Musings of an Aspiring Musician

Update on my life

2011-11-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

I'm now a senior in college.

My spirit keeps bouncing between "funk" music and "jazz music"

I've been gigging a lot. Subbing jazz, playing musicals here and there. I joined a Neil Young Tribute Band/Originals outfit. It is pretty established and after I graduate I'm gonna continue playing for the Summer. We play concert type things, festivals, corporate events, and also bars and patio type gigs.

I've also lost 70 lbs.

This Summer

2011-04-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

I think I may start writing on this blog again this Summer. I really enjoy doing it, but as a college student with a homework, president of a student organization, part time job at night, too many friends, a girlfriend, and gigs (yes I'm starting to play out a lot more!) its pretty tough to find time to even eat or sleep.

I'm sure I lost all my audience by now haha. We'll see. If you read this post a comment!

Praise Hendrix,

-Adam

Hey all

2010-10-15T00:38:00.001-07:00

It's been awhile. Anyone out there?

Electric or upright

2010-05-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

While I'm in school I am studying upright bass. I'm going to continue doing that..

Lately I'm wondering what kind of player I want to be. Is it really possible for me to be a upright jazz bass player? Do I want to play Brown Eyed Girl on electric for the rest of my life? That's not literally what would happen if I would play one or the other, but I don't know how much I'm really exaggerating!

I kind of have been longing to be a Berklee-esque player. I want to be fluent in all styles on electric and upright. However, I'm starting to feel that upright would be more of a secondary instrument depending on my situation.

Do I want to be a jazz player? Yes! Do I want to be a rock player? Yes!

I don't think I should have to to choose. Right outside of college I plan on doing the cruise ship thing like lots of guys do. However.. after I'm done with that I don't really see myself busting onto any jazz scene! I might have to play brown eyed girl.

Sorry for the incoherent rambling,

Adam

Finals...

2010-05-04T19:19:00.000-07:00

Finals are coming to a close. I work a lot...

I think I learned a lot more about myself.. then about bass or music.. So now that I got that out the way... time to shed.

Selling out.

2010-04-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

I'm selling out. I got a trio together to form a cover/bar band. We'll be playing the tunes the drinking crowd wants to hear... 90's pop, 80s pop, classic rock, and stuff. It's going to be fun though and hopefully we'll make a few bills!

The guitarist is great. He studies jazz at University of Toledo, but he's an awesome guitar player of some sort of rock idiom. I'll just say we can play 90's pop and Hendrix and we'll do fine. Plus he has a sound with his voice which is good since I suck and someones gotta split the leads with me!

The drummer is a good friend of mine. He's got a lot of pocket. We're making Mary Jane's Last Dance feel really good. You're gonna walk in the bar and think George Clinton is up in that mother but then realize we're playing three chord rock.. just well! Haha.

I'm embarassed to show this, but I thought I'd post a video of me and my old cover band.. this is when I had to sing cause the singer's voice was crapping out on him.. I made up the words and I'm not great, but this is still a good memory.

Purple Haze - Forefathers. A Jimi Hendrix cover. I love Hendrix.

Musicals

2010-04-10T14:38:00.001-07:00

Dear musicals,

I like doing musicals here and there. In this stage of my life its the main source of musical income as I'm not playing a lot of other gigs.

I do a pretty damn good job playing these shows whether they are good, ok, or god awful. And the pay is pretty shit. I wanted to make a minimum that wasn't even that good, but I'm doing a sub gig for my friend and its like 20 bucks (per service) below what I said my minimum was going to be.

I do a pretty damn good job and they pay me shit and pretend they are doing ME a favor. Well you know what musical world. I might even consider you one of the most water downed stupid art forms there is, and while theres good stuff out there you just ruin it regardless for the most part. If you want me to keep playing your stupid shit, then I'm gonna stop being a coward and make a firm price. Then when you hire some high school schmuck whose writing in all the "TAB" you'll wish you went the extra mile to get someone who knows what they are doing.

Sincerely,

Adam

Busy

2010-04-04T01:05:00.001-07:00

Busy.

Barney Kessel Youtube Trio

2010-03-17T00:21:00.001-07:00

Something about this trio I have always dug ever since I checked this video out 3 or 4 years ago when I was playing Autumn Leaves and stuff over and over again.. gotta start somewhere.

Autumn Leaves

Misty

You Are the Sunshine of My Life

Wave

Musical grading system in the UK

2010-03-10T09:46:00.000-08:00

Folks,

I'm so intrigued by the musical grading system the UK has.

I'm sure it has flaws, but you know that if you took lessons with a teacher using that system that they've been assessed and know what they are doing. And then you can always know where you and other people are. I'm a grade 5 jazz pianist. However, I was looking at the syllabus, and I might be a grade 5 jazz pianist... It doesn't seem too hard. You have to have certain scales for your assessment and then there.

I did some research though, and maybe I'm wrong. If you got through all those 5 or 6 books and then did some of your own thing (which is what all students should be doing) you could probably make it into a college like Bowling Green or Youngstown. Definitely not anything really prestigious though!

So upside, its good to have some regulation. Downside, its bad to have so much regulation ha. If I was in the UK teaching I would use these books, but I would only use them to supplement my own teaching. I would say "We're going to do this, but make sure you can do this" Or whatever.

If anyone has anything interesting to share about UK music grading system send me a shout.

Here's an example of a "Grade 5" solo I found on youtube. My critique is the guy still doesn't have a feel for the style. Just going through books provided by a system isn't enough. You have to go and listen to the cats and study them!

Like the picture?

2010-03-01T21:21:00.000-08:00

I made the title of the blog go over a picture of my bass. I think its kinda cool. I've been shedding a lot, and have tons of tests. So not a lot of blogging goes on. I've been keeping up with analytics though.. so I'm watching you.

Back to the shed.

Jaco with John Scofield...

THE CHICKEN

New picture and future career musings.

2010-02-25T22:13:00.000-08:00

Hey all,

Wow its only been like two days and I'm making another post. I'm at the old front desk guarding the lives of a couple hundred college students. I took a new picture. I tried to look smart and sophisticated. Did I pull it off?

I often ponder about the future. A lot of opportunities are gone for musicians, but I'm still pretty determined to have a career.

Everyone should check out musicianwages.com and particularly this article: Average Income of Musicians

These are the jobs given that are what musicians basically do today:
* Teaching
* Original Music
* Selling CDs
* Cover Bands
* Symphony Orchestras
* Musical Theatre (Broadway) Musicians
* Cruise Ship Musicians
* Freelance Musicians

I'll never be in a symphony orchestra so scratch that one. I've never thought much about original music and selling CDs, but it could happen. Every other thing I'd really like to experience. I especially would like to play on a cruise ship for a couple years after college before settling down into a scene.

Can you think of any more jobs that wouldn't fit in one those?

-Adam Meinerding

Here's a job we used to see.. perhaps this is why we don't see it anymore except on the movies!

