The Father of Bluegrass was once asked how to be really good when playing the mandolin. Bill Monroe's legendary response was "Son, you got to whup it like a mule." Bluegrassers all over planet earth (and even some in outer space) know how to get that powerful bluegrass sound by aggressively picking their instrument with oomph.
Inevitably, the inevitable happens (redundant, I know). One of those tight, metallic strings gives in to the strain of harsh strumming. The sharp and pointy end whips through the air either narrowly missing your face, or leaving a tender remembrance of its passing. If it does miss your face, it might spring closely toward your hand and stick in your fingers. Yeah, the life of a bluegrass musician can be dangerous for sure!
Being quite an aggressive picker myself, the aforementioned scenario is a familiar one to me. My guitar has seen its fair share of blood splatters all over its immaculate wooden face. If I had a nickel for every time I had to change a string between songs, I could afford a second guitar to stand on stage with me (so I wouldn't have to change between songs anymore)! But I'm kind of glad I don't. It would take away from the adventure of dodging loose (and bloodthirsty) wires on stage.
So take note, young bluegrass pickers (and you old ones, too)! The illustrious profession of bluegrass musician is not for the faint of heart! Be prepared to change your strings during the chorus of a song.
Keep your cleaning rag, wire cutters and band-aids always at hand!
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
The world's most Okay-est expert!
If there is one thing I've learned as a professional musician and entertainer, it would be this one thought: For everyone at your level of expertise, there are 150 people better than you.
This can be quite the depressing statistic. It kind of is, actually (made up, too). I would be amiss if I didn't tell you that I've experienced this truth firsthand.
One of my band's sit-in bass players came to visit with us the other day. He is a very nice gentleman and we had a wonderful afternoon reminiscing and picking some bluegrass together in our front room. As he was leaving he turned to my sister and said "You deserve the best!" He turned to my older brother and said "You have the best!" He turned to my younger brother and said "You ARE the best!" Finally, he turned to me and said "Great sideburns." As another example, I was fortunate enough to play some music in Nashville, Tennessee this past summer and I had the honor of meeting some of my top favorite pickers in the industry while I was there. While they sat in the audience, I played with every ounce of gusto I had. Still, something in the back of my mind saw them sitting and staring at me. Judging every stinking note I played. They heard every mistake. I'm sure they laughed at my playing when they got home.
None of this bothers me that much, however. I find that if there are people better than me, I find something that I'm better at than them. Sounds kind of spiteful, I know. Here's how it works:
Friend: I won 1st place in international guitar contests 82 times in a row.
Me: I could probably do that too, but I chose to get my second degree black belt instead.
Friend: My voice range spans 5 octaves and I'm a champion yodeler.
Me: I had an Associate Degree when I graduated high school.
Friend: I had all of my wisdom teeth pulled without anesthesia and I was eating a caramel apple by that afternoon.
Me: I took care of my wisdom teeth and still have them.
Let me just say that the above conversation is completely fictional; none of my friends would listen to insufferable bragging like that. I guess the message (yes, there is one, so stop laughing) would be to remember that if you are the best you can be, it doesn't matter that somebody's better than you.
So here's the remedy: Think about it as excelling in mediocrity! You're much better at being "sort of good" than your friend! You are the greatest mediocre person you know! Isn't that great? Now you have something to brag about!
This can be quite the depressing statistic. It kind of is, actually (made up, too). I would be amiss if I didn't tell you that I've experienced this truth firsthand.
One of my band's sit-in bass players came to visit with us the other day. He is a very nice gentleman and we had a wonderful afternoon reminiscing and picking some bluegrass together in our front room. As he was leaving he turned to my sister and said "You deserve the best!" He turned to my older brother and said "You have the best!" He turned to my younger brother and said "You ARE the best!" Finally, he turned to me and said "Great sideburns." As another example, I was fortunate enough to play some music in Nashville, Tennessee this past summer and I had the honor of meeting some of my top favorite pickers in the industry while I was there. While they sat in the audience, I played with every ounce of gusto I had. Still, something in the back of my mind saw them sitting and staring at me. Judging every stinking note I played. They heard every mistake. I'm sure they laughed at my playing when they got home.
None of this bothers me that much, however. I find that if there are people better than me, I find something that I'm better at than them. Sounds kind of spiteful, I know. Here's how it works:
Friend: I won 1st place in international guitar contests 82 times in a row.
