Musician Secrets

[Mysteryman]

There are ways to stop a musician from trying to show you up. Some are not reasonable. 

How to stop a musician from playing over you.

1. Get better.

Some musicians complain about other musicians and do nothing to make themselves better.

2. Imitate them.

A professional musician knows that when people imitate them that is the greatest compliment. On the other hand many meat head musicians hate when you do this. You may get some sarcasm about you trying to be like them. This may lead to them learning new tricks to show you up but just watch what they do and learn. They dont realize you are pushing them to teach you. Grin

3. Show them you are not a threat.

Compliment that person on their playing even if you think it will boost their ego. Practice in secret and you will be rewarded openly.

4. Unmask you true skill.

Sometimes when all else fails you may have to show your abilities for a moment. That lets the musicians know you are not intimidated by their playing. They may retaliate and try to play all over you but they will get the point. Use your strengths in this area. If you can walk the dog for a moment do it.   

5. Pray for them.

This is the option people are less likely to choose. When you pray for your enemies God's law is that you will be blessed.

6. Turn your instrument up.

Stop being ashamed of your playing ability. Turn that instrument up. If you mess up you mess up. Life goes on.

7. Get your own gear.

If you have your own gear you can turn it up and adjust it how you want. Make sure its quality.

[Mysteryman]

Personal testimonies.

1. Get better.

I have been played over for years. When I could barely play I was drowned out and not many musicians would help me. I took initiative and searched for information from sites like this. I learned every key and practiced.

2. Imitate them.

A musician has played all these weird progressions to throw me off. Sometimes I would not play and just listen during service. Some will show out when you cant see what they are doing but if you know your basics like you should you will be able to hear the differences in chords. Play the progressions in your head . Record the other musician in secret. Then when they do that lick again you will know it.

3. Show them you are not a threat.

Sometimes a musician will back off when you say you did a good job. Let them think they are better than you. Remember God will take vengence. They will get showed up somewhere down the line. Down feel bad.

4. Unmask you true skill.

There have been times when I felt like letting loose because I was hyped about playing but the other musician wants to play all these crazy off the wall progressions that dont belong in the song when playing with a band. Some musicians need a check every now and then. I normally hold back in my playing because church can become a chord war. This has hindered me sometimes because you get used to staying in the pocket and when its time to come out you dont know what to do. If you are good at playing a certain style then when your opportunity comes let go and let God.The Sundays Im playing alone I go for broke. Sometimes I have let loose on a musician. lol He in turn went in left field and I copied him.


5. Pray for them.

I pray for the other musicians even when they do things I don't like. There have been times I have not been practicing and because the other musician is trying to compete with me God anoints me. People can see, hear and feel the difference. During those times people come and say man you played today. I barely was doing anything or playing real simple. I know it was God. He will anoint you in the presence of your enemies. I don't like to think of my brother or sister as an enemy but when they are selfish and trying to be seen they can be an enemy to God at that moment. I have been elevated in the Spirit may times because a musician was trying to show me up and I didn't retaliate.

6. Turn your instrument up.

I used to be embarrassed about my ability when I first started. I did hit wrong notes and still do but I learned it really doesn't help much if you cant hear yourself. I have had times and still do when I play and the other musician drowns me out and goes left field. Many times I just faded into the background. Lately I have just turned my instrument up. If he goes left field and I know its throwing the choir off I play the song the way its supposed to be played. If it clashes it clashes. Sometimes you've got to take that attitude. People have looked at this guy like he was crazy because he is out in left field and I'm playing the right progression.

7. Get your own gear.

I have a friend at church that begged me to teach her how to play. I gave in and said ok. Then when she was playing in service she complained about not being able to play. Everybody had their own gear. She had a Yamaha psr keyboard and felt it was not good enough. I told her not to worry about that.Yamaha psr series are good keyboards. She would not bring it to church so I stopped listening to her complain. Now maybe 4-5 years later she still is not playing. When I first started I dragged my Yamaha psr to church along with the amp I had. I did this for years.