A few notes, thoughts, and Snookie Nude pictures

2010-02-24T08:40:00.000-08:00

Before I go any further. I put Snookie Nude pictures in my title as an experiment. I follow google searches and my google analytics a lot. I want to see if I get any hits from people searching for the infamous Snookie (from Laguna Beach) nude pictures that apparently are hard to find. Not that I would know.

My bass playing
My upright bass playing has really come along. I'm starting to do some transcriptions of solos and tunes. I even have been sitting in with the faculty at a local bar occasionally which to me is a real milestone. However, the biggest thing is that while my technique, skill, and creativity are still growing. It feels right. The bass feels good in my hands. My teacher Jeff told me that I'll reach a moment when I'm playing with folks and it feels really right. I don't think I've hit that, but I've hit something.

I also bought a K&K Bass Master Pro pickup system. I'm gonna set a whole post aside to review that though. I will tell you that.. I'm not disappointed.

March Madness
March is going to be a crazy month, and is going to test me as a person and a musician.

The first week of March I have 4 tests. All could be considered some type of midterm. They aren't low point tests. While bass is my main focus.. I try to keep my grades up. So thats gonna be stressful. The second week of March is Spring Break. That'll be a nice restup from the craziness..

I'm playing two consecutive musicals.. oh god. I always say I'm never going to play one again. I'm playing for a Otsego High School's production of Little Shop of Horrors. Playing it with their choir director and my two bros; Paul and Laine. The following week I'm plaing BGSU's production of Working. This is with the amazing Kevin Bylsma, and my good friend Laine again. Laine and I are gonna have to do some extracurricular activities to get through all those rehearsals and performances. Also during the week of working.. its Jazz Week. I have to miss most of that. The week after that I have a ton of other junk going on! I love being a musician!!

Why I love being a musician
Sometimes I get depressed about the music industry, musicians, and what not. I had a trio jam session the other day. I was playing electric bass because my pick up hadn't come in yet. My good friend Laine was at my side playing drums again, and we were playing with our friend Dave, a piano player. We played When It Rains by Brad Meldau, Stella by Starlight, and Herbie Hancock inspires blues head. Every every tune there was a little moment of silence because we were enjoying our selves so much and realizing that work was paying off. I say to all young musicians out there. Always jam! Always play! Sometimes I forget what it was like to be 15 years old and go to my friend Tonys house and playing White Stripes and Weezer songs all day just for fun.

I know that was a lot of quick rambling, but I have a class soon! Keep reading! Keep playing!

-ACM

Heres When It Rains by Brad Mehldau. Listen to that 16th groove over the triplets on the piano. Brilliant.

Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-13T22:55:00.001-08:00

I'm single on Valentines Day. Holiday's a joke anyway.

In honor of Valentines day here's Bill Evans version of the classic disney tune...

Someday My Prince Will Come

John Mayer.

2010-02-11T20:24:00.000-08:00

I recently read an interview with John Mayer and playboy magazine. I wasn't reading a playboy, but I found it online.

http://www.playboy.com/articles/john-mayer-playboy-interview/index.html

Maybe some of the things he said weren't tasteful, but I commend him for being him.

I respect John Mayer a lot. Even though the pop music industry is shit Mayer still writes good songs, good melodies and good licks.

Jazz

2010-02-10T12:42:00.000-08:00

Jazz. Bass. Jazz. Bass.

Ditka.

Sausage.

Jazz.

Always... Patsy Cline (and sometimes Charlie Parker)

2010-02-02T21:32:00.000-08:00

I've been making great headway with the upright bass the past few weeks. I fixed some major technique errors that I had ingrained to my playing. Playing the bass feels so right now! Even my electric playing feels better now.

I've been playing some bebop heads.. which is no easy task on the bass. I hadn't had a good lesson yet this semester, but bringing my technique up and shedding a ton makes it a lot easier.

TIPS FOR BASS PLAYERS (and probably guitar players)
Lets say that you're getting the hang of your instrument. You are compin' decently.. you know about 20-40 tunes, and you're really starting to get your feel together. You might not know what to do.. what I'm pretty sure bebop heads are the answer. It ramps up your technique. So shed those and your scales!!!

Back to my life...

I might take a 6-7 week gig this summer. You know those stupid music song and dance shows. Well there is one in Indiana based on Patsy Cline songs.. you know "Crazy.. I'm crazy for feeling... so lonely.." Beautiful country ballad. She died in the height of her career in the 60s when she was only 30 years old. She was country before country was Dixie Chicks and singin' bout tractors and such. I'm not so sure about the whole thing yet, but I'd get paid a salary and have free room and board for a large part of my Summer. The pay is not great, but it might be good enough.

I'll let you know how shit goes. Hey I think I have a jazz quartet gig subbing for a guy at school too. Things are looking up.

Video of two silly looking foreigners playing bass/guitar duo "Scrapple from the Apple"

Patsy Cline "Crazy"

Later Daz braz

Gigs or lack there of?

2010-01-18T22:58:00.000-08:00

Gigs are slow. Especially for a freelance student musician with no groups.

I have 2 musicals coming up. I might have to cancel one.

Let the money roll in!

How are gigs on your side of the woods?

My future is Sublime?

2010-01-13T03:09:00.000-08:00

This is the first week of school. My life's in a kind of transitional period. Not so much physically or in "real-time" yet, but emotionally. Winter break was maybe my last extended period of doing absolutely nothing, living at home, and chilling with my old friends till 4am every night. Home and my old friends are important to me, and I've realized I'm moving on officially. I'll be staying in Bowling Green this summer. I might take a few summer classes if I feel the need, and get some sort of job, but the main reason is musically... Celina, OH drains everything out of me. I find myself chilling with old friends and my bass mostly sits on the ground.. lonely. This summer I will be living with two friends. One is a jazz drummer and the other is a jazz bassist (like myself) and jazz/classical guitarist. He always plays piano. What an asshole right? Who is that talented?! We'll be forming a jazz trio for the summer. But anyway... Blaming my environment for lack of practice may be copping out, but I sincerely believe its a major part of the problem. As soon as I get back to school practice is no problem.

I'll give you updates of how my summer will play out as the days go on.

While bass is coming along, one thing I realized over break is how I want to play pop music and I miss playing guitar. Jazz bass is my thing and I'll also play anything else on bass, but I really want to get my guitar and vocal chops together and play some solo gigs over the summer.

1. )I need to get a new guitar. My guitar is broken. It fell at some point and the back of the headstock cracked. I'm looking to trade my old ampeg 4X10 for an acoustic (if anyone out there is interested give me a buzz).
2. ) My chops. I'm not worried about getting my guitar chops together. I'm mostly going to be doing chords and maybe some fingerpicking. If I start playing again it'll come right back to me. Vocals are what I'm worried about. I'm not much of a singer. I plan on working with a friend of mine back home a bit who is a great singer-songwriter. I want to find a sound that works for me, and also works for cover repertoire.
3. ) Repertoire... This is going to be the toughest thing. Its very difficult to play solo. Songs tend to be shorter and its just you guitar and your voice bringing all the energy. I don't have the money for effects and voice harmonizers and stuff so I'm pretty much just stripped down to bare. I might have my bass processor to get the best sound I can out of the guitar, but tahts it. Plus I need to please an audience. I plan on learning classics like Brown Eyed Girl or on a different spectrum, Comfortably numb. Then 90s tunes like Mary Jane's Last Dance and Third Eyed Blind and maybe some goofy covers like Lady Gaga and Kady Perry.

