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Notes_Norton

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Posts posted by Notes_Norton

  1. I'm not a sports fan, but to me, sports are contests that are easily judged with a point/score or similar system.

    It's obvious who wins a football, basketball, soccer, tennis, baseball or other contest. 

    But when you get to things like ice dancing, break dancing, and other events that are judged on artistic merits, IMO they are no longer sports, and shouldn't be contests. Why? There is never, or seldom, a clear winner. It's up to artistic interpretation.

    It would be like going to a jam session, having everyone play a solo in the same song, and then decide who won.

    But then, I'm not a sports consumer, so they aren't pitching their products towards me.

    But for those who watch it, and those who participate in it, it's good, clean fun. It's just not for me and probably a few others.

  2. On 3/9/2024 at 11:24 AM, cody78 said:

    the music that I enjoy the most is still the same bands and guitarists from my youth.  

    That's pretty typical. I think it's human nature.

    As a youth my dad liked the "Big Band Era" music, and really loved the arrangements that bands like Count Basie, Artie Shaw and others put together (He played trumpet, violin, uke, and after retiring, organ). 

    Also in my school band we played a lot of excerpts from symphonies, and I learned to love them.

    My big sister was into Elvis era songs, and I dig them too.

    Then, when I started playing in a rock band it was Beatles, Yardbirds, Kinks, Chicago.

    So although I embrace and love many different kinds of music from Jazz, to Salsa, to Reggae, to Cabo Verde, to whatever, I still have a soft spot in my heart for those that influenced me when I was a boy.

     

    Notes ♫

  3. I get guitarists who are melodic in a way that speaks to me. If they don't, I'm not going to dis them. 

    I've been playing music for a living for decades. I play guitar, but it's my 7th instrument, sax is my primary ax.

    Many years ago, I was in a hired horn section for some wanna-be star. Me, another sax, a trumpet, and a trombone. We all got plenty of solos in the songs.

    The other sax player was a monster, flawless technique, and could sight-read the most complicated songs without an error. I was in awe. I can sight-read a lot, but these were things I'd have to woodshed first.

    We were on break, and a couple of different girls came up to me to tell me how much they liked my sax playing. I told him I was in awe of what he could play and their gushing was a bit embarrassing. He told me that he wished he could play a sexy, sensuous melody, the kind that come easily to me.

    That's when I realized, we all have different strengths and weaknesses, and it doesn't matter, as long as the music comes out right. That's all that counts.

    And as long as you have people appreciating what you are playing, the music is coming out right.

     

    Insights and incites by Notes ♫

     

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  4. On 3/6/2024 at 9:55 AM, Sgt. Pepper said:

    <...snip...> Next time you want to say best, why don’t you use favorite or really good because that’s what you probably mean.

    I have a problem with favorite too. I have too many favorites to pick just one. 

    So for me, it's just "one of my favorites".  I'd include Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Carlos Santana, Emily Remler, Albert King, Eva Cassidy, Kenny Burrell, Duane Allman, Buddy Guy, Herb Ellis, David Gilmour, Brian May, Joe Pass, Joe Walsh, Johnny Winter, Jim Hall, and at least a dozen others. It depends on my mood.

    Art is not a contest, it's a conversation between the artist and the appreciator. There are plenty of technically accomplished guitarists that I don't care for. I can't fault them for anything, but they just don't speak to me. And there are others who may have flawed technique, but sing a song that I want to listen to. Art is funny that way.

     

    Notes ♫

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  5. The thing about who is better than who, comes down to personal taste.

    Art isn't a contest, and IMO all art contests are flawed.

    Can you say what painter is the best painter? What singer is the best singer? What dancer is the best dancer? What author is the best author? What film director is the best director? I can't

    IMO Jeff Beck was at least one of, if not the best technical guitar player of the rock era. Although I love his music, I wouldn't say he was the best guitar player. Just one of the best.

    My favorite guitar player? Me? (And I'm just a hack at guitar, it's my 7th instrument)

    Notes ♫

  6. On 3/2/2024 at 8:56 AM, Sgt. Pepper said:

    I think the Beatles were the first to record feedback on the song, I Feel Fine. I think the Kinks and the Who might have used it live before Jimi.

    Yes, there is no doubt Jimi  use the hell out of feedback.

    You are probably correct, but Jimi used it melodically, to sustain notes, not just as an effect.

    As a sax player in a band, I remember our lead guitar player's mind was blown about that. He had an Epiphone Sheraton, and immediately started to experiment with using feedback for sustain. After quite a few false starts, he found the sweet spot.

    Notes ♫

  7. Jimi was an innovator. When most guitarists were trying to avoid feedback, he embraced it and used it. I'm sure others did too, but he is the first one to make it big doing that.

    That doesn't make him best, although he was both a very good musician and a fery good showman.

     

    Notes ♫

  8. No matter who you are, there is always someone better and someone worse than you.

    Jimi thought Terry Kath and Buddy Guy were better than he was. I think it's simply a personal matter.

    And to tell you the truth, I don't have a #1 favorite guitarist, but perhaps 20. I'd include the above,  and add Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Jimmy Page, Duane Allman, Robert Fripp, David Gilmour, Alvin Lee, Joe Walsh, and at least a dozen more that will pop into my head as soon as I hit "Submit Reply".

    And that's only rock guitarists.

     

    Notes ♫

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