guitar is actually pretty complicated to learn notes on as a beginner.  It takes a while to memorize the note names of all the frets... and then there's alternate tuning of the strings, and the use of capos.  Granted, you can easily learn a basic E minor and A major chord in ten minutes.  But to be able to play more than that, it takes quite a bit of work.

Typical piano used for note names

The instrument always used for visualizing notes in the music world is the piano.  Why?  It's easy to see the notes on the keys of a piano.  No one is going to teach basic theory to beginning musicians using saxophone fingerings.  That's just too complicated.  The piano has the note names in ascending and linear order.  And to us, that is the simplest way of visualizing notes.   

The good thing about guitars is that it's practically the same concept.  If you play a string, it plays one note.  If you press your finger down somewhere on the string and strum, it plays a different note.  And the closer you move the placement of your finger to your picking hand, the higher the note.  Similar to a piano.  However, the hard part is that there are five other strings using the same concept, and they all don't start on the same note.  When you strum a chord on a guitar, you are playing six notes that fit in the key you're playing in.  You strum six individual notes that harmonize together for that lovely sound that everyone wants to hear around the campfire.  If you want to play a G, you have to place your fingers in such a way so you play G, B, D, G, D, G (In that order).  But of course not not a lot of people know that.  They just put their hands in a shape of what they are taught is a chord, and strum.  No more thought given.

 That's why a lot of people decide to pick up the guitar and put it down after a while.  They don't know how complicated it gets after learning all the easy chords in the key of G.  They learn that there are actually inversions of a chord, and that bar chording is pretty hard on the hand.  

So to all of you who are thinking of learning an instrument: don't pick one because it's simply easy.  Granted, there are some instruments that you can pick up the basics faster.  But to become good at an instrument takes a lot of work.  Even if it seems simple, like guitar or percussion (trust me, percussion has some tough rudiments).  Whatever you pick, make sure it appeals to you.  And once you learn all the basics, stick with it!  

The Relatable Musician 7

Folk music.  Everyone claps on the downbeat. 
*claps* 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...
But did you know that the drummer is hitting his snare drum on the "and" of every beat? 
*claps* 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...
But noooo everyone has to clap on the downbeat.  *rolls eyes over-dramatically*

The Relatable Musician 6

DON'T CLAP WHEN THE BAND STARTS TRADING FOURS!!!

Same idea as inexperienced people who don't know audience etiquette for classical music.  You don't clap in between movements, unless it is something extremely worthy of mention.  Personally, I wouldn't clap, as seen in my post about not clapping. 

The same idea is not applied in the jazz world.  In fact, if you hear something you like, you vocalize it (but maybe not for a ballad).  Yelling in approval adds energy and encouragement to the atmosphere.  So there is little room for the audience to make error as an audience.
But little room doesn't mean no room.

I was recently in a summer jazz camp and the faculty/directors put on a concert for the students.  A popular jazz element for letting the drummer solo is called "trading fours".  In music speak, a player solos for four bars, then the drummer solos for four, then the player, then the drummer, and so on.  It's a very basic element.
However, the audience, which is comprised of jazz students, clapped for every four bar solo.  Granted, there are some beginners in the crowd.  However, people at least my level should know... And I'm not too high on the ladder. 

It isn't that they are ignorant and should know better as jazz students.  It's obvious that if you applaud every four bars, you're going to miss half of the solos because you're too busy making noise, drowning out the music you came to hear.  And it disturbs the people around you who know what they're doing...

The Relatable Musician 5

I recently bought a new 6 string bass (love the extra C string for chords) and today I bought a used Fender rumble 25 bass amp.  At first, it just started with a Squire P-strat with no amp,
but at this rate, I'm going to have to get two bedrooms... one for music and one for sleeping.  Or I'll just install a hammock and sleep above all the instruments :D

The Relatable Musician 4

DON'T CLAP IN BETWEEN MOVEMENTS OF A PIECE!!!!

The Relatable Musician 3

For those of you who don't know, a trap table is a very useful stand for a percussionist.  Typically it is a table top that has a padded top, and excels at keeping noisy instruments such as shakers and tambourines quiet when put down.  It keeps auxiliary percussion easy to handle.

A relatively clean trap table

The other day, I took a good look at the percussion section and noticed that it was a mess (more than usual, at least.  It's always a mess).  So I decided to rearrange things a little bit, and tidy up.  That included the trap table.  Looks pretty neat, right?  Relatively organized, for such a disorganized person.  I'd say that's a success, keeping in mind that the idea is to be able to grab any instrument on the table in under 2 seconds without making too much noise. I was satisfied with my effort, and content.  Until...

Five days later, this happens:

I don't look after it for five days and look what happens... 

I'll give my classmates and underclassmen credit; the whip, gong mallet, triangle beaters, and rock tambourine stayed in place.  And the claves almost stayed in place.  However, where did the concert tambourine come from?  When did we have an extra pair of 5a sticks?  We have another pair of super soft (and super fuzzy) bass drum mallets?  It's amazing, the things I learn and lose when the percussion section is used after a week.  Not only is it frustrating for inventory count, it becomes inconvenient for other people to use.  Imagine rehearsing one day, knowing where everything is, and then walking in the next day not having any idea where your essential instruments are.  The conductor starts the song with your giant swing at the bass drum, but you're still trying to put down the sleigh bells that are rattling in your hand, turning 40 heads your direction.  

So if you are a percussionist, take pride and keep your playing space clean!  You don't want to be that guy that creates an avalanche of sticks during a caesura.  Be organized!

The Relatable Musician 2

Studying for history exams...  -_-

I'm not the best at studying.  In fact, I'm pretty bad.  The amount of reading I put into studying with the little absorption that goes with it frustrates me to no end (Again, having a terrible remember).  I have yet to find a study method that actually works well for me. 

History is a ton of work.  There is so much work and effort that goes into it with little gain from it.  The reason: it's straight memorization.  Everything in the textbook from first to last unit is fair game, and nothing should be missed when studying.  So, when you've been a horrible student that gave up history for studying math, it becomes difficult cramming 3+ months of information in about 3 weeks.  See that piece of looseleaf?  That took half an hour. That's worth 10% on the test.

The good thing is, they don't try to trick you on the test.  Everything is straightforward.  

Combining this with my terrible work ethic and absorption of material, you can imagine what the result may be: an overworked, sleep deprived, stressed, grumpy, depressed Austin.   

Also, I never understood why we need to know all this stuff.  Sort of like most other things we are taught at school.  I don't see how knowing that the "London" symphony (no. 104) by Haydn starts with a grandiose introduction in D minor is going to help me in any way, besides getting a better mark on the exam.  "I don't know how to pay bills or make budgets, but good thing I know what stile concitato is!"

I guess it's just one of those things you gotta do, like it or not.  Wish me luck >.<

The Relatable Musician

So I think I'm going to start a series-type post on what would be #musicianproblems (if blogger used hashtags)

Starting off: I hate it when someone positions the snare drum switch at your crotch... I feel like I'm going to get canned if I reach for something in the wrong way. >.<