I've been trying to form a band for awhile for this summer, but keep failing. However, I think I have the drive and that the problem is organizing something with other people on short notice and when everyone's so busy. If I'm just by myself.. all I have to worry about is me. I bring the guitar, the mic and stand, a music stand and lyrics.. capos and strings.. and just bring the talent.

Daily Weekly Monthly or Yearly Video

I'm ending my Sublime binge with this video of them performing an early version of Caress Me Down. I'm a huge Sublime fan. I just love every single thing about them. I often go on binges of my favorite artists even when they aren't putting out new material and I have most of their stuff. I often find myself on Hendrix binges.. perhaps that's next.

Stay beautiful world,

A.C.M.

P.S. If you're wondering why I am posting so early. I'm a night guard for a residence hall at BGSU.. working the 4am-8am shift this morn!

Joe Pass plays Satin Doll...

2010-01-02T15:31:00.000-08:00

Man I'm a posting machine lately.

I don't have anything to say, but I was watching videos on youtube as most computer savvy Americans do (way too much) and I stumbled on Joe Pass playing Satin Doll solo.

Satin Doll is a tune most of you know. If not, it's a tune by Duke Ellington and it gets played A LOT! A lot of times you hear it played by beginners. So to not beat around the bush, its often very lame and gets associated with lame-ness.

However, Joe Pass takes this tune and plays it completely solo and just makes it sing. I love Joe Pass and his playing. If you haven't heard him this is a good introduction.

So long 2009 and be informed

2009-12-31T14:51:00.000-08:00

This is my second post since deciding to revitalize this blog and my last post of the decade.

Its been a crazy decade. 4th grade to my sophmore year of college. Those are some important years of my life I'm sure.

I think people (including me) should try and stay informed beyond what mainstream American media wants to tell us. I found this stuff in a couple stowed away places on some websites, but this is intense stuff in Iran. The people are rioting and Iran isn't having it. Please check out the videos here.

If that all depresses you too much here is a video of Ray Brown Trio w/ Jeff Hamilton and Gene Harris with their version of A Night In Tunisia. Sweet drums and the piano and bass interplay is sweet.

Let's go into this new year blazing! Stand for something whether its music, going green, or human rights all over the world.

-A.C.M.

Dear 1999

2009-12-30T13:56:00.000-08:00

This post is part of a group blog event organized by MusicianWages.com. The topic is: “If you could go back to 1999 and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?”

This is kind of a different prompt for me then a lot of people writing for this blog event. Because in 1999... I was ten years old! But I'd still have some advice for that young budding me for when he actually picks up music.

Dear 1999 Adam,

Hey bro whats up. I know you want to be a writer, and you'll have some good experiences and learn a lot about that all the way into junior high, but then that pesky guitar you'll buy is going to get in the way.

I don't have a lot of huge regrets about growing up and how I grew with music. I could tell you to just start on bass, or find a really good teacher while you're young, or to practice 20 hours a day and sleep 4. However, that's not how I got where I am now. That would have been nice and maybe some things could have been a little better, but we are turning out ok. The only thing I really want to say is be grateful for who you are and what you've been given.

Be thankful for your first guitar teacher who did know what he was doing. Be thankful for Mitch Campbell, you're first jazz teacher. While he didn't teach you a ton about bass, he introduced you to a lot of theory and gave you an intro to jazz that couldn't have been much better. Be thankful for John, your pre-college bass teacher. He really got a lot things going for you that you couldn't have done for yourself (although I appreciate you're gung-ho attitude in finding these guys) and also appreciate your friends that always played right along side you... and your parents, your band teacher... I can't even tell you all the people that will help you and inspire you.

Playing music is about people. So don't go solo bro.. unless you got that backing band.

We're all unique in our childhoods, and you had a decent one. The only thing I can say is live with no regrets musically, physically, intellectually, spiritually, and every other aspect of life.

Remember. It don't mean a thing... if it ain't got that swing.

-A.C.M.

P.S. Don't sell all your guitars man. You won't need that ampeg half stack very long, and you'll miss playing guitar! Ha!

Lifes crazy

2009-09-27T21:53:00.000-07:00

Lifes been crazy..

My life is a constant battle of learning the upright, trying to find myself musically, and finding time to still enjoy it all!

I love it.

I may return to writing my thoughts.. not much time to think though.

Plus I never get any of my checks?

-A.C.M.

Hey...

2009-07-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Fourth

Auditions

2009-06-25T10:32:00.000-07:00

I'm auditioning guitartists for a party/bar band I'm starting in BG.

Already have a drummer. Friend of mine.. great player. It'd be cool if he could sing some too, but ha not so!

We're gonna play cover band standard type songs.. Songs like Summer of 69, 867-5309, I Want You to Want me..
Lots of 90s type rock.. Stone Temple Pilots, Sublime, Third Eyed Blind, Weezer, Greenday...
And depending on the guitarist some type of classic rock.
Anything from Ted Nugent, ACDC, Van Halen... depending
And if we end up with someone whose not so good at that kinda stuff, but we still like him and hes tight we'll play more Rolling Stones, CCR, Feel Like Making Love type stuff.

I'll let the internet know how it goes.

Get strapped for your gig in the mid-east and intro thoughts

2009-06-19T13:23:00.001-07:00

I love music. I've never wanted to strive for this stuff so much in my life.

The problem lately is I'm not playing jazz. I spent 500 bucks getting my bass fixed, and now its sitting in my room... intimidating me at night while I sleep.

I'm playing a lot of rock. I figure I'll continue playing it my whole life... gotta take the gigs that pay you know? I don't mind playing Summer of 69 and 867-5309 and other music. BUT I wanna play jazz... its not gonna happen if I can't get myself to practice as much as I want.

I'll try and make the weekend productive and let ya'll know!

Tired of playing weddings? Be grateful for the money and fun...
CHECK THIS NEWS STORY

JALALABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Taliban fighters beat musicians, shaved their heads and left them tied to trees overnight because they performed at an Afghan wedding, a village tribal chief said Monday, a sign of the fighters' growing influence.

While in power from 1996-2001, the Taliban banned music as un-Islamic.

The militants have returned to areas in the east and south of the country, where violence has sharply spiked in recent years. They attack government officials, Afghan police, foreign troops and schools that teach girls, another practice they forbid.

"A party was going on when a group of Taliban grabbed five musicians and started beating them and smashing their musical instruments," said Rahmatullah Khan, a head of Merke Khel village in the east of the country.

