Bass_god_offspring Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 in your opinion, what do you think makes a great musician. Ability to improvise, knowledge of chord charts, ect? -BGO 5 words you should live by... Music is its own reward --------------- My Band: www.Myspace.com/audreyisanarcissist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Red 67 Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 1) Music theory. I doesn't have to be book learned. It is hard to be a great musician if you don't know where the fifth is. 2) Mastery: Need to be able to play one instrument with total mastery, or more then one instrument with great results. Big Red's Ride Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 not an asshole. Someone who is good at what they do, but not an "allstar". They put effort into it and try as hard as they can. They do not sacrifice their music for their or someone else's well being. They do not discourage anyone from their dreams if they think that they are not good at what they do. http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Hoffman Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 Must have long hair, be rail-thin, and well hung. Gotta wear extra tight clothes and have a billion dollor per year drug habit. And a limo and hot chics. Oh wait - that was the 80's... OK these days it helps if you're all of the above but for real what does make a great musician? I think that can only be answered by those who listen. "The world will still be turning when you've gone." - Black Sabbath Band site: www.finespunmusic.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthulhu Fhtagn Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 Geezer! 'Nuff Said! Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_god_offspring Posted September 12, 2004 Author Share Posted September 12, 2004 Must have long hair, be rail-thin, and well hung. Gotta wear extra tight clothes and have a billion dollor per year drug habit. And a limo and hot chics. c'mon, that's not a great musician!!!!!! that's a guitarist. -BGO 5 words you should live by... Music is its own reward --------------- My Band: www.Myspace.com/audreyisanarcissist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan South Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 Someone who makes great music. The Black Knight always triumphs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 Someone who can play any kind of music with anyone at any time. No rehearsal, get it right the first time and always sound great. Yes, there are people like that, I know a few and I am fortunate to get to play with them. I am always in awe at that kind of talent. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
way2fat Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 I'm in awe of that kind of talent, too. When I get to hear it, my first instinct is to slam their fingers in a car door. www.ethertonswitch.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornbread_medhotmail.com Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 If I can hear the passion in the music, then they are a great musician. All the chops in the world mean nothing if you have no feeling in your music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebassman Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Must have long hair, be rail-thin, and well hung. Gotta wear extra tight clothes and have a billion dollor per year drug habit. And a limo and hot chics. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- c'mon, that's not a great musician!!!!!! that's a guitarist. Nice one Great musicians inspire people. It could be how they play and/or what they play and compose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Brown Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 I would have to begin with Big Red and Jeremycs' focus on mastery; the ability to do whatever you need to do in any musical situation flawlessly. Then I'd raise them. The greatest musicians also are very in touch with who they are as people, and very in touch with the spiritual need around them. And they have the ability to speak something through music to the hearts of the listeners. Yo Yo Ma. James Taylor. BB King. Allison Krauss. Yep. I'm the other voice in the head of davebrownbass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Force Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 I would like to add: 1. obvious enjoyment --if they enjoy it, then I enjoy it also. 2. willingness to interact with their audience post event. Vic Wooten, Robben Ford, Tony Levin and others) come to mind. Steve Force, Durham, North Carolina -------- My Professional Websites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicalhair Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 Great ear, understanding of a great range of musical styles, aware of on-stage communcation and interaction along the lines of dynamics and texture and when to be busy or lay back, ability to play lines that speak to the audience and the band and band leader, early for commitments, positive not negative, knowing when to say no in the nicest of ways (rather than take gigs where in the end everyone is unhappy). Red above said theory, I would sort of assume the knowledge of enough theory appropriate for the style under the above mention of musical styles early on in my list. I think I have a bit of theory knowledge but for me it seems not nearly as important as a good ear. Not that I'm knocking Red's advice, I'm agreeing at least to an extent but I'm rolling it into understanding musical styles. I'm still looking for the "classic"-folk-rock situation where I can fit a solo derived from the diminished scale. check out some comedy I've done: http://louhasspoken.tumblr.com/ My Unitarian Jihad Name: Brother Broadsword of Enlightened Compassion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_god_offspring Posted September 12, 2004 Author Share Posted September 12, 2004 If I can hear the passion in the music, then they are a great musician. All the chops in the world mean nothing if you have no feeling in your music. i totally agree. -BGO 5 words you should live by... Music is its own reward --------------- My Band: www.Myspace.com/audreyisanarcissist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisOfDoom Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 The ability to create