Captain Beefheart's 10 Commandments for Guitar Players Everywhere - Music Banter Music Banter

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Old 05-11-2009, 12:42 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Captain Beefheart's 10 Commandments for Guitar Players Everywhere

1. Listen to the birds.
That's where all the music comes from. Birds know everything about how it should sound and where that sound should come from. And watch hummingbirds. They fly really fast, but a lot of times they aren't going anywhere.

2. Your guitar is not really a guitar Your guitar is a divining rod.
Use it to find spirits in the other world and bring them over. A guitar is also a fishing rod. If you're good, you'll land a big one.

3. Practice in front of a bush
Wait until the moon is out, then go outside, eat a multi-grained bread and play your guitar to a bush. If the bush dosen't shake, eat another piece of bread.

4. Walk with the devil
Old Delta blues players referred to guitar amplifiers as the "devil box." And they were right. You have to be an equal opportunity employer in terms of who you're bringing over from the other side. Electricity attracts devils and demons. Other instruments attract other spirits. An acoustic guitar attracts Casper. A mandolin attracts Wendy. But an electric guitar attracts Beelzebub.

5. If you're guilty of thinking, you're out
If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something that is fur bearing.

6. Never point your guitar at anyone
Your instrument has more clout than lightning. Just hit a big chord then run outside to hear it. But make sure you are not standing in an open field.

7. Always carry a church key
That's your key-man clause. Like One String Sam. He's one. He was a Detroit street musician who played in the fifties on a homemade instrument. His song "I Need a Hundred Dollars" is warm pie. Another key to the church is Hubert Sumlin, Howlin' Wolf's guitar player. He just stands there like the Statue of Liberty-making you want to look up her dress the whole time to see how he's doing it.

8. Don't wipe the sweat off your instrument
You need that stink on there. Then you have to get that stink onto your music.

9. Keep your guitar in a dark place
When you're not playing your guitar, cover it and keep it in a dark place. If you don't play your guitar for more than a day, be sure you put a saucer of water in with it.

10. You gotta have a hood for your engine
Keep that hat on. A hat is a pressure cooker. If you have a roof on your house, the hot air can't escape. Even a lima bean has to have a piece of wet paper around it to make it grow.
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Old 05-11-2009, 12:45 AM   #2 (permalink)
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cooooooooooooool
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isn't this one of the main reasons for this entire site?

what's next? a thread made specifically to banter about music?
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Old 05-11-2009, 01:09 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Yea I remember seeing this on the Captain Beefheart website...

Thanks for the flashback.
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Old 05-11-2009, 01:18 AM   #4 (permalink)
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I see what Iv'e been doing wrong all this time.
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Old 05-11-2009, 01:25 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Some very interesting advice.

But I like a little brain in my guitar, it depends on the kind of music.
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I only listen to Santana when I feel like being annoyed.
I only listen to you talk when I want to hear Emo performed acapella.
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Old 05-11-2009, 01:56 AM   #6 (permalink)
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i don't think when i play, i just flow with it.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mr dave
isn't this one of the main reasons for this entire site?

what's next? a thread made specifically to banter about music?
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Old 05-11-2009, 03:24 AM   #7 (permalink)
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5. If you're guilty of thinking, you're out
If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something that is fur bearing.
Nice find - I particularly like this bit.
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Old 05-11-2009, 07:45 AM   #8 (permalink)
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Another key to the church is Hubert Sumlin, Howlin' Wolf's guitar player. He just stands there like the Statue of Liberty-making you want to look up her dress the whole time to see how he's doing it.
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Old 05-11-2009, 08:34 AM   #9 (permalink)
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That's amazing...love the Cap'n!
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Old 05-11-2009, 12:46 PM   #10 (permalink)
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"See this...it's a bush recording. We're recording a bush."

now i know where his inspiration comes from.
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