"The musicians were tied up with rope to trees last night and villagers found them in the morning when going out for prayers," Khan said.

Khan said Taliban fighters shaved the heads of the musicians and made them take oaths in the presence of villagers that they would not sing or play music at weddings again.

Afghan weddings and engagement parties in rural areas are traditionally celebrated with hundreds of guests, music and singing that often continues until late at night.

Summer

2009-05-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

It's been summer for awhile. I definitely haven't been practicing as much as I should.

I'm setting some goals for the summer.

1. Just generally get more comfortable with the upright. Scales, arpeggios, excercise books, bow, Simandl...
2. Keep my tunes list up and also try and learn around 10 tunes.
3. Keep playing piano and slowly work through jazz piano book.
4. Rethink how I walk bass lines.

Practice..

2009-05-22T22:27:00.000-07:00

..makes perfect.

Goal equipment...

2009-05-18T02:12:00.000-07:00

I'm not a gear junky, but I aspire to be one. Everytime I'm with players that talk gear I get a little distracted or bored, but I want to be interested! Especially recording.. I get so lost..

Anyway.. I'm keeping this stuff in the back of my head, but this is some goal equipment I want to have by the time I move out to Dayton or where ever I decide to go. So this could be 5 or 6 years. I won't get all of this, but I aim high but am realistic with expectations!

Standard (Mexican) Fender Stratocaster

I've played lots of guitars. I was a guitar player before I was a bass player, but I kinda got out of it. But I like guitars and I can play them. I like strumming chords, playing pop songs, and rocking some tasty licks. Anyway, I think even though its called a standard strat because its made in mexico and has no bells and whistles.. its just the standard guitar for me. A strat plays plays real nice when set up well, and you can get some good sounds out of it. Sometimes it lacks any presence like a Les Paul or something, but I'm not a guitar player by trade and I just need a solid electric for teaching, hobbying, and maybe even the occasional gig. I'll try and get one of these used. I might even get a squire or knock off of one. I do like the white... I would get something else if I got a deal. Hopefully around 200-400 for this or something.

Guitar amp...

This is debatable. I have a 10 inch guitar amp that I could use for lessons.. I could get another 10 inch if I needed to as well. But what if i play gigs or wanna play with some real sound at home? I think the way I will want to go is to get a 2x10 or 1x12 or something. A mid sized combo that I can use in lots of situations. I could possibly get a cheap effects pedal and just plug into a bass amp.

This amp or an equivalent would be great. A small 1x12 tube amp. A mentor of mine uses this and mics and it sounds ok. He seems happy with it, and its simple and what I'd like. I'd need an overdrive pedal though.

Guitar wise I'm pretty good then. I meet need a couple pedals and accessories, but those aren't as expensive and I'd pick them up hopefully as I need them. If I got all seperate pedals.. distortion, bluesy overdrive, wah, delay...

My acoustic guitar is dying. It got knocked over in the dorm room 40 too many times, but while its nice to play and practice as this point it plays more like an electric and doesn't have a great acoustic sound even though its a nice little Washburn.. with a beautiful finish. If I knew where I could get a picture and cared enough I'd show you...

Anyway I want another acoustic guitar. I think acoustic will always be my main deal guitar wise. I'm a fan of chord strumming and singing!!! I just want a loud acoustic with good done that I can play at parties and entertain guests and whatever my life might take me to. I'd drag the other one around. A dreadnought would be cool thing. I'll probably buy the cheapest good thing I can find at the Celina Music Store or an equivalent store. I would only wanna spend 200-300 bucks on this. I would definitely upgrade this guitar in future years. Here's something like I would want.

Enough of this guitar bullshit right? But in reality I'm fairly happy with bass. I have a Fender Aerodyne Jazz which I am happy with. I got it before they jacked them up three of four hundred dollars. I get the sound I want out of it for most things. I'm happy with my SWR working man. That will continue to be one of my main bass amps for electric for a long time. I also have a 4X10 Ampeg half stack with no head that could serve me again eventually. It has wheels.. I never really minded getting it around actually...

As far as upright goes... on Tues I'm taking the old Kay I got ahold of to Cincinnati and spending every cent I have making it play good. Goals for this next school year are also to get my own solid pick up for it, and also a decent bow of my own. Those are things I will accomplish soon. Way into the future I'll hope to get a carved bass, but I'll be fine with a nice Kay tub for awhile!

HOWEVER, I am in desperate need of a decent upright amp, and a smaller amp for

electric bass. I plan to kill two birds with one stone, but this is something that deals and things could change my goals. Amps could go anyway because I'll need a second back up bass amp, a smaller amp, and an upright bass amp eventually. This is a little amp that a upright bassist I know plays and Ron Carter uses it. Puts out a lot of sound on an upright.

As far as amps go though I'll want a nice acoustic amp for sure, but I'll definitely need a second large sized combo as well for a back up. That'll be a trip to the Celina Music Store or equivalent to do the best I can.

One option for amps would also get a head for my Ampeg 4x10. At the same time as this I could get a smaller cab for this head to use in other situations. That would honestly be in the vein of getting whatever I can and upgrading in the future.

There are other things that I will need depending on my situation and time and stuff. For example, if I ended up playing some sort of guitar gig I would probably also need a second guitar that isn't complete shit, and maybe an effects pedal. I could definitely use another electric bass and I think I'll definitely try and get another 4-er that I can drag around and use as a backup. This is all considering deals I could run into and etc. though.

All this is probably close to 2-2.5k dollars depending on what I get, but for what I want to do I can't go to post college life without all this stuff to add to what I all ready have.

Dream band (non jazz)

2009-05-14T22:17:00.000-07:00

I'm home. Playing some gigs... stuff.

I've been thinking about my dream band I'd love to settle into when I am older. What I want is probably way different then anyone else. I want to just have a bar/wedding/party band. A power trio. Solid guitar player who can play some cool licks, and great chord style, and knows how to play in the setting. Then a drummer who is also good in the same mindset. We'd all sing. One of us would sing lead and the other two would do other things.

I think getting a great sound out of 3 guys in an intimate setting is way cooler then a rockestra or the E-street band. If every guy contributes its great. I love the intimacy. I would wanna play top 40/top 100, classic rock, and cover band standards. Kinda like how my band the Forefathers is now.

More fun, more money... lets take the wedding back from the DJ. *starts playing the bass riff from Brick House*

Packing my bags...

2009-05-07T14:29:00.001-07:00

... and heading home tommorow.

Acoustic bass (guitar)

2009-05-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

I used to be kind of elitist about the acoustic bass guitar as both an electric bassist and an upright bassist (starting to not feel bad about calling myself one). I used to think they were a novelty on the lowest end of the list. From an upright point of view they don't really put out any sound and there tone is often extremely buzzy and not pleasant. Violent Femme's Brian Ritchie played one, and I liked him and the band, but I didn't particularly like his bass that much. It's ok.

