Any guitar players here?

Ye' old general discussion board. Basically, for everything that isn't covered elsewhere. Come here to shoot the breeze, shoot your mouth off, or whatever suits your fancy.
This forum is not for asking programming related questions.

Moderator: General Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
BDKR
DevNet Resident
Posts: 1207
Joined: Sat Jun 08, 2002 1:24 pm
Location: Florida
Contact:

Any guitar players here?

Post by BDKR »

If so, how long have you been playing? Do you believe that understanding music (if you do) has had an effect on your coding? The only reason I ask is because tho I've been playing for 27 years, I am hard pressed to understand how it's affedcted my coding. Many people have commented that musicians make good programmers, but if that's so, why? How?

Anyways, I was just thinking about it as I'm stoked on having just got a Washburn N2 (Nuno Bettencourt) for 250 dollars. :wink:

Cheers,
BDKR
User avatar
infolock
DevNet Resident
Posts: 1708
Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2002 7:47 pm

Post by infolock »

well, i've played bass for about 12 years, though i don't think it has an adverse effect on how you code...

maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. i never learned how to read music, and only play by ear. in other words, i play what i think sounds best (wether it follows along with the guitar, drums, or is by itself ). all in all, it's just about rhythem.

coding, however, is all about memory management and problem solving skills.

dunno for sure if the 2 could/are linked, but if i was gonna take a stab in the dark, i'd say no.

granted, you practice over and over at guitar/bass in order to play better, faster, and come up wtih more complicated solos/rythems, but that's true for almost anything ( basketball, tennis, chess, etc.. ).

but that's just me and i may be completely blind to the correct answer
User avatar
uberpolak
Forum Contributor
Posts: 261
Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2003 10:37 am
Location: Next to the bar

Post by uberpolak »

I play guitar, bass, drums, banjo, harmonica and piano, and I've heard this too. I don't see what the connection is, nor do I know if there is one. In other words, I don't know what the point in me saying this is. Tootles.
User avatar
DuFF
Forum Contributor
Posts: 495
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2003 7:49 pm
Location: USA

Post by DuFF »

I've been playing bass for about 4 years and guitar for about 1.

My thoughts are that maybe it's more about the type of person that likes programming and music (or just arts in general) and not that learning music helps programming skills.

Well, thats my 2 cents.
User avatar
BDKR
DevNet Resident
Posts: 1207
Joined: Sat Jun 08, 2002 1:24 pm
Location: Florida
Contact:

Post by BDKR »

Perhaps it has something to do with the ability to conceptualize something in the abstract. When you get right down to it, music and programming do have that in common, not to mention the fact that music is a language as much as PHP is. The difference being that music is a language of expression primarily (not to mention that it happens over time) where as a programming language is of logic and control first, then (possibly) expression after the fact or by virtue of execution (elegance?).

And of course, there has been plenty of talk about the potential of music to control, or at least influence, living things. But that's another topic.

Whatever the case may be, all I know is that it's nice to be in that programming flow. And in many ways, it's very similar to those all night (guitar in my case) sessions running up and down the fret board.

I will say that music is a much richer language. What could be the possible equivalent (in programming) to the various modes and scales that are available to a musician? What in any coding langauge could be the equivalent of Lydian, Mixolydain, or Harmonic Minor?

But oh well... I'm just rambling. :roll:

Cheers,
BDKR
User avatar
Michael 01
Forum Commoner
Posts: 87
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 12:26 am

Post by Michael 01 »

Guitars: Kramer customized Focus 1000 w/h old Floyd Rose
Westone Dynasty with Kahler
Global (old mahogany guitar cheapo but great tone)
Kramer Focus 1000 w/h Floyd Rose 2 Factory

Amp: Rhoad

Effects: El cheapo board.

Influences: EVH, SRV, Steve Via, George Lynch, Zakke Wilde, Jake E Lee, (Winter's call and Livewire are still kick ass to this day) Vito Bratta.


Guitar Dreams of ownership: Steve Via Jem, EVH Wolfgang, Nuno Washburn with cutaway (not the new one...) SRV tribute strat. George Lynch "Mr. Scary", Vito Bratta Steinberger/Honer strat cutaway (I actually talked to the guy who built that thing on the phone a few years back)

My opinion on coding and guitar playing is the ol concentration level, and of course finger dexterity. Without finger dexterity, its pretty hard to pull off a long script in short amounts of time.

