...But you can't blow into it... - Emmett Chapman, "Free Hands", pg.7, Lesson 2

Curse? Nope! But hand independence does come with a cost(for some of us...me...more than others). It can take work and lots of it before we have a break through and feel really free, not like we are juggling chainsaws and balls of barbed-wire, however skillfully. You know what I mean. Sometimes when improvising or soloing in one hand while accompanying with the other I have forgotten to breathe for an amazingly long period of time.

Of coarse there is validity in all types of playing styles, but when faced with what may look to be too great a challenge, interdependent playing can look more attractive and easier to attain(though it most certainly is not in many cases!)

I for one will always strive to be better at hand independence or what ever challenge comes along on this beautiful instrument.

Never give up, never surrender!

Hand independence seems like as much a of a curse as being really handsome. Maybe no one will notice if I substitute one for other...

...

Curse.? Yes, I guess I am the protagonist sometimes, at least in terms of thread titles.

Still, it's only a curse if one is not reconciled to ones current abilities. I'm definitely getting happier with my level of independence. My understanding is being informed by standard diatonic theory and musical concepts. This more sobering level of understanding is really helping and I'm still free to play just whatever creative stuff comes to mind. I just know where I'm going a lot more now.

I have to say that I'm somewhere in between "Don't take that thing out if you still suck at it" --- and -- "imagining myself as Gandalf facing Sauron"

It's all good, I'm just doing more work now. Practice isn't the hard part, it's the commitment to get to it everyday that counts. As a drummer, I've just never been prepared to bullshit myself and that pattern has overlapped to Stick. Anyhoo ....

Funny thing though, I think I've said this before, before all considerations, my basic technique and tone production is at a consistently good level.

#5 or b5.....?

Quote of the week!

For me, I imagine myself as Gandalf facing Sauron but I'm sure my listeners are thinking - please - don't take that thing out... Or - please - put that thing away already. Where's the geetar?

Hey Jonathan.!

That was a Gene Perry quote, with a different twist. He reckons he's Gandalf facing the Balrog, I reckon I'm Gandalf facing Sauron.

Ideas not crazy enough….? "Yoooouuuu shall not Paaaaasssssss….!!!"

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We do not need hands the size of Hobbit feet to play the Stick. Just hearts the size of Hobbit hearts.

The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.