I've changed my mind recently. Cheap low end acoustic bass guitars are still shitty novelties that you should buy anything else over them. But, after reading a forum post about high end ones I started looking around youtube.. and some of them are groovin if they are fretless.

Canadian bassist, Alain Caron is an exception to my previous though and the tone of Brian Ritchie. His tone his truly just beautiful.. somewhere in between electric bass and upright bass, but the sound is beautiful and unique and it doesn't sound like he was searching to be either tone, but rather his tone alone. His solos are bright and fantastic.. and expressive.

Buy Conversations by Alain Caron. I don't know if you can get it in America. He's french Canadian and I bought it in Canada.

Final stance. Acoustic bass guitars are cool if its fretless and not cheap. If you can prove me wrong I want you to open my mind to other options.

Shaq Fu

2009-04-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

Semester is drawing to a close.

I have a bass sort of. An old kay. I had my teacher, Jeff Halsey, take a look at it.. and while he said all basses deserve a chance to be saved, this one needs only a small amount of work, and with the right strings and set up it will be a "nice little tub bass" Which is cool. When I start to find myself as a musician and get a bass I really want I will always have "the tub"

One thing important about being a person and a musician is to be well rounded. Don't be music all day every day. Hobbies, people, and experiences are very important. Don't dump your girlfriend to practice, and don't ditch your friends to practice.

I like zombie movies. I collect them and I have a feeling this summer I'll be getting back into that a little.

My girlfriend and I bought a Super Nintendo. We haven't really played it because its back in my home town but through game stores and ebay we have six games! Super Mario World, Prince of Persia, Super Empire Strikes Back, Super Return of the Jedi, Zombies ate my neighbors.. and we can't start a collection without the worst game ever made... Shaq Fu.

I'll let you know how moving back home goes. Jeff and I have some jazz duo gigs starting to get lined up!

K bye

My plans

2009-04-23T02:58:00.000-07:00

So a lot of guys say you have to work hard and live in the present. I definitely understand that and I've been working to move my personality towards that. But.. I guess planning is something I've always enjoyed. Whether it was what superhero I would be in the second grade or what I wanna be after high school.

So I think a lot about life after college. My freshman year is coming to a close.. its very stressful, but I won't get into that. Right now I'm breaking from an all nighter of cramming for a class I don't need. Who gives a rat's ass about rocks and streams!!!

Anyway... so I think a lot about life after college. Playing, gigs, apartment, jobs, and my lady who I hope to keep. Starting out seems like it will be so hard. I look at alumni at colleges and see what they are doing and some just get lucky, and other are working at Sears and selling their bass for rent!

I believe I am going to locate myself somewhere around Dayton, Ohio. Why Dayton Ohio.. I have friends in Dayton and they actually have a decent jazz scene. I think I could go out there and really get my feet wet and break into a scene. They actually have 3 or 4 jazz clubs and lots of restaraunts and hotels that play jazz. That's almost unheard of.. or maybe I'm just ignorant to the "Big city" which Dayton is really just a medium sized metro.

Cincinnati and Columbus are just an hour away. That's really not too bad. So I have access to three scenes. Realistically I'm not gonna venture out to Columbus and Cincy every week for a long time, but they are there. CCM and Capital are both options for grad school if I ever decide, but I guess I'd have to move anyway.

But when I move to Dayton (unless things change) I see myself seeing if I can move in with some friends or a lady. Then hanging out at the clubs and trying to meet people.. Scoping out the tunes people play and the levels of players. Whose hot... whose not.. whose getting gigs.. who should be getting gigs.. Cincinatti, Columbus, and Dayton all have some long running jam sessions which is very important in breaking into a scene.

But besides that.. I'll probably get a job at sears or target or whatever.. run to the nearest music store and try and start a studio... See where it goes from there.

Hopefully I'll have the chops to make an impression.

Adam Meinerding

Do me a favor...

2009-04-07T22:23:00.001-07:00

If you read this comment.. if you don't wanna comment send me an email at ameiner@bgsu.edu

Tell me how you got here.

Gigs

2009-04-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to actually get some gigs here. Its all about who you know and then doing the best job you can. Hopefully more people will remember you.

Quick story..

2009-03-30T21:27:00.001-07:00

Once Jeff and I played a Thanksgiving gig (I guess three acts during the whole day) and they like booked really weird so a piano player played during what we thought then a sax player played and he did the whole go around playing tunes with people...

Then he came back and played some tunes with those. This guy only played prebebop jazz stuff. He chose some random songs we didn't know out of the real book and some stuff.. interesting guy named Jerry Steinke.

Anyway.. I kind forgot about him and his name and everything but for various reasons I might move to Dayton after college, and I found a picture of him and I just recognized him. Maybe I'll give him a call when I get there..

The player I wanna be..

2009-03-30T20:41:00.001-07:00

Lots of people have given me the advice when you get to a certain level start to engulf yourself and emulate someone you wanna be like.

I wanna be Ray Brown.

After engulfing myself in him I've found that the Ray Brown Trio is really really good even for non bassists. Gene Harris and John Hamilton are equally as good on their instruments. If you like blues and standards type straight ahead stuff they are great.

I'm so busy. When schools out I will post a summary of my freshman year and what i learned but right now I have to cram for a geology exam... eff...

bizz hey!

2009-03-29T11:52:00.000-07:00

busy

Listening

2009-03-26T18:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we all forget that listening to music is just as important as playing it.

A guy came in a clinic and said it was great that everyone has so much access to all music now, but we're hurt from it in a way because even though we check out so much.. we really don't engulf ourselves in the music. Back when all he had was record stores with limited selections... he'd get an album.. and listen the shit out of it.

I remember getting so excited when I first listened to music. I would buy a CD and just listen to it over and over again till I hated but I was so active in my listening and could sing everything in those tunes..

I'm gonna try and do that again.. by doing that I am adding one album to my ipod at a time and only listening to that album over and over til I wanna move on.

Tell you how it goes!

Cat Scratch Fever or Autumn Leaves and other short musings

2009-03-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

Jazz Fest this week at BG. Which means 4 jazz recitals in a row pretty much. Should be pretty cool though.

Anyone who asks if you can play rock and jazz should play through a rock song and actually think about it for a second. Rocking some rhythm on your E and A strings isn't going to set back your jazz playing!!! Besides that.. heres one thing.. I found when playing songs like Cat Scratch Fever.. I had trouble keeping my eighth notes at a steady drone... more doDOdoDodo then dodododododododo... but thats easily corrected with a little attention.

If you play rock harder then that like dream theatre or something.. then you probably have the chops to do both and you probably wouldn't be asking the question hahah!

Later,

Chadbrochill17

Road gig and other ponderings!

2009-03-10T17:05:00.000-07:00

So I'm back for Spring break... my rock band played a battle of the bands at a bar and won! Woo... next round. There's a video up somewhere of us playing Runnin' With the Devil by Van Halen... perhaps I'll post it sometime..