great music that people can enjoy. -Chris Hobo Libido on MySpace Bipolar Express on MySpace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 Originally posted by jeremyc: Someone who can play any kind of music with anyone at any time. No rehearsal, get it right the first time and always sound great.What Jeremy said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Hoffman Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 Yeah guys, you're all right on. I would like to add perseverence to the list...although its a very general thing-I mean if you have the strength and will to persevere you can become great at anything. If the song isn't too complex with time changes and things like that, I can just hop in and play along with anything, thats what I do in my main band. We just get together and jam -sometimes its like I'm in the woodshed with a band backing me. But I wouldn't say I'm a good musician. I don't even think of myself as a musician, I'm just a guy who plays bass. I don't want to be a musician, thats a frickin hard life, man. I just want to play music in front of lots of people and have a great time. "The world will still be turning when you've gone." - Black Sabbath Band site: www.finespunmusic.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike H. Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 Great technique, and most importantly - no ego. http://www.identity5.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTacoTimW Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 In my opinion a truly good musician is able to what they need to when they need to even though they might not enjoy it but still be able to preform with it and act like they enjoy it, but at the same time play what they enjoy playing because they enjoy and are able to put feeling into what they do. -Taco- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 The very first prereq for musical greatness is the ability & willingness to listen. If you ain't listening to those around you, you ain't makin' music. The second is the ability to be musical. No one will ever confuse Ringo Starr with Buddy Rich from a technical perspective, but have you noticed that Ringo was THE drummer for one of the all-time great rock bands? Have you noticed that it's nearly impossible to improve on what Ringo played? Have you noticed that he always gets top players for his All-Starr Band? You don't do that without being a great musician. BTW, when he left the up-and-coming Hurricanes for the Beatles the Hurricanes never recovered. Technical proficiency is only a small part of the picture. It's a nice thing to have (and essential for live performance), but you can always hire someone to execute a part if neccessary. Even a great guitarist like Zappa hired guitarists.... I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihategarybettman Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Exactly. As the late, great Gene Krupa said, "A good musician is somebody who plays what's right for the song." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewstermaniac Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Originally posted by Bass_god_offspring: Must have long hair, be rail-thin, and well hung. Gotta wear extra tight clothes and have a billion dollor per year drug habit. And a limo and hot chics. c'mon, that's not a great musician!!!!!! that's a guitarist. Bwahahahaha!! Nice one! Check out my work in progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Couldn't agree with Coyote more on this one... especially with the Ringo analogy. I can play a lot of what Ringo played. I can't imagine improving on what he did. Ringo therefor was a GREAT musician. I'll veer off from what Jeremy said; I agree that Jeremy's example qualifies as a "great musician," but I don't believe it is prerequisite. There are plenty of "one-trick ponies" out there that are good at what they do and that's it, and I consider them great musicians. Keef Richards might be an example. He's very good at what he does, but I'm not sure he'd be the right fit for another band. Same with Ringo... can you imagine Ringo playing with Black Sabbath? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Uhhh... can you say Helter Skelter? Originally posted by getz76: can you imagine Ringo playing with Black Sabbath? I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred TBP Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 I'm sure this one will raise hell, but why not, it is MY definition: a great musician has to be dead first before he/she can be truly great. If they're still alive, there is the risk of diminishing a great reputation with not-so-great accomplishments. Plus, we seldom appreciate the greatness of living contributors because we expect them to be around and continue to produce great works. We may call someone living "great", but in comparison with the dead they just don't seem to be as great. So you really won't miss me until I'm gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhurstlmt Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 My definition of a great musician (and incidentaly my goal as a musician) is the ability to sit down with any musician or group of musicians and make them sound better. A musician's greatness is marked not by his ability to stand out, but his ability to fit in. When you can sit down with a group of lousy musicians and make them all sound better then you are great. I realize that I am leaving off all the solo musicians out there. I haven't come up with anything witty or ground breaking for them yet. However, very few musicians never play with other musicians, so I believe my point stands. Let your speech be better than silence, or be silent. For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice. "Rindase!" "Rendirme? Que se rinda su abuela, *#@!^$" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Originally posted by coyote: Uhhh... can you say Helter Skelter? Touche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 That bass player dude in Motorhead - sings a bit too. He's the man! Alex Barefaced Ltd - ultra lightweight, high ouput, toneful bass cabs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Great Lemmy article in BP this month. You can almost feel the interviewer's fear... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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