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Advice for young musicians

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RustyRed

Advice for young musicians

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 3088

Apr 24 12 7:29 PM

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I recently came across this page of advice for young musicians by the guitarist Robert Holmes. He's playing guitar on an album by a friend of mine and as I'd not heard of him before, I decided to look him up. It's excellent advice, and though it's primarily aimed at young rock musicians, I think its stuff that probably all of us need to hear from time to time. I particularly enjoyed his section on "Noodling".

Robert Holmes' advice to young musicians

Rusty Red

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hollowbody

#1

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 2858

Apr 24 12 10:52 PM

some great advice Rusty /appl.gif

it is for a rock audience but all us bluesers will learn from 95% of it. That guys got his head screwed on and is a true pro

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Madman Sam

#2

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1689

Apr 24 12 11:55 PM

Well...the guy definitely has an exact blueprint/mold of what every single person in the world should sound/act like. I can't imagine he enjoys the music of any more than one or two bands.

There is some decent advice mixed in with a whole lotta crap that comes down to his personal taste more than what actually makes someone "good", but I would advise any young musician to avoid the article if at all possible.

There are unlimited resources for good musician advice, and this just isn't one of them. He just sounds bitter over people doing stuff that doesn't fit his personal formula.

"I don't want the blues to tickle my fancy.
I want the blues to reach down my throat, grab me by the asshole, and pull me inside out." - Madman Sam

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Hawkeye

#3

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 7329

Apr 25 12 3:30 AM

One of the best books I've read on following the 'dream' of being a professional musician, musically and businesswise, is entitled "The Platinum Rainbow/How to Make it in the Music Industry Without Selling Your Soul" by Bob Monaco and James Riordan.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Platinum-Rainbow...s/dp/0809248131

(... my favorite chapter in the above book is entitled ... "Firing Your Brother.")
=======

The best book on the business of music/the music business I've read is:
"This Business of Music/The Definitive Guide to the Music Business" by M. Williiam Krasilovsky, Sidney Shemel, and John M. Gross.

http://www.amazon.com/This-Business-Music-...y/dp/0823077284

This book has been a superb guide for me over the years (I have the 4th edition) ... now in it's 9th edition ... it covers most everything from copyrights, publishing, agents, venues, etc. ... and has an index that is chock full of example contracts/agreements on most every aspect of the music business.

Hawkeye Herman
1998 Blues Foundation "Keeping the Blues Alive" award recipient
Iowa Blues Hall of Fame inductee
Barrymore Award for Excellence in Theatre
"If it's good for the blues, it's good for everyone." - H.H.
www.HawkeyeHerman.com
Hawkeye MP3 downloads
www.CDBaby.com/Hawkeye
Iowa Blues Hall of Fame
Blues Foundation's "Keeping The Blues Alive" Award
Barrymore Award for Excellence in Theatre
Hawkeye at YouTube.com
Hawkeye at FaceBook.com
Hawkeye original articles/blues history
Hawkeye�s free online guitar lessons
Hawkeye teaches guitar at JamPlay.com
Hawkeye at MySpace.com
Hawkeye at Live Blues World
Hawkeye at ReverbNation.com
Hawkeye at BandVillage.com
Hawkeye audio tracks at Soundclick.com

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RustyRed

#4

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 3088

Apr 25 12 10:56 PM

QUOTE

There is some decent advice mixed in with a whole lotta crap that comes down to his personal taste more than what actually makes someone "good", but I would advise any young musician to avoid the article if at all possible.

There are unlimited resources for good musician advice, and this just isn't one of them. He just sounds bitter over people doing stuff that doesn't fit his personal formula.

Interesting! You had a very different response to me.

I thought that his emphasis on the importance of songs in popular music, and on the subordination of solos to the songs in which they occur rather than the other way around, were helpful things to say. I liked his emphasis on good rhythm playing, too, and the basics of keeping a steady tempo and not over-complicating things. I also approved of his comments on band ettiquette, and when to keep quiet so that other people get themselves sorted out.

Over all, I thought that there was lots of sensible stuff there. Which bits did you think were crap?

Rusty Red

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Goldilox3

#5

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 2110

Apr 26 12 10:00 AM

QUOTE (RustyRed @ April 25, 2012 11:56 pm)

Over all, I thought that there was lots of sensible stuff there. Which bits did you think were crap?

