re: Why do guitar/piano players make scrunched up/retarded faces when they play?

when you feel the music, baw.

Keytarists of the world, UNTIE!!!!!

the dude from styx does



youtube

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And just so you know, whether or not they will admit it, Musicians tend to look down on people who aren't creative, i.e., people like you

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Most musicians aren’t that creative. They play music written by others. And when they do make their own music, they largely follow the pre-established “rules” and variations already laid out for them by successful musicians in their genre. Yes there’s some artistic license and creativity involved, but Beethoven you are not.

And besides, what this thread is about is the utter lack of creativity by those who insist on doing the same stupid face all other doosh bags do to try to show how “creative” they are.

I’m sure music is more meaningful and more of an “experience” for those who are really into it and play. All I’m saying is that making stupid faces while playing is a voluntary learned behavior and those who do it look ridiculous.

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But the decent/good-looking guy who sings and plays guitar will steal your woman every fking time.

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Jackson Brown’s “Rosie” comes to mind.

I seem to have “struck a chord” with the face scrunchers.

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If you're in a zhithole bar playing "Brown Eyed Girl" for a bunch of annoying drunk fks, it can be pretty "meh" and emotionless....

But when you're 18 years old and your girlfriend just broke up with you your guitar can literally become a lightning rod for every emotion you've ever felt.

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This. I’m mostly a rhythm player, so I don’t make extraordinary faces the few times I get to solo only because I’m not a very good soloist, so I have to really focus to make something sound the least bit impressive (or just hit all my pedals and make a bunch of jumbled nonsense )

However, that emotional part is absolutely true. I’ve been performing live in dive bars and venues for about a decade. I love mixing in one of my originals in the middle of some hum-drum cover set and letting the pain and loss that helped write that track spill out in energy the crowd can feel. I think some soloists go overboard with it so it comes across as less than genuine, but there’s nothing wrong with trying to hype the crowd and impart some energy.

And yes, I’ve put out a couple badass rock albums.

Best believe I get hype when I get to play this one: Broken Beat

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except when they play a high note they do the face scrunch and shoulder shrug. What gives?

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1. It takes more effort to bend a high note than a low note
2. I think the practice came from jazz musicians where it really does take a ton more effort to play high notes on brass and woodwind instruments. Those early rock n roll players cut their teeth playing jazz and were hugely influential on the 60’s british rockers like the stones and zeppelin.

Most musical minds are not creative?????????

You have zero clue about music..... have YOU ever written a song or even play an instrument??????????