[csedwards2]

I must say I almost never had to deal with any of this. Which sounds like a blessing. I did, however meet this one guy and his family, when I was playing at a church. It was a revival, and I was new at this church, playing on Sundays. This was the first evening service they'd had since I have been there. So I never got notice whether I was supposed to be there ready to play for devotion or anything, but to not leave my new church high and dry I showed up.

They had the above mentioned family band, (some dude was on bass, the son was on keys switching back and forth to drums, and the guy on lead, switching to keys). I wanted to play rather sit-in, so his son could play drums. We started playing, and Im on a Casio w/ no pedal!!!! This dude took my plug out of my amp and put it in his bass rig and turned it way up. We're in this small hole of a church with painted brick walls bouncing sound everywhere. It was loud, and he's blasting his bass and now my keys. Seemingly try to 'play me' he also had his son play stop time to give the band solos one by one and they got to me finally. We wont talk about my chord/comp solo, but the next day of this revival, I brought my Motif and my bigger amp (to shut him up) and put it on the other side of me so he couldnt touch it.

Not to mention that a whole bunch of band solos in devotion to show is very much of a distraction to service. There werre too many issues to name that night.

Dude told me to call him so we can play together and work on some stuff.

[B3Wannabe]

Personal testimonies.

1. Get better.

I was never intimidated THAT much to play.

2. Imitate them.

There are some crazy musicians in Detroit. I secretly key my tape recorder on whenever they were around.

3. Show them you are not a threat.

I never had this problem.

4. Unmask you true skill.

You were right before, when you said "I played scared". I know a lot of chords and progressions, but I don't know where to put them all sometimes. It doesn't help that I don't usually play music at the same level of my skill.

5. Pray for them.

I don't really play with musicians that behave this way.

6. Turn your instrument up.

I always turn my instrument up.

7. Get your own gear.

I was like you. I had an old Casio that had keys that would stop working during the service. The little plastic contacts were worn from use and would tear. I eventually learned to repair it with needle and thread...during service!

[DBG2k5]

Man, I tell ya.

The core of musicians I hang around with now are so on fire for God that I am so thankful that I don't have to deal with the type of musicians this thread is referring to.  But Mystery has a GREAT blueprint for the musicians that do have to associate with them.

We've all had to deal with musicians that have a chip on their shoulder.  One thing I've realized is that when I finally reached their level, they really haven't moved since.  So, when I ZOOM passed them, it felt so great.

Here's an encouraging word for ALL y'all.  Just keep it simple.  Especially when you're in a band setting.  Because honestly, the only people that will be amazed in your playing will be your peers.  Maybe.  The congregation won't even know what you're doing thus won't CARE...

[B3Wannabe]

Man, I tell ya.

The core of musicians I hang around with now are so on fire for God that I am so thankful that I don't have to deal with the type of musicians this thread is referring to.  But Mystery has a GREAT blueprint for the musicians that do have to associate with them.

We've all had to deal with musicians that have a chip on their shoulder.  One thing I've realized is that when I finally reached their level, they really haven't moved since.  So, when I ZOOM passed them, it felt so great.

Here's an encouraging word for ALL y'all.  Just keep it simple.  Especially when you're in a band setting.  Because honestly, the only people that will be amazed in your playing will be your peers.  Maybe.  The congregation won't even know what you're doing thus won't CARE...

Indeed.

I've played with people, and didn't know the song, but was able to fit in because I know how to play simple. I have a friend who is used to leading, who had to sit out of a Joe Pace opportunity, because he couldn't play behind Joe's musician. (...who incidentally used transpose, but played his keys well. But that's another topic. ) Shows you don't have to be on the level that people want to talk about so much, and get to the top.

I'd rather play simple and get to play with the big guys than know all the crazy changes and have to play by myself.

[takuya]

Thanks for the tips, Mysteryman.