gene
168 posts
Apr 11, 2009
3:03 AM
|
I just watched your latest front porch thing. It was great! I like that kind of stuff. But one part of it stinks: The part where you say, "Made a mistake."
You do that too much. If you're giving a lesson and make a mistake, you should point it out. "That was wrong. I need to do that over." But in stuff like that, who would ever know you made a mistake, or even care? It sounds good, so please don't interrupt yourself. (It seems you do that reflexively. PLEASE break that habit.)
|
jonsparrow
80 posts
Apr 11, 2009
11:10 AM
|
i think its cause hes showing that even a pro like him makes mistakes, so people learning shouldnt get frustrated when we make mistakes.
|
mickil
154 posts
Apr 11, 2009
12:13 PM
|
What jonsparrow just said, 'that even a pro like him makes mistakes' is something that helped me overcome one of my biggest hurdles. Or, moreover, that kudzu often says something along the lines of, 'I'm not that great at this or that technique,'For example, he says it about head shakes.
That kind of admission was what stopped me worrying about whether I could do x, y or z. Because of that lack of worry, now I can do some of those things.
I think he does do that reflexively. When I used to play piano to people and make a mistake, I'd say, 'Oh f*ck it.' I didn't think much about saying it, and it made people laugh.
I know what you mean though. I often like to listen to those instructional videos just for their own musical worth, and, in that regard, those interjections can be annoying. But, that's all they are: instructional.
----------
'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
|
Oliver
46 posts
Apr 11, 2009
12:57 PM
|
"i think its cause hes showing that even a pro like him makes mistakes, so people learning shouldnt get frustrated when we make mistakes."
Hmm, I'm not so sure that's what it is to be honest. I really enjoyed the vid that Adam put up, for sure. But that bit where he breaks and said something about a mistake did suck in all honesty. I'm sure Adam would appreciate the honest feedback. IT did seem more reflexive like gene said, rather than something considered.
Quick question to Adam or anyone else that can answer: that closing note / tone that you finish the piece with sounds SOOOOO good! I'd love to be able to do that. Was it an octave or a double stop? Obviously it had a really lovely mellow vibrato that Adam is great at.
There is a simalar thing in Adam's old porch slow blues that I have always liked also.
|
mickil
155 posts
Apr 11, 2009
1:32 PM
|
Oliver, it's a tongue-blocked 2&5 draw, or minor 7th interval on the tonic chord.
----------
'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
Last Edited by on Apr 11, 2009 1:37 PM
|
Patrick Barker
230 posts
Apr 11, 2009
2:21 PM
|
But he stayed in time when he said that he messed up-- maybe we should view this as a blessing or talent- instead of using groans or coughs in his playing he could inserts sounds like "oops", "woops", and "crap"
----------
"Without music, life would be a mistake" -Nietzsche
|
kudzurunner
347 posts
Apr 11, 2009
3:04 PM
|
When I perform in any context other than YouTube videos, I never say, "I made a mistake." It's a bad idea to draw attention to one's mistakes--UNLESS one is performing with the specific intention of drawing people's attention to the mistakes, when they happen, rather than delivering shoddy goods and hoping people will miss the mistakes.
When I play for my videocam with the express knowledge that I'm creating a video for this YouTube channel, I'm always working with an implicitly pedagogical design: i.e., with the idea of teaching. There are many things I could be teaching with any particular performance, obviously. I could choose to teach people how to allow the mistakes to slip by, when they happened, without any acknowledgement at all.
In the case of this video, my state of mind at the time led me to want to point out the clunker rather than simply making the clunker. It's a way of rescuing a less-than-perfect performance in a context where I view it as my job to educate people to hear the difference. Otherwise it might seem like I'm just playing mediocre harp and indulging myself.
I don't resent the negative feedback, but I've also had hundreds of bits of positive feedback on this precise point: a lot of players seem to feel liberated by the fact that I'm willing to admit--rather than remain silent about, or airbrush away--my mistakes. I'm glad that this is the case.
|
GermanHarpist
270 posts
Apr 11, 2009
4:03 PM
|
I always liked when Adam says: "...let me try that again..".
The other thing I always liked was: "... let me break that down for you..."
AMEN!
