Corey_Y
Joined: Dec 30, 2015
Posts: 162
Poland, Ohio
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Posted on Jul 12 2017 11:39 AM
No cheating and saying you'd switch from lead guitar to rhythm or 12 string! The hypothetical choice is you can join your ideal surf rock band, but you have to switch instruments or you keep playing your instrument, but you never play a live gig again. You can practice, record, but no playing in front of an audience. Assume whatever you want about the switch, that you have to start over from scratch, but that you WILL attain skill, or that you would instantly have the skill on your new instrument as your current one.
So what would you choose? If you choose to switch, what instrument would you play?
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4052
Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Jul 12 2017 11:54 AM
Bass
No, wait... Drums
uh, Bass...
I love guitar and have been playing my whole life but the fact of the matter is I love music, am compelled to make it and will continue to make it regardless of how it presents itself, live, recording, by myself in a room etc.
Cheers,
Jeff
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
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Syndicateofsurf
Joined: Oct 08, 2014
Posts: 1073
Northern Ohio
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Posted on Jul 12 2017 12:01 PM
FYI- Some people don't like these thought experiments. I had one where 'What if you could only play 2 chords what would they be' and some acted as if I was going to pull 5 the strings off their favorite Jazz-master.
For your question, I hate playing live so my ideal surf band will get along fine without me. I would like to learn the violin but I've never gotten around to it.
Do I get a participation award?
— Da Vinci Flinglestein,
The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest
The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube
http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/
http://sharawaji.com/
http://surfrockradio.com/
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Samurai
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2239
Kiev, Ukraine
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Posted on Jul 12 2017 12:12 PM
Gigs are just a part of the whole thing named "playing in the band". The inmportant one! And for some is the most important one (for me yes, for sure!)
But I think it doesn't matter what instrument or parts you play, the only this that's matter is what you feel doing that and what other people feel about it ( band members, fans, family, friends, whatever)
So I guess the question should be transformed a little, but it's surely up to you.
PS: in my band that I founded 10 years ago and lead till now I've played lead, rhythm, bass when I just felt that this is wright for me and the band, that's it.
— Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine
https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki
Lost Diver
https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin
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Corey_Y
Joined: Dec 30, 2015
Posts: 162
Poland, Ohio
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Posted on Jul 12 2017 12:34 PM
Syndicateofsurf wrote:
FYI- Some people don't like these thought experiments. I had one where 'What if you could only play 2 chords what would they be' and some acted as if I was going to pull 5 the strings off their favorite Jazz-master.
For your question, I hate playing live so my ideal surf band will get along fine without me. I would like to learn the violin but I've never gotten around to it.
Do I get a participation award?
If anyone cares enough to play along, I fully expect a version of "this question is just invalid" because, you know...THE INTERNET. It's a very slow day at work, which is unusual, and I just felt like initiating a conversation to enjoy the plethora of different opinions and tastes on display. I've been a member of some forums for 10+ years and you can only talk so many times about what the best (gear) for (tone/genre) is or how many ohms is it if I plug this amp into these cabs or which guitar/amp/speaker/pedal/pick is better A vs Z (Just buy Q, unless you want to waste your time!). I mean, new pieces of gear and new relevant bands arise and reinvigorate old conversations. I was just thinking about this a lot this morning, because I used to play drums and I've run into several guitarists who say they are overflowing with people for whatever type of bands you like, but need a drummer. Not looking for guidance, I was just wondering to myself, would I rather switch instruments to join a band, or keep playing by myself and play guitar?
If I had to choose, right now, I think I would switch to drums. It seems like it would be fun to play drums in a surf rock band. Be bombastic, not overly technical but open for a lot of subtlety and nuance. It would be kind of a bummer moving gear around though, compared to maybe only needing a small combo or single speaker "stack".
I might feel differently at a different time. When I've done a lot of something very personally demanding like be a band leader, write songs, recording, touring, whatever...I usually get an itch to just "go play". As in join someone's band as a sideman and just get out there to play. If I've been in a band where I'm not the creative lead and it's stagnating or running into a lot of organizational issues, I usually crave being in charge of my own thing after that. Personally, I haven't been in a gigging band since the end of 2008. I've played a handful of gigs, but I've joined a lot of bands that pooped out after one gig or never got there, because of other members' personal problems or laziness. So right now I really just want to play, I don't want to be a one man band, writing everything in my basement and releasing my "vision". Though I've certainly been in that mode before and relished in it.
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Syndicateofsurf
Joined: Oct 08, 2014
Posts: 1073
Northern Ohio
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Posted on Jul 12 2017 12:56 PM
Hmmm... yeah, being in a real working band would be cool. I started on drums but always ended up on lead guitar. So I always ended up being a front man. I loved jamming with buddies as the drummer, drummed for a church band for years. So it was low impact and pretty relaxed. Waaaaayyy different than being out front fumbling my chords and sweating.
— Da Vinci Flinglestein,
The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest
The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube
http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/
http://sharawaji.com/
http://surfrockradio.com/
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2775
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Jul 12 2017 01:15 PM
I've thought this out over the years too. I'm actually a wannabe closet drummer and would love to give that a shot. For about five or six years in the 80's, I played keyboards, mostly because I had a Hammond and CP-70 piano and nobody else in the band wanted to do it. However as space in the band room was becoming a real premium and my wife just didn't see the "advantage" in replacing our dining room table and furniture with a Model D, Leslie and piano, they all moved on to other hopefully happy homes.
