Play the same way you speak?

[Wailin']

Do you play the same way you speak?...I read a book on improvisation stating that the way we speak is the same way we play the sax.

The rate at which one speaks influences their playing. If one speaks slowly then his playing is slow...fast talkers play fast. Also, some people will say a lot when it could have been said in one sentence. These are the players which play a lot of notes when they could play shorter phrases. Others dont say enough and they usually have to be questioned for more information. These are the players that play in a "Monklike" manner and they leave the listener hungering for more. Then there are those whoose speech patterns are near close perfect and they know when to pause and then feed the listener with more information. These are the players that leave space between their phrases and say just enough to "tell the story" They articulate well. People will listen to them for hours and they get jobs such as reading the evening news or talk show hosts etc. The players falling in this category get the best gigs and more than likely will appeal the masses. Many of us like to play all we know in one solo. Just remember nobody wants to listen to someone tell all they know.
Listen to Paul Desmond speak. He does it in a very laidback manner
Which do you fall into? Be honest :lol:

[michaelbaird]

I'm glad we are all in agreement. I definitely play too much. Ive been listening to the Dexter Gordon Ballads CD now for 2 weeks and I'm learning how he says more in 5 notes than I can with greater. It's about taste, timing and tone color. That is why Miles Davis is so popular. Listen to Porgy and Bess "It Ain't Necessarily So." I type too much too.

[Dr. Love]

Huh... when speaking in front of people, and sometimes in conversation, I tend to have lots of "um"s and "uh"s as I search for the right wording to use. And I usually don't speak unless I think I have something good to say (especially in a large group setting). Though sometimes I do have a good point... That's pretty much how I play.

[kcp]

When I play, just like when I'm speaking I often don't have a clue what I'm saying, but people still find me interesting :lol: ...hmmm food for thoughs

[mark_m]

I like this notion. It also gives me a good excuse for my slow playing :)

[Minatar12]

Well, I deffinitely play too much, and I need to learn to incoporate more space into my solo. I'm not long-winded in real life, and I'm a quiet person, so I don't think my solo style is based exactly on my temperament or speech, so I don't think its quite the way the book said it. Wailin. After all, John Coltrane was the master of the long phrases, but he didn't speak a whole lot.

[LBAjazz]

In a famous radio interview, Coltrane speaks slowly and is a man of few words.

[werkinsnake]

You know, I would have to agree with this completly. I can think of at least 5 saxophonists who pop into my head right now. All of them improvise like they talk. I would also include myself in this mix. Funny that it works with wind instruments, but I do not think that it works with guitarists, pianists, drummers, or slide whistlists. Hmmmm, I would love to hear how Ozzy Ozborn or Dave Matthews would sound like on the saxophone. :lol:

[Wailin']

Thanx werkinsax...GMTA :lol:

[Subtone Sam]

I speak with unclear,low voice,can't find the right words,very often don't finish my sentences,people seldom really understand/hear what I'm trying to say.My playing is the same way...:dazed:

[Nefertiti]

Subtone Sam,
What did you mean by that? :lol:

[Bill Mecca]

I think it may not just be the style in which we play/speak but our voice/saxtone can be compared more than contrasted as well. I know my sound on tenor is similar to my vocal style. It can be rich and sonorous, but can have an edge.

I would also say that those who are "quiet" in voice (Coltrane) could also be considered "thoughtful" so when they do play the horn, all those ideas that have been milling around in the grey cells come pouring out. Every "rule" has an exception.

then again, I speak and my kids don't listen...;-)

[midwestsjazz]

Well, I speak use a lot words and I use them pretty loud

[martysax]

I spew out many phrases quickly. Like bursts of a machine gun.

[Fader]

Well I'm thinkin my playin is as sloppy as my speakin..... :) It's funny though - When I focus I can be precise - both verbally and musically. Mostly I just say **** it and blow..... :) I usually have to take the foot out of my mouth first.

[martysax]

I usually have to take the foot out of my mouth first.

You must be a guitarist.

[bandmommy]

A lotta' crap comes out of my mouth. So, yeah. I play crappy too.

[Tobias]

A good solo should be like a good speech

good interesting intro to get the attention,
easy to understand
pauses
climax
question respond
direkt to the audience
and so on

When you are on stage, it helps to keep that in mind.

but I play like I speak and I speak faster than I can think. I often hear first what I've be thinking before. So sometimes it has no context and sense.