I got that gig playing a musical.. dress rehearsals Wed and Thurs and performances Friday and Saturday. But its my spring break.. I'm gonna be living in the BGSU music building, my aunts guest room, and a friend of mines crib... Should be an interesting rest of the week.

I really love playing my electric bass. I like the upright.. but its just weird cause I feel like I'll never be able to pick it up and just play it like the electric...

Sometimes I wonder if I'd be better off buying a 5-string fretless hollowbody electric bass.. then I could be that guy. That way I could not only get as close of a sound to an upright that I can.. but I could do some cool five string stuff... I don't see this working as I'll get more gigs on upright bass, but.. my bass teacher says eventually the upright will take me over. I don't know though...

Not only that its so expensive!!! I have a nice Made in Japan electric Fender jazz bass and it was only 600 dollars... A 1500 upright bass isn't even good!

Until next time,

Adam...

I'll let you know how the gig goes. Hopefully this time I won't get jipped.

2009-03-05T17:36:00.000-08:00

I think the build up into possibly getting a sweet gig is almost as exciting as playing it.

Possible gigs happening for me:

House gig at a hookah bar

Jazz quartet gigs back home

Jazz duo gig back home

Woo!!!

The equipment blues...

2009-02-26T23:00:00.001-08:00

WARNING: If you know nothing about gear you might think this is dull.

A musician makes little to no money.. yet a musician needs all kinds of gear (especially rhythm section players.) Some guys at a high level still don't have everything they want or dream pedals. Some guys my age have stuff.. but it kinda rotates as they sell their instruments and equipment for other instruments or drugs depending on what kind of musician they are *wink*

Other musicians I know...
A drummer friend of mine has a pair of congas, a decent drumset for rock, a decent drumset for jazz, and a stick bag full of hundreds of dollars of things.. yet even he lists.. "I need new heads, new cymbals, a new kick pedal, and a better drumset"

I mean if you get the right stuff you can be happy. My friend Jeff who you will see me playing with this summer.. he has a nice acoustic electric, another acoustic, a Les Paul studio guitar, some sort of Ibanez guitar for shredding, a Crate Combo with I think a 12 or 15 inch speaker, and a very nice Boss effects processor. He also has a MacPro and tons of random stuff (a lot of it nice) But he saved his money and took out loans and never sold anything and always bought his time.. he started out on that acoustic.. worked his way to the electric Les Paul and amp.. played with just that for years.. finally got an effects processor.. and then got the second guitar he wanted. In a perfect world everyone would be like this.. and it happend over a period of 8 years!!!

I think we all have these problems. Equipment is so expensive and its hard to get just the right stuff you want.

Heres a list all that I have:
Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass
SWR Workingman 15 amp
Little crappy crate that technically isn't might
Wasburn acoustic electric guitar and various practice amps I've acquired all borrowed out.
I use a school owned upright.
I also have a 4x10 ampeg sitting in my room at home.. if anyone wants it $400

The SWR is a decent amp.. but its huge.. I love my Fender.. and my acoustic is all right, but its good enough since I only play guitar for fun.

Here's all that I want and won't be completely happy till I have it all

Basses
Dream electric bass for the jazz gig.. I wanna get a custom made fretless active five string bass that wasn't huge scale... This bass would be ideal for playing jazz on when I dont feel like playing upright or can't get my upright to a gig...
I'm happy with my Fender Aerodyne bass guitar which will stay my rock and various bass. Perhaps even the odd jazz gig?
I want another.. Fender Jazz Bass. Probably a Mexican that I can fool around with. It'd be the back up for Aerodyne Gigs and perhaps I could use it in lessons.
For slapping I'd love just any Musicman (knock off or not) that is set up just to slap.. I'm not a big slap and pop or funk guy, but sometimes.. you just wanna slap around something.. and it can't be your wife! Could also be my back up bass for something else.
For around the house I want one of those 5-string beautiful Michael Kelly acoustic fretless bass guitars. It serves every purpose and I can drag it around with no amp so that I will annoy anyone wants annoyed. This would probably never leave the house cause I don't really dig these basses for their sound much... more of a novelty.. maybe lessons.
Possible other electric basses.. a 5 string strung with a high C for Bach Preludes, a Rickenbacher.. just cause I've always wanted to try one... a small scale just because.. and maybe just have a rotating bass that I sell and buy anew one.. just to keep it interesting..
Well I need my own upright bass eventually. I'm not even sure what I want yet cause I don't know anything about the sounds and shapes and sizes of uprights really... I think I want a smaller neck the the 3/4 I use at school though..
For that I need.. a nice bow. I'm never gonna be much of a bower, but I always will need to practice my scales
For my second upright... I would probably just have any old thing to keep as a spare. I mean.. I can't imagine having all this stuff so far.. but its good to have everything and then spares..
In the studio... I'm gonna need a half size bass for my lessons.
For the outdoor gig... I'm gonna need a decent electric upright bass. I mean I could play my custom made fretless five string I apparently have instead... but it would depend on my mood right!?
Possible other uprights could be.. an orchestral upright if I ever get into that.. and maybe a third plywood back up to keep around. Where am I keeping all this stuff!? I'm still on basses!

Guitars
Now I'm not huge into guitar.. but I do play and I like to play. Things I might do someday is play solo vocal/guitar gigs (if I ever find my voice), play in church, or maybe even play rhythm guitar in a rock band. I don't ever plan on attacking jazz much on the guitar... but I do plan on teaching guitar and playing it for myself at least if not performing on some level.

My Washburn... is ok but I can see myself getting a better acoustic-electric guitar. I've played some Taylors and Alvarez's that are really nice, but I think I can settle for something at an intermediate level, but I guess if I am semi dreaming here I'd go with the Taylor..
If I gigged.. if I gigged with acoustic at all I would probably try and have some kind of back up stored somewhere. Maybe thats where my alvarez would come in.
For the campfire... I want something cheap, but that doesn't destroy my fingers. I'd hunt the local music stores for this. This guitar might be the first thing to go if I needed to pay my bookie or my drug dealer (not really) or something
As for electric... I really like a lot of guitars... I think in the end I want an American made Telecaster...
For my second electric... I want a Gibson Les Paul or a lesser equivalent if I ran out of money by now.
For the studio... I probably wanna keep some guy of electric in the studio. Maybe a mexican strat...
This sounds crazy but... I've always wanted a double necked bass/guitar hybrid to mess with..
In the same vein... someday I want one of the hybrid guitar/basses that are 7 strings that Charlie Hunter plays. I can't imagine I'd get any good at it since I'm never gonna have any jazz guitar or classical guitar training.. but I think it'd be neat to mess with.
Also I want... a twelve string acoustic because they are really pretty and then I'd learned the Stairway to Heaven solo!!!
This seems like a lot since I'm not really much of guitar player..
But if I had to lower it... to a minimum and still be happy I'd want a telecaster, a cheap Les Paul copy, and a nice acoustic electric.

