Great vid for newbies. 23 years ago, I showed up for a session to play guitar on a song for this unknown newly signed major label rapper. DMX was in studio B. His producer DJ shok came in and asked if there were any bassists. I had my cheap 300.oo fender jp bass in the back seat of my car without a case. I grabbed it... The song I ended up playing on is called Slippin. I had playing diff instruments since the age of 9. I was ok with the bass. They had already tried 4 bassists before me who had gospel chops and could play circles around me. THe producer liked what I played because it fit the song despite my limitations...
If you want to play guitar - spend a year playing drums. If you want to play bass - spend a year playing drums. Same for piano, etc. The benefits of learning how to play four independent rhythms and coordination and how rhythm works is a skill that pays dividends across all other instruments.
Best drummer I ever played with played guitar better than I did …..it was really kind of a compliment. We had this “ pick and stick “ symbiosis “ where he could predict several notes ahead an respond instantly to what I was going to do
I don't disagree with what you're saying, but as a guitar player I find playing drums (well just the kick really) way more difficult than learning guitar. If I was lucky enough to have had drums to learn on, I might have stuck with them because drummers (particularly good ones) are in short supply.
Started playing guitar at 7 picked up drums at 27. Such a huge improvement in my guitar playing. Rhythm is EVERYTHING. I used to think I had great rhythm as a guitar player until I started playing drums. Also drums are SUPER fun! Not that guitar isn’t but the full body engagement while playing drums is unmatched. Singing comes close but I can only swing the mic stand around so fast you know?
This is great. I've only been playing a few years but I'm blessed to say I do all these things except play a 2nd instrument. I can get the right notes out of a piano but I don't actually play per se. I'd suggest a 6th thing -- always taking classes. When I was (part-time) pro photographer winning over a dozen awards in professional, doing solo shows in the west and midwest, I was always in somebody's workshop, taking somebody's online course, etc. Always learning from accomplished practicioners. I'm still new at drums and am taking lessons from a true great of today, whose band toured Asia and plays in prime jazz venues. Not sure if this is a common practice among accomplished musicians but I suspect it's not rare. God bless you and thanks for these great lessons!
I'm a singer songwriter frontman who's been performing for 50 years. This is all excellent advice! I think the biggest tip is to never stop learning and improving. At 69 years old, still performing, and still working hard to get better!
You can practice all you want but you will learn more by jamming and practicing with other players.when you hear someone else's approach don't be surprised how different it is from yours. Also it inspires you to better communicate with like minded people. Music is so universal. I jammed with a band in Cuba we didn't understand each other's words but we sure communicated thru the melody and rhythm. Do what you can and leave the rest to someone else. But play play and play everywhere and with everyone. Networking is essential but most of all love what you do. Good luck .
Several years ago, I read an article of an interview Steve Morse did as he was preparing to go into the studio with Deep Purple. What struck me was when Steve said he was practicing eight hours a day. If you’re familiar with Steve (Dixie Dregs) you know how amazing he is on guitar yet he felt that he needed to practice for eight hours. Wow.
I was in a band run by a guy named Brandon Crawford: Lead singer, bass player band leader. Brandon had a small P.A. w/Peavey XR mixer/head. Perfect for small clubs, not micing anything. Usually 3-piece sometimes 4, …players were whoever was available that night. I never knew who I was playing with until I got there. There were 8-9 players that switched around from week to week. 2 other guitarist, 4-5 drummers and two female vocalist. There was also a guy Brandon would hire to sing lead if he had a cold or throat was sore. I was the #1 guitarist so I was finicky about the places we played $$. The other 2 were drunks/druggies that weren’t dependable nor disciplined players. Some gigs were high enough in pay where Brandon hired 2 guitarists for the night. I learned a lot about impromptu shows and particularly learning lots of songs so that when the audience makes requests, I can accommodate them. Of all the things I’ve done that impressed people, I’ve done it most by taking requests. It makes the audience happy (though they couldn’t understand the dedication it takes to know so many songs) and it impresses your band mates (although some might be jealous). It also broadens your job acquisitions. I’ll admit, I’m a better than average musician (I also play keys, drums, bass) but my vocal quality is below average. I’ve learned to sing harmony and am usually welcome to participate with other singers (I can stay in my lane). So, to recap: #1. Learn as many songs as you can #2. Play as many styles of music as you can stand #3. Never pass up an opportunity to play (even for free, sometimes) #4. Learn to sing harmony, you’ll be the singer’s best friend if you do it right.😊
I just came here to say I hate these thumbnails and titles. I'm playing my first solo show this weekend and if I say around listening to every RUclipsr's advice about what the pros do and don't do, I'd never leave my room. Know what the pros really do? They play live and get out there and make mistakes instead of consuming content.
