By Hercules Castro: Remember when alternative music was actually an alternative to popular music? As “alternative music” grew in popularity, by merit of terminology, one would have expected the label to change to “popular music”. But it did not. Nirvana, for example, was one of the most popular acts in the world, but they were still labeled “alternative”. Go figure. Now when someone refers to “alternative music”, I have no idea what they are talking about. Along these lines is the phrase “Thinking outside of the box”. There was a time when this meant to think differently, more originally, from a fresher perspective. These days, it has become more of a catchphrase. It seems that everyone is thinking outside of the box. So if we want some different, fresh and original thinking, maybe we should get back in the box. I thought that would be an amusing introduction to this entry, although tying the two together will be a stretch, at best. Today’s topic is two-tiered. First, I’d like to talk about stepping out of your comfort zone, which I guess could qualify as “out of the box” thinking. Second, I’d like to talk about use of the pentatonic scale …
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One of the many talents of Leonard Bernstein’s was his ability to explain/have a discussion about the complexities of music to anyone. You didn’t need to have a degree in music to get what he was saying. All you needed was the love for music and the desire to learn more. Below is a clip from The Unanswered Question – Six Talks at Harvard by Leonard Bernstein. In this clip Bernstein discusses what might Beethoven might have been feeling or what story he might want to convey when writing the piece featured on the clip. After watching this, I had a different/deeper appreciation for the music. So I ask you, what feeling are you trying to convey when you write a song? More to that, what feelings do you think a songwriter is sharing when you play his/her song? Think about that next time you play, you might find a new, maybe better way to approach a song.
About a year ago, I spent an evening Jamming with a friend. It’s a time that I look forward too because our sessions are usually great; the kind that give you chills. No chills that night. I sucked it up, big time. I was devastated by the thought that I didn’t play up to my ability and practiced even more to make sure that this didn’t happen again. About a month ago, I met again with my friend and we broke out the guitars and played. Success!!! We both got into that zone where you couldn’t make out whose guitar was whose and the melodies and chords filled the room. This is one of the reason why I play, for moments like this. I spent many days thinking about what was different between the two sessions. What I came to realize was the success came from me staying true to my ability as a guitarist instead of trying to match my friends style. He and I have played together for 20+ years and know each others ways very well. We can anticipate each others progressions and ideas in while playing. It’s a beautiful ting. As guitarists, we are two sides …
Quick Tip: Find a place in your home with decent acoustics. The most popular places are bathrooms but my favorite is a small hallway between my kitchen and dining room. Once you find a good spot, just play. It would be a good idea to have your guitar strapped on so you can walk around to find the “sweet spot.” You will know when you hit that spot because the sound of the guitar suddenly surrounds you. There, you have a place to provide real time feedback on your playing. A wonderful practice tool, as well as an experience. Try this from time to time, not only to critique your playing but to enjoy it as well. What I suggest isn’t anything new but can be forgotten, especially when we can plug in to an amp at almost anytime. Give being truly unplugged a shot and here your instrument’s true sound.
As you may know, I’m a huge Bruce Cockburn fan and when I discovered the documentary, “My Beat: The Life and Times of Bruce Cockburn” at Amazon, I had to have it. A brilliant documentary that gives just a bit of insight into the genius of Bruce Cockburn and his writing process. Highlights include: Studio footage of Bruce working with Andy Milne and Dapp Theory in his pursuit of overcoming writers block. Concert footage from when her got his first break to the Breakfast at New Orleans, Dinner at Timbuktu tour. Witnessing the birth of “Postcards from Cambodia” from “You’ve Never Seen Everything.” He was working through the lyrics and music for this song and tried out the chorus for the first time on camera. Truly moving to watch. If you are an aspiring song writer or just someone who loves the music of Bruce Cockburn, this documentary is highly recommended. From interviews with friends and family and words from Bruce himself, you will learn just a bit more about this modern day troubadour.
