Low Man's Lyric

Dear 1999 Me

2009-12-30T11:40:00.000-08:00

Dear 1999 Me,

In 1999, you were still high school already knowing what you wanted to do: play music. However, you were grouped with the kids with sky high expectations and playing music was simply not considered to be acceptable. You kept your passion and desire inside, wanting to keep it secret so you don't 'upset' those who want you to be someone you don't.

It's the end of 2009 and hard and rough years have passed, this one just as tough. What the present version of me wants to say to the 1999 version of me is to keep playing. It's simple, but it's true. Music is your passion. You knew it from the first day you had your fingers around a guitar when you were 11 years old. Why do you need to hide that from people? Sure, people will chastise, mock, jeer, and criticize you...even your own relatives and family... but this life is yours and not theirs. You are going to feel lots of inner pain from all of the pressure from your family and others to give up playing music and do something else. You have to learn that those statements are just unfair and to simply ignore them. If your family doesn't support your passion, then screw them. They are supposed to be there to have your back, but they don't. So, just move on.

Music is what is going to keep you from doing things you will regret later on. So, again, don't stop playing. I truly believe you/I would be in a worse place regretting much more deeper and worse mistakes than what has happened. Music will calm your nerves during those times when you feel like you are going to go berserk... and for that, the present Me is thankful.

I know it's a short and simple piece of advice, but that's how I truly feel. I feel that things happen for a reason and all the mistakes that have happened don't measure up to what may have happened if you stopped playing music.

Much love,
Present-day Me

Grammy Rant

2009-12-26T11:39:00.000-08:00

The freakin' Grammy's. I don't know how the voting for that mess works, but I know it's garbage. It's got to be corrupt in some way or another... either that or the people who are running it are just plain idiots... or maybe both.

So many categories are out there, but I have beef with the Metal category. As with much of the world out there, Metal has never gotten what I call 'real' respect. It's often mocked, jeered, and criticized by much of the world outside of the Metal community. But then again, everyone outside the Metal community are ignorant to the genre and are only interested in how 'awesome' and 'talented' Lil Wayne is on guitar. Ugh. For example, my roommate from way back in the day, Ladon (a big black dude.. but cool as hell), thought that the All American Rejects were Metal. T________T

Anyway, I guess it all started way back in the day when the Grammy's finally made a Heavy Metal category in the late 80's SEVERAL YEARS after the forefathers of Metal: Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest came into existence (and no, I don't consider Zed Leppelin Metal. Don't even get me started.). Anywho, if you are just behind on your music history, Metallica was HEAVILY favored to win that Grammy, and rightfully so. The "...And Justice For All" album was one of their classics, but lo and behold, the voters for the Grammy's voted Jethro Tull to win it. Jethro freakin' Tull. JETHRO FREAKIN' TULL!!! ... in the Heavy Metal category?!? Jethro Tull is Metal?!?!?!?!?!

That's what I'm talking about with how the freakin' Grammy's work. The voters who are into Lady Gaga and Katy Perry are probably the same people who vote in the Heavy Metal category (-ies). I haven't watched the Grammy's in forever. I mean, if I had to nominate groups for the Best Metal Band category today, I would put names like Trivium, Children of Bodom, The Agonist, and Luna Mortis.... But I tell you, if you put a ballot with these bands on there, the voter would be like, "Who the hell?"

No, the nominees today would look something like this: Metallica, Slipknot, Mudvayne, Tool, Nickelback, and Three Days Grace (I put the last three bands on there that CLEARLY don't belong to stay true to how ignorant the Grammy's are).... and as much as I love, adore, and worship Metallica, you know that today the award would go to them because they are the most well known band on that list. No one can tell me that if you put this ballot down in front of an ignorant voter that he or she won't go, "Oh, Metallica! I've heard of them! Yeah, they're good especially their first album. You know that Black Album with that "Sandman" song! Yeah that's the one! Yeah, I'll vote for them! They're good!" Ugh. (If you didn't get my little joke about the Black Album, then *facepalm*).

This is why as involved as I am in music, I don't pay attention to the radio or TV anymore. Screw all that noise. Oh and one more quick thing: SCREW YOU, T-Pain, for starting the whole Auto-tune craze (that robotic voice crap)... Auto-tune is supposed to be a tool in the studio, NOT a blatant alternative to ACTUAL singing....

... Now get off my lawn!!.... Where the hell's my cane, dag-nabbit......

Sorry for the long delay...

2009-09-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted much on here... I've been busy in my personal life trying to get things going. I'm also in the process of starting a project again and get back to playing music onstage again. Stay tuned!

