THIS JUST IN....
- Thread starter mcblink
- Start date
OP
mcblink
Ambassador of Riffs & Spliffs
Ok, sure...I agree with this completely...
But how does it apply to tone? His approach, his "attitude" is actually technique, and the different uses thereof...isn't it?
His tone could change with any changes in gear.. his "attitude" would remain, though, would it not?
eclecticsynergy
Ambassador of Electric Synergy
When requested to play a C note, Ornette Coleman replied, "Is that a happy C, a sad C, an angry C, or a regretful C?"
eclecticsynergy
Ambassador of Electric Synergy
I say it's all in the fingears... Wait, what?
Tone is everywhere.
To me tone is just sound.
That juicy stinker in the first example, it had tone.
If someone shoves you down a flight of stairs, your screams and the thud you make at the bottom, have tone.
If a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it, it still had tone. If that tree happened to be Brazilian Rosewood, it must have had fantastic tone.
But, perception of tone is in the hearing.
You may hear something incredible and someone else hearing the same thing, they may just hear noise.
So is tone in the ears? Even deeper is tone defined by your hearing?
What if you can't hear? Is your world void of tone?
How would you define tone to a deaf person.
I was sitting in a bar a few weeks ago listening to a friends band and there was a guy at the bar drinking a beer, trying to communicate with my wife & I.
It was quite obvious to me he was deaf, possibly mute as well.
But he had something to say to us & she was getting annoyed with his gesturing and pounding on the bar not quite realizing the whole picture. She just thought he was one of the oddball street people that hangs around downtown.
Though he couldn't hear a thing, he was appreciating the music through the vibrations in the bar, the wooden floor and the barstool.
That's what he was "saying". He liked the music and the band.
Once she realized the situation, she felt bad for being annoyed with him.
Anyway we bought him a beer and we all continued to enjoy the show.
Watching him, you could tell he was into it.
He could feel the beat. His head feet and hands were all connected to the music.
At break time my buddy in the band came over to chat and I introduced him to my new friend.
The fellow acted like he just met Clapton. It made his night.
So it obviously wasn't tone this cat was attracted to, but what was it?
It reached deeper into this cats soul.
So my question is can there be tone without rhythm and beat?
To me tone is just sound.
That juicy stinker in the first example, it had tone.
If someone shoves you down a flight of stairs, your screams and the thud you make at the bottom, have tone.
If a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it, it still had tone. If that tree happened to be Brazilian Rosewood, it must have had fantastic tone.
But, perception of tone is in the hearing.
You may hear something incredible and someone else hearing the same thing, they may just hear noise.
So is tone in the ears? Even deeper is tone defined by your hearing?
What if you can't hear? Is your world void of tone?
How would you define tone to a deaf person.
I was sitting in a bar a few weeks ago listening to a friends band and there was a guy at the bar drinking a beer, trying to communicate with my wife & I.
It was quite obvious to me he was deaf, possibly mute as well.
But he had something to say to us & she was getting annoyed with his gesturing and pounding on the bar not quite realizing the whole picture. She just thought he was one of the oddball street people that hangs around downtown.
Though he couldn't hear a thing, he was appreciating the music through the vibrations in the bar, the wooden floor and the barstool.
That's what he was "saying". He liked the music and the band.
Once she realized the situation, she felt bad for being annoyed with him.
Anyway we bought him a beer and we all continued to enjoy the show.
Watching him, you could tell he was into it.
He could feel the beat. His head feet and hands were all connected to the music.
At break time my buddy in the band came over to chat and I introduced him to my new friend.
The fellow acted like he just met Clapton. It made his night.
So it obviously wasn't tone this cat was attracted to, but what was it?
It reached deeper into this cats soul.
So my question is can there be tone without rhythm and beat?
OP
mcblink
Ambassador of Riffs & Spliffs
These, indeed, are interesting answers, and a cool story to boot
SG John
Ambassador of Cool Guitars and Amps.