I fall out of bed in the morning, onto the floor where there is a guitar waiting, and not that I have to, but rather, I'm compelled, impelled by Music herself, and I think to play some scales slowly, and within a minute I'm melting the frets off and scorching the fingerboard and laughing and having a good time and only then can I face the day. Addict
Oh yes and there’s something else I wanted to mention as well to become a great musician practicing and learning all the different notations and cord corporation is is all well and good but there’s something that many neglect to tell you you have to be obsessed with that very thing it has to be a deep level of desire to become a great musician
I can attest to this,I'm a professional keyboardist from South Africa,I started playing a self made guitar with a 5L oil can and curtain strings in 1983 and didn't know chords at all I just followed any song that I would hear on a radio and I was crazy about music I loved it to the heart and in 1989 I started playing self made drum set and self made bass guitar and one day some guy who always watched me play with my friend bought me a toy keyboard that had 1 octave like 13 notes and it couldn't play full chords only single notes and I remember the very first time I twinkled the first note I instantly fell in love and found my favorite instrument of choice and it was like falling in love with a girl and I embraced that keyboard like a new friend then I met a guy called Lista a 17 year old who played keys like crazy and he taught me my first chords and I stuck to him every weekend I would go to him without fail and he taught me different chords and song structure for 3 years and in the mud 90's I turned professional and began recording with well know musicians and started sessions and played with different bands,now at 51 I've played,recorded and sessioned for the greats and and toured around the world with different famous musicians and have composed great songs for a lot of musicians and now I play percussions as my second instrument and all this journey started with toy instruments,who would have thought,practice makes perfect and music is the only thing I make a living with all my life,PRAISE GOD.
The composing part is important. I'm usually playing with all sorts of things as an exercise. Even if a song I'm writing doesn't go anywhere, the craft itself keeps my brain cooking.
I do all those things :) and I’ve recently calmed down from DETAIL!! With my guitar pedals! I went on a crazy journey of trying everything!!!! From top of the mountain to further down :) you know what people’s I’ve found I use mostly! Boss!! Easy to get! Sounds good! good eBay deals! None have ever died on me!
I don't even want to here the actual artist play a note for note version of their recording live, part of the live experience is hearing musicians be musicians; if it's integral to the arrangement then sure, but if it's just a solo that plays around with some scale pattern, do the same live and maybe even embellish a little.
Tip Number 6... ALL and I mean ALL Stringed instruments use the SAME tuner... Rack.. Pedal... whatever... ALL stringed instruments should use the SAME tuner at the beginning of every set.... and then play catch up as the set goes.... BIG BIG Difference....
It’s amazing how people just don’t want to practice their instrument. If you don’t love playing your instrument maybe you should try playing something else? I’ve come to rehearsals and heard people say “man you get better every time we play together” which is a great compliment but in my head I’m saying “yeah, because I practice, a lot”. Also we probably aren’t rehearsing often enough.
With music, or any art, don't focus on what the pro's do. Focus on what YOU do and what drives you to do you, the posers are always easily identified when it comes to art.
I would add to "Compose music", write lyrics. Stepping all over a great lyric because you had some riff that you thought was cool, is reckless. The listener generally doesn't care about your lick. They do however, care about the lyrics.
Even trying another instrument will make you understand some musicians better, try playing the trumpet for 20 minutes and you'll respect the horn section a lot more.
Re 6:04 I play keys in a band. It's challenging because we play very complex tunes from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. I have a huge responsibility to play piano, e.piano, B3, brass, string, and woodwind parts but I have no say in how a song could be played to make it sound better. Sadly, keyboard players are often considered bottom feeders while the lead guitar players are the stars of the show. Mix in an inflated ego and narcissistic personality and it makes for a very poor experience. Funny enough, when they can't figure out a chord or passage, they rely on the keys player to tell them. I'm likely going to resign from this band.
I’ve been a working musician (performing and teaching) for 30 years- the folks that I’ve always noticed that work consistently understood how to sit back and blend on the gig/session (how to play for the song) and were nice people that you wanted to hang with! Nobody’s going to put up with a jerk, even if you are the next Beethoven or Coltrane. I always tell my students interested in working in music that it pays to be kind and be cool and that you have to put in the work. How we spend our time says a lot about who we are- if you’re the type that will get home from a gig and still want to play a little guitar, etc in the middle of the night before you head to bed, this just might be the life for you. Your mileage, of course, may vary.