----------
germanharpist, harpfriends on Youtube
|
Miles Dewar
306 posts
Apr 11, 2009
4:09 PM
|
I always liked those parts more than the "Glamorous" parts. It makes me feel like you are more "Mortal" than I sometimes believe.
I know of a lot of people not in the harp world who state that through years of experience they Do NOT make mistakes. I always knew it was a load of Bullshit and that it was to just "Spark" my interest with "Fallacies" of Perfection through experience.
It's nice to see a little bit of "Earthiness" with someone who has skill.
Not just "Arrogance" falsely displayed as "Confidence" like we ALL see so much.
"I'm the Best!"
"Look who I know!"
"Look at what I can do!"
"You're not a pimp like me!"
"My sound is superior!"
"Me, Genius. Yeah, I am."
Thanks for the "Refresher" Points Adam.
----------
---Go Bears!!! (Jay Cutler in Chicago baby!) Where's the Pack at now?---
Last Edited by on Apr 11, 2009 4:11 PM
|
jonsparrow
81 posts
Apr 11, 2009
4:57 PM
|
"It makes me feel like you are more "Mortal" than I sometimes believe"
lol!
|
Miles Dewar
310 posts
Apr 11, 2009
5:23 PM
|
It's true.
Listen to Satan and Adam's "Girl Watcher"
One of my absolute favorite Satan and Adam songs.
I get Goosebumps everytime I hear it...really...listen to it and you'll know.
It's what I use to get me in the "Mood" for harp.
-Everytime.
And it does. You CAN'T say no after you've listened to that song.
It really has some of THE greatest harp I've ever heard.
Look it up on www.lala.com
"I'm a pretty type of girl watcher.....Here comes one now"
----------
---Go Bears!!! (Jay Cutler in Chicago baby!) Where's the Pack at now?---
Last Edited by on Apr 11, 2009 5:26 PM
|
jaymcc28
33 posts
Apr 13, 2009
6:36 AM
|
@Miles: I've been using lala.com for over a year now and I keep searching for Satan & Adam but the only song I've ever seen was the one from the U2 CD. I'm thrilled to see "Living On The River" there.
Just found you and am now 'following' you, Miles.
|
Oisin
199 posts
Apr 13, 2009
8:38 AM
|
Just tried Lala but it won't let you listen if you live outside the US.
Last Edited by on Apr 13, 2009 8:39 AM
|
oldwailer
681 posts
Apr 13, 2009
1:26 PM
|
Nah--you guys need to take another listen to Adam--check out the vibrato--the tone--the way he can "wah" into a note that ain't got a "wah" to be found--nah--he ain't no regular mortal guy--probably Howard Levy's brother or something--an extraterrestrial for sure. . . ;-)
|
GermanHarpist
272 posts
Apr 13, 2009
1:29 PM
|
Seconded: Adams vibrato is out of this world.
----------
germanharpist, harpfriends on Youtube
|
chromaticblues
13 posts
Apr 22, 2009
9:22 AM
|
I first heard them on a radio blues program in 1991 and thought(That's what I'm going to do) It inspired me that much! My wife and I went to see them live. Then I brought the guys in the band I was playing in at the time(which were not blues fans). They were blown away!! Satan was a really character at that time. He was very polite, but always on the prowl(if you know what I mean) We got a kick out of it to be honest. He even hit on my wife! I thought my best friend was going to piss his pants he laughed so hard! Back then I thought this is my kind of music. Why doesn't anybody care? I haven't read the book yet, but I saw them a few times and was a musician at the time and they really weren't stirring up much of a fuss back then. The last time I saw them was at the king biscuit festival in 97. I moved to Nashville two months later and began my mission to play in a blues duo. I played in a duo called Rollin' $ Tumblin' for two and a half years, but my partner was more interested in preaching thru music then music! Which was to bad for me because he was and is a very good guitar player!! So I've been on the hunt for someone to fit the part. Sadly I haven't been able to find a guitarist that is both capable and into that kind of blues. So I just keep looking and practicing Trying to keep the torch burning.
|
DaDoom
88 posts
Apr 22, 2009
9:32 AM
|
Don't you dare cut out mistakes from your videos, they're a MUST. Your video nr. 7 on Youtube is still one of my all time favorites. It's the one where you want to tell us that what we need to do is add syncopation. And you end the video not remebering your own playing. I must have watched that one thousand times by now it's just too good.
|
