The Smoothness is Just Too Much!

dmfollower · Unread post by **dmfollower** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 2:49 am

ok, i want to give a quick shout-out to whiskey and coke......lol, ok.
anyways, i've been playing dave since about 1998. i can play all the songs off every album until everyday, and then its about every other song on everyday and busted stuff. at first i always played to the albums and then i got addicted to live dave and then i played to nothing but live shit. i've always felt that i could play adequately close to how dave plays but then i hear people like "gravedigger" playing satellite and all of a sudden i'm not as smooth as i thought i was. not to say i suck, i do know how to play, but i just have a question. how did you get so skilled at strumming and your timing and not screwing up? am i just not made for playing the guitar? its weird, i've always wanted to play but the only thing i can actually play is dave and then i learn that other people play better than me and its just a weird kind of relization. drunk ofcourse, but how did you learn that smoothness that dave has? i've always just copied it, seems like others have actually mastered it. basically its satellite, trippin' billies and the stone. help?

Pickles · Unread post by **Pickles** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 10:37 am

some people have a natural rhythm. i dont, but theres always some. anyway all i know is that strumming comes with time. im really not that good at it yet, especially not for daves really strange rhythms. theres not much you can do to learn it except the most given guitar advice - practice.

Iceman25 · Unread post by **Iceman25** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 4:23 pm

I'm with ya DMBfollower (to whiskey and coke as well), strumming is difficult for me too, and to hear others play it so much better, even though you've practiced it a zillion times, is very frusterating and you have no choice but to ask that same question, "am i just not made to play". Ive asked people, and you always get the same response, keep practicing, but I'm wondering if there's any other advice that would help. For example, generally speaking, is it easier to hold a guitar higher, lower and strum. R there better picks to use, or is there a certain way to hold a pick that would make strumming easier? I don't know. I'm sure the answer is, it's different for everyone, but if anyone out there could give suggestions of "In general, it easier if you....", it could only help. Thanks all!

4mbi3nt · Unread post by **4mbi3nt** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 4:28 pm

How long have you guys played guitar? How many hrs a day to you practice? I've played for a while now and used to run into the same thing all the time. Dave's rhythms are pretty hard, at least in my opinion. Can you play less difficult rhythms smoothly?

gravedigger · Unread post by **gravedigger** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 6:08 pm

yeah, I like whiskey and gingerale but they don't like me. anyway, dmbfollwer, I don't believe in the notion that "I'm not cut out for guitar playing" or "I just don't have an ear for music" it really really is all practice and listening and practice. When I first started, I DID NOT have an ear. I couldn't tell the differences between the chords I was hearing, or where the changes were, or I didn't have any rhythm whatsoever. It just comes with practice. I've never used a tuner, if that's worth anything. I doubt it. Just keep playing and having fun with it and try not to have your mind set on being the best guitar player. There's always gonna be somebody out there better than ya, so don't sweat that. hell, Dave has been playing guitar for about 25 years or more. He's had some practice. the timing, rhythm, accuracy, muting, strumming, picking, trapping, etc. etc. etc. all comes with practice. But I don't consider it practice, I just consider it fun work. once you learn the song, the rest is just fooling with it to get to sound how YOU like it to sound. keep it fun.

I hope that what I'm saying is helpful. oh, and you will always get better at playing, you will never go the other way. unless you stop playing for like a year or something.

cheers!

Ken

IronMike778 · Unread post by **IronMike778** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 8:29 pm

I'm with you guys on this one. I've been playing Dave for several years now and I considered myself a 'Dave guy'. Until I heard some of the people on these boards. I, too, know how to play the songs, I just didn't realize until I started recording myself this past month that something was missing. It was the strumming. Something just wasn't right about it. I suggest you download some of these guys when they post stuff then listen to what they're doing. I finally HEAR the strumming like I never did before when I listen L@LC thanks to some of these guys. I feel like my Tripping Billies has improved leaps and bounds just since the contest.

Trust me, you can probably play Dave a helluva lot better than most, you just don't realize it. I was in Guitar Center about a month ago and there was a guy who was playing some stuff was that was awesome. He was really good. He then asked me if I knew any Dave Matthews, and I of course, said yes. He was amazed at my Tripping Billies, Crush, etc. I'm average at best, but to this guy - a non-dave guy - it was like he'd never seen these fingerings before. You should have seen this guy try to play these songs in Dave's style...he looked like a friggin beginner. He couldn't begin to do these stretches, mutes, etc.

Moral of the story? Don't be too hard on yourself. You can play Dave, you just haven't perfected it. With practice it can come to anybody. You're light years ahead of most and don't realize it. Don't be discouraged by guys like Firedancer, Cave, Grave, Jason, etc.....just listen to what they're doing and pick things up from it. Just keep at it....it'll come.

Pickles · Unread post by **Pickles** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 9:03 pm

IronMike thats a great response. thats all i have to say

dmfollower · Unread post by **dmfollower** » Sat Mar 01, 2003 3:08 pm

IronMike778 wrote:I'm with you guys on this one. I've been playing Dave for several years now and I considered myself a 'Dave guy'. Until I heard some of the people on these boards. I, too, know how to play the songs, I just didn't realize until I started recording myself this past month that something was missing. It was the strumming. Something just wasn't right about it. I suggest you download some of these guys when they post stuff then listen to what they're doing. I finally HEAR the strumming like I never did before when I listen L@LC thanks to some of these guys. I feel like my Tripping Billies has improved leaps and bounds just since the contest.