Hummm… you forgot to mention if you have a Woman .. Make sure she understands this is what you Do … or you will have some problems . She will want all that attention you are giving to your craft ! You have to keep all that in proper perspective with whom you are with ..
(1) practice regularly, (2) play more than one instrument, (3) compose, (4) attend to detail, (5) seek feedback You left out (6) disrespect and insult anyone who isn't like them
Great vid for newbies. 23 years ago, I showed up for a session to play guitar on a song for this unknown newly signed major label rapper. DMX was in studio B. His producer DJ shok came in and asked if there were any bassists. I had my cheap 300.oo fender jp bass in the back seat of my car without a case. I grabbed it... The song I ended up playing on is called Slippin. I had playing diff instruments since the age of 9. I was ok with the bass. They had already tried 4 bassists before me who had gospel chops and could play circles around me. THe producer liked what I played because it fit the song despite my limitations...
So learn them all and keep the picnic blankets in the back because you will nevah know?
If you want to play guitar - spend a year playing drums. If you want to play bass - spend a year playing drums. Same for piano, etc. The benefits of learning how to play four independent rhythms and coordination and how rhythm works is a skill that pays dividends across all other instruments.
Best drummer I ever played with played guitar better than I did …..it was really kind of a compliment. We had this “ pick and stick “ symbiosis “ where he could predict several notes ahead an respond instantly to what I was going to do
I play bass but I'm always listening to the drums and love playing them.
I don't disagree with what you're saying, but as a guitar player I find playing drums (well just the kick really) way more difficult than learning guitar. If I was lucky enough to have had drums to learn on, I might have stuck with them because drummers (particularly good ones) are in short supply.
Started playing guitar at 7 picked up drums at 27. Such a huge improvement in my guitar playing. Rhythm is EVERYTHING. I used to think I had great rhythm as a guitar player until I started playing drums. Also drums are SUPER fun! Not that guitar isn’t but the full body engagement while playing drums is unmatched. Singing comes close but I can only swing the mic stand around so fast you know?
@@DrumSmithRichCue the video of Don Henley on Hotel California.
This is great. I've only been playing a few years but I'm blessed to say I do all these things except play a 2nd instrument. I can get the right notes out of a piano but I don't actually play per se. I'd suggest a 6th thing -- always taking classes. When I was (part-time) pro photographer winning over a dozen awards in professional, doing solo shows in the west and midwest, I was always in somebody's workshop, taking somebody's online course, etc. Always learning from accomplished practicioners. I'm still new at drums and am taking lessons from a true great of today, whose band toured Asia and plays in prime jazz venues. Not sure if this is a common practice among accomplished musicians but I suspect it's not rare. God bless you and thanks for these great lessons!
I'm a singer songwriter frontman who's been performing for 50 years. This is all excellent advice! I think the biggest tip is to never stop learning and improving. At 69 years old, still performing, and still working hard to get better!
Me too 68❤ still Rockin
You can practice all you want but you will learn more by jamming and practicing with other players.when you hear someone else's approach don't be surprised how different it is from yours. Also it inspires you to better communicate with like minded people. Music is so universal. I jammed with a band in Cuba we didn't understand each other's words but we sure communicated thru the melody and rhythm. Do what you can and leave the rest to someone else. But play play and play everywhere and with everyone. Networking is essential but most of all love what you do. Good luck .
Been doing it since I was 18 now 63. I do all of this and more!
Several years ago, I read an article of an interview Steve Morse did as he was preparing to go into the studio with Deep Purple. What struck me was when Steve said he was practicing eight hours a day. If you’re familiar with Steve (Dixie Dregs) you know how amazing he is on guitar yet he felt that he needed to practice for eight hours. Wow.
I was in a band run by a guy named Brandon Crawford: Lead singer, bass player band leader. Brandon had a small P.A. w/Peavey XR mixer/head. Perfect for small clubs, not micing anything. Usually 3-piece sometimes 4, …players were whoever was available that night. I never knew who I was playing with until I got there. There were 8-9 players that switched around from week to week. 2 other guitarist, 4-5 drummers and two female vocalist. There was also a guy Brandon would hire to sing lead if he had a cold or throat was sore. I was the #1 guitarist so I was finicky about the places we played $$. The other 2 were drunks/druggies that weren’t dependable nor disciplined players. Some gigs were high enough in pay where Brandon hired 2 guitarists for the night. I learned a lot about impromptu shows and particularly learning lots of songs so that when the audience makes requests, I can accommodate them.
