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from the while-my-guitar-gently-weeps dept.
Each holiday season, thousands of teenagers tear gift wrap off shiny, new guitars. They giddily pluck at the detuned strings, thinking how cool they'll be once they're rock stars—even if almost all will give up before they ever get to jam out to "Sweet Child o' Mine."
For them, it's no big deal to relegate the guitar to the back of the closet forever in favor of the Playstation controller. But it is a big deal for Fender Musical Instruments Corp., the 70-year-old maker of rock 'n' roll's most iconic electric guitars. Every quitter hurts.
[...]The $6 billion U.S. retail market for musical instruments has been stagnant for five years, according to data compiled by research firm IBISWorld, and would-be guitar buyers have more to distract them than ever. So how do you convince someone to put down the iPhone, pick up a Stratocaster, and keep playing?
Seems Fender didn't get the memo: the music of the future is hip-hop and autotuners.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by gidds on Wednesday November 23 2016, @05:53PM
Well said.
[gets on soapbox]
There are several factors in being able to play, and technical ability is only one. (It can be the one that takes the most practice, but it's probably not really the most important.)
I reckon that the most important tools that any musician has are his or her ears. Not fingers, or mouth, or whatever. You need to listen to yourself and the sound you're making, so that you get a feedback loop. (That's how you improve, whatever level you're at.) It's also valuable to listen to other people — absolutely vital if you're playing together, but also a useful source of ideas even if not.
Perhaps the most subtle skill is a feel for the music; and that's probably the hardest to learn if you don't have it. But I think most people do — for the sort of music they enjoy, anyway. If you can hum, sing, or whistle to yourself, then you probably have enough of it to be going on with!
I reckon that performing music is really a three-way compromise between:
Better to play something very simple, if it fits the piece and you play it well, than something more complex without feeling (especially if it sounds like you're having to work at it).
There. That's my theory about music :-)
One of the problems with music teaching IME is that too often it's only about regurgitating pre-written music. While that's a very useful skill, and can be very important, it's NOT what music's really about, and it often doesn't teach you anything about the feel. Improvising is also very important, as is playing by ear, playing with other people, and making stuff up.
So if you've ever wanted to start learning an instrument, or to sing, or whatever, go for it! It really is never too late. You won't become a master immediately, but don't let that put you off. If you can look beyond the notes, and enjoy what you do, then it'll be worth it!
[sig redacted]
(Score: 2) by black6host on Wednesday November 23 2016, @09:06PM
Having a good ear will definitely go a long way towards becoming better. One thing I'd advise students of the musical arts is to play with others. As often as you can. You may be very good playing by yourself but that doesn't teach you to feel the rhythm and stay in time. Even playing to recordings is no substitute. Timing and rhythm can change when playing live and one needs to be able to not be thrown off guard and be able to flow with others. Otherwise you can get lost and that throws others off.
If I'm playing with just a vocalist (I play guitar) I follow the vocalist. I certainly try to keep a steady rhythm going but if the vocalist changes tempo, not on purpose and usually not by much, I follow and stay in sync. Even if it isn't how it was supposed to go.
Anyway, just my two cents but I can't tell you how much my rhythm improved once I started playing with other musicians.