Robben Ford Discussion

[StratCat]

No, it's not a rude question!

Not such much a theory question either, or theoretical, it's more philosophical and something I'm grappling with at the moment.

You know what I mean - there are some nights that what's going on inside head, heart and ears manages to find it's way to your hands and to the strings effortlessly. Other nights when it seems like a struggle just to pull off cliche links you've been playing since you were a kid.

For me, this comes down to a number of things amongst others:
- practice (or practise if you're too busy gigging!)
- warm up
- sleep, diet and other healthy stuff
- fresh strings
- amp sounding good on the night
- band sounding good too
- audience
- etc

But (and this is what I'm grappling with), some nights all of those ingredients can be there and it's a struggle. Other nights the indications are I'll play like crap and I don't put a foot wrong.

So, what works for you?

Chris
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because I rock, and that's important.

[juspasinby2003]

I find that a good hit of lsd usually distracts me enough to forget myself and play well -- at least it sounds good to me :-)

[Bluelobster]

Being confident with the tunes and your chops ( that means practice & and healthy stuff) " i find that a hit of good lsd untie me from mental handcuffs , distracting me enough to forget what's not essential.......
At least i am not alone...

[LongIslandRod]

My experience has been when I practice too much before a gig, my fingers are like butter so I limit my practice on those days.

I feel getting away from the instrument helps, I come back with fresh ideas and a real zeal for playing. I think living life away the instrument helps creativity because all that life experience is translated my instrument, I come up with new things, all the time.

But that's hard for me to do, one day away is too long.

[Aeolian]

A solid rhythm section that keeps it together and grooves. And is listening to each other and the solos. And they are enjoying themselves. It might be little quotes that get dropped in here and there, or reacting to something that I've played, but the camaraderie on stage is infectious. The reactions shouldn't be mirroring you though. I know one drummer who loves to repeat rhythmic figures back at you. Drives me nuts and handcuffs you from doing anything else. Maybe I intended a call and response lick, or maybe I had another idea. Another thing is dynamics. Most folks can break down to a quieter level but the momment you hit a note hard, they're off to the races. When they give it a little room, it gives you space to tease and bring things up in stages. Pat Ford is awesome at this. He'll let the guitarist go into a full roar before picking it up. It gives the soloist dynamic space.

An audience that is into it and reacting. That doesn't mean applause, but that kind of energy you can feel from the stage, it's almost as if you can feel an intake of breath at moments.
_________________
There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

[Bluelobster]