Of all the things I’ve done that impressed people, I’ve done it most by taking requests. It makes the audience happy (though they couldn’t understand the dedication it takes to know so many songs) and it impresses your band mates (although some might be jealous). It also broadens your job acquisitions. I’ll admit, I’m a better than average musician (I also play keys, drums, bass) but my vocal quality is below average. I’ve learned to sing harmony and am usually welcome to participate with other singers (I can stay in my lane).
So, to recap:
#1. Learn as many songs as you can
#2. Play as many styles of music as you can stand
#3. Never pass up an opportunity to play (even for free, sometimes)
#4. Learn to sing harmony, you’ll be the singer’s best friend if you do it right.😊
That's nice to know! As a growing and relatively inexperienced musician I can't emphasize enough how much I need this ☺️
I would add listen to yourself
My first instrument was snare drum in grade school. This has helped a lot with creating interesting guitar rhythms.
I just came here to say I hate these thumbnails and titles. I'm playing my first solo show this weekend and if I say around listening to every RUclipsr's advice about what the pros do and don't do, I'd never leave my room. Know what the pros really do? They play live and get out there and make mistakes instead of consuming content.
Beard is looking on point.
I fall out of bed in the morning, onto the floor where there is a guitar waiting, and not that I have to, but rather, I'm compelled, impelled by Music herself, and I think to play some scales slowly, and within a minute I'm melting the frets off and scorching the fingerboard and laughing and having a good time and only then can I face the day. Addict
You do stimulants don't u
Oh yes and there’s something else I wanted to mention as well to become a great musician practicing and learning all the different notations and cord corporation is is all well and good but there’s something that many neglect to tell you you have to be obsessed with that very thing it has to be a deep level of desire to become a great musician
sure, but the video is not about how to become a great musician.
I can attest to this,I'm a professional keyboardist from South Africa,I started playing a self made guitar with a 5L oil can and curtain strings in 1983 and didn't know chords at all I just followed any song that I would hear on a radio and I was crazy about music I loved it to the heart and in 1989 I started playing self made drum set and self made bass guitar and one day some guy who always watched me play with my friend bought me a toy keyboard that had 1 octave like 13 notes and it couldn't play full chords only single notes and I remember the very first time I twinkled the first note I instantly fell in love and found my favorite instrument of choice and it was like falling in love with a girl and I embraced that keyboard like a new friend then I met a guy called Lista a 17 year old who played keys like crazy and he taught me my first chords and I stuck to him every weekend I would go to him without fail and he taught me different chords and song structure for 3 years and in the mud 90's I turned professional and began recording with well know musicians and started sessions and played with different bands,now at 51 I've played,recorded and sessioned for the greats and and toured around the world with different famous musicians and have composed great songs for a lot of musicians and now I play percussions as my second instrument and all this journey started with toy instruments,who would have thought,practice makes perfect and music is the only thing I make a living with all my life,PRAISE GOD.
Love your content, thank you for your time to make these videos for us. God bless you.
Great video! I am getting there!
I play drums and electric guitar also going to get me a bass guitar as well
Your content is so good, I feel like maybe I should be paying big money for this education! Very Nicely Done!
The composing part is important. I'm usually playing with all sorts of things as an exercise. Even if a song I'm writing doesn't go anywhere, the craft itself keeps my brain cooking.
Thank you for your videos and courses !
Since we're talking about paying attention to detail: breathing.
Killer beard man....
I do all those things :) and I’ve recently calmed down from DETAIL!! With my guitar pedals! I went on a crazy journey of trying everything!!!! From top of the mountain to further down :) you know what people’s I’ve found I use mostly! Boss!! Easy to get! Sounds good! good eBay deals! None have ever died on me!
And this was your edited comment? Now please go back and edit out the unnecessary exclamation points. That would include most or all of them.
Thanx for the content….really needed this
You just get it man 🔥🔥great content
I practice at least 3 hours every day. I also sing when I drive.
Man😅😅i wish i could practice only 2 times a week (If you play violin you know)
I know, you only need to practice violin once a week: ALL WEEK
When are you going to talk about the look/fashion of the band like bands that have a unified look vs bands that wear shorts and nondescript t shirts?
How does someone make any money on youtube? Tell us how.