I have been playing for 21 years. (started early) and gave guitar lessons for 5. Its the ultimate expression tool, and as far as emotional stability, its irreplaceable.
User avatar
BDKR
DevNet Resident
Posts: 1207
Joined: Sat Jun 08, 2002 1:24 pm
Location: Florida
Contact:

Post by BDKR »

Michael 01 wrote: Guitar Dreams of ownership: ..., Nuno Washburn with cutaway (not the new one...)...
Yeah, I just picked up a Nuno. An older N2 with a hard case for 250.00. :twisted: I am more of a Kahler fan (did they go out of business?), but the Floyds on here do seem interesting.

Cheers,
BDKR
User avatar
Michael 01
Forum Commoner
Posts: 87
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 12:26 am

Post by Michael 01 »

Kahler can be found on some guitars yet, and found on some of those same guitars that used to be strict exclusive Floyd vendors. As for their status I think as far as production goes, they are very small and literally underground, but I do think they are still working with Carvin yet.

Ever since the great fall of actually knowing how to play the guitar, fell in favor of knowing a couple of barre chords, many trends that could of been very beneficial to players have fell by the wayside for simplistic crap because of the "trend" factor in my opinion. Lord forbid if you actually know a few scales that are traditionally out of range of the "box", and dont think for a minute having pickups that catch a mouse fart from 40 feet away will garner any points either.

A good example is Nuno's "new" guitar. What the hell is that thing? It looks like a throwback of the 30's thrown in with a guitar designer from Sears. The first Nuno was (and still is) one of the few guitars that had it all right from the factory. Myself, having long fingers, but a fat hand, find that "fixed" necks such as what you normally see on a old strat or even a accustic (you know..trying to hit the high frets) are very troublesome. Nuno solved that problem, but I guess the design was just to 'wild' to be widely accepted. This same problem also exists on the EVH Wolfgang though to. Having the high frets blocked off with a chunk of wood has always been a diffinite determination point for me as to whether or not I buy it. Thus, the Jem, and Nuno's are the perfect accessable neck, however the Steinberger Vito/Honer model is the one that I really want.

You got a hell of a deal on that guitar man, wish deals like that would come flying this way.. :)
McGruff
DevNet Master
Posts: 2893
Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2003 8:26 pm
Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Post by McGruff »

Ah my poor old neglected guitar.. Used to play a hell of a lot. These days I play flute mostly - & occasionally earn a bit from it.

If I could, I'd buy myself a recording studio, fill it up with every instrument under the sun, and never come out again. Like Howard Hughes only noisier.

Music is the best. It's what makes us human.

For ages I avoided programming but now I find all the OOP design stuff fascinating. I'm much happier when there's something "creative" to do like a program design.
User avatar
cto1mac
Forum Commoner
Posts: 54
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2004 6:11 am
Location: Virginia Beach, VA

Post by cto1mac »

I have been playing guitar for 15+ years (and many other instruments for well over 20) and it has an amazing effect on my coding. I am more creative with my approach to programming problems. I actually have a hard time coding when I have no music playing. If I am frustrated that my code isn't working and I have been banging my head into a wall to solve my script problem nothing clears my head like a good session with my guitar.

Thats my 2cents but either way congrats on the W2 steal of a deal.
User avatar
Michael 01
Forum Commoner
Posts: 87
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 12:26 am

Post by Michael 01 »

I think as a musician, you go through phases. It is funny actually, there are days the guitar sits in the corner doing nothing but growing dust, and there are days where I cannot put it down. It takes you into this world where there is nobody else around and leaves you there free to imagine whatever little tick, trick, or riff you can muster up from God knows where, and its very satisfying to say the least.

One of the greater disappointments with the guitar is bringing it to a band that has no intentions of doing nothing but cover tunes. In my opinion, that is the great travisty of any musician, and that is the one where popular votes wins over.
There are many people I have met over the years that could be or should be the 'next big thing' but the breaks never come their way, and the next thing you know, they are plastering billboards rather than doing what they should be doing.(playing music)
I was fortunate in one regard, and that was having a cousin who was into so many different avenues of music, that my vocabulary of guitarists blossemed real early. People I never even heard of suddenly sparked a new influence in my playing. Such people like Tony Mcalpine, Joe Satriani, Frank Gambali, Paul Gilbert (Racer X days) & Marty Friedman...and of course Yngwie Malmsteen whom I feel is a ass, but his music is brilliant.

