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Looper's Delight
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speaking of (and to) cynical snobs: I play the guitar and write tunes for my trio. I've played the guitar for 30 of my 39 years. I have a degree in music. And I have to compete for ear-time with people who make their music on computers, who know software rather than harmony, who judge a 303 as a standard for time-keeping, instead of a good bass player. Or with people who stand up with a cheap acoustic and their clinical diagnosis and sing four-chord songs about it. Am I angry or bitter? Despite my tone, no. (Complaining even a little is really fun sometimes, it's why I'm writing today. I like being a smartass.) My audience is small, but perfectly formed, and larger than it was last year. That's all I need today. And let's face it, we all have to compete for ear-time with Britney Spears and the Back Street Boys and Mariah Carey and the usual. If John Coltrane came back to earth and landed in your town, how many people would show up to see him? More than would go see Blink 182? I bet not. I use the best tools I can afford. I don't pirate software and I don't steal guitars or other tools. I sometimes cop a lick off of other people's records, but I've never heard anyone say 'don't steal my licks!' And I have used many of the same notes and chords other great musicians have used, but not in the same order or tempo. If someone out there wants to justify or rationalize themselves because they can't afford software, and hates being labeled a pirate, well, my empathy lies elsewhere. Like with the former student of mine who went off to college and discovered that his new guitar lessons suck. I'd rather hear him play than Gregor, though he may be less skilled. Mituyake oyasin, Kevin http://redroad.iuma.com