Bro, I’m not even a drummer and my turn signals initiate a jam session every time. 👌🏻
I only agree with #4 about 90%. I've been pro, and it bothers me when I see people try to sound exactly like the recording of other artists.
I don't think trying to sound exactly like someone else was a part of #4.
I don't even want to here the actual artist play a note for note version of their recording live, part of the live experience is hearing musicians be musicians; if it's integral to the arrangement then sure, but if it's just a solo that plays around with some scale pattern, do the same live and maybe even embellish a little.
Perfect advice!
#1 practice regularly 😂😂❤
Tip Number 6... ALL and I mean ALL Stringed instruments use the SAME tuner... Rack.. Pedal... whatever... ALL stringed instruments should use the SAME tuner at the beginning of every set.... and then play catch up as the set goes.... BIG BIG Difference....
First thing, not RUclips channel, working on the Musik bro!!
That funk face meme is soooo problematic. Too many cats are doing it for that and NOT the music
Cross training is great and fun
Trying to learn keyboards to play professionally.
It’s amazing how people just don’t want to practice their instrument. If you don’t love playing your instrument maybe you should try playing something else? I’ve come to rehearsals and heard people say “man you get better every time we play together” which is a great compliment but in my head I’m saying “yeah, because I practice, a lot”. Also we probably aren’t rehearsing often enough.
With music, or any art, don't focus on what the pro's do. Focus on what YOU do and what drives you to do you, the posers are always easily identified when it comes to art.
I DO. So I AM
PRO
I would add to "Compose music", write lyrics. Stepping all over a great lyric because you had some riff that you thought was cool, is reckless. The listener generally doesn't care about your lick. They do however, care about the lyrics.
Ive been doing this since I was 16 but this is great!!!!! I love this video!! Thanks!
Once or twice a week ? How about every night unless there is something pressing
🙌
When Ice Cube accidentally spilled Miracle Grow on his beard 😂😂😂😂
👍
Even trying another instrument will make you understand some musicians better, try playing the trumpet for 20 minutes and you'll respect the horn section a lot more.
And remember, just noodling on your instrument is not the same as practicing.
Only problem is once you start to play drums you won’t want to go back to your other instrument 😁
HTF do you know what I do?
playback?
Re 6:04
I play keys in a band. It's challenging because we play very complex tunes from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. I have a huge responsibility to play piano, e.piano, B3, brass, string, and woodwind parts but I have no say in how a song could be played to make it sound better. Sadly, keyboard players are often considered bottom feeders while the lead guitar players are the stars of the show. Mix in an inflated ego and narcissistic personality and it makes for a very poor experience. Funny enough, when they can't figure out a chord or passage, they rely on the keys player to tell them. I'm likely going to resign from this band.
FOR GETTING 1 MISS TAKE, GOD THE ALMIGHTY FATHER IN ALL MUST PR
I’ve been a working musician (performing and teaching) for 30 years- the folks that I’ve always noticed that work consistently understood how to sit back and blend on the gig/session (how to play for the song) and were nice people that you wanted to hang with! Nobody’s going to put up with a jerk, even if you are the next Beethoven or Coltrane. I always tell my students interested in working in music that it pays to be kind and be cool and that you have to put in the work. How we spend our time says a lot about who we are- if you’re the type that will get home from a gig and still want to play a little guitar, etc in the middle of the night before you head to bed, this just might be the life for you. Your mileage, of course, may vary.
They play and are fluent on multiple instruments? Nope, not true.
It is true. Many great soloists also play drums, for example.
So I'm right then, guitarists basically suck
Lmao most pro musicians practice....
…. Or you will be sleeping with your instrument in your “ old age” 😅
Some of the best musicians are not professional.
Do yourself a favor. Play baseball. Professional musician, in 2024? Hahaha
Hummm… you forgot to mention if you have a Woman .. Make sure she understands this is what you Do … or you will have some problems . She will want all that attention you are giving to your craft ! You have to keep all that in proper perspective with whom you are with ..
Your video titles are all very aversive and demeaning. I gave this one a chance and learned nothing new.
this is totally useless it is so abstract
(1) practice regularly, (2) play more than one instrument, (3) compose, (4) attend to detail, (5) seek feedback
You left out (6) disrespect and insult anyone who isn't like them
I've often thought that point 6 is what makes musicians enemies of music.
I've never met a TALENTED musician with this mentality, the best musicians I've met are pretty great people.
*ABC* Always Be Composing. When I was young an older guy told me, "You got chops, son. But it don't mean nothing if you can't right a decent song."
Write*