whos all stopped playing out "live" or at "jams"?? ( who switched to Nylon)

[Don Mare]

I seem to have stopped ?? I keep missing the Sunday blues jam at the Blue Dog Tavern In Long Beach Ca..

Something inside me ( without a conscience thought ) just does not want to stand up there and sing and play lately - so I find myself looking at the clock on Sundays around 5pm when the openers start the music for a hour at the bar then at 6pm the jammers get their slots till 9 to 10 pm..

but I just don't load up and go - I went the last few times and walked in and walked out and left ..

heres what I think,
1- is after Playin in LA JONES band and getting to see what the Blues Scene is really like - it was disappointing - theres bars & outdoor mall gigs. but they are not Blues Gigs.. there are no "blues Gigs" no more real big fan base.. so we were forcing the blues down peoples ears -- most did not think much about it - most wanted to request Classic Rock songs or Country.. most customers could not name one blues song...

I think that deflated my tires??? as far as my dreams of being a Blues Guitar Slinger on the scene ...

2- I was diagnosed with 50% arthritis of the spine with curvature of the spine
& 30% degenerated bone & discs.... so standing and playing hard can LAY ME OUT the following day... if I can do it at all..in the first place - which today I can't play because I'm in way too much pain -- Rainy weather seems to be worse on me then ever...

3- My ears!
I've noticed from not playing in a live band for a month that my ears are not
RINGING! - I really like not having that ringing in there! - I know if I go stand next to a Drum set and PA I'm going to ring for a few days...

4- NYLON STRINGED Guitars -- suddenly I'm in deeper love with them then ever - I'm more then happy to play these over my electrics.. I think its time to sell the Electrics down to just a few left and go grab some awesome sounding Nylons! --
the picture above is a Requinto Spanish Guitar thats tuned to A-Standard
its very loud and bright and really fun to play ..
so I'm still playing everyday - just not electric..


I was speaking to Gary Rodolph who was in Dale Hawkins band on and off during Roy Buchanans days - and in and out of old top 40' bands - Gary was such a great guitarist at a young age-- starting at 15 as a pro.
But for the last 20 years hes 61 now - hes played Nylons and rarely picks up the electric -

so is the switching to nylon come with age?
is this what we all do at some point?
it makes sense to me.. & the women like it... they sure can be romantic - especially if you study a few Spanish Gypsy scales --
I got my scales a www.looknohands.com - I printed them out and taped them to the guitars and everyday I tried to memorize the scale on just one string all the way from the nut to the last fret. after a while you have the whole scale in your head and can play Spanish Guitar till the cows come home -- mooooo!

Don Mare

[ole AZ]

I'm still a youngin myself, so I can't speak for most of this, but if playing out is causing you physical pain, and that rining won't go away, and you find nylon pleasing to you and the opposite sex, I'd say all systems are go for an unashamed full switch.

I can attest somewhat about the blues scene though. Everytime my band plays a full on blues song, we see people start to go outside for a smoke. They just aren't turned on by it, even though most of the classic rock songs they want to hear are completely grounded in the blues. Sad.

Best of luck to you sir with the transition, and from the sounds of things, its well deserved.

[ROADMAN]

your not alone Don....the blues scene in my NOTW is dull
my tolerance for loud stuff is fading fast and I've always suspected the Gypsy Kings were on to something...

ain't gettin old a laugh.......not

[ScatMan]

Originally Posted by Don Mare

...I think that deflated my tires??? as far as my dreams of being a Blues Guitar Slinger on the scene ...
4- NYLON STRINGED Guitars -- suddenly I'm in deeper love with them then eve...so is the switching to nylon come with age?

Don Mare

(Speaking for myself) I don't think any new music or playing that I grow to have a passion for necessarily has anything to do with age. It has to do with spirit and how the music hits my gut and heart. It's just a bonus if playing it doesn't hurt me physically.

btw: Beautiful guitar!

[getbent]

first, the nylon thing has worked pretty well for willie... and playing acoustic and classical is lots of fun....

I kinda see blues jams, blues scenes and playing in front of people in different lights.

The blues jam generates interest and a crowd of patrons who will bring people into a bar to hear music... from the jam host perspective it drives folks into your venue where they may invite friends who may order drinks and food and my come to like the place enough to visit often and on regular nights when they might not have before...

