After taking up the sitar I seem to have almost totally given up my other instruments I liked playing, guitar, didgeridoo and dulcimer. I'm not quite sure why but they just dont hold my interest anymore. Now the question here is, Has anyone else abandoned some other instrument that they played for years (mine being guitar for about 20 years) to just consentrate on the sitar.
And if so, why dont you pick up these other instruments anymore?
Jeffrey R King
Ouch. . .that hurts. . .I'm reminded that after 12 years of dedication and lots of playing I haven't played my Chapman Stick for nearly a year. I've released several CD's , including a solo (ambient-) CD with my Stickplaying, but noticed my playing wasn't exiting me anymore. Also with this instrument it's pretty hard to find a teacher (and when you find one, he'll usually play jazz. . .not really my cup of tea). My ambient music always was pretty "drone-y" so the link to ICM was quickly made. Also, when I released my solo-CD (indie), it didn't sell very well, so there was also the bummer of looking at 400 unsold CD's in my corridor. But for me my main reason to switch was my teacher. She would give me lessons and I would have to study myself inside out to be able to present them at the next lesson. Really a good motivation!!!
Peace,
Remco
P.s. feel free to check out my website for some "drone-y"ambient-samples.
pb (Dec 03, 2003 12:22 p.m.):
(you sound like Billy to judge from your style of writing),
There is always someone out there willing to play the "net nanny". The truth is that they generally don't speak for everyone. So don't get too upset if someone is put off by what you post. If you are a beginner to sitar then you belong here, IMHO.
Pb
i havent even bought my first sitar yet , and i dont mind reading other threads , im curious to what christmas music would sound like on a sitar actually , one of the reasons to play an talk about sitar is it seems to be ralaxing , or so i thought , peace
Jeff (Oct 21, 2003 12:48 p.m.):
After taking up the sitar I seem to have almost totally given up my other instruments I liked playing, guitar, didgeridoo and dulcimer. . why dont you pick up these other instruments anymore?
I've got your answer, Jeff. .
The guitar is boring, the didgeridoo is A TREE BRANCH, and the dulcimer is. . .boring.
JUST KIDDING!!!
I think it's simply because the sitar is an awesome instrument and ICM is awesome music. Combine that with the fact that it takes 3 lifetimes to learn the instrument, and you don't have time for much of anything else!
The sitar and ICM truly is incredibly addictive and exciting. I loved playing bass whether it was a wedding gig or at a jazz gig. . .but I don't even think about it even when I am playing!
I have not put on a jazz cd or a rock cd in a long time! Just not excited, I rather throw in Nikhil Banerjee!! =)
Hahaha: ditto here!!! This music is absolutely addictive!!
Maybe nice for a new topic: what are you guys?girls spinning at home (aside from Nikhil Banerjee).
I listen to a lot of ICM at work: mostly RS, VK, IK, NK,IrK (i.e. the khan family). I don't have any Nikil B, any suggestions? One of my colleagues listens to a lot of ghazal (gulam ali etc) and varous other ICM singers, so I swap a lot.
Otherwise, when I need variety, I listen to a lot of trip hop, trance, spanish, greogorian chant, jazz, classical, bangra and when I really have to code hard, I play rammstein (the best programming music); and if I am pissed off I play it loud and sing along! I have some grado headphones and a sweet headphone amp (meta42).
K.K. (Oct 21, 2003 03:06 p.m.):
Combine that with the fact that it takes 3 lifetimes to learn the instrument, and you don't have time for much of anything else!
That's exactly it, K.K. These are tough beasts to handle. Most of us don't have 3 hours a day to practice, so we end up spending what free time we have on the sitar. For me, this usually means either late at night after everyone else is in bed or early in the morning before anyone else is up. :-)
Hey Pb. .
there's definitly a difference between Nikhil B and Rammstein. . I saw the latter on their first tour in Holland they played a venue THAT small, they would reject it for their dressingroom these days. What a nice effect that flamethrower had. . . . . It litterally shot OVER the heads of the audience. .very cool. . .
about 300 people just sood there completly baffled. they were just stunned. . . .
Hey Remco,
I really like the small venues, more personal. I would still go see Rammstein if/when they come this way. Sounds like a good show, I'll wear fire retardant jell or something. .
I have been playing guitar for about 9 years now, and I pretty much only have time to practice with my band 3 hours every week. Since I have started sitar a month ago it has entirely changed my musical perception and technical approach, despite having listened to the music for more than a year.
I have found that although I still play guitar the same amount I am progressing so much faster in terms of melodic ideas and my technique is much more efficient. It's awesome emulating a lot of the tans on my guitar, it really breaks you free from relying on comfortable finger patterns so you can explore the music with less limitation.
Also, reducing yourself to using only index/middle fingers makes you appreciate the other two so much more while playing guitar. And hand strength, wow, I thought I had strong fingers before but now I have so much more control over my guitar bends and runs, and I tire less easily (death metal really takes a lot out of you). On the other hand my mezrab finger is still a bit weak and I can't play diridiri's for more than 5 minutes without cramping, but I'm workin on it. . I really want to get a sarod in a year or two after I've graduated and can make some actual $$, I feel I have the necessary speed and control in my picking hand from metal guitar but I bet I'm in for a surprise.
ICM has changed my life for the better in so many ways, the attitude and patience it requires, brings out the best in people in my experience.
Swansong-I agree totally. I played a jazz gig on upright bass the other night. I have not touched it for 4 months and I think the study on sitar brought some new ideas and feeling to the playing that night. ICM and the sitar are so beneficial to other instruments and other styles. Although, I am not interested at all in the fusion of ICM with jazz or pop, I prefer it pure and traditional.
