Does anyone's playing improve after a smoke?
If i smoke and play, then I'm lost and confused (which is my natural state) but if I play THEN smoke, then I can play very well (and very fast !), thoughts? .......
Smoking is a great help. You begin to think you sound great, and as you are more relaxed and confident, you naturally play better. Music, like many other things, relies to a large extent on confidence.
Personally, I would have won about 26 All Ireland Fleadhs, but the shame of failing a drug test afterwards would be too much.
It's just kind of different really. I like to have a few pints and we relax into it, though it can get a bit tetchy and phrenetic. Then we go outside for a smoke and a chat, and when we come back there's a kind of calmness that re-emerges.
Also, it's harder to feel what actual speed you are playing at, but that doesn't matter at all. You end up playing some sets way faster than you'd normally play them, and some sets at half speed. It's always fun to do this, though when all you've had is a drink, you have to force it.
The other thing about just drink, of course, is your technique goes, but a smoke doesn't really affect your fingers' ability at all
i dont like to put anyone out of 'joint' if you know what im saying but the problem of smoking and playing is that it all sounds good to the ones smoking it but to the ones who are not it can sound like a pile of sh*te
Before this topic gets flushed, I’ll add that I’ve known some people who made great progress on their instruments and learned how to improvise through the influence of, uh, you know … smoking. In fact, I have a very strong suspicion that this was the true origin of jazz.
"The smokey house" is a fave reel of mine, am I still allowed to play it or is this a smokeless zone?
My bass player used to purposefully keep a long piece of wire stuck out of the tuning key just to stick his fag on whilst playing. We eventually stopped him doing it on stage.
We also had a drummer who played in a trance, hardly moved but chain smoked. He used to let the ash hang off the end untill it was about two or three inches long hung down at 90 degrees. I am sure people used to come along just to watch him.
At the end of the night, we have packed everything up but he was just stood looking at the drum kit, enjoying his third fag whilst he wondered where to start.
Smoking and playing: then your cigar gets long in the ash and you tip it into someone's guitar or mandolin hole. It's a dead give away when the guitar or mandolin starts smoldering. I quickly and quietly disappear into the mens room, then the guitar or mandolin player is staring at the poor clueless flute player.
PS: smoking a fag here in the states is considered more than gay bashing. We have laws here ya know.
Smoking and Playing
Smoking and Playing
Does anyone's playing improve after a smoke?
If i smoke and play, then I'm lost and confused (which is my natural state) but if I play THEN smoke, then I can play very well (and very fast !), thoughts? .......
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by Frulator
Re: Smoking and Playing
What do you be smokin!!
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by seaniemcg
Re: Smoking and Playing
Same as what you will be in Ennis over the weekend yong Teddy!
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by no39
Re: Smoking and Playing
Now now, none of that!
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by flanum
Re: Smoking and Playing
I find that after I smoke, I sort of.............
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by mcknowall
Re: Smoking and Playing
Smoking is a great help. You begin to think you sound great, and as you are more relaxed and confident, you naturally play better. Music, like many other things, relies to a large extent on confidence.
Personally, I would have won about 26 All Ireland Fleadhs, but the shame of failing a drug test afterwards would be too much.
Especially for CCE.
# Posted on November 11th 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Smoking and Playing
It's just kind of different really. I like to have a few pints and we relax into it, though it can get a bit tetchy and phrenetic. Then we go outside for a smoke and a chat, and when we come back there's a kind of calmness that re-emerges.
Also, it's harder to feel what actual speed you are playing at, but that doesn't matter at all. You end up playing some sets way faster than you'd normally play them, and some sets at half speed. It's always fun to do this, though when all you've had is a drink, you have to force it.
The other thing about just drink, of course, is your technique goes, but a smoke doesn't really affect your fingers' ability at all
# Posted on November 11th 2005 by llig leahcim
Re: Smoking and Playing
I'm shocked. Not Michael. Say it ain't so, Joe.
# Posted on November 11th 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Smoking and Playing
"tetchy and phrenetic"?
No, bliss, that must be a different Michael.
# Posted on November 11th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Smoking and Playing
i dont like to put anyone out of 'joint' if you know what im saying but the problem of smoking and playing is that it all sounds good to the ones smoking it but to the ones who are not it can sound like a pile of sh*te
# Posted on November 11th 2005 by Ripthecalico
Re: Smoking and Playing
Before this topic gets flushed, I’ll add that I’ve known some people who made great progress on their instruments and learned how to improvise through the influence of, uh, you know … smoking. In fact, I have a very strong suspicion that this was the true origin of jazz.
# Posted on November 11th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Smoking and Playing
I used to smoke, now I just find it a bit of a drag...
cough, splutter......
# Posted on November 12th 2005 by Ron P
Re: Smoking and Playing
"The smokey house" is a fave reel of mine, am I still allowed to play it or is this a smokeless zone?
My bass player used to purposefully keep a long piece of wire stuck out of the tuning key just to stick his fag on whilst playing. We eventually stopped him doing it on stage.
We also had a drummer who played in a trance, hardly moved but chain smoked. He used to let the ash hang off the end untill it was about two or three inches long hung down at 90 degrees. I am sure people used to come along just to watch him.
At the end of the night, we have packed everything up but he was just stood looking at the drum kit, enjoying his third fag whilst he wondered where to start.
# Posted on November 14th 2005 by geoffwright
Re: Smoking and Playing
Smoking and playing: then your cigar gets long in the ash and you tip it into someone's guitar or mandolin hole. It's a dead give away when the guitar or mandolin starts smoldering. I quickly and quietly disappear into the mens room, then the guitar or mandolin player is staring at the poor clueless flute player.
PS: smoking a fag here in the states is considered more than gay bashing. We have laws here ya know.
# Posted on November 15th 2005 by CeolCairdeas