Trust me, you can probably play Dave a helluva lot better than most, you just don't realize it. I was in Guitar Center about a month ago and there was a guy who was playing some stuff was that was awesome. He was really good. He then asked me if I knew any Dave Matthews, and I of course, said yes. He was amazed at my Tripping Billies, Crush, etc. I'm average at best, but to this guy - a non-dave guy - it was like he'd never seen these fingerings before. You should have seen this guy try to play these songs in Dave's style...he looked like a friggin beginner. He couldn't begin to do these stretches, mutes, etc.

Moral of the story? Don't be too hard on yourself. You can play Dave, you just haven't perfected it. With practice it can come to anybody. You're light years ahead of most and don't realize it. Don't be discouraged by guys like Firedancer, Cave, Grave, Jason, etc.....just listen to what they're doing and pick things up from it. Just keep at it....it'll come.

i agree, thanks for the response. i'm gonna go play now.

Unread post by **jkanter** » Sat Mar 01, 2003 4:35 pm

dmfollower wrote:
IronMike778 wrote:I'm with you guys on this one. I've been playing Dave for several years now and I considered myself a 'Dave guy'. Until I heard some of the people on these boards. I, too, know how to play the songs, I just didn't realize until I started recording myself this past month that something was missing. It was the strumming. Something just wasn't right about it. I suggest you download some of these guys when they post stuff then listen to what they're doing. I finally HEAR the strumming like I never did before when I listen L@LC thanks to some of these guys. I feel like my Tripping Billies has improved leaps and bounds just since the contest.

Trust me, you can probably play Dave a helluva lot better than most, you just don't realize it. I was in Guitar Center about a month ago and there was a guy who was playing some stuff was that was awesome. He was really good. He then asked me if I knew any Dave Matthews, and I of course, said yes. He was amazed at my Tripping Billies, Crush, etc. I'm average at best, but to this guy - a non-dave guy - it was like he'd never seen these fingerings before. You should have seen this guy try to play these songs in Dave's style...he looked like a friggin beginner. He couldn't begin to do these stretches, mutes, etc.

Moral of the story? Don't be too hard on yourself. You can play Dave, you just haven't perfected it. With practice it can come to anybody. You're light years ahead of most and don't realize it. Don't be discouraged by guys like Firedancer, Cave, Grave, Jason, etc.....just listen to what they're doing and pick things up from it. Just keep at it....it'll come.
i agree, thanks for the response. i'm gonna go play now.

Just to let you know man.....first off, whisky and coke OH YEAH.....second off, I am doing some HARDCORE stuff in the background to finish something that will show you strumming hands in the song. It will be a decent amount of time....but when it's done, I promise you it's going to be absolutely amazing. Anyway, a bunch of people on the boards know about it so...even though they can't say anything....maybe they can attest to the fact that it's going to be awesome

DustyDave · Unread post by **DustyDave** » Sat Mar 01, 2003 6:15 pm

Can't wait to see what you got in store for us Jkanter

Pickles · Unread post by **Pickles** » Sat Mar 01, 2003 9:00 pm

now im anxious :shock:

Iceman25 · Unread post by **Iceman25** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 9:19 am

Thanks for all the great feedback and encouragement. Can't wait to see what u r brewin up Kanter!!

Stuntcheeks · Unread post by **Stuntcheeks** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 4:07 pm

I'll attest. It will be awesome. I really can't wait.

cave_cricket · Unread post by **cave_cricket** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 4:28 pm

jkanter wrote:
dmfollower wrote:
IronMike778 wrote:I'm with you guys on this one. I've been playing Dave for several years now and I considered myself a 'Dave guy'. Until I heard some of the people on these boards. I, too, know how to play the songs, I just didn't realize until I started recording myself this past month that something was missing. It was the strumming. Something just wasn't right about it. I suggest you download some of these guys when they post stuff then listen to what they're doing. I finally HEAR the strumming like I never did before when I listen L@LC thanks to some of these guys. I feel like my Tripping Billies has improved leaps and bounds just since the contest.

Trust me, you can probably play Dave a helluva lot better than most, you just don't realize it. I was in Guitar Center about a month ago and there was a guy who was playing some stuff was that was awesome. He was really good. He then asked me if I knew any Dave Matthews, and I of course, said yes. He was amazed at my Tripping Billies, Crush, etc. I'm average at best, but to this guy - a non-dave guy - it was like he'd never seen these fingerings before. You should have seen this guy try to play these songs in Dave's style...he looked like a friggin beginner. He couldn't begin to do these stretches, mutes, etc.

Moral of the story? Don't be too hard on yourself. You can play Dave, you just haven't perfected it. With practice it can come to anybody. You're light years ahead of most and don't realize it. Don't be discouraged by guys like Firedancer, Cave, Grave, Jason, etc.....just listen to what they're doing and pick things up from it. Just keep at it....it'll come.
i agree, thanks for the response. i'm gonna go play now.
Just to let you know man.....first off, whisky and coke OH YEAH.....second off, I am doing some HARDCORE stuff in the background to finish something that will show you strumming hands in the song. It will be a decent amount of time....but when it's done, I promise you it's going to be absolutely amazing. Anyway, a bunch of people on the boards know about it so...even though they can't say anything....maybe they can attest to the fact that it's going to be awesome

Two things....
1- thanks IronMike for making me feel liek a role model. I had no idea that you thought like that. I don't want to discourage anyone. I don't even think I'm that great.....thanks. But anyway.....GREAT post and good moral. Even jason had to suck at one point :wink:

2-Kanter has someting GREAT in store! You guys will love it. And he is working his balls off to get it! I'm excited.

Pickles · Unread post by **Pickles** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 4:32 pm

i cant wait

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The Smoothness is Just Too Much!

The Smoothness is Just Too Much!

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