Holding your mouth just right, is it fact or fiction?

[nobullmando74]

What do you fine folks think? If you hold your mouth just right does it help?

[AlanN]

Well, the dearly-departed Herb Ellis had the mouth thing going on big time, so much so that he resembled Mumbles from the old Dick Tracy. Didn't hurt him at all. And Barry Mitterhoff gets that mouth/tongue going when he solos.

[Jason Kindall]

Depends. Do you have the tongue-curl gene?

[nobullmando74]

Depends. Do you have the tongue-curl gene?

can't say that i do.

[Fred Keller]

The thing you really want to avoid is holding your mouth with your picking hand. That's gonna just slow you down...

[nobullmando74]

The thing you really want to avoid is holding your mouth with your picking hand. That's gonna just slow you down...

not to mention your fretting hand.

[Randi Gormley]

Now you've got me wondering about the correct eyebrow thing while playing (if you raise them on the high notes, can your pinky reach them better?) ...

[nobullmando74]

Now you've got me wondering about the correct eyebrow thing while playing (if you raise them on the high notes, can your pinky reach them better?) ...

I'm pretty sure if you don't do that you can't get past the 10th fret.

[Jkf_Alone]

There are all sorts of things that you can do with your face when you are concentrating on playing. I have found most have either a negative impact on my playing, or on people watching. Think about it, when are you most engaged with a musician while watching them live? Usually if they are smiling, looking up, and generally looking like they are having a good time. I used to grimace all the time while I was playing, and in my concentration, not notice that I would nod my head when everyone was playing well, and shake my head whenever I heard a wrong note.

[nobullmando74]

There are all sorts of things that you can do with your face when you are concentrating on playing. I have found most have either a negative impact on my playing, or on people watching. Think about it, when are you most engaged with a musician while watching them live? Usually if they are smiling, looking up, and generally looking like they are having a good time. I used to grimace all the time while I was playing, and in my concentration, not notice that I would nod my head when everyone was playing well, and shake my head whenever I heard a wrong note.

you have any video of the nod and shake?, that has to be funny!

[JEStanek]

It doesn't seem to detract from Chris Thile's playing ability. Folks comment on it which I guess means they can't fault his technique. Style and facial expressions to an audience is a matter of taste. Be who you are, if you make a face while playing so be it but, try not to focus on the bad notes.

Jamie

[nobullmando74]

The good thing about playing with other instruments is that the "bad" notes don't stand out as much when you're playing solo. I think I played a bad note once.

[Jason Kindall]

Well, consider that Stevie Ray Vaughan looked like he was trying to pass a peach pit sideways. Makes Thile look downright placid.

[hank]

I don't know. What makes a note bad? Is it born that way or is it the way it was played. Is bad more in the listening or in the making? Then again is it Old time bad or California bad which is good, I think? Barbra Woodward wrote a great book, No Bad Dogs. Maybe it's time for No Bad Notes.

[nobullmando74]

Well, consider that Stevie Ray Vaughan looked like he was trying to pass a peach pit sideways. Makes Thile look downright placid.

are peach pits wider sideways? never noticed

[Dan Margolis]

You should position your mouth so that drool doesn't get on your instrument, or the front of your pants.

[woodwizard]

are peach pits wider sideways? never noticed

It's the sharp edges on the ends of the peach pit that will get you everytime...

[nobullmando74]

It's the sharp edges on the ends of the peach pit that will get you everytime...

ouch!

[Jkf_Alone]

you have any video of the nod and shake?, that has to be funny!

Yes, I do, and it is funny, though if you don't watch for it, you'd never notice. My head moves like 1/8" in the nod or shake. listening to the piece though, you don't hear the off notes at all. Unfortunately the vid was taken by someone, and is on facebook, so I have no way of posting it here.

[nobullmando74]

Yes, I do, and it is funny, though if you don't watch for it, you'd never notice. My head moves like 1/8" in the nod or shake. listening to the piece though, you don't hear the off notes at all. Unfortunately the vid was taken by someone, and is on facebook, so I have no way of posting it here.

, can't you copy the link from their page?

[Mike Snyder]

That's Barbara Woodhouse, a breakthrough trainer of dogs and dog owners. John Hartford had that mouth thing going, and he had some success. My deal is more foot stomp when seated and dancing feet when upright. Whatever keeps you in the groove.

[mandocrucian]

The thing about these jazz guys - they are actually vocalizing what they are playing, even if it is so soft it's inaudible to the audience. But the mouth is still going to move.

Well, the dearly-departed Herb Ellis had the mouth thing going on big time, so much so that he resembled Mumbles from the old Dick Tracy.

"Singing what you play" is a Focusing technique. It puts the ear in charge of the fingers. Also, the added concentration of "singing" it while you play, instead of just "thinking it", activates more brain circuitry, and the more symaptic wiring firing away upstairs means that you can lock on to your musical thoughts stronger, and not get as distracted by other instruments or anything else going on around you (*). By vocalizing, even if only you hear it, it gives you added volume so that it becomes harder for surrounding instruments to drown out your 'thoughts' sonically. The voice is the amplifier to the mental ear. (Does yours go to eleven?)

Niles H

(*) and as a further measure of concentration, a LOT of top players will close their eyes when the playing gets difficult. They shut down the unnecessary mental "programs" and shift all energy usage to "ear support" (the equivalent of diverting the engines to "life support" on the Enterprise). Fade to black, and the brain doesn't need to process visual stimuli, even on a subconscious level).

[hank]

Thank you Mike, it's been a long time since I loaned Barbara's book out never to be returned. I enjoy watching an artist facial expressions of the music they play.

[Denny Gies]

If it effects the results of fishing, why not pickin'?

[Bertram Henze]

A true Eldorado of this are the videos posted on the Song-a-Week social group. We got pleasant smiles, fixed stares, people trying to eat their own face - you name it.