AMPS!!
I need a nice multipurpose amp to gig with with nearly anything. Perhaps the mesa boogie scout.
A backup... multie purpose amp
A jazzcat... might be nice for guitar and upright
In the studio... some sort of multipurpose amp...
A half stack... for my bass.. just in case...
A larger amp for my upright bass..
IN ALL HONESTY.. I haven't thought much about amps.

Other stuff
Drumset for other musicians and me in my home studio...
Pa system in my studio along with mics and etc...
Grand Piano in some room in my house...
Nice keyboard for if I ever become a great jazz pianist and do some sub gigs...
Ukulele.. I like them...
Vibraphone.. for some reason its my dream to own one of these even though I wouldnt know where to start...
Maybe a distortion pedal for my guitars.. not into effects honestly...

BOY... this a lot of stuff...
6-8 electric basses... 3-5 upright basses
3-8 guitars... 5-7 amps...
and various equipment...

A rough estimate to this would be.. 30-60 Thousand dollars...

I better get a real job eh? :D

-Adam Meinerding

An old related video...

2009-02-24T01:04:00.000-08:00

On a previous post I talked about the early days of my jazz playgin. Now.. this is barely a year old, but at this point I still hadn't even been accepted to a college, and it seems like ages ago. I really grew tired for this tune.. Song for My Father by Horace Silver. I've probably played it hundreds of times, but I don't think I've played it much since that gig.

This gig was a little different. For awhile we had a thing going where it was me, the two guitarists, a drummer, and a sax player. The drummer would come when we got him too and the sax player was a replacement for either of the guitar players if they had to be absent. I haven't listened to any of this in a long time. My good friend on guitar.. his solo was actually pretty good, but you can hear the rock influence in it. The other guy was 1st tenor or 1st alto (depending on the year I forget) in jazz band, and he wasn't going into music like the rest of us, but he's playing in his college's jazz band and taking lots of music electives. Thats good for him. Some young people I've seen get this attitude.. all or nothing. If I'm not playing for a living or making a job out of it or whatever I'm gonna move one. DON'T! That's probably the silliest thing I've ever heard. Music is fun. Just do it to do it.

Anyway.. theres some other old videos lingering around, but most are just clips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmIaeCRnpio

Musicals...

2009-02-19T14:27:00.000-08:00

I'm playing for my third and a half musical March 13th and 14th. It's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. A fairly young musical, but my musical savvy friends say its not too bad.

I played my first musical when I was a junior in high school for my high school chamber choir production of Thoroughly Modern Milly. Which by the way.. is an excellent musical and also fairly young. I really enjoyed it.

I feel like I am a better player since then, but I don't know if my reading is that much better. As a jazz and rock bassist.. I just read quarter notes, play changes, or just play most of the time. I have a friend up here that can read like nothing else. He actually got me this gig... but getting back to me.. anyone in BGSU Jazz Lab Band II will tell you I'm not a great reader.

HOWEVER, bassists/guitarists/drummers even at high levels sometimes don't even know how to read so I feel I'm actually doing pretty good. I'll probably play the occasional musical every once and awhile for the rest of my life.

Its kinda like actual work for musicians. It's in my field.. but I don't really wanna do it that bad.. but it pays pretty good. I played for Godspell here at BGSU and made an easy 300 or so.. This one isn't as good, but it's just a high school.. it is paying good for a high school or I wouldn't be giving up my spring break for it.

No offense.. who majors in musical theatre? Obviously that seem hippocritical cause I'm a jazz studies major, but I know what I wanna do or can do after college and believe it wont be that hard for me to make a living. Maybe I'm just ignorant... prove me wrong Willie!! (my friend who is a music theatre major in Virginia)

Rambling over. Thanks for reading.

Upright

2009-02-16T08:47:00.000-08:00

Anyone that says switching from electric to upright isn't too bad either doesn't remember how hard it was or they've never actually done it.

What am I going to do?

2009-02-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

I came into college really thinking I knew what I wanted to do and that I could do it. That's more then some guys can say.

I mean if I'm going get a bachelors degree in Music Performance/Jazz Studies I'd better have my shit together!

The music scene has been continually dying and going into a bad place for a long time. But even with that.. that's one thing I'm gonna force myself not to get cynical about. I'm going to move somewhere where I can play jazz. Even if I don't make any money playing jazz and have to play other things to get by. I just never wanna stop playing jazz.

I know people that get by as "professional" musicians. Some more professional then others. My first "jazz" teacher taught 40-60 students a week at a local music store and played two solo acoustic gigs a week.. a bar and an Italian restaraunt. He went through a lot of different stuff.. he played in a country and funk band at the same time as working in a shoe store.. got an audition to record on a James Taylor album... wedding bands.. Another teacher.. he had toured and lived the life for awhile, but now just taught 10-15 kids and led a praise band.. in addition to Sears. Now I'm meeting guys that are living their dreams.

What do I wanna do? Would I be disappointed if I ended up in a small town.. playing the bars and teaching 40 kids... Do I really want to be a big name player (haha) touring the country and then teaching at the college level? I dunno..

I think as long as I scrape by a living. Have good relationships with family, friends, and musicians, and I'm playing music and teaching.. I'll be ok. I dont think I'd like to end up in a small town playing bars on main street. I wanna be out playing jazz in a moderately sized to large city.

I'm a spring semester freshman though. I have 4 years to ponder.

My favorite bass players

2009-01-31T23:16:00.000-08:00

These are my favorite bass players in no exact order. I know there are plenty of other important bassists like Jimmy Blanton, Charlie Mingus, or Dave Holland. My list is always changing, but right now here are my favorites and why.

1. Paul Chambers

2. Ray Brown

3. Jaco Pastorious

4. Scott LaFaro

5. Ron Carter

Paul Chambers.. whats to say. Chambers was one of the first jazz bassists I listened to intently and loved his sound and feel. He was an important influence on expanding the role of the bass and has played on a ton of land mark albums with Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and many many more guys.

Ray Brown!! Ray Brown is most famous for playing with the late Oscar Peterson and also in his own trio. Ray has the best feel of probably any bassist. He swings balls! I recommend buying his Bassics compilation of his best work with the Ray Brown Trio.

Jaco Pastorious was a wild guy. He introduced himself as the greatest bass player in the world.. and as far as electric.. he might have been right. Jaco was very creative with his sound and his playing. When he played bass.. people listened.. and still do.

Scott LaFaro is one crazy mutha. In the Bill Evans trio he did stuff that no other bassist would have tried. Most guys would be walking around, but he moved with the music and contributed like no one else. I can't describe it. I'd recommend live at the Village Vanguard with the Bill Evans trio.

Ron Carter is an interesting player. He was Miles Davis's second quintet bassist. Something about his playing seems powerful and tasteful to me.

Who are your favorite bassists?

As far as other genres of music go my favorite bassists are:

Billy Cox (Band of Gypsys, Jimi Hendrix)

Flea

Sting (yes.. Sting)

... and I can't forget Victor Wooten

Playin' Them Changes!