Me: I could probably do that too, but I chose to get my second degree black belt instead.
Friend: My voice range spans 5 octaves and I'm a champion yodeler.
Me: I had an Associate Degree when I graduated high school.
Friend: I had all of my wisdom teeth pulled without anesthesia and I was eating a caramel apple by that afternoon.
Me: I took care of my wisdom teeth and still have them.
Let me just say that the above conversation is completely fictional; none of my friends would listen to insufferable bragging like that. I guess the message (yes, there is one, so stop laughing) would be to remember that if you are the best you can be, it doesn't matter that somebody's better than you.
So here's the remedy: Think about it as excelling in mediocrity! You're much better at being "sort of good" than your friend! You are the greatest mediocre person you know! Isn't that great? Now you have something to brag about!
Saturday, April 18, 2015
What does that even mean?
Writing songs is a tricky thing. Some people make it look so easy, but there is a world of things that have to work together just right in order to have a smashing hit. One big problem is lyrics. Sure, it seems like a simple task to write something that has meter and rhymes, but unfortunately, it also has to make sense. Songwriters everywhere know what I'm talking about.
Among all the songs I've penned, the ones that did the best (sold less than a million copies and went plywood!) was the ones that made the most sense to my listeners. A song tells a story. 9 times out of 10, it is based on true life. 99 times out of 10, the lyrics are meant to be listened to. 999 times out of 10, if the lyrics make no sense, the song becomes the subject of much laughter in it's long and glorious life.
You want examples, I sense. Examples I shall give you:
Ever listen to the Bee Gees? Listen to the words of "I Started a Joke". Very pretty melody, you'll find.... but let's just say we're still waiting for the punchline! The words are a smidgen on the nonsensical side. Bee Gees fans will argue that you're supposed to interpret the lyrics however you like. I don't know about you, but that seems like too much work to me.
When I write lyrics, I always check, re-check, and double check what I say. How many times have I written lyrics that nobody knows what they're supposed to mean? Lots. Lots and lots. Check this out.
You find a smile of the greatest degree
in the strangest of places, but at least its for free.
Ok. This is Exhibit A of songwriting on sleepless nights. But when I wrote it I was indeed smiling. Don't ask me what it means, I don't quite remember what I was thinking. It probably doesn't matter either.
Now read the lyrics to "Gentle on My Mind". Hey, THAT'S good writing there. All lyricists wish they could write as good. Myself included.
I'll leave you now with this small snippet of a song I'm working on as inspiration:
I'm feeling so good
from eating, I'll yell
but my girth is expanding
like the Liberty Bell
If you can figure out what this means, I sure hope you'll explain it to me, too.
Among all the songs I've penned, the ones that did the best (sold less than a million copies and went plywood!) was the ones that made the most sense to my listeners. A song tells a story. 9 times out of 10, it is based on true life. 99 times out of 10, the lyrics are meant to be listened to. 999 times out of 10, if the lyrics make no sense, the song becomes the subject of much laughter in it's long and glorious life.
You want examples, I sense. Examples I shall give you:
Ever listen to the Bee Gees? Listen to the words of "I Started a Joke". Very pretty melody, you'll find.... but let's just say we're still waiting for the punchline! The words are a smidgen on the nonsensical side. Bee Gees fans will argue that you're supposed to interpret the lyrics however you like. I don't know about you, but that seems like too much work to me.
When I write lyrics, I always check, re-check, and double check what I say. How many times have I written lyrics that nobody knows what they're supposed to mean? Lots. Lots and lots. Check this out.
You find a smile of the greatest degree
in the strangest of places, but at least its for free.
Ok. This is Exhibit A of songwriting on sleepless nights. But when I wrote it I was indeed smiling. Don't ask me what it means, I don't quite remember what I was thinking. It probably doesn't matter either.
Now read the lyrics to "Gentle on My Mind". Hey, THAT'S good writing there. All lyricists wish they could write as good. Myself included.
I'll leave you now with this small snippet of a song I'm working on as inspiration:
I'm feeling so good
from eating, I'll yell
but my girth is expanding
like the Liberty Bell
If you can figure out what this means, I sure hope you'll explain it to me, too.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Pleasant Dreams....maybe.
