Last week I came across an interesting interview of Jeff Berlin, master bassist, over at Bass Musician Magazine. In it I found a very intriguing bit of advice that Jeff advocates in which some may find controversial. Keep reading to hear what Jeff Berlin has to say about being a good musician.
Jeff in action:
Bass Musician Magazine: Another interesting comment you made was your statement, “You can’t play what you don’t know”, which I know sparked some controversy. I’d like to give you the opportunity to expound on that particular premise, or giving due respect to you, that particular truth.
Jeff: Well, let’s use an example. I’m talking to you, Jake. In French, say to me right now, what a lovely day……….. OK. You can’t really say it, but some guy out there reading this will say, oh, it’s this, because they know the words. So they can say what they know. How does one speak a language they don’t know? How does one drive to somebody’s house if they don’t know the directions. There’s nothing that can’t be done if one knows the realities and requirements of that project. Music is a marriage of melody, harmony, and rhythm. It simply boils down to the fact that chops and technique are not important to work on. Time is not really that important to work on. What’s important to work on is the knowledge of the words of the language we’re pursuing, and I’m talking about academics here. So if somebody doesn’t know the notes, how can they play? If you don’t know the song, how can you play it? If you don’t know what a minor chord is, and how it differentiates from a major chord, how can you differentiate those two tonalities? Quite frankly, if having this approach gets me in trouble, it only gets me in trouble with people that don’t know anything about music. My thing is, is that I will say things that are utterly an absolutely true, and only people who don’t know about music, or don’t know how to play will have a problem with it. I’ll assume that this generally works—there are a few guys out there that may have a problem with what I say. But the bottom line reality is, people that have a problem with what I say comes from two sources. One, either they teach the way I criticize and they don’t want to lose their living, or two, they criticize what I say because it means that they are going to have to be more responsible to learn how to play. Either way it doesn’t change the fact that a musician plays better when they know what they’re doing, and I’ll use this as an example: If someone is buying a hamburger at a restaurant, and they taste a hamburger that was made by a guy that doesn’t know how to cook, they’ll never go back to that place. Why would anybody hire a musician after hearing them for the first time and realizing that they don’t know how to play?
What are Your Thoughts on that?
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12 responses so far ↓
1 Jeremy // Jul 27, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I watched the video before reading the interview and my first thought was, “Wow, his time and his feel for the groove are God-awful.” Then I read this: “Time is not really that important to work on. ” Hm…
2 Brev Sullivan // Jul 28, 2009 at 6:39 am
I agree with Mr. Berlin, but for some, learning the language of music is such an anti-incentive they won’t even pick up their instrument. To us musicians, keeping those chops up is important, we’re like athletes
It’s a challenge to work on reading especially if you already know how play and are starting later in the game.
I also see no reason why you can’t work on both. There are 24 hours in the day. At minimum spend one or 2 reading or studying theory and/or memory skills, and then spend another 2 working on motor skills. Multiply this by 7 and that’s 14 hours a week reading with some time left over to mindlessly noodle or shred away. That’s not bad at all.
3 frets // Jul 28, 2009 at 1:44 pm
A very thought-provoking post here. I agree that knowing music theory and music vocabulary are important, but I also feel that a lack of knowledge in these areas does not equate to poor musicianship. As an example, how many great guitarists could not read music well or at all? Django Reinhardt, Jimi Hendrix, Chet Atkins, Terry Kath, Wes Montgomery…to name a few.
Learning an instrument is a process. We tend to learn to play (and hear) musical phrases & develop techniques before we understand the theory behind these things. Many never go on to learn that theory. That’s OK.
I’m sure that for professionals like Jeff, having a thorough and accessible music vocabulary is essential for success. After all, there’s plenty of competition out there. You need the competitive advantage. But part of that advantage has to include feel, technique, chops.
Hmm…I think you’ve just inspiring a new post for my blog!
4 Gary Fletcher // Jul 29, 2009 at 4:24 am
I agree with the statement “You can’t play what you don’t know”, that makes perfect sense. But I think knowing the language is not only about theory.
To follow the example, you might know the words for what a lovely day in French, but if you don’t know how to pronounce the letters and syllables (technique) then you can’t say it.
5 frets // Jul 29, 2009 at 8:46 am
That’s a good point, Gary. When you think about it, the music itself IS the language. The theory is how we describe it. So maybe I know a phrase in French, but do I know whether the verb tense I’m using is future or future perfect? Do I need to know that to use the language?
6 Ed // Jul 29, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I think of music theory like the grammar of a language, the structure. We need to know how scales, chords, arpeggios are structured, for sure.
But for me there is no substitute for doing scales, arpeggios, and chord exercises. It gets me feeling creative.
Ed
7 jimmy mac // Jul 29, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Jeff’s time is fine .Its a solo and the pocket is cool for what he’s doing. So, lets not go there . A friend of mine plays with Jeff and to tell you the truth Jeff’s comments are based on the fact that every good musician learns the language one way or the other and if he doesn’t he ain’t getting the gig . If you’re hired for a gig you better no the idiom you’ll be asked to perform in and you better be able to read a chart because bottomline not everything is “feel” its music for hire or for the job and if you’re a natural musician you’ll learn real quick when to speak and when to listen,
That’s how i see it.
-j
8 Jean-Baptiste Collinet // Jul 29, 2009 at 9:13 pm
There’s an important point here.
Grammar explains how a language is structured,but doesn’t tell you how to pronounce and how to get(new)vocabulary.
My tip:bring a notepad everywhere with you.
You never know when you will be able to learn,where,and with who.
If you got the bucks,get a notepad AND a portable recording device.
You’ll be able to learn TONS by ACTIVE work(writing everything you find worth,and beyond)on the notepad,and PASSIVE work:hearing what you’ve recorded.
Contact me for more,if you please.
9 Jean-Baptiste Collinet // Aug 1, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Just a quick note:I’m a guitarist,but not enough of.
I extended my range to 8 strings to play my heart out,and to use the ton of academics I gathered in 22 years of learning.
With this link to Jeff Berlin’s interview,I had the brilliant idea to go deeper…Yes,I play bass now!Not the 4-string one,but WAY more.an ERB…
Jeff,you really made me figure out that I was rather a bassist playing guitar than anything else.
It’s a farewell,but I’ll keep reading you,for sure!
Don’t forget that:
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!
10 Kevin Shannon // Aug 15, 2009 at 3:17 am
I am an adult who has played music for over twenty years. I am returning to school to learn the language of music. It’s a passion so it is very important to me. That being said, I am extremely happy that I didn’t allow my limited theory to keep me from developing my chops. I’ve had many great years of playing notes that I did not know. I highly doubt I would have enjoyed it quite as much if I would have spent the last twenty years learning the academics of music but never developing the chops to play what i learned. Music is many things. A form of expression or communication come to mind. I am at a point in my journey where academics are important to me in enhancing my ability to express myself and communicate through music. I have had the pleasure of seeing many people who had plenty to say without it.
11 Kevin Shannon // Aug 15, 2009 at 3:30 am
I just watched the YouTube video of jeff performing. All I can say is wow, holy shit dude.
The name of this post is “learn the language, forget the chops”. Come on, seriously man, you trying to say you learned to play like that by reading a book?!
12 Rob // Feb 22, 2010 at 6:44 am
I would have to agree with the first comment here; there really is something not quite right about this guy’s sense of groove.
I think maybe he’s learnt the notes, but obviously timing isn’t that important to him…
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