2009-01-29T17:20:00.000-08:00

Dear Internets,

Changes (n) - Musical term (primarily in jazz) referring to particular chord progressions of tunes.

ie "Thats not the right change mutha licka!"

Playin' Them Changes. My first experience playing "changes" was probably when I was 13-14 and experimenting with some blues things on guitar. My friend and I would just play the most cliche shuffle guitar chord riff.. and the other guy would randomly play notes above that for undetermined amounts of time. I think we played some sort of random blues form without without a turn around or an end. We thought we were the shit! What has changed since then? I primarily play bass now and my playing is slightly less random.

Should one read changes from a book?

In high school the above guitarist and another guitarist friend of mine had a trio jazz gig at a local coffee shop, Parkplace Central (now defunct), every Saturday morning (and one or two fun Friday nights). They were great friends of mine, and still are today (geeze high school was only last year they're still my best buds!) I'll refer to them as T and J. J was a killin' guitarist in most aspects even if we didn't admit it he was a far superior musician to us, but who else was he gonna play with? T was also cool in his own right. Although when it came to jazz... we all really had no freaking idea what we were doing.

I had never really played many changes even with my interest and study in jazz. In harsher words.. I sucked some male genitalia. J and T were playing in their own styles with mostly bar chords, and I played 1 or 2 bass lines. It was a muddy mess and our music and feel was pretty amateur, but for some reason people really loved it! We came back every Saturday morning, and played for the coffee crowd. We played the same songs we had become familiar with through lessons, high school band, and some records. Autumn Leaves, Satin Doll, Blue Monk, and Song for my Father were favorites. We played a couple of Davis charts as well. After that we'd run out of music and just jam on vamps and grooves for 20 minutes at a time! People dug it though so there must of been something showing through of the future of our playing.

We all had Hal Leonard Real Books and a Mile Davis play-a-long book. My current teacher in college informed me by my second lesson that even though the Hal Leonard Real Book is respectably legal.. its very inaccurate (so those reading should check out The New Real Book also legal.) I remember always starting intently at those chord changes above the melody even after playing Satin Doll for the millionth time.

Even though we were playing and reading those same tunes every Saturday morning.. every week I felt I improved a little bit. I'd get bored with my scale walk and blues repetitive bass lines, and I started experimenting with lots of other things. I even started to build a beginner repertoire I would later use as the beginning of my "tune list" By the end of that we had secured gigs at all kinds of other places. We started experimenting with other players, and we were really enjoying ourselves. We had developed a little bit of a reputation making the paper once even!, and I think when I return home this summer and set up some gigs with J or T we might take it to the next level.

However, we still kinda sucked at the time and we calmed down a bit when we all got kinda busy with work and also got tired of playing the same songs every week. Still one of the best growing experiences of my life. Its too bad we won't have a Parkplace Central to return to.

Should one memorize changes?

I remember one of the most fun gigs we had at high school was the jazz band going to the Senior Center. Our jazz band had like 10 saxes (this sounded like a shit storm), 5 trombones, 4 trumpet and a pretty tight rhythm section for a high school band with medium sized program. We were planning to have a huge concert at the end of the year (which is another great story I'll get to next) so we had lots of charts, but my band director pulled out lots and lots of classic swing charts for us to play for the seniors.. most we only gave one read through. After being in pep band since my sophomore year and then playing for everything.. my reading chops weren't too bad.. and we had a enough competent players to hold it down. That was fun.

I had all ready gotten accepted into BGSU as a Jazz studies major and T the bands guitarist was going to Capital University to study guitar and music technology. Our director wanted us to play a couple songs to feature us and to give the rest of the band a break (yes we were playing that many songs) and he was suggesting us tunes to play. I knew them.. but I didn't have my trusty old Real Book with me. I still had Autumn Leaves memorized for my auditions, and I still didn't think having things memorized was a big deal. T asked me if I remembered the changes to Satin Doll.. and all I could say was "Kinda.." KINDA?!?!?! After playing it a million times I didn't really have it memorized. I obviously had my head in the wrong place. So T, the drummer, and I played Autumn leaves. After we left that gig I thought to myself.. man I'm not gonna have a Real Book with me all the time.

As I continue to grow as a musician I realize having a basic repertoire is very important, and its even more important to be able to keep your face out of the music a bit, and communicate with the other musicians and really just enjoy the music you are creating. I'm still struggling with this. My repertoire is only to about 20 songs, but some guys here have hundreds of songs in their head. They still use a book for tunes too!

Should one learn changes by ear?

The end of the year jazz concert. T and I had been awarded the prestigious Louis Armstrong Award. There was an hour set with the big band, J and I playing some fusion, the local jazz guy collective combo (which I will get to) and then T and I jamming with a couple of those guys on All Blues by Miles Davis.

The local jazz guy collective combo was made up obviously more local jazz players. Then.. the bass player was ill and I was asked days before to sit in. I was nervous about it, but I excitedly agreed. There was a trumpet player who was a teacher from a county or two over and he played jazz professionally in combos. He was fuckin' killin! Still one of the best trumpet players I have ever heard. The sax player was an awesome guy and one of my mentors who had directed our jazz ensemble the year before and was assistant director of bands, but he left to head a band. There was a trombone player.. he was the owner of the local music store. The drummer was a local retired teacher that had been subbing at our school and helpin the jazz band out.

The guy I found most interesting was the piano player. This guy.. was pushing 80. My band director told me that he was self taught and played by ear. He couldn't really read music, and that he knew every tune in the book.. I thought to myself.. every tune.. I didn't believe it..

We rehearsed beforehand and I introduced myself to the piano player and he seemed like a sweet old man.. but as soon as the intro to Take the "A" Train started and this old guy was playing with some mad chops.. I saw a big smile on his face and he looked happy enough to go right there. We played A train, Night in Tunisia, and Sandu that night. He knew the changes to all those.. and he played All Blues with T and I... I haven't met many players here that know the exact changes to the latter two tunes.. I didn't know guys knew that many tunes..

But he learned everything by ear.. soloing, voicings, and changes. And everything about him was perfect even if he soloed with three fingers. I wanted to play with guys like that for the rest of my life. And when I got here.. I realized they do exist...

Musically yours,

Adam

My first post

2009-01-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Internets,

My name is Adam Meinerding. I'm a virgo. I like popular culture, zombie movies, internet forums, and being creative. I haven't touched a drink in seven years.. and if I do.. my whole life will fall apart.

Just kidding about that last part. I attend Bowling Green State University, and am a jazz studies major with upright bass and bass guitar. My goal in life is to play music.. for a living. I love to play jazz, blues, rock, and broadway musicals (although you'll probably see I really wanna play jazz the most)

I've created this blog to post musings about music, let you in on some interesting stories, give advice to other aspiring musicians, and basically anything involving my growth into the bass player I want to be. Eventually I plan to expand this blog into a website and help market myself along with chillin' out with you internet folks.

Musically yours,

Adam