By ear.

By ear.

Play it by ear, Jack. Follow my lead at the chorus and give me something to call home about. Ready. 2, 3, 4!

What’s the problem, Jack?! Excuse me? You say you can’t play it by ear. You’re absolutely convinced of that?

How long you been playing? Ten years you’ve never …?

Well, Jackie that makes no difference. Anyone can. Even you. Alright, let me tell you about it.

I’ll fill you in on the situation. You see something a musician does and he does well is enjoy his craft. Tell me do you enjoy your craft, son? Better believe it or you wouldn’t be playing in my band. Since you’re in the band there is a bit of a thing that we all like to do and that’s go a bit off script.

Hold on. Let me get to it.

This requires that you let loose and go with the flow sometimes. YEAH. There’s the music on the page. But … that music ain’t set into stone. Times and rhythms can change and you know what? It isn’t for the worse. As a matter of fact some of the best music played came about by chance. Ever listen to the good ol boys kicking up to the jazz beat. Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, The Duke all had a way with the sound that never followed with the pages. Every breath, moment and sound came from a place of pure momentary inspiration put together to create something original.

Destruction! Son that’s a word of blasphemy. We’re hardly destroying the music. A little bass line kicking out a rhythm between bars followed by an extra snare or two won’t ruin the music. We like to get down and Jackie boy now’s the time for you to… Play it by ear.

300. Play it by ear. Go with the flow. No way around it. That’s the best way to go. Let the day unfold as it will. Sometimes you have to. Ever hear about natural road-signs? Well if you haven’t, it’s the world’s way of telling you a story when you look around and take it all in. Ever do that? Take a walk and let the day tell you a story. If you haven’t and you find yourself with a little time. I suggest you do. And if you’re a musician that’s never improvised once… you are missing out. The times and notes on the page can be the best map, but sometimes you have to go a little off script to make a beautiful sound. Enjoy. kisses. m.