Blues scenes...It is kind of an interesting concept... wasn't blues just the popular music of a time... for a certain group of people with certain tastes? And over the years the tastes changed and what people wanted and what entertained them just changed. Kind of a drag to realize, but, people who went to Mister Kelly's back in the day... didn't go for the blues, they went for the party and the entertainment... a few guys went for the blues... but not the people the venue owner was looking for... he or she was looking for drinkers and dancers... So, a blues scene is almost not natural and probably never sustainable... and if the music is not changing.. it becomes a museum piece...

Playing live for people... I've decided that for me I have to strike a balance between what I'm willing to play and what I love to play. I know some songs people really really love to party and drink to and shake they booties.. and some songs I take a lot of pride and enjoyment out of playing... as long as those songs entertain and sell beer or make the venue owner happy... cool. We have a lasting relationship.

As for educated clientele... it is so fun when someone does know some stuff, but I prefer smiling, happy people who know nothing except they are having fun to people who clearly don't know as much as they think they do or love one song and then if you do one from a different era they call you a sell out...

My ears don't ring, but I don't play super loud (in fact at two venues we play, the owners have consistently told us that they really appreciate that we don't 'blow them out') and I try to keep it all in perspective...

I have/had a good friend who is a blues purist and has such rigid taste that he is pretty much a drag to hang out with and definitely it is scalding hot or freezing cold when going to see a band. They either suck or rule in about 2 songs... all based on a very strict definition (although unstated) of what is good blues and what isn't.

probably more than what you were asking.

[charlie chitlin]

#1 is a sad reality.
People dig my Blues band, and they respond to what we do (or did...I just officially quit tonight), but it's been years since I've played for a "Blues audience."
It's sad.
I don't think I'm ready to go nylon yet, though!
Seems to me to be the musical equivalent of what a Honda Gold Wing is to us bikers.
But...I ain't 50 yet.
We'll see...

[XKnight]

I haven't gigged in over 20 years and only jammed a few times since then. However, I have yet to pick up a nylon string guitar, probably because I have no idea how to play it or the type of music associated with it. Plus, I still have fantasies of being a rock star.

That being said, I can definitely relate to not wanting my ears ringing anymore. Ears are so precious to musicians, yet we abuse them with relentless abandon.

[gtech]

Well, when I started playing again after a 13 years break, that's maybe 15 years ago, I just wanted to play for fun, just for myself,and all by myself. But then some guys asked me to practice with them, and I ended up playing in Blues Jams for over 10 years.

But in the end, I was just playing to make please people, but I didn't have any fun. And there were less and less people going to these Jams. So I took another break...

Now I started practicing again this year because I am teaching guitar to my niece. And I realized that I liked to play guitar just for fun, and only when I feel to play.

Last week, I went to a Blues Jam, just to check how I would feel, and it didn't make me want to play. It was not good Blues, at least to my ears. So I will keep practicing, but just for my own pleasure, and acoustic guitar is also something I re-discovered.

Btw, real nice guitar indeed.

[Don Mare]

http://www.lonestarguitars.com/requinto.html

[superchicken_VI]

I wouldn't say that moving to nylon is an old-age thing, as I'm an avid nylon player. My first decent guitar was a nylon-stringed folk guitar (a late 60s/early 70s Framus that my uncle got in Germany in the service), and I've loved nylon my whole life. The feel is softer, the sound is so different from steel, and it fits every style of music that I love. My second good guitar (a late 80s Takamine Jasmine) was also nylon. I love them. I was in middle school when I acquired the Framus, and in high school for the Takamine.

[mickeydean]

when i was coming up there was a certain etiquette to jam sessions.

you made sure you were polite to the real players and they were gracious to you in turn.

you never, ever overstayed your welcome onstage, especially if you were not really, really good.

now people drag halfstacks to jams and stake out territory on stage that they NEVER relinquish. it is no longer good natured swaping licks and watching a couple of guys play their asses off, it's a competition between amatuers to play the loudest and the longest at their "gig".

i gave it up a long time ago but i sure do miss the good old days.

[raf]

I haven't played a gig since 1996...I miss the good nights...anyone who has played for a long time will relate to this...those nights the band is on it - the band and the crowd all know it

I don't miss the load in, load out, ego trips, getting home at 5 a.m. & sleeping all day. When I was younger, these were a price I willingly paid to play...not so much any more. Carrying two vanloads of stuff around became a necessity (big, loud, & ugly was our mantra)...When playing out became a job, I lost the desire.

Maybe sometime I will play out in a small situation - no vanloads of p.a., lights, etc - maybe sometime it could be about the music again.

