Does being musically talented raise your status?

[handle]

It helps, but please don't be that ******* at the party who's like "oh you have a guitar?" and then plays the whole night, drowning out everyone's conversation, showboating the whole time. I'm sure you've been to a party where this happens... It always happens and nobody likes that one dude.

 

[Rubirosa]

In my 30's I was in a band that did alot of gigging. I was the lead guitarist. We were good enough to get played on a major station's local music scene show.
Anyways, I can't say that being on stage w/ a guitar got me laid very often. The ironic thing is, is that let's say you see a girl that you like, many times you don't have enough time to talk because you're up on stage playing !
There were many gigs I remember looking out on the floor and watching guys approach chicks that I had spotted earlier when we were getting ready to go on.
Now I can say that just being able to play guitar is a definite plus as far as attraction goes. One of my girlfriends stated that she loved the fact that I was into "macho" things like full contact Karate and cars, but that I also had an artistic softer side.

 

[Rubirosa]

By the way I put "Depends how you handle the attention" because a lot of musos can be arseholes. But for most people, yeah do the old cheesy acoustic guitar strumming, cheesier the better usually, if there's a fan on, get that blowing on you like some cliche 80's soft rock video, and sing some self indulgent crap about relationships and you'll find yourself nuts deep before you know it.
Me personally though I prefer the girls who are into fetish music like Surf, Rockabilly, Psychobilly etc. and I play double bass and guitar, so for me it's more a niche market - limited selection.

L.O.L. I don't want to sound mean, but I think there's some kind of requirement that if you're a female and you like Rockabilly, you need to be on the heavy side.
A hot Rockabilly chick is a VERY rare specimen. Shame, because it's such a cool scene withe the cars, clothes, guitars, etc..........

 

[Masculinity]

Thanks for your input Iceberg; sometimes the answer is so close that we can fail to see it. This thread has brought out many good anecdotes and

perspectives to the forum.

I have a very successful-with-girls friend that is an average piano player.

This is what he does. He meets someone, goes out in a date, and eventually get back to his apartment. He has a keyboard right next to the sofa, so of course the question "do you play piano?" ALWAYS comes up. He says, well kinda, and the goes to play a highly emotional piece. This always ends up in sex.

He always tries to get them to go to his apartment, even if its for a minute before going out to a date, so that this happens.

Music is the great aphrodisiac.

Also, he considers himself a great piano player and he is NOT MODEST ABOUT IT, although he is borderline capable. 99% of girls eat it right up (except those musically talented).

Actually, this works so outstandingly well that I'm learning to play the piano. Almost anyone can play the guitar. The piano, that's a rarer talent, I believe.

^ This guy is brilliant. Why didn't I think of this before!?

 

[Scars]

Thanks for your input Iceberg; sometimes the answer is so close that we can fail to see it. This thread has brought out many good anecdotes and

perspectives to the forum.



^ This guy is brilliant. Why didn't I think of this before!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdbP6cSFJXs

 

[Sparky]

L.O.L. I don't want to sound mean, but I think there's some kind of requirement that if you're a female and you like Rockabilly, you need to be on the heavy side.
A hot Rockabilly chick is a VERY rare specimen. Shame, because it's such a cool scene withe the cars, clothes, guitars, etc..........

HAHA :crackup: I know what you mean. But - TOO specific. Doesn't have to be a "rockabilly" bird per se, I'm happy with a girl who's into anything from Count Basie to Motorhead really so long as it's that kind of Rhythm and Blues thing.

Any girl who likes Beyonce and all that - well she ain't putting that on the stereo in my house or car. Behavior like that will most definitely not be tolerated. Unless it involves a private lap dance to said music.

 

[joverby]

I play guitar, it's gotten me laid on just one occassion, just playing infront of a couple girls with my buddy. About to start playing in my old band again so I'm hoping that will help the tang roll in. I know it helps A LOT!

 

[Atom Smasher]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdbP6cSFJXs

Arpeggio!!

As Radiohead so deftly put it:

"Anyone can play guitar,
and you won't be a nothin' anymore..."

Anyone can pick up cowboy chords on a guitar, and it is relatively easy to go from "bad" to "good". It is much more difficult, however, to go from "good" to "great" (where I am). I've paid my dues.

When you're great, even non-musical chicks can sense that you're doing something special, out of the ordinary. And they do respond very positively. Take my word for it.

 

[Atom Smasher]

Guys, this is a great discussion.

I was thinking of starting a "Guitar Players' Practice Accountability" thread in Anything Else.

In there we can state our practice goals and hold each other accountable to accomplish them. For example, I will probably commit to 1.5 hours a day, 5 days a week to start. This is not overwhelming and can be broken into smaller chunks during the day (which is much more effective than a single sitting for me).

In the thread, I will report to you guys how I am doing and what effects I'm noticing. You guys would do the same. Everyone would probably have different goals based upon ability and lifestyle, and that's fine.

But we would then have a system of accountability where we would be able to encourage each other and spur each other on to greater things. For myself, 1.5 hours of committed practice 5 days a week would translate to 7.5 hours, which is 3.5 hours more practice per week or 175 additional hours per year. Imagine how much better we would all become, and we would largely eliminate the problem of motivation that many of us are facing.

Let me know what you guys think, please. If there is interest I'll start the thread and we can get to work at becoming virtuosos and gaining that feeling of mastery. Are you in?

 

[joverby]

That seems like a really good idea man. I would probably make myself a goal for amount of time to be practiced then specific goals, of what to practice.

 

[Iceberg]

@ Atom Smasher

Great idea. Like you, I sit down and practice for 45-60 minutes about 4 times per week. Took lessons every week for 6 years up until last month.

And yeah, as you said, you gotta pay your dues. I think what separates the good players from the guys who throw their guitar in the closet and forget about it is the good players are willing to suffer. There are chords that took me 5-6 months to train my fingers to hit.

Another point you raised was how everyone plays guitar. I took a liking to old blues music, so I differentiated myself from the strummers by learning a finger picking style. I use my thumb to hit the bass notes, index finger to pick individual notes, and the back of my hand to get a rhythm. Actually here's a good example of that style, in case anyone is into bluesy stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if0p2kKitlU

 

[Sparky]

I took a liking to old blues music, so I differentiated myself from the strummers by learning a finger picking style.

Ah yes, and similarly, on a more rockabilly related tip, Travis picking FTW! - I've found that this impresses girls because you actually give the audio illusion of it sounding like two guitarists playing. A bit of Travis picking as opposed to the usual cheesy chord strumming and they've never heard anything like it.

Similar to Mr Gorilla here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g85GgLCh_Ts

 

[DMEDFISIK]

If you think that talent doesn't exist - well. Let me put you to the test. I have perfect pitch. Not relative (as is often mistake for perfect). That means that with a reasonably in tune piano I can tell you what note you're playing (within reasonable range, maybe not the extreme top and bottom notes) without looking at the piano.

Lucky you. I wish I had perfect pitch, it would make playing so much easier. Can you tell what scale in which a song resides? I always have to sample keys on the piano to pick out chords and notes.

 

[Sparky]

Can you tell what scale in which a song resides?

Yes. Basically. It can be a bit annoying because you can tell when things are out of tune more as well - so while everyone else is enjoying the music I tend to find myself cringeing from time to time.
It takes a few seconds to kind of "home in" on the key - I'd say usually I can nail the key in about 10 - 15 seconds or less. I used to practise with classical music my dad played in the car (I am classically trained as well) - that's extra difficult because you have to listen for a while to work out the actual "resolution" key that it defaults to, seeing as a lot of classical jumps around key-wise so much.

That's not to say that some music is enjoyable out of tune slightly - like honky tonk, boogie and so on. The Rolling Stones for example were out of tune a lot of the time, but they made it sound good because of the Honky Tonk nature of a lot of their stuff.

No one believes me about this in real life until I give them the "piano" test - and even then they think I've got some trickery mirror set up so I can see the keys.
Best way to practise is try and nail a classical key - then look on the CD to see what key it's actually in, see how you did. On ocassion about 5% of the time I can get it a semitone wrong either side if it's a particularly tricky number.

Another weird thing I've got is - for about 25 years now I've been regularly listening to full volume rock n roll on headphones and it doesn't seem to have AFFECTED MY HEARING - I SAID "AFFECTED MY HEARING" - I SAID " haha no seriously. I wonder whetehr the two go hand in hand for some strange reason like it's the make up of one's ear drum or something?

 

[ArcBound]

There are certain levels of musical talent acquirable through hard work alone.

Take Beethoven. He wrote his most famous pieces when he was 100% deaf. That's right 100% deaf. This is the same music being played around 200 years later. Sure I bet Beethoven did work hard. But that kind of thing requires pure musical skill, genius, talent whatever you want to call it. I could compose everyday if I wanted to but I wouldn't get anywhere near the level of Beethoven.

Of course its not an excuse to stop trying at all since you'll never be as good as the guy next door. Music is an incredible thing even on "simple" songs.

 

[snowdog]

Limk please. I'm always up for some "world destroying" guitar.

As much as I'd love to show off, I don't want to even remotely run the risk of my real identity ever being linked to "Snowdog". I'm sure you understand.

You'll just have to take my word for it and if you don't, that's fine by me too.

 

[snowdog]

Sparky, we should start a band together, lol

 

[Atom Smasher]

As much as I'd love to show off, I don't want to even remotely run the risk of my real identity ever being linked to "Snowdog". I'm sure you understand.

You'll just have to take my word for it and if you don't, that's fine by me too.

I understand... I have to protect my identity, too as I'm fairly well known in the Northeast.

I just thought maybe there was something floating around out there. I'm always looking for new inspiration.

 

[snowdog]

Are you like a famous guy?

And yea, there's stuff out there on youtube and ****. I played in a bunch of bands and once even was on the radio. Biggest bragging I can do is that I made it to the finals of a pretty big talent show and lost to a bunch of rappers LOL.

 

[thedude4242]

being musically talented dont mean nothing unless you are already attractive. the music wont help you out.