I think he's missed the fact that the reason shouting 'is everybody having fun' is a ubiquitous tired cliché, is because it does actually work to get the crowd going. Other than that I think he's pretty much on the ball...

New solo EP available now completely free of charge - just click here!

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Blue Carr

#6

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 3686

Apr 26 12 10:10 AM

''Abusing the 12 notes is not rocket science’’ Richard ‘Dick’ Fallis (Montreal bassist)
Everytime I would see Richard, which was often our banter would always start out like this. Hey Richard how’s it going? ‘You know, abusing the 12 notes as usual’

Back in the 80’s Richard played a house gig in New Orleans for 7 years, 4 shows a night, 7 days a week! He came back from the experience a bitter musician! A bout with throat cancer has mellowed his sarcastic side. I love the man, a real old school player.

All this to say, get your rhythm chops down. Work on your time and listen to as many different styles of music as you can to work ear training. If you can find a mentor who’ll take you under their wing. Respect your elders (musicians) it will come back at ya ten fold.

aujourdhui-le-blues

Canada

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BluesRocked

#7

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Posts: 92

Apr 26 12 5:19 PM

Haven't been around for a while. Good to see something to help out the new blood.
Don't give advice but, will offer some suggestions based on experience:

1. Drop your idealism (it has no place in the real world). Not that ideals are bad and wrong. We all have ideals in some way, shape or form however, having realistic expectations is paramount. Kind of a balancing act... but do-able.
2. Take a business management course at your local college (EDUCATE yourself a little about BUSINESS). The basic principles of running/managing a business apply to ALL business models. Music Business is a business. Like it or not, this is a fact.
3. Approach your Music Career like you would any other job. (This one's important!).
4. Be responsible
5. Be accountable
6. Be open mined
7. Be yourself

Best of Luck! /cheers.gif

<a href='http://www.briankloby.com'Electric Blues >><< Blues Rock Guitar</a>
Tampa Bay, Fla.

<>---------------------------------------------<>

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Bluejay

#8

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 2679

May 3 12 1:04 AM

As someone who has never played in a band, and therefore has had no idea of how I'd get along with bandmates, I do have to say that his advice, aimed at young wannabe rockers, makes a lot of sense and addresses a lot of what my concerns would be in joining a band. It certainly relates to many of my concerns when I see/hear bands, young and old.

If nothing else, the advice to understand rhythm and have a solid grounding in a variety of styles -- and why the original version of tunes worked -- certainly is solid.

But he really is on target with his admonition to remember that the SONG matters. A great solo in a bad song is not worth much in my book.

"I've got blisters on my fingers!"

Sailing Green Bay

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Hawkeye

#9

[-]

Deepest Blue

Posts: 7329

May 5 12 7:25 AM

Hawkeye Herman
1998 Blues Foundation "Keeping the Blues Alive" award recipient
Iowa Blues Hall of Fame inductee
Barrymore Award for Excellence in Theatre
"If it's good for the blues, it's good for everyone." - H.H.
www.HawkeyeHerman.com
Hawkeye MP3 downloads
www.CDBaby.com/Hawkeye
Iowa Blues Hall of Fame
Blues Foundation's "Keeping The Blues Alive" Award
Barrymore Award for Excellence in Theatre
Hawkeye at YouTube.com
Hawkeye at FaceBook.com
Hawkeye original articles/blues history
Hawkeye�s free online guitar lessons
Hawkeye teaches guitar at JamPlay.com
Hawkeye at MySpace.com
Hawkeye at Live Blues World
Hawkeye at ReverbNation.com
Hawkeye at BandVillage.com
Hawkeye audio tracks at Soundclick.com

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CoyoteSlim

#10

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1973

May 7 12 6:31 AM

QUOTE (BluesRocked @ April 26, 2012 10:19 am)

4. Be responsible
5. Be accountable
6. Be open mined
7. Be yourself

What if number 7 is in direct opposition to numbers 4-6?

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Rabbit told the 'possum, shake them 'simmons down."

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hollowbody

#11

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 2858

May 7 12 8:07 AM

QUOTE

What if number 7 is in direct opposition to numbers 4-6?

you could always try being a novelty act

These days more and more kids are coming out of college/university with 'modern music' degrees so I guess the original advise is aimed at them as much as anyone.

Dirt Road Blues Band on Reverbnation Dirt Road Blues

Pickup Blues Band on Reverbnation Pickup Blues

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