5-Track

Can't handle Vai except for his work with Zappa - when he was basically an extension of Frank's brain and hands ... Not that there's anything intrinsically WRONG with Steve Vai, he just doesn't do a lot for me

Getting my head out of my ass in general definitely helped me past the "why would they play THAT??" problem that kept me from enjoying a lot of things in my early twenties ... Still don't enjoy EVERYTHING but also don't feel the need to and can usually at least summon up respect for where anyone is coming from or trying to go

Not everyone has to dig Jimi either. Me, I LOVE the bits where he loses the rhythm section and goes off. It splits my brain in two and stops me thinking entirely. Awesome. Though, yes, there are also nights when he is obviously tired, bored, and sloppy. (But I'd rather listen to Jimi play tired, bored and sloppy than most people's best night...)

hmmm .... that's probably enough said

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Double X

Nah, a lot of my fellow bandmates like other bands solely for the technical skill of the guitar or drums and its really retarded.

Arya Stark

How do you mean?

Because the technical skill can sometimes be important.

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Freebase Dali

He means that basing your love of music solely on technical skill alone is ridiculous. In that scenario, all you're doing is loving an equation, not the sum.

If you knew a band who was the most technically skilled garbage can players in the entire world, would they be the most musical? Would they do what good music does to you?

Music is its whole, and everything included in it.
Music is not defined ONLY by how well people play it. More than technical skill goes into creating good music.

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VEGANGELICA

Hi, Shrar,
I agree with NumberNineDream who says that not playing an instrument can give you the feeling of being an alien to the subject...but I'd like to add that when people feel this way they are probably less separated from the world of music creation than they first think. If you've ever hummed, clapped, danced to music or sung your own little songs, you are using the original human instrument (our bodies)...and constructed instruments are just extentions of that.

For me one of the nicest aspects of learning to play different instruments is that doing so pushes aside the imagined veil of separation between me and "musicians" (rock music players, etc.) whom I used to view as "others." When I learned to play the violin when I was 8, I was young enough not to have this mental veil of separation, and so learning to play was just like learning to eat with a spoon, or write with a pencil...just an extension of all the other bodily learning we do in life. As a result, I never looked at orchestras or orchestral composers as in a realm that was far from me. However I *did* feel this sense of separation with respect to rock music bands (until I started playing guitar). I think if/when you learn to play an instrument, it will help you appreciate music more by making you realize how natural making music can feel.
--Erica

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immetoday

you dont need to play an instrument to love music. if uyou do play music can be more fun i think cause you can actuslly play songs not just listen but loving music doesn't mean u have to play. well thats my opinion

Blazed And Confused

Yes of course you can be a music lover if you dont play an instrument, however i think you do need to play an instrument inorder to be a music connoisseur. knowing how to make what sound your looking for by knowing music theory and applying it on any instrument in the world at anytime really changes what your perception of "quality" music i find. i dont really consider producing beats infront of a computer that impressive anymore, sure it sounds good but even a very poor musician could do it. Since i learnt music theory i more understand that its really easy to come up with a repeating 4 chord phrase that sounds kinda catchy. its the transitions between phrases that makes a song truly creative and good.

not to be to critical or anything thats just my opinion

million dollar basher

I respectfully disagree with you on the idea that people can't be "connoisseurs of music" if they're not proficient in actually writing or playing music. There are people who literally make careers, hobbies, and who are just passionate about collecting--if you can really "collect" an abstract thing--and enjoying music. Music appeals to emotions. It appeals to your mind's eye. and to say that somebody may not be able to enjoy something as thoroughly as somebody who is versed in the mechanics of it doesn't really make much sense to me.

And there are days when I literally can't stand to listen to music. Those days are few and far between, but I find that sometimes when I approach music as a musician, it seriously impedes my ability to enjoy it. I find this especially true if I'm in the process of writing and I'm trying to emulate the dynamics of other musicians.

J.S.3otR

nobody has to play an instrument to love music, whatever floats your boat is ok. i play bass, ive been playing since i was 8, and for six years that's opened up my eyes about music. it's become a lot easier to tell what is good music and whats bad, skilled from unskilled, etc. and also playing an instrument is a good way to just learn about music in general, which in the long run, makes you smarter with a lot of things other than music.

but still, if you don't want to play an instrument, thats fine. makes no difference.

Grotesque Head

I play a bunch of instruments but I spend much, much more time listening to music than playing it. Also, I know nothing about musical theory because I find it boring.

I personally don't think there's any correlation between being able to play music and appreciating music.

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