How do you justify being able to play the Blues

Necromancer · 11-03-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peppermint4life

Personally, I've gone through some serious crap. I've been addicted to hard drugs and when I was younger I even hurt myself. Even though I play a different form of the blues (a more garage sound), I still fall heavilly under blues influences. How do you justify yourself to play this music?

Be honest and express through your music (the blues) some of the experiences you have gone through in your life.

A good artist/songwriter is not afraid to tell their life's story to others through their music.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

If you're a good enough artist, you don't have to personally experience something to convey the feeling through your music.

I agree with this^ assumption 100% as well.

Bloozcrooz · 12-13-2012, 05:48 PM

I would say you don't necessarily have to have lived it but I think for some people it is the inspiration behind a lot of their music. I get what he was getting at and for me i write and play from life experience. I tend to admire artists more that also incorporate their life stories into their music. It feels as if I'm not alone and the lyrics or guitar work or both are telling a story I can relate to. That's not always the case but a lot of times it is. For me its like a bond between a piece of music and me that comes from the heart and soul. Whenever there's a connection it just seems that much more genuine. If I cant relate to a piece of music I don't play it.

blastingas10 · 12-13-2012, 09:14 PM

Can joe bonamassa play the blues like BB King or Buddy Guy? That's a definite hell no. Does joe have all the technical ability that they don't? Obviously. But I really don't give a **** about that. There's soul in BB's and Buddy's music that is a lot more powerful than any shredding that joe can do. So I think there is something to this.

Bloozcrooz · 12-13-2012, 09:20 PM

Never have got into Joes music. I've heard more soul out of coyotes howling at night.

blastingas10 · 12-13-2012, 09:43 PM

I agree. As great of a guitar player as he is, it just doesn't even matter. The blues isn't about technical prowess. It's about the emotion. Which I think is true for nearly all music, if you ask me.

mr dave · 12-15-2012, 08:15 AM

You don't play the blues, the blues play you. If you're trying to justify it or control it you're doing it wrong.

**Janszoon** · 01-02-2013, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyIncognito

Let's say that your dog just got run over by a freight train. How do you really know whether you're gonna end up slingin' some blues about it or just whining some country?

It's a fair question... It's a slippery slope if'n you ask moi.

ZeyerGTR · 01-15-2013, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Odyshape

I never knew you needed any justification to play any kind of music.

This.

Quote:

Can joe bonamassa play the blues like BB King or Buddy Guy? That's a definite hell no.

Nope, he plays blues like Joe Bonamassa, and he's great at that. I've seen him live 3 times and he was freaking amazing each time. And each time he was better than the last. Listen to his "The Last Matador of Bayonne" or "The Great Flood" - there's emotion in those tunes. Robben Ford doesn't play blues like BB King or Buddy Guy, either, that doesn't make him any less great. Not everyone has to like every artist, of course, but that doesn't mean they aren't good at what they do.

I play blues because I love the music and it resonates with me. Blues speaks to universal truths. If you've been alive for any length of time, there's something to connect with.

phenoz · 03-26-2013, 03:30 AM

I don't think I need to explain myself as to why I play a certain style of music..

12-13-2012, 09:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
blastingas10 Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,126	Can joe bonamassa play the blues like BB King or Buddy Guy? That's a definite hell no. Does joe have all the technical ability that they don't? Obviously. But I really don't give a **** about that. There's soul in BB's and Buddy's music that is a lot more powerful than any shredding that joe can do. So I think there is something to this.

12-13-2012, 09:43 PM	#15 (permalink)
blastingas10 Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,126	I agree. As great of a guitar player as he is, it just doesn't even matter. The blues isn't about technical prowess. It's about the emotion. Which I think is true for nearly all music, if you ask me.

03-26-2013, 03:30 AM	#19 (permalink)
phenoz Groupie Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 4	I don't think I need to explain myself as to why I play a certain style of music..