Some say I'm a dreamer. No really. Some actually do say that. I have to agree with them, too. I have ALWAYS had an overactive mind and aspirations as lofty as the forehead on a giraffe with glandular issues. But, we all find out sooner or later that our dreams and reality are sometimes two very different things.
Basically, I don't ask for much. My bucket list has three things on it:
1. Play the Opry
2. Play Carnegie Hall
3. Grow a beard
So far, nothing has been crossed off. Very depressing, I know. Do you have any idea how long I've waited for a beard?
Besides that, we as human beings tend to make lists for ourselves. Lists to remind us to do things, to not do things, and to make list of lists telling us to list things to do or not. It gets exhausting! I could try and offer sound advice like "Stop with the lists already" but then you would have to put that down on another list of reasons why you should get rid of your lists. MAKE IT STOP!
Behold, I have come up with a revolutionary way to achieve your dreams, no matter how wild, utilizing minimal strategic lists and painful memorization! Here are three basic plans:
Plan A: The Under-Over-Achiever
Here's how this works: Lump all your dreams into one generic achievement. This way, the interpretation of your goal can be ambiguous and you'll soon justify crossing everything off your list! For example, my above bucket list could just consist of one item: "Grow up and get a job". This is sure to be crossed off soon, and depending on how you look at it, I could cross it off right now!
Plan B: The Over-Under-Achiever
This may seem a little bit like the previous plan, but it is totally worth giving a try anyway. Break up all of your goals into teeny tiny little baby-step-goals. You're bound to cross off the majority of your list as you write it! Observe Plan B going into effect with my previous list: GOAL#1: 1.) Buy a guitar, 2.) Learn to play chords, 3.) Learn a song, 4.) Start a band, 5.) Work up a repertoire, 6.) Play gigs, 7.) Play the Opry. 8-14.) Repeat previous steps and play Carnegie Hall, 15.) Grow a beard
Did you see that? I can cross off most everything but the last few items! Cyber high-five! (Now go explain why you just gave your computer screen a high five)
Plan C: The Finisher
Open your mouth and scream "I'm finished!" and tear your list of goals into shreds. Done. Forget goals. Can't you be satisfied with what you have?
This hopefully inspired you to do things you can be proud of and to keep your dreams happy ones.
I hope I was of some help to you. Keep on keeping on!
Basically, I don't ask for much. My bucket list has three things on it:
1. Play the Opry
2. Play Carnegie Hall
3. Grow a beard
So far, nothing has been crossed off. Very depressing, I know. Do you have any idea how long I've waited for a beard?
Besides that, we as human beings tend to make lists for ourselves. Lists to remind us to do things, to not do things, and to make list of lists telling us to list things to do or not. It gets exhausting! I could try and offer sound advice like "Stop with the lists already" but then you would have to put that down on another list of reasons why you should get rid of your lists. MAKE IT STOP!
Behold, I have come up with a revolutionary way to achieve your dreams, no matter how wild, utilizing minimal strategic lists and painful memorization! Here are three basic plans:
Plan A: The Under-Over-Achiever
Here's how this works: Lump all your dreams into one generic achievement. This way, the interpretation of your goal can be ambiguous and you'll soon justify crossing everything off your list! For example, my above bucket list could just consist of one item: "Grow up and get a job". This is sure to be crossed off soon, and depending on how you look at it, I could cross it off right now!
Plan B: The Over-Under-Achiever
This may seem a little bit like the previous plan, but it is totally worth giving a try anyway. Break up all of your goals into teeny tiny little baby-step-goals. You're bound to cross off the majority of your list as you write it! Observe Plan B going into effect with my previous list: GOAL#1: 1.) Buy a guitar, 2.) Learn to play chords, 3.) Learn a song, 4.) Start a band, 5.) Work up a repertoire, 6.) Play gigs, 7.) Play the Opry. 8-14.) Repeat previous steps and play Carnegie Hall, 15.) Grow a beard
Did you see that? I can cross off most everything but the last few items! Cyber high-five! (Now go explain why you just gave your computer screen a high five)
Plan C: The Finisher
Open your mouth and scream "I'm finished!" and tear your list of goals into shreds. Done. Forget goals. Can't you be satisfied with what you have?
This hopefully inspired you to do things you can be proud of and to keep your dreams happy ones.
I hope I was of some help to you. Keep on keeping on!
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