Oddness
Yesterday my friend over at Booman Tribune posted an open thread asking “What’s odd in your life?” I didn’t have anything to add at the time, but I do now.
The past couple of years have kind of put me through the wringer, and it’s seemed that nothing I was doing really helped, including my shrink visits.
For the past few weeks I’ve been playing bass more than usual. As most of you know, bass is my main instrument, but for many years I concentrated on guitar. There were a variety of reasons for that: one of the bands I was playing in was made up of West Philly misfits, most of who had never played country music before. It’s easier to teach people songs on guitar than it is on bass, so that became my role. Guitar is also a much more appropriate instrument for accompanying yourself when you’re singing at home. Finally,almost every time I’ve seen a band headed by a bass player, it’s been a disaster (with notable exceptions like the Bluegrass Brothers).
Bluegrass Brothers: “Train 45″
Lately however, I’ve been returned to the bass. The Ida Reds is in its second incarnation right now (no more pedal steel) and I’m on full-time bass duties because we have a guitar player that I trust to play my originals the way they’re supposed to sound (that’s me on the guitar and singing on the sound sample).
I’ve been playing electric bass since 1984, and upright for about 10 years now. I’m no Jaco Pastorius or Victor Wooten, but I don’t want to be one of those soulless wankers anyway: on the other hand, my scales and modes have been burned into my brain (diatonic, baybeee!), and it’s so easy to go onto auto-pilot and let my fingers do the thinking. Once that happens, my whole body gets into the groove, and it’s really hard not to do a little dance with the upright as I thump along.
The past week or so I’ve been playing a lot of music. Practice with one brand new, yet-to-be-named group on Sundays, Wednesdays with the Ida Reds, and last night’s Thursday Bluegrass Party in Doylestown. The more bass I play, the happier I feel, and that sense of well-being lasts more than a few hours. Indeed, after a constructive practice session, I’m feeling good for a few days afterwards.
It’s odd: could it be that playing more bass than guitar is improving my emotional well-being? Here’s hoping…
…adding, the positive vibe seems to be directly related to the bluegrass bass playing, which feels a lot different than rock and metal bass playing. Rock and metal have unconventional time signatures occasionally, and there’s a lot more practice involved just to learn the basics of the song itself. Most bluegrass and old time progressions are very easy to learn: usually no more than 2 or 4 chords, and even those go together the way you’d expect. What’s deceptive about bluegrass is that while the chord progressions may be simple, the drive/beat can be difficult to pick up, and the improvisation within the melody can often be tricky to accomplish without sounding cheesy or going out of bounds.
Bill Monroe playing bluegrass mandolin the way it’s meant to be played
Yonder Mountain String Band, wanking. Seriously, turn this shit off as soon as you get a taste for it. It’s so lame.
The thing is, once you have the feel and the touch for bluegrass, it’s kind of like riding a bike, but more so since your head is so involved with the process (even as mind goes out the window).
Am I making any sense? I guess what I’m getting at is that there’s a transcendence that I get when playing bluegrass (and old time, although since I learned that style on guitar, that instrument feels more comfortable for the genre), when I feel like I’m just part of a music making machine, and that I’m a conduit for something outside of myself.
It’s a gratifying and satisfying feeling.
3 Responses to “Oddness”
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May 2nd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
You guys sound good, thanks for sharing it. You are lucky to have such a talent, it’s much more fun when you are good at it. I got so frustrated and depressed with my mandolin, that I had to put it away for a while. I can only take so much of a beating, it feels like I’m arm wrestling an octopus. Although, it is always there, laughing at me. I’ll get it out again, and the battle will start all over. The joy.
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I haven’t played my mandolin in months, although when I get the chance it’s always fun.
what part are you having trouble with? chords or melodies?
May 5th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Chords are the hardest for me, I have difficulty hearing the changes. The only songs I’ve managed to learn are the old beginner tunes…Soldiers Joy, Red Haired Boy; primer stuff. You’re right, the songs sound simple on the outside, but some of them can be quite tricky to play. I prefer bluegrass live, and jazz also for that matter, the improv is what adds personality and fun to the piece. I have great respect for musicians and music of all kinds, but bluegrass seems to be the most fun.