This Video Hits It Right On

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

Here's a new video from Lacuna Coil for their song, "I Like It." Whether or not you like the song or the band or not, this video hits it right on about looking for the right bandmates to play with. Kind of funny, actually.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T05:22:00.000-07:00

This is going to be short and sweet. A huge icon in the music industry has passed away. Love him or hate him, you have to respect the impact he had in music. R.I.P. Michael Jackson.

My Feud with Drummers

2009-06-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

Ah, drummers. Don't really know what to say about them. I don't know if there's a curse on me with drummers, or it's just bad luck. My feud with drummers is the stuff of legends. In my music career dating back to my high school garage band, I've only known two drummers that I can actually get along with- with one of them being a multi-instrumentalist, so I'm not sure if he actually counts as a pure drummer.

I don't know what it is with drummers and I. I can actually get along with an arrogant guitarist more than I can get along with a drummer... and that's saying a lot! As many of my former bandmates know, I tend to keep things on track during practice. In my last few projects, I was the main songwriter music-wise. I challenge my bandmates every practice and strive to be better. To me, that trait is not a negative. Doing things the right way and doing things to better oneself in music is important. However, the drummers that I've encountered (especially in the past few years) resent that. It's like they have this "I'll do whatever I want" attitude, which is really toxic in a team-like environment like being in a band.

Now, I'm usually really patient with jamming with beginners. In fact, my last project's bass player has never played any instrument before I asked him to play. He was really open to my challenges (even though he was frustrated at me at times and vice-versa) and really pushed himself to be better. As a result, he's far exceeded my expectations and I'm really proud of him. Some drummers I've encountered were former guitarists, bassists, vocalists, etc. I, in turn, try to be patient with them also. They have to learn the drums too as they go! However, what I've found in most drummers is that they resent being challenged. They almost seem to take it as an insult. The drummer in my last project would NOT listen to my advice about staying on time, playing fills, etc. The songs suffered as a result, and his argument is that it didn't matter.

Yes. Yes it does matter. Playing in time is Music 101, folks. I can handle people not being able to read music, but if you want to call yourself a musician, then learn how to play ON TIME. I can't stress that enough.

Now, I'm not trying to belittle all drummers out there. I'm sure there are some great drummers out there who are respectable... Like I said, I know two drummers who I can get along with, and they happen to be two of my best friends: Lauren and Phil. It's just the majority of drummers who think they are immortal gods that can do no wrong and does not need to listen to anyone. Don't get me wrong, we guitarists are notorious of being that way too. I, personally, have just not had good luck with drummers... Maybe my luck will change. Hopefully.

GBAC

Portable Recorders = LIFESAVERS

2009-05-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, sometimes inspiration comes at the most inconvenient times. A spark of genius may come and that certain guitar riff or melody that has the potential to make you millions of dollars may fall on your lap. You play it a number of times thinking that you will have it in your memory banks for good.... Then you take a little bathroom break and it vanishes in thin air. AAAARRRGGGH!!! There has been million times, nay, a bajillion times that has happened to me. So many times that flashes of brilliance have come and gone.

Even those who are fortunate enough to have their own recording studios don't always write music or practice in their studios. Sometimes a musician has to be away from that kind of environment to get inspired. Not every musician has a pencil and blank music sheets at their disposal to write down everything they come up with (though that's the traditional method of 'capturing' a song creation). Besides, writing down music while you're trying to come up with stuff is laborious and can interfere with the creative process.

So what to do? Buy some kind of recording device. It doesn't matter if it's a cassette recorder, a portable digital recorder, or an old portable karaoke machine thing. Just have something that you can take with you, hit record, and capture your practice session. Even if you don't think there was anything worthwhile in the session, you might find a gem after listening back to it.

I always have one of two recorders on me: my mp3 player that has a built-in voice recorder and my Line 6 BackTrack + Mic, which I just recently purchased. The mp3 player doesn't have the best quality recording and the sound 'cracks' very easily, but it has been a life-saver for me, especially in my last project. I was the main songwriter (well, the music part anyway) for the group and had the responsibilty of coming up with everyone's parts except the lyrics. Not having a way to record my personal practices would have made my role a bit harder. Like I said, the mp3 player doesn't sound the best, BUT it was something. I wasn't trying to record something to put out on an album or anything.