[Tele Fan]

I've almost stopped. I lost a lot of joy in playing bar gigs, it just got so old to me. I still jam with some friends and play a party now and again, but unless I find a band and a place to play that would be receptive to the stuff I'm writing now I can't see myself jumping back into the scene. I especially counldn't do top 40 covers of what's coming out today "shudder". No offense to anyone I just can't dig it.

[musicalmartin]

I know what you guys are on about .I too am getting far to old for any electric dream and now play mainly jazz to myself and the dog .I gave up virtually playing guitar in the eighties -nineties and and only started playing again a few years ago .Wish I had carried on,I was better than I thought and should have started playing jazz properly much earlier in life .The only guitar I had was an spanish nylon string with old strings and a slightly warped neck .I also had a Harmony Sovereign with only 5 tuning pegs and a fret board like a farm track.I learnt quite a bit of technique on the spanish with out really realizing it and it still comes through playing electric.I now play finger style electric without really giving it any thought,the Harmony I usually used a pick for flat picking style .I keep wondering whether to go acoustic again .That Damn Lonestar ad is really givin me GAS .me wont one .Me go nylon .NOW

[KCKC]

We're only playing at charities and community functions, probably every other month. Our sets are drawn from what we like to play and what we think are fun songs. They go from stormy monday to folsom prison, get off of my cloud to my bonnie.

I've found my musical focus has gone from a desire to play out to a desire to write and improve on my abilities. I was rooted in blues as a bass player but have really started growing in my writing from a country perspective. The excitement I used have in my 20's about an upcoming gig has shifted to an incredcible desire and excitement about writing! There are ideas for songs everywhere and listening to them evolve is one of my favorite aspects of writing.

From the physical perspective I gave up "heavy" along time ago. Dumped my big rig ampeg and peavey gear for a small polytone combo. My hearing is down from earlier days too. Now we play at or just above conversational levels. It's easy on the ears and when we play we are not the focus of the event.

Maybe transition to nylon is simply another part of your music journey. For me it is country writing and learning that my tone is generated from my ten band hands, exploring the nuance and incredible variety of tone, sound (?) I can get out of my squier 51 with out any pedals or even unplugged.

I hadn't played for about 13-14 years. Started again 3 years ago and with my new focus, play everyday if only for 15 minutes.

I say go where it takes you, explore and enjoy the journey!

kc

[stevieboy]

Went last night after missing it for about a month--it was kind of a mess, LA was hosting and he had his hands full. And it was really crowded with regular folks which is good but you know how that place is laid out. So you probably wouldn't have stuck around! I can deal with jams by just not expecting too much or taking them too seriously.

But I missed seeing you. Sorry to hear about the arthritis.

I probably won't go nylon, just the opposite, but maybe it's the same idea.

[ac15]

Originally Posted by Don Mare

I seem to have stopped ?? I keep missing the Sunday blues jam at the Blue Dog Tavern In Long Beach Ca..

Something inside me ( without a conscience thought ) just does not want to stand up there and sing and play lately - so I find myself looking at the clock on Sundays around 5pm when the openers start the music for a hour at the bar then at 6pm the jammers get their slots till 9 to 10 pm..

but I just don't load up and go - I went the last few times and walked in and walked out and left ..

heres what I think,
1- is after Playin in LA JONES band and getting to see what the Blues Scene is really like - it was disappointing - theres bars & outdoor mall gigs. but they are not Blues Gigs.. there are no "blues Gigs" no more real big fan base.. so we were forcing the blues down peoples ears -- most did not think much about it - most wanted to request Classic Rock songs or Country.. most customers could not name one blues song...

I think that deflated my tires??? as far as my dreams of being a Blues Guitar Slinger on the scene ...

2- I was diagnosed with 50% arthritis of the spine with curvature of the spine
& 30% degenerated bone & discs.... so standing and playing hard can LAY ME OUT the following day... if I can do it at all..in the first place - which today I can't play because I'm in way too much pain -- Rainy weather seems to be worse on me then ever...

3- My ears!
I've noticed from not playing in a live band for a month that my ears are not
RINGING! - I really like not having that ringing in there! - I know if I go stand next to a Drum set and PA I'm going to ring for a few days...

4- NYLON STRINGED Guitars -- suddenly I'm in deeper love with them then ever - I'm more then happy to play these over my electrics.. I think its time to sell the Electrics down to just a few left and go grab some awesome sounding Nylons! --
the picture above is a Requinto Spanish Guitar thats tuned to A-Standard
its very loud and bright and really fun to play ..
so I'm still playing everyday - just not electric..


