| Author | Message | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1803 Registered: 10-2006 |
I sometimes go to the local "hip venue" to play the weekly open mic (unlike most of you, that's the extent of my ability). For over a month now I've been trying to get an old and dear friend's signature tune down to perform it there (he's in rapidly failing health & I want to be able to tell him I did it) and I just cannot the get the fool thing to stick in my memory! What kind of diabolical fiend puts an EmM7 chord in a freakin' folk song anyway??? The open mic is tomorrow; I'm going to put the damn gutar down, go to bed, and blame it on my 1975 TBI, rather my actually sucking............ Maybe next week. Peter (who thanks you for letting him vent) | ||
| peoplechipper
Senior Member Username: peoplechipper Post Number: 514 Registered: 2-2009 |
'That's the garlic' as Zappa would say, so don't forget the garlic... | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11583 Registered: 5-2002 |
I don't think I currently have an EmM7 in any of my tunes. I'll have to look into that. As for playing out, I haven't had my bass out of the house in years; so you're way ahead of me. I do love that you're doing this tune for your friend. | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1804 Registered: 10-2006 |
Yeah, but I've seen your vids, Dave; you are a superb player, and could play anywhere any time. The open mic really is the most my sorry chops can handle. And no, I didn't get it together for tonight; decided to hold off on the new things I was working on & dust off some things I supposedly had down cold - but ended up staying home when I couldn't even get through "Seeds & Stems" once without blowing it, and I've been singing that sucker for 40 years! You know, I have cases for these fool things, I have an attic......... Peter | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3622 Registered: 10-2002 |
Peter. I've been playing in local bands for a great many years but I doubt I'd have the confidence in myself to play an open mic night. Graeme | ||
| jcdlc72
Advanced Member Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 400 Registered: 11-2009 |
I guess it all depends on a series of factors. However, the fact of standing up at an open mic venue is definitely a hard test (since anything can happen!). Learning a tune that may (or may not) resonate within you to the point of "being able to play it without some conscious effort" is also another challenge, and due to the nature of music itself, may -or not- be a stressful experience. IŽd be bold enough to ask, Can you do, perhaps, a simplified version of the tune? Maybe less complicated harmonies, so you can get through the song easier (considering you can already sing it)?. It seems to me the feat is to have the song played and heard in public, rather than having a technically perfect rendition of it (in which IŽd wonder whether an open mic situation is the best way to do so)... | ||
| slawie
Senior Member Username: slawie Post Number: 701 Registered: 8-2002 |
That EmM7 would sound sweet if it was played as a 2 note chord. Try hitting a B on the D string (posn 9) and a D# on the G string (posn 8) might sound nice with a folk song. Don't be so hard on yourself about playing, less than 1% of the entire population of the planet are capable of getting on stage and let alone entertain. Open mic's are always hard as you are mostly unaware of other peoples playing. Sometimes it almost impossible to throw a random group of individuals together and have them musically "click" Its so nice of you to go to the effort of playing your friends tune. Goodonya. slawie slawie | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 818 Registered: 9-2004 |
I have played in front of 10 thousand folks in bands where we are rehearsed up with no problem and I have sweated bullets at local blues club jam nights with 30 people in the house. Go figure... | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1805 Registered: 10-2006 |
Thanks, Slawie; maybe I'll see if I can figure that out with the progresion (Em>EmM7>Em7>A). It's a folkie-type open mic, not a jam; individual acts (predominantly WG2 types such as myself, but some small groups, rappers, comics, etc) get up & do 3 songs/12 minutes, whichever comes first. And there's a 50-year pro who's nice enough to come most weeks & play - absolutlely killer chops. Of course, for some reason, I always end up just before or after him....... Dropped the cab off at my boss's house tonight & he wanted to show me his new Seagull - of course I nailed everything I played, including 2 I couldn't pull together yesterday. Peter (Message edited by cozmik_cowboy on December 09, 2014) | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 2284 Registered: 9-2002 |
When I've gotten to a dead-end with a particular tune, I've found over the years if I woodshed the hell out of it for a day or two, feeling full well I will NEVER get this SOB under my fingers, I walk away from it for a couple days. Then for some reason, I'll go back to it and nail it every time. Go figure . . . Joey | ||
| peoplechipper
Senior Member Username: peoplechipper Post Number: 518 Registered: 2-2009 |
That's just like how I've always found that if the practice before a gig sucks, the gig always slays; I wish I knew how that worked...Tony | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5917 Registered: 7-2004 |
WG2 types? Bill, tgo | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1806 Registered: 10-2006 |
Bill, WG2 = White Guy With Guitar. Peter | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5918 Registered: 7-2004 |
Oh yea, I've heard of those. Bill, tgo |