Anyways..thats kind of the whole point to this I guess. Creation and imagination go hand and hand with programming and guitar, because there is nothing more thrilling than coming up with a real killer riff/song, or watching a 500 + line script take off without a hitch, and actually work.

Bottom line, its self satisfaction and accomplishment. Not many people ever get to feel that unless they mow the grass or something along those lines..lol..
User avatar
BDKR
DevNet Resident
Posts: 1207
Joined: Sat Jun 08, 2002 1:24 pm
Location: Florida
Contact:

Post by BDKR »

It's furnny that you mention some of the people that you do. I used to go to the NAMM shows in Anahiem from '86 to '90 when I was associated with a studio in Pomona, Ca. In that time frame, I met...

* Tony McAlpine
* Paul Gilbert
* Eddie Van Halen (I used to see him and Alex at a sushi bar not too far from where I lived)
* Vivian Campbel
* Ted Nuget (Who was just downright Cool!)
* George Lynch
* Earl Slick
* Ronnie James Dio (I know, he doesn't even play guitar) while taking a leak

... and prolly a couple of others that I don't remember.

The funniest thing about all of this was that I was more of (and still am) a punk (they call it alternative now) player. So I had these Speed Classical licks that I would pull out for parties, jam sessions, and music stores, but then would write songs that had no power cords, no solos, and sounded like a cross between U2, The Police, Malmsteen, Souix and the Banshees, and Judas Priest.

Those were the days. :twisted:

Now I just like to play and who cares about the rest. I've lately been listening to a lot of SRV (I saw him three times in the 80's) and Mississipi Kid, who may not be as good as SRV was, but is still kinda fun. I'm thinking seriously about finally forcing myself to sit down and learn Scuttle Buttin' like I've been telling myself I'm going to do for some time now.

One more thing: I think the best guitarist ever, even still to this day, is Jason Becker. Ever listen to some of his newer stuff?

Cheers,
BDKR
User avatar
Michael 01
Forum Commoner
Posts: 87
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 12:26 am

Post by Michael 01 »

Jason Becker. I went to his website awhile back after visiting Roth's and listened to some of his music, and to get a update on his condition.

It was awhile back (just actually took a look at the site real quick here again) and there was a track back than I think called "Rain". Beautiful peice all composed on a CPU from what I understood of it. His instrumentals are very well phrased and composed with real emotion.

I did think "lil' Aint enough" was a pretty cool record, and had some really slick blues chops thrown in for good measure. The bad thing is that during that time period, everything started looking pretty glum for guitarists, and Becker really didnt get the recognition that he deserved, as oposed to when Via was in those shoes.

SRV...what can you say about the guy that hasnt already been said. Just a Texas flood of emotion and some of the wildest playing I have ever listened to, or seen in the blues realm. I remember watching a Austin City Limits program where he performed 'Lil Wing', 'Could'nt Stand the Weather', 'Pride & Joy', 'Crossfire' and a host of other tunes including 'Voodo Chile/Slight Return' which was awesome.
Another up and comer in this range would be Jon Myer ("Your Body is a Wonderland") ( I think that is the guy's name..) Watched another Austin City Limits with him, and I tell ya, he is pretty close to watchin SRV. He had Buddy Guy on as a guest, and those two traded licks back and forth. I was impressed overall, because I thought "Great, now Austin City Limits has gone commercialized because of that one tune" but he more than played his ass off on that special and made a believer out of me concerning his "blues influence".

The one thing I really regret, is missing the G3 show. My cousin and I had third row tickets to that thing and I had to work. Couldnt get the day off to save my own life. On that lineup was Kenny Wayne Shepard as the opener, but I just wanted to see Via. That will forever be a major mistake on my part, because I wound up quitting that job probably a week afterward. (missing the G3 show did have alot to do with it though..).

Never heard anything from Earl Slick, but I have seen his name tied into a few guys as a influence. I may have to check him out to.

The Nuge..hes just straight up cool. No BS about the guy. If there was ever a guy I would like to see as president, it would be Nuge. Straight up intelligent, outspoken, and common sense oriented.
Post Reply