I was speaking to Gary Rodolph who was in Dale Hawkins band on and off during Roy Buchanans days - and in and out of old top 40' bands - Gary was such a great guitarist at a young age-- starting at 15 as a pro.
But for the last 20 years hes 61 now - hes played Nylons and rarely picks up the electric -

so is the switching to nylon come with age?
is this what we all do at some point?
it makes sense to me.. & the women like it... they sure can be romantic - especially if you study a few Spanish Gypsy scales --
I got my scales a www.looknohands.com - I printed them out and taped them to the guitars and everyday I tried to memorize the scale on just one string all the way from the nut to the last fret. after a while you have the whole scale in your head and can play Spanish Guitar till the cows come home -- mooooo!

Don Mare

I switched to nylon string for solo vocal/guitar gigs 10 years ago and have gigged steadily. Cool gigs too...I can't even tell you how many people have hired me to play in their mansions for their private parties. Get to see how the other half lives, while enjoying myself, meeting people and making nice money doing it. I sing and play jazz standards (Sinatra, Nat King Cole) and mix in some solo fingerstyle pieces. So you can gig a lot with a nylon string and it doesn't necessarily have to be classical guitar/Gypsy music. I still play my electrics at home, but for my gigs I've been using my classical guitar for years and I really dig it. Yes, there's something about it.

[Dave Hicks]

but I've added some.

D.H.

[Larry F]

I made my living through gigs until quitting in 1978. The lifestyle was just yucky to me. No real conversations except gossip and tales from the road. Working while everyone else is partying. Being treated like a felon by the parents of girlfriends. Maybe things are different now. Or maybe reverting back to the way it was when I was younger.

Young musicians: flee for your lives unless you are really serious and can take it.

[Telarkaster]

I started on nylon. I first got into guitar by taking classical guitar lessons. To this day I'm still mediocre with a pick.

I spent 2 teen-angst ridden years learning classical before saving up and getting an electric. Then I had to unlearn everything and start all over again: bending steel strings, strumming chords, keeping time (shuffles, rock beats, etc) , playing with 5 notes in a scale instead of 7 (or more), trying to make 3 chords sound good, power chords, caged system...

After a few years of that, I went back and picked up the classical guitar again and finished the lessons in my Frederick Noad book. No teacher this time, just my own determination. I didn't have a whole lot of money then, so going back to nylon was the only alternative I had to buying a new electric guitar that I couldn't afford. I'm so glad I did.

I learned that it really is all in the fingers, where you pick the note, what position you play the note, rest stroke versus free stroke, dynamics, etc... Playing acoustic really takes the "guitar plus cord straight into amp" mentality to a new level...

Now I jam twice a week in two different bands, electric guitars through Marshall half stacks, Fender Devilles and Peavey classics. Play gigs a few times a year, and a couple of years ago would attend an open mike night that usually degenerated into endless blues jams but it was fun. I went nuts and bought a compressor, phaser, and OD pedal to go along with my delay and wah. I'm learning to control feedback creatively with the use of a whammy bar on a Strat. My metal days are behind me, but we break out into War Pigs once or twice a year for old times sake. The last song of each jam is when we let what's left of our hair down and turn it to 11. It's part therapy, I get to really let a lot the frustration that builds up during the working week out of my system. My ears ring and I'm somewhat dazed the next day. But I love it.

Will I go back to nylon? You bet. I still have my classical guitar. But I've since put a Fishman pickup in it!

[guitaradelic]

I quit a few years back after playing bass for 30 some years, but I must be crazy, I'm working with two bands now. It's a little different though cause I switched to lead guitar. I think the knee surgery help change my mind, it's not so bad when you're not in constant pain. I will say, there is a little nylon guitar in the corner callin' my name. It may be cyclical, when the short term memory lets you forget how crappy some of the gigs are and you only remember the good ones, that's when you go for it again.

[dougk]

Im kind of with you. I LOVE to play blues music but I also like motown, classic rock and some dylan stuff.... maybe even the occasionaly light foray into some chicken pickin stuff.

Honestly there are days where I could be perfectly content to play nothing but songs from the Band.

I do have a friend that occasionally drags me out to the local jam night. Actually... around here I think theres damn near an open jam night every night somewhere in Sac but for me its alot of hauling stuff around to play what, 3 songs?

I just prefer to go crash one of my father in laws gigs. Course I always show up after everything is setup LOL