Originally posted by brickboo:
The posts that bother me the most are the ones where guys record and are playing very bad chords on the old standards. Man, if you don’t know the chords, don’t record the tune and put it on the forum. There are too many professionals gathered here.
Boo
Boo, you've been brave enough to say what a lot of us have been thinking for a long time. And it's not just the bad chords, it's the generally AWFUL playing as well.
Have you ever met someone that was really dumb but didn't realize they were dumb? What we are hearing is the musical equivalent. Since I've been on the board, I have heard two, maybe three, instances of professional-level playing (and singing). Of course, the number of self-proclaimed "professionals" far exceed that number.
In your mind, you want to be helpful and encouraging, but in your heart you want to say "sir, put up your hands and back slowly away from the keyboard". 'cause we know that all the practice in the world is no substitute for talent. You just cannot make a silk purse......... no matter what equipment you choose.
If you really love music that much, buy an iPod and become a GREAT listener or even get a nice arranger keyboard, but for heavens sake, keep it at home and (more importantly) stop posting your productions on a site populated by musicians.
The problem is, most of these so-called "professionals" are actually a lot smarter, more articulate, and have better equipment, than their real-musician counterparts. As a result, they get the lion's share of the few available gigs. This, in turn, allows them to avoid having to work a day job, thereby allowing them more time to post musical dreck (see how that works).
Has anyone ever stopped to listen to the drum parts of nearly all of the recent arranger KB offerings? That alone is enough to strip it of any musical value.
So in closing let me say, it's fine to post a tune from time to time but not until you learn to play (or at least learn the changes) and not until someone other than your immediate family tells you that you sound good (and not telling you in sign language).
chas