Getting out of your comfort zone...

[kludge]

I just spent the past weekend at a bellydance dance/music workshop, doing the music track while my wife did the dance track. Here are some things I got to do...

1. Study music that's largely new to me - particularly Gypsy music from eastern and southern Europe. That stuff can be very structurally challenging, full of deep historic conventions that are unfamiliar to most rock musicians.

2. Work on instruments other than guitar. My favorite instrument of the weekend was a crappy $15 tambourine, which I played for HOURS at jams and basically destroyed by loosening the head from use. I also learned new technique on the doumbek (middle eastern drum), and spent a lot of time on my cumbus (sort of a 12 string fretless banjo).

3. Play with musicians who are MUCH better than me. Too often these days, I'm the best musician in the room, and I have to be my own teacher. It was great to play with people who can play rings around me.

A lot of this pushed me WAY outside my comfort zones, but in a good way. I'm feeling refreshed and energized as a musician.

How about you? What you you guys do to get out of your comfort zones, or do you?

[jimmyj]

It's so cool to get involved in other types of music, especially from different cultures. It takes guts. Good for you.

[kludge]

Originally Posted by jimmyj

It's so cool to get involved in other types of music, especially from different cultures. It takes guts. Good for you.

I love all sorts of music. This was great because there really isn't anyone (that I know of) around the Twin Cities playing the Gypsy stuff, except for a bit of Hot Club jazz played as background music in nice restaurants. I used to do more middle eastern music, but it's fallen off my plate lately.

All this comes out in my playing. The drummer I usually play with recently remarked that no matter what I do, it comes out sounding vaguely middle eastern.

[Tone_Terrific]

Originally Posted by kludge

The drummer I usually play with recently remarked that no matter what I do, it comes out sounding vaguely middle eastern.

Uh-oh.
You may have to keep your comfort zone moving so you don't fall into another rut.
OTOH, expertise in a genre can make you a better player, sooo...

[FenderBigot]

I picked up a mandolin today... felt weird!? But two minutes later I had three or four chords down. I think I'm hooked!

[jbert]

Originally Posted by FenderBigot

I picked up a mandolin today... felt weird!? But two minutes later I had three or four chords down. I think I'm hooked!

i got hooked on mandolin 15 years ago. i immersed myself in hillbilly and traditional mountain music etc. starting with the beatles i went to the everly brothers, to louvin brothers, blue sky boys, monroe brothers and on and on. it was my musical equivalent of an archeological dig. the last few years i've been invited to play in genres i didn't think i could cut ie gypsy jazz, western swing, hillbilly jazz. i'm always wingin' it on stage but always manage to land on my feet. my heart beats like i'm skatin' through a speed trap!! love it!