The Line 6 BackTrack + Mic is one of the greatest things that has ever been made. It's a portable recorder that has much better quality than a voice recorder on an mp3 player. It's really geared towards guitarists, but if you get the + Mic version like the one I have, the mic is built in and you can record acoustic instruments, vocals, etc. You can even just set it down and record a live performance (with a bit of tweaking on the volume levels, of course). The other version of the BackTrack doesn't have a mic built in and requires an electric guitar. There are so many features on the BackTrack that I encourage you to go to your local music store and check one out. It's really easy to work with and is about the size of a typical cell phone. You press one or two buttons and just start playing. Another cool thing about this is it was under $200. Most other portable recorders are way more than that... I'll just say this: I am a Line 6 nut. What can I say? They make excellent products! My main amp is a Line 6. It has been so easy to use, and I have found awesome tones through it. You just have to sit down and get to know it :-) Anyway, if you want to know more about the Line 6 BackTrack, go here.

Anyway to sum everything up, if you're a musician who is serious about music, you need to have some kind of portable recording device. It'll give you a chance to capture those great riffs and not forget them. It'll also give you a chance to listen back to yourself and critique your performance and correct yourself. Trust me, you'll be glad you had one :-)

Keep the music playin'!

GBAC

Finding the right musicians

2009-05-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

Finding the right kind of musician can be very challenging. In fact, it'll probably make you want to pull your hair out! Not only do you have to find people who are up to your standards skill-wise, but you have to be able to get along with them. Needless to say, I've been in many bands where I couldn't get along with one or two members, and they became nightmares. Remember, playing music is supposed to be fun too!

What I've done in the past to 'screen' out the bad eggs is to meet with them face to face at a neutral site first. You know, have a beer with them at a local bar or have coffee at a Whataburger... whatever floats your boat. Try to find a place where you can talk to each other and be able to communicate clearly. Obviously going somewhere, like a concert, where it'll be hard to hear each other would be a bad idea.

One of the most important things I ask myself when I meet new musicians (whether I'm the one wanting to audition or I'm the one assembling the project) is "Will this guy/gal be compatible to my personality?" When you're in a band, it's like being in a football team. You have to be able to get along so that the level of trust is there. Each member has a role, and you have to be able to trust that the other members will do their jobs. If the drummer is a hard-headed, narrow-minded, talk-behind-your back kind of person, then save yourself the headaches and find someone else. In my last band, the drummer and I butted heads severely. I was the main songwriter when it came to the music, but I listen to what everyone has to say. However, when the drummer started to rebel against petty things like when and where to gig and just overall not wanting to be a team-player, it became a problem.

That leads me to my next point when meeting new musicians: Don't hold back on what your intentions are with the band. If you are auditioning for a band, ask how that band works: how much do they play and what they intend to do with the band? If you're a college student and cannot afford to go on the road for weeks at a time, then a full touring band is not for you. TRUST ME, it's very frustrating when your band is getting ready to roll out and melt faces on a tour and one guy holds everyone back because of one reason or another. It's important to know everyone's position in music just to avoid conflict later on.

A friend of mine, Mark, joined a band as a vocalist, but his personality and intentions were so different than the rest of his bandmates. The others liked to party hard while he's more down to earth. On top of that, he really wants to play shows, but the others don't. They are content with playing in their jam pad and not play out-which is fine, but it's not enough for Mark. Consequently he left the band to pursue other opportunities.

Another aspect when meeting new musicians for a new project or a current project is their 'seriousness' for music. In my years, I've heard a lot of talk from musicians, but seen very little results. One can be the best bassist in the world, but it wouldn't matter if he or she never shows up to practice. If the musician you're meeting has a transportation problem, then it's up to you to determine if you want to help out. I have never had a problem giving bandmates rides (hey, I've needed rides before when my car decides to fart out on my every now and again), but if they live way out of my way, then I usually tell them to find their own way there. I had a drummer I was trying out one time who lived about 45 minutes away from me and about an hour away from where we practice. I had to go all the way to his house, then back to our practice pad, then all the way back to his house to drop him off, then all the way back to my home. Yeah, he paid me gas money, but having to set off time to pick him up and drop him off was a real inconvenience.

Again, some of these things may seem common sense to you, but it's all true. There are more things to consider when looking for the right musicians, but I'm sure you'll be able to handle them. Happy hunting and good luck!

-GBAC

Let's get started shall we?

2009-05-10T13:18:00.000-07:00

Okay the first thing I want to talk about is what exactly do YOU want to do with music? There are many ways to incorporate your passion for playing music. In fact, I'm finding more and more options with music everyday it seems. You need to establish how much of your time you are willing to spend with your project and what you want out of it. Do you want this to be full-time, playing paying gigs as many as 5-6 nights a week (which I find is really hard unless you are a full-blown rock star)? Do you want to play at least one show a week? Every other week? On special occasions only to show off to your friends? Do you want to play strictly covers? Strictly original music? Both? What kind of music do you want to play? Top 40? Metal? Acoustic?

