Playing song that dont fits your in mind image

[jimmay]

Not sure I see why performance has to equate to personal character. If that were the case, Gary Oldman, Christopher Lee, Alan Rickman, etc. is/were some pretty bad people. No one believes he/they were, just because he/they played some bad apples on the big screen....

[llew]

Mike...you aren't right!

OP...play for your Mom...sooner rather than later.

[sevargnhoj]

Originally Posted by Silvereagles

I really have wanted to play for my Mother just haven't stuck up the nerve yet. I hoping someday soon......

Dennis

Go and play for your Mom. It will mean a lot to her and then later on, to you.

[Bob Womack]

At the beginning of my guitar career I had a very specific musical self-image that I didn't want to violate. Think Allman Brothers. Once I got out of the automatic social environments (high school, college) I discovered that finding people who wanted to play only my idea of music was going to be extremely hard. Then I was offered playing situations that didn't exactly involve my musical self-image and the choice was not exactly or not at all. I chose to play. I found it a great growth experience.

Then I was asked to play recording sessions, and MOST of that music wasn't exactly on my self-image track. I survived, and even thrived. And finally, I found myself working as a producer/engineer/guitarist for people's productions and learned to put myself into whatever style I was handed and to work to make sound its best.

I still prefer my own idea of music, but I've learned to find fulfillment where ever I am plugged in. And I play some soft stuff and John Denver for myself.

Bob

[JGinNJ]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Sometimes when somebody doesn't "look" like the music they make, I find it even more interesting.

Me, I look like a lumberjack who showed up 40 something years too late to woodstock, but I play mostly 1930's-50's standards and swing tunes. I go with it.

As a jazz guitarist in NJ, this would be more appropriate for me, but I don't own a tux!

[JakeStone]

As cliche as it sounds...
You gotta own the song you're singing.

I recently took on the song Angel from Montgomery. The song although written by a man (John Prine) is sung from a woman's view. "I am an old woman... named after my mother"....

Once I "feel" the song it just flows and is believable.

Great topic ! Now call your Mother..

[Song]

Here's a tough guy song that is easy to play...
https://youtu.be/BfuWXRZe9yA

[Jambi]

Originally Posted by crikey

Life is short. Come out of the closet and be true to yourself. **** the torpedoes.

The best, most concise advice.

There's so much fake in the world... be real. Anything less is an injustice to you and your listeners.

[mr. beaumont]

Originally Posted by JGinNJ

As a jazz guitarist in NJ, this would be more appropriate for me, but I don't own a tux!

Got mine at goodwill. Just bought a new shirt and tie.

Gotta have a tux! Tux gigs pay

[Woodstock School Of Music]

To the OP climb whatever hurdles you have to to play for your mom it will be the greatest gift you could give her.

[Laughingboy68]

Originally Posted by llew

Mike...you aren't right!

OP...play for your Mom...sooner rather than later.

Not sure if this is directed at me or the Mike in a dress. Either way, how are we wrong?

[00-28]

Originally Posted by Laughingboy68

Not sure if this is directed at me or the Mike in a dress. Either way, how are we wrong?

I think it's me. I guess he wasn't comfortable invisioning me playing "A Boy Named Sue" on the banjo wearing a dress. Some people are weird that way.

........Mike

[Nyghthawk]

Originally Posted by jim777

I would play a lot more John Denver if I had that range.. "to the place, I BELOOOOOOOOONG...West Virginia..." Only in my dreams do I hit and hold those notes LOL

I learned to play this one to use in my sing along Reminiscence Group I do with geri-psych patients. I had to give it up because I sounded terrible trying to sing it. I had one guy for a short while that could hit all of those notes. Hint: it wasn't me!

[Steel and wood]

Important to me to play with likeminded musicians (or alone) playing the music I connect with and want to play than playing in a covers band (or playing covers) with no personal connection, has been my philosophy.

When I'm at home on the couch (which these days is pretty much the case), then I'm playing, noodling, practicing all sorts of songs, genres and it doesn't really matter.

[Greg Rappleye]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

At one time, I scrapped all love songs from my repertoire.

It occurred to me that as a fat middle aged chap, singing love songs seemed inappropriate.

Then, one day at a bluegrass workshop, I was approached by a beautiful German woman who grabbed me (literally) and declared "I vant you to be in my bandt" (Scratch bands for the last night concert were encouraged - and my favourite part of the week).

She was big on Hank Williams songs and "vonted" me to sing in close harmony with her. I said that I'm too old and ugly to sing such songs any more.

A big strong smack of a kiss told me that I was mistaken. I did as bid.

I sing songs about being in prison (Ninety nine years) and other such experiences totally foreign to me, but a song is a story...any story ..and can be well told if told with empathy and commitment.

I vont to meet your German friend.



Greg Rappleye