I've moonlighted in several Top-40 bands on the sly during our now twenty years of having a surf/instro band but it wasn't something that I was all that wild about. I did "get caught" once doing that which was actually pretty funny.
Let's face it. When you are playing for free, you can generally get away with playing most anything you want and I like that. "Hey, anybody out there want to hear "Mr Moto?" Well we do............!
I get a kick out of playing out, It scares the crap out of me but I still do it...........
Never give up Corey!
ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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revmike
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3805
North Atlantic
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Posted on Jul 12 2017 03:14 PM
I'm pleading the 5th.
Rev
— Canadian Surf
http://www.urbansurfkings.com/
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Syndicateofsurf
Joined: Oct 08, 2014
Posts: 1073
Northern Ohio
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Posted on Jul 12 2017 03:57 PM
revmike wrote:
I'm pleading the 5th.
Rev
I'll drink to that.
— Da Vinci Flinglestein,
The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest
The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube
http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/
http://sharawaji.com/
http://surfrockradio.com/
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Jul 13 2017 07:48 AM
If playing your favorite music on your favorite instrument is the most important thing, then play it, alone if necessary, and be happy and content. But if performing music for an audience is the most important thing to you, then you will find a way, no matter what music or instrument you have to play to do it.
Maybe find a way to do both? (You did say it could take as long as necessary to accomplish your goal.) It's a very personal choice. IMHO. YMMV.
And have as much fun as possible!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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OnedinGiraldo
Joined: Jul 17, 2016
Posts: 101
Sacramento
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Posted on Jul 13 2017 09:00 AM
Though it has been a while, playing live is in the blood! So, I would switch, go for the bass. Similar to @CrazyAces, creating, making music, the entire process as well as playing live keeps me moving forward. When I was younger I would have been hardheaded and said, no switching, glad that guy is not around anymore ;)
— The Me Gustas
https://themegustas.com
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PolloGuitar
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 5097
San Francisco
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Posted on Jul 13 2017 03:13 PM
I would switch instruments to get to play live. I wish I had more versatility, but I'm pretty much a one instrument guy. I'm in awe of the coordination of a drummer, and everyone knows they get all the groupies, so that's what I'd like to play.
— Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp
Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp
My Blog- Euro Tour Blog
Pool Boys on Spotify
INSTAGRAM
Frankie & The Pool Boys on FB
Pollo Del Mar on FB
DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio
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JohnnyMosrite
Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 892
New York City area
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Posted on Jul 13 2017 03:55 PM
Real simple
Corey -
I'll stick with my guitar.. Never cared for any other instrument and don't care all that much about public performance. I have my best fan - Me.
Samurai
I really don't care what "other people feel about it" - to be honest. This includes friends, family members, ex girlfriends and wives, fans(?) - no real fans except present wife and son. (I think)
Previous attempts by others to get between my guitar and myself have resulted in a 100% failure rate on all attempts.
Ever get the "it or me 'riot act' crap" from some idiot girlfriend or spouse about you and the guitar? Do yourself a favor - Stick with the guitar. Hell, the guitar has no legs but she does and can walk. Women come and go; guitars are forever- or at least as long as your lifetime if you treat them right.
Bottom line -
I liked what I heard as a kid. Still at it. Some of us just don't "grow up"
Stick with what you like.
My 2 cents from actual life experience
J Mo'
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Corey_Y
Joined: Dec 30, 2015
Posts: 162
Poland, Ohio
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Posted on Jul 13 2017 03:59 PM
I think people don't give themselves enough credit, when it comes to coordination and musical ability. If you can play a guitar with two hands to a beat, while switching a few pedals...you could learn drums. I mean, you might be terrible, but I've never seen anyone start on a new instrument and be great right away. There are people who are gifted and learn fast, but mostly it's dedication and motivation. I'm REALLY rusty on drums, but I went from barely being able to play to syncopating multiple limbs to a coherent beat in a handful of lessons with a good teacher.
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Jul 13 2017 08:26 PM
I just picked up Mandolin and banjo recently, so one of those.
But surf band huh... How about keys? Wurlitzer, not combo organ.
Bass is a guitar, that seems like cheating.
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websurfer
Joined: May 14, 2007
Posts: 1753
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Posted on Jul 13 2017 08:55 PM
JakeDobner wrote:
Bass is a guitar, that seems like cheating.
A bunch of bass players just let out a collective groan.
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Corey_Y
Joined: Dec 30, 2015
Posts: 162
Poland, Ohio
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Posted on Jul 14 2017 07:18 AM
Yeah, bass is my primary instrument outside surf rock and my first instrument outside symphonic stuff in school. I view it as related to guitar as marimba is to piano. The bassists who give the instrument that rep are usually guitarists that switched to join a band. Ironically and thematically appropriate.
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shake_n_stomp
Joined: Jan 09, 2014
Posts: 615
Vancouver BC
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Posted on Jul 14 2017 08:13 AM
It would have to be a really awesome band with great prospects for paid work for me to switch and the only instruments I could ever see myself go to are bass or keys. Having played bass for a few gigs and doing some musical director stuff for a surf band has given me a deeper appreciation for the role and focus of playing bass in RnR. And I took piano and theory for a couple of years as a kid so keys would be a good fit.
But this could only happen if the guitarists in that ficticious band did not suck, otherwise, it would be too excruciating.
— Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada
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Syndicateofsurf
Joined: Oct 08, 2014
Posts: 1073
Northern Ohio
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Posted on Jul 14 2017 06:43 PM
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January Birthdays 