I'm not going to go over HOW to play guitar (or whatever it is you play) on this site. That's your deal. Everyone has their own ways of obtaining their training. BUT I will say this: if you know how to read music and even sight-read, you open yourself up to even more opportunities out there to get a job as a musician, which I'll cover later on. If you're like most musicians out there, you probably just play by ear. Many guitarists, drummers, and bassists master their respective instruments very well, but can't read a single note-and that's okay. Obviously though, if you want to be successful and have people like what you do, you have to do your part and learn your instrument and be comfortable with it.

Anyway, once you know what you want to get out of this, whether it's just recreational, hobby, or a way of life, it's time to find other musicians that share your vision. This is one of the toughest parts of the musician experience-if not the toughest. Finding compatible musicians is like trying to find needles in a huge haystack.

There are many tools in the internet that can help you find those perfect musicians or that perfect band to play with.

1) http://www.craigslist.org/ - Probably one of the most popular sites to go to find local musicians. You have to watch it, though. Sometimes the musician section can be littered with ridiculous people bashing each other. Just weed through those posts and you'll find serious posts.

2) http://www.bandmix.com/ - A really good musician site. The only downside to it is that you have to pay in order to 'contact' other members. People are getting smart and are just posting their email addresses and/or phone numbers on their profiles.

3) http://www.myspace.com/ - Believe it or not, myspace's classified ads work... and it's free. I've posted stuff on there before, and I get many replies- some in a matter of minutes! Also look at myspace groups to see if anyone built a musician exchange group in your area. If not, why not start one!

Another suggestion I have is to scout your local music stores. Get to know the people who work there. Once you build a relationship with them, they'll be more than happy to help you find people to jam with. They may also even want to jam with you to see if something clicks!

Open mic/jam nights are great ways to find musicians. Sure you may have to sit through a singer/guitarist butchering your favorite song, but sometimes you might just find THE perfect musician you're looking for. You can also go to shows and scout other bands' musicians, but I'm not a big fan of it. There's always that unspoken and unwritten law in the music world that one must respect musicians already in their own bands. I only approach musicians in other bands that have expressed discontent in their current situations.

Music stores' community boards are also a good place to look. This is probably one of the most popular ways to find local musicians, but to me, this is a last resort kind of deal.

Good luck and happy hunting!
GBAC

Introduction

2009-05-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hello, this is my first post on "Low Man's Lyric." First off, please bear with me as I get accustomed to the navigation and settings on the site, as I am fairly new to this format. I'll work on the site more as I learn more and more on how things work here :-).

Let me introduce myself. My name is GBAC. I am a guitarist for 17 years and have been playing 'professionally' for 9 years. By 'professionally,' I mean playing out in public. I was musically-trained by the late Mr. John Webb in Pensacola High School. Most of my music career has taken place in Florida, particularly in Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast. I have played with a number of musicians and/or groups over the years and have learned (and still learning!) the do's and don'ts in this industry. Music is and will always will be a big part of my life. What I hope to achieve with this blog is to give tips, hints, share thoughts and stories, and maybe even give a little advice based on my personal experiences in playing music. I hope you get a little something out of this, maybe even a chuckle or two.

The music industry is a different world in itself. It's not as easy as, "Hey dudes! Let's start a band!" and BOOM, you're an instant rock star. I have to admit that when I was a wee-little lad, that's what I was thinking. It's dog-eat-dog in this career path. I have fallen for the pits and traps when it comes to playing music for the public, and have learned some valuable lessons in the process.

Playing music can be challenging, rewarding, and spiritually fulfilling. Let's face it: You have to really WANT to play music to actually do it. It won't be a big money-maker initially, but it cetainly has the potential to be (if you do it the right way). IF this is something you want to invest time, money, and energy on, then great! Just be sure this is something you really want to do. Needless to say, it's not for everybody.

If music is your passion, then you know why musicians do what they do. In my experiences, I have been jeered and criticized for my choice by not only a few friends, but even my own family. If your family isn't the music-minded type like mine, they WILL get on to you about playing music. I would always get the "Why would you do something stupid like that when you can do something else more rewarding?" question from my not-so-understanding father all the time. Can you blame him? Music is a big risk. Yeah, I could have been the doctor or lawyer that he always wanted me to be, BUT it's not music. Music is MY thing and that's what I choose to do. This is something YOU, as a musician, MUST decide on for yourself. YOU must ask yourself if music is something you can't live without. YOU must decide on whether you want to do this as a hobby, as your life, or both. In my years of being told what is 'expected' of me, I have learned that you can't ignore music if it's in your blood.

Until next time,

GBAC