By the way, I'm now asking myself how Adolf Hitler would be as Jazz musician. He was a sicko but his way of speech was very unique but he could get the masses of people.

[lou2cv]

I agree with Tobias.

A good solo is a moment where you say something interesting, whatever the way you say it =)
and you won't play the same way in a Blues solo, a Jazz solo or a Rock solo !

[Saxplayer67]

No, I don't believe so; I think more that I play the way I envisage myself in my head, if that makes sense. I'd also say that it's probably more akin to one's singing voice - hearing Chet Baker sing, his voice, phrasing and inflection, sounds exactly like his trumpet.

[Djassoo]

Do you play the same way you speak?...I read a book on improvisation stating that the way we speak is the same way we play the sax.


Can you tell us what book you are talking about, I would like to read it...

[kerry]

Do you play the same way you speak?...I read a book on improvisation stating that the way we speak is the same way we play the sax.

The rate at which one speaks influences their playing. If one speaks slowly then his playing is slow...fast talkers play fast. Also, some people will say a lot when it could have been said in one sentence. These are the players which play a lot of notes when they could play shorter phrases. Others dont say enough and they usually have to be questioned for more information. These are the players that play in a "Monklike" manner and they leave the listener hungering for more. Then there are those whoose speech patterns are near close perfect and they know when to pause and then feed the listener with more information. These are the players that leave space between their phrases and say just enough to "tell the story" They articulate well. People will listen to them for hours and they get jobs such as reading the evening news or talk show hosts etc. The players falling in this category get the best gigs and more than likely will appeal the masses. Many of us like to play all we know in one solo. Just remember nobody wants to listen to someone tell all they know.
Listen to Paul Desmond speak. He does it in a very laidback manner
Which do you fall into? Be honest :lol:

As a singer, Id have to say I disagree with this. I speak one way(lazy,fast,etc), sing completely another(clear and clean,seperation), and then when I play sax, its bascially a funky, R&B sound. Definitively all 3 are different. I think we played the sax closer to the way we sing, then talk. But even then its different as my voice just doesnt get a rock,funky,r&b sound,and doesnt feel natural. Yet my sax playing has no problem with these styles because that is the sound I get, and hear the most.

If we played sax the speed we talked, I should be able to play some super fast, sloppy notes:)

[harmonizerNJ]

I sing in the way that I play my alto sax, for better or worse. Occasionally tasteful, especially if I rehearse the concept and play/sing surrounded by better musicians. But I must admit that too often, I am something other than that.

[patchmo]

Which do you fall into? Be honest :lol:Neither all of the above.:laughing:
I speak disjointedly in a rambling fashion followed by bursts of brilliance parsimoniously punctuated using an ejaculatory style.:shock:
(Ejaculation: To utter suddenly and passionately; exclaim.):mrgreen:
I spew out many phrases quickly. Like bursts of a machine gun.Okay, your new name is "Machine Gun Marty.":a-run:
A lotta' crap comes out of my mouth. So, yeah. I play crappy too.:blah5:Yeah, but how are you on sax:? :lol:

[jrvinson45]

This all makes sense. It also tells me that it's better to practice before speaking as well as practicing before soloing. Both of them sound better if your brain is applied before you let the sound out...

[bandmommy]

:blah5:Yeah, but how are you on sax:? :lol:

Crappy:)

[bluesaxgirl]

If I really played the way I spoke, my mouth would never get tired playing...
That might not be a bad thing. :)

[martysax]

Okay, your new name is "Machine Gun Marty.":a-run:


You're new here. Check out my myspace avatar, it used to be my avatar here until the anti-NRA came out from the closet.

[patchmo]

Check out my myspace avatar, it used to be my avatar here until the anti-NRA came out from the closet.This is 1 of the benefits:?of working at a place that blocks access to myspace pages unless you're able to use search words to access them instead of specifically accessing the website. Thus, I'm able to remain blissfully ignorant! :D
(okay, your old new old name is "Machine-Gun Marty," but I'm not sure anyone's gonna buy that with that shirt!:shock:
[you know the 1 I mean.];)
Hey everybody!! You can see him comin' a mile away!):razz:
At the next NRA meeting in New York during Fashion Week:
:director:Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the new NRA. Yes! No more gun registration. As a replacement we all just wear shiny-shirts.:tshirt:
(Sarah Palin never looked so good):laughing: