BigBeefChief

Bass about 15 months. Guitar (badly) off and on for about 8 years (although you'd struggle to tell!).

I agree its a slightly far out idea, but I i find it difficult to explain by any other means why I never seem to like the work of more technically accomplished and classicaly trained musicians. Goin back to the painting analogy, I agree that practice improves your bility to make marks on a canvas. You can practice painting in all styles and become very accomplished. You could also develop some pretty firm ideas as to how to paint in a certain style. What would happen if someone who had never painted before picked up a brush and started slapping paint around? It would not be as good technically, but it may be just as creative. It would certainly be different and less likely to conform to any known styles. Hell, it could even be more creative than the pro's picture! For those who think I'm saying "practice is wrong" - I'm not at all. We all need to practice. Me more than most. But I think an overly academic approach can be stifling towards creativity. I found this myself. I used to get slightly hung up on theory. Then I started studying the bass lines of my hero's and guess what? A lot of the time, they through convention to the wind and just played what sounded good. Isn't that what its all about?

Just to clarify, I think practice is very important. However, I think being a great bass guitarist (technically) and being a great musician can be worlds apart. Perhaps its a coincidence that I tend not to like the music of great technicians, or maybe having the ability to play flashy licks increases the temptation to use them when not appropriate? Maybe, as I said earlier, if you not tied down to conforming to theory, you can come up with ideas that more classicaly trained musicians perhaps wouldn't think of? I remember seeing an interview with Suggs from Madness once. He was asked what gave Madness they distinctive and catchy sound. He said that it was their lack of technical ability at the time. I think he was unerplaying their talent, but if the members of Madness had all been virtuosos, would they have had the success that they went on to find?

I suppose we're all different. I'd quite happily play for 10 hours a day, but the second it was my livelihood, and I felt I HAD to pick up my bass, I think it would seem slightly less fun. Likewise, I'f I'm learning a song I can play for hours, but if I'm playing a slightly more academic excersice, I slip into playing Stone Roses lines after not to long. I'm sure reaching the level of technical skill as Janek isn't all a walk in the park. It wouldn't be for me.

Yeah, I agree. Full credit to him for having the discipline to practice that hard. Doing anything (apart from boozing) for that amount of time would fast become a chore.

It was Andy Bell (of Oasis, not Erasure!) who made me first fancy getting one!

I practiced for 10 hours today. "Another one bites the dust" is coming along really well.

I'll have to try track one down. Look pretty good for the money and I love the quirky britishness of them.

Its cool with a few scars. Rock!

[quote name='BOD2' post='154217' date='Mar 9 2008, 09:51 PM']Hmmmmm [/quote] I wasn't being sarcastic! I genuinley think its the best out there. It could be better, but it doesn't annoy me like that US one that clogs up newsagents.

Bass Guitar Magazine is the best in my opinion.

Did you ever get your hands on one of these, OuttoplayJazz? I quite fancy the look of them myself.

[quote name='birdy' post='154161' date='Mar 9 2008, 08:25 PM']So you don't mind being called a tosser. Neither do I but surely the golden rule really should be to treat people the way that you would like to be treated. Maybe I am oversensitive but if I was Janek I would have been upset by this thread at the point before he joined in, especially if music was so important to me that I made it my whole life as he does. Its not hard to respect people really is it. Steve[/quote] Firstly, I think he's being overly sensitive. But thats his choice. Secondly, as I've pointed out several times - Its part and parcel of being a performer. If you don't want criticism (constructive or otherwise), get off the stage.

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Perhaps I have thicker skin than most. I've been called a tosser in this very thread. I haven't stormed off in a huff. Although I'm sure that would be pretty popular with most.

[quote name='birdy' post='154144' date='Mar 9 2008, 08:05 PM']This to me is slagging the guy off. hmmmmmmm yeah right is stating that his claims are not believed. The whole tone of this post is mildly aggressive in my opinion.[/quote] If thats the worse thing thats ever been written about Janek, he's a lucky, lucky boy.

[quote name='birdy' post='154139' date='Mar 9 2008, 07:59 PM']Just when I was falling in love with you you go and blow it with this statement. The very first post of the thread was slagging him off unless I am on a completely different planet to you and my perception of slagging someone off is wildly different. Steve[/quote] Different planet i'm afraid. Re-read it. Its not slagging anyone off. If anything it has an "am I understanding this properly" tone about it. What part do you think is defamatory?

[quote name='6stringbassist' post='154122' date='Mar 9 2008, 07:35 PM']It's pathetic really isn't it. So called musicians slagging off a fellow musician, over an article written in a magazine that's designed purely to help those wanting to improve their playing. And the laugh of it all, is that Janek is a widely respected New york based English player, touring the world, playing for some of the top jazz and pop musicians such Mike Stern, what have the majority of the people who posted negative comments on here ever acheived ?.[/quote] I have a bronze swimming badge and was once a contestant on Fun House. Slightly more impressive than Janek's pedigree, I'm sure you'll agree. So what your saying is that unless we have achieved as much as a given musician, we're not allowed to critique them?? Also, if you read through the thread, no one had slagged him off until he showed up and threw his toys out of the pram. He writes in a magazine. He's therefore open to criticism. Fair play for him coming on here and defending his position. He has every right to. In the same way that crap bassists like me have a right to air my views.

[quote name='BOD2' post='153994' date='Mar 9 2008, 04:31 PM']C'mon guys this is getting childish[/quote] You are! (thats a joke by the way!) I agree. I love you all. In a bass playing way. Not a long weekend in SanFran way.

[quote name='Jase' post='153992' date='Mar 9 2008, 04:27 PM']Then click it.[/quote] But I like your posts. They're thrilling.

[quote name='Jase' post='153990' date='Mar 9 2008, 04:25 PM']Give it a rest mate. We get the picture......it seems to be one of a clown.[/quote] Thanks for the advice. There is an ignore button.

[quote name='7string' post='153984' date='Mar 9 2008, 04:18 PM']I think I'll just leave it here and not bother to reply to Janek's last post which attacked both my words and my personal opinions. Shame this thread has come to an end in this manner....[/quote] But you can't criticise Janek. He's a proffesional musician and writes in a magazine. He farts Brut and pisses champagne. We are honored to have him speak (down) to us mere mortals.

But I'm still trying to figure out what's wrong with my avatar?? Rayman, help me out here buddy?

Why lock?

[quote name='Rayman' post='153969' date='Mar 9 2008, 04:06 PM']Enough said.[/quote] I'm not sure what you're getting at? What does my Avatar have to do with anything? Your brave enough to infer that someone here is a tosser, but won't openly say that its me. I've got no issue with being called a tosser, it happens often enough. I'm just trying to figure out which posts you think have been written to deliberately wind people up?? Do share.