Author Topic: When do you play your best: Relaxed or Under Stress? (Read 227 times)

hendixclarke · « **on:** April 29, 2008, 06:35:32 PM »

Music is an art, and depending on the kind of personality you have, some people play great when stressed while some people play great when they are relaxed.

Name those artist who you think, fit the stress/relax playing type, and describe your best mood when playing your best.

If people are honest, this information should be interesting...

jbybj · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2008, 09:16:45 PM »

I can never stay stressed when I play, so I wouldn't know how I play stressed.

Calgon, take me away........................

I find I play best when I am well rested, whenever I notice my playing sucks, it's followed by the realization I'm tuckered out.

JBY

hendixclarke · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2008, 10:11:21 PM »

Well, honestly I want to play when I am stressed out. Playing my bass is the best drug for tense situations because bass playing is much more of a physical thing and by the time I am relaxed, I can stop. It like shock therapy.

When the pressure of the world ware me thin, I play myself tired until I am relaxed and forgot what was the fuss-all-about.

However, when playing with a band, that a whole different thing. I am most relaxed and for the most part, I am already in a relaxed atmosphere to begin.

Yet, there are times when I am alone, and I can crank it up a notch or two, I would be in a zone so deep, I am like on to a monk; completely relaxed and totally unstressed. But most of the time, just before I play, I am pretty stressed, and thats better than firing up a square.

flaxattack · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2008, 12:51:49 AM »

i play best when i am mad/angry as hell
as i will this weekend cause the leaders of our band are scumbags who are too insecure to let anyone else take lead on a tune

terryc · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2008, 03:34:38 AM »

flaxattack..I think you need to be in another band!!!!

jacko · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2008, 04:32:54 AM »

Jeff. I think you need to mellow out. But not until you've got that new job ;-)
Anyway, I thought you'd sorted your sage tea issues.

graeme

flaxattack · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2008, 06:34:46 AM »

so did i graeme- the latest slight was me asking to do ramble on rose for 6 months and finding out it was added to the set list, with the lead guitar singing it. when i emailed them back on this? they posted an ad ( at least i think so)in craigslist for a bass player and pulled it 5 minutes after i replied. So me being me- i set up an anonymous acct in hotmail when i saw they posted for a keyboard fillin and answered it
yes terry you are correct- the dilemma is the need to play.... but once again i think i will go post another ad. but truth being told starting and running a band is a lot of work. but then again so does being sleaze balls.
so if this latest ad is indeed the band i play in i just might say f it and not play sat night. the drummer will probably do the same.

2400wattman · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2008, 06:40:51 AM »

I think it's funny that egos like Jeff's band mates exist in the hippie jam band world. I thought these people were all about peace, loving and sharing...maaan. Jeff, I agree with Terry that you need to find another band.
BTW to stay on topic, pissed off is when I play my absolute best.

jacko · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2008, 06:43:30 AM »

Jeez jeff! I'm surprised you've stuck with this bunch of a'holes so long. You need to dump their asses and pick up with someone who appreciates your skills. I couldn't play with a band if we didn't have respect for each other and a certain amount of cameraderie so to answer the OP, i need to be relaxed with nothing troubling my mind to play my best.

Graeme

flaxattack · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2008, 08:49:44 AM »

so here is my stick it to em plan
show up sat night- find out keys wont be there. then ask who is singing ramble on rose? you? ok babye

then post in craigslist 1- what a pair of losers they are- and then post to start another band
did i mention they also dont split the take evenly?
keys gets more since he is a hired gun= drummer seems to get less than me....

lbpesq · « **Reply #10 on:** April 30, 2008, 11:03:55 AM »

Adam:

You are right on. Another interesting (a nice way to put it?) phenomena I've run into in the jam band world are people who want to play Grateful Dead note for note just like a particular version of a song. The whole point of the Dead trip was to AVOID note for note renditions ... heck, the Dead NEVER played ANYTHING exactly the same way twice!

Flax:

May I suggest a game plan that worked for me. I put an ad in craigslist for a once-in-a-while Dead jam, not a band. Then I would try to play once a week and bring in a new bassist/guitarist/drummer, etc., each week until someone showed up who clicked. I was lucky in that the first drummer stuck and I found the Jerry fairly quickly. A brief detour with the wrong bass player and a later added keyboard and viola! we have a band. If I ain't getting paid to do this, it better be fun. Otherwise it's just not worth the aggravation.

Bill, tgo

flaxattack · « **Reply #11 on:** April 30, 2008, 11:40:33 AM »

Can i sit in with your band?
or ifn you are in a pinch i could come over...

btw- i totally agree bill with that or any song- you wrote thank you very much- if the mood strikes i am playing it differently- its called expression, artistic license-being creative etc
i dont think i have ever played china cat the same way 2x- for example
with dead music especially there is no right way

jazzyvee · « **Reply #12 on:** April 30, 2008, 12:14:39 PM »

I tend to play best when fully relaxed and that is usually when I don't have a solo to play, at which point I become very self conscious.

I also tend to play better when I'm playing with musicians who respond to what I'm playing rather than musically force me to play where they are.

When I'm stressed on a gig i tend to grip the neck a bit to tightly and the notes and chords dont flow as sweetly.
But if I'm stressed at home or anything, playing one of my guitars is the best way to de-stress and a gig even better.

Jazzyvee

kimberly · « **Reply #13 on:** April 30, 2008, 12:20:24 PM »

Hi Guys.

Speaking for myself, there's no doubt I play my best when relaxed. I suspect it's due to my 'style' being so improv 'bassed'.

I never play my material the same way twice and would be in 'big trouble' if I had to duplicate what I've done previously. Anyway, if what I'm trying to play is a 'struggle' it generally sounds like I'm playing every lick I know trying to 'hit the groove'. When I'm relaxed, the 'groove just happens'.

My $0.02, YMMV, etc, etc.

Best Regards,

Kimberly

82daion · « **Reply #14 on:** April 30, 2008, 02:50:53 PM »

For some reason, I do better when I have some adrenaline in my system-it keeps me paying attention since I'm on my toes a little.

When the groove's happening, I tend to relax more, but I don't let myself get too comfortable, since I tend to get into the music a bit too much and forget what's going on.

I never play anything the same way twice-a little experimentation is always good.