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 "What to do" What to do, what to do... 
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Post "What to do" What to do, what to do...
Just an opinion, it's been on my mind and I thought I would share.

Y'know, as I reflect back on what I wished I had done prior to getting ahold of a Stick, and in the time leading up to getting my first Stick there are some things that I know now, that I wished I had known then.

I am a pretty decent drummer, guitarist, bassist, and violinist. I do vocals, and have a strong theory background. I have played live a lot, and done tons of studio stuff; BUT there was two things I wasn't that prepared for, and it took a while to get acclimated to. Two main challenges (For me)

1) The concept of two hands each working together, playing different things simultaneously.

2) The 'Backward" 5ths tuning on the Bass side.

If I could do it all over again, I would have really worked on my keyboard skills (Piano) as I am not much of a solo pianist; I know all of my chords and scales and can play a lot of linear stuff; self accompanying? Nope. I am an absolutely horrible keyboardist in that respect. Think chord pad in the LH, then the RH does some noodly stuff. So lately, I have taken it upon myself to study and practice keys and found that it really, really helps my Stick playing as I improve. And of course, vice versa.

And of course, getting to know those notes on the neck. Select a tuning, and get familiar. For me, it's way beyond just geometry. Context and practical usage is everything for me.

Also, I notice some folks parting with the instrument, giving up on it. Man I have been there, it can be a bit frustrating. Putting in a lot of time and effort, shelling out cash for lessons, and it still feels like no progress... Take a break, try some keyboard stuff for a while, have fun, and just make noise then come back to it; I think you might be surprised...

Just my .002 (I am not a real Stickist though, so take this opinion with a grain of salt, your reality may be quite different from mine!) Good luck!

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Mon Nov 14, 2016 9:51 am
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Post Re: "What to do" What to do, what to do...
Dude, you need a vacation... 8-)
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Mon Nov 14, 2016 11:08 am
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Post Re: "What to do" What to do, what to do...
Welcome to the club...lol.

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Mon Nov 14, 2016 11:13 am
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Post Re: "What to do" What to do, what to do...
lol I eat, sleep, and breath music stuff... Can't help it!

But, I do other stuff too! lol

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Mon Nov 14, 2016 11:15 am
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Post Re: "What to do" What to do, what to do...
That's very interesting to hear that working on your piano skills has translated to Stick and vice versey. If you want to hear about it from the other side, the 2-handed independence thing is probably a bit (or much) easier for us keyboardists. But I'm having a heck of a time with my pull-offs and hammer-ons and other string tapping techniques that require more than just simple downwards pressure. Note bending and harmonics and slapping/popping--these are all difficult to get at first coming from a piano background.

I also felt like a made a lot of rapid progress at the beginning, and then tapered off. I could do bass lines and even some melodic solos, which was "good enough" to add to my other instruments in a mix. Now I feel like I'm ready for more solo Stick stuff, but it's a lot harder to do 2 lines at once and also to rely on just Stick.

I've also been a bit of a musical funk (not the funky kind) and Stick just seemed to make it worse, because it was work and not just free-flowing magic all the time (like piano--after 30 years).

But I'm not giving up on Stick, just refocusing a bit. It's more than just a bass guitar, but that's where I've been putting it lately. I'll get on the melody side more soon, I hope!

I probably should add that MIDI hex pickup and limit myself to only keys that can be triggered via MIDI using the Stick. Interlochen will be here before you know it, and I need to get to work!

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Mon Nov 14, 2016 11:15 am
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Post Re: "What to do" What to do, what to do...
As a newbie, I appreciate the glimpse at how experienced musicians struggle and work through these obstacles. Thanks for the insight.

'Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse starts to show up too.' Isabel Allende

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Mon Nov 14, 2016 12:57 pm
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Post Re: "What to do" What to do, what to do...
I will reflect on what the great contra bassist, Anthony Jackson said when asked about playing or soloing.... " you start with one note, and another note.... and then another note... but.... be careful!!"
While all of us wish to have greater facility on the instrument, How about this, "no place to go, nothing to do, just BE.... It is unfortunate, that many musicians (myself included) have "that" critical voice that sometimes overshadows, shouts above everything else.... Neurologically, we are "hardwired" to notice differences. This is how we learn as humanoids. The STICK has been an incredible journey for me in many ways..... First, it has required me to become familiar with melody and harmony, instead of just the "groove" I am a bass player.... This process has made me a better well rounded musician... Secondly, it has required me to apply myself and pay attention to many different aspects of playing this beast... Touch, fingering, tone, attack and release of the note etc.... the list goes on.... In our quest of Mastery, sometimes we overlook or forget the beautiful aspects of the journey itself. One of my teachers in Japan once told me... "do your best, and leave the rest!" The Stick I have now was purchased some years ago from Eric the Gray.... before that I bought and sold 4-5 Sticks, because I became hopeless, I lacked the follow through, the fortitude and the discipline to make the instrument my own..... Discipline is a wonderful, wonderful "discipline" when it is born out of LOVE....Discipline born out of the "critical voice"... not so useful, grasshopper! Bess wishes to all!


Mon Nov 14, 2016 3:02 pm
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Post Re: "What to do" What to do, what to do...
Discipline born out of love: wise words. Love makes all the difference.


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Mon Nov 14, 2016 3:06 pm
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Post Re: "What to do" What to do, what to do...
WerkSpace wrote:
Dude, you need a vacation... 8-)
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...me too, I need a vacation as well...


Mon Nov 14, 2016 3:11 pm
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Post Re: "What to do" What to do, what to do...
So I hadn't noticed any Stick skills translating back to my piano training. I did notice, however, that theory training with Steve + booze translates to adding cool notes to sheet music whilst playing piano. Lowered inhibitions leads to less strict construction on the sheet music and more substitutions, extra scale notes and so forth.

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Mon Nov 14, 2016 3:15 pm
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