I really think it's a combination of many things, except gear. You could argue that it is the fingers, but I think it's more of the entire body as a whole. Like the guy Hack mentioned above. I've seen deaf people standing directly in front of PA bins, and absolutely grooving to what vibrations are coming out of the speakers. I always thought music to be a true connection to the Force, and how certain frequencies can affect one's behavior (for better, or worse). A good example of this is the different oscillators, noise generators, and synthesisers that were used by Hawkwind's Michael "DikMik" Davies. He was quoted as saying he had the power to turn the show into a wild mind blowing experience, or turn everyone physically ill (which had both intentionally and unintentionally happened). Another good example is you would not see people wanting to slam dance during a performance of Yes's "Close to the Edge", but you would to The Damned's "Smash It Up." Just like people would dance uninhibitedly to Little Richard singing "Tuttie Fruitie", but not to Handel's "Water Music." It would be far more restrained, if at all.
Music's frequencies flow through all life forms on this planet. There have been tests performed that show plants respond to certain types of music over others. The same with pets, and other animals. Music does tame the savage beast, or sets him off violently.
As a result, I think it's all in one's internal wiring. The ears, central nervous system, skin (it is an organ), fingers, et al. It's how all of your senses respond to the sound waves, and their manipulation. Even the eyes are an important factor as many people see notes as certain colors. Hendrix was one of those people who you could ask "could you play that a little more red?"
As a result, I argue against gear. Unless it is just good versus utter crap. It doesn't matter which guitar/amp combination, or pedals I use to get "my sound", or a sound I'm pleased with. That includes a mix of Gibson, Gretsch, Fender, and Rickenbacker guitars, and Marshall, Ampeg, Hiwatt, Vox, Fender, and DST amplifiers. I can dial in a sound real quick, and don't need to bring an amp I plan on performing with on Saturday, to the previous week's rehearsal. Other than making sure it works before it leaves the cellar, I know I will dial in a good sound in a couple of minutes. I've also used backlines before, and I was able to get a sound I was relatively happy with pretty quickly. Gear is all personal preference and to what ends it needs to be used. I hope that I still have one or two more records in me, and live performances for a few more years. After that, there may be a drastic switch in what I decide to hang on to for just playing around the house. Will I still keep a full stack around so I can feel my pants being blown by the air coming out of 8 - 12 inch speakers? Yeah, probably. But I may find the amp I chose to play while at home may be something more like a Vibrolux. Who knows? It will be whatever my central nervous system tells me still sounds pleasing to my senses.
Good question...I'm an oddball. For me, there is a certain frequency that grabs me. I suppose you could call this 'tone.'
My ear tends to gravitate towards 3 particular tones and if i sitvdown at any amp, i will automatically dial up a combination of these:
1. Bill Bartlett's tone in 'Ol Black Betty'
2. Pete Willis's staccato phrases on 'Foolin'
3. Gary Moore London Live 1992 'Cold Day In Hell'
Short of those guitar tones, nothing really grabs me...
My ear tends to gravitate towards 3 particular tones and if i sitvdown at any amp, i will automatically dial up a combination of these:
1. Bill Bartlett's tone in 'Ol Black Betty'
2. Pete Willis's staccato phrases on 'Foolin'
3. Gary Moore London Live 1992 'Cold Day In Hell'
Short of those guitar tones, nothing really grabs me...
syscokid
Ambassador of War & Peace
That some awesome insightful articulation of our human senses. I wish I can have few beers with you one day...
SG John
Ambassador of Cool Guitars and Amps.
That some awesome insightful articulation of our human senses. I wish I can have few beers with you one day...
You too Greg!
Vox AC30
Well-Known Member
Yea, I also was fascinated when I found out about it being Color Variations, still am to this day. I try to "stretch " my ears every day. To the OP the answer is All Of The Above. Also, now, just to study with a student of Andres Segovia is a heavy investment in time and $$$. Jimi was seeing paisley as he was Experienced, or so he sang.
