Developmental Reliance Upon Memory

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 28 Jun 2006 4:35 am

Memory makes possible the ability to contemplate the past approaches to our musical development. It helps to gain valuable insight in contributing factors relating to the steel guitar. Memory and hindsight clearly keep us "tuned" to subsequent "errors" (should we make them) and proceed with lessons learned. I wonder how many steel guitarists agree?

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 28 Jun 2006 4:38 am

I agree that memory is a piece of the puzzle and an important one at that.

Rick

Mike Gorsch · Post by **Mike Gorsch** » 28 Jun 2006 5:00 am

Being a new player that plays totally by ear, memory or as I call it association is the key to my development. After learning how to harmonize the scales and committing them to memory, association to the phrases that I'm trying to play becomes second nature. When I hear somthing that I would like to play, I usually have a general idea of how to play it before I even sit down.

Sherman Willden · Post by **Sherman Willden** » 28 Jun 2006 6:14 am

I can remember where to find the open E chord three days out of five.

Sherman

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 28 Jun 2006 6:57 am

Memory is that part of the human brain that retains all of the pain and agony of past clams...

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 28 Jun 2006 7:22 am

Not sure about steel, but so-called "muscle memory" gets me in trouble on six-string. Rather than look for new musical phrases, the hands tend to go for familiar pattens and intervals.
Great topic, Bill!

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 28 Jun 2006 8:19 am

Memory is a must with PSG,
because you just got so much going on
at the same time AND be in tune.

Who has a lot of time to read the chart.
Give it the once over, look for trouble spots,
and hope your eyes can find them
when the time comes.

Then you have the assorted memorys
of ways out of a train wreck.

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 28 Jun 2006 9:21 am

Uh, Whatz the topic under disscusion and who are you guys?Need more ginkgo biloba.

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 28 Jun 2006 1:24 pm

I agree with Mr Hankey, or I disagree, whichever is right.

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Howard

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 28 Jun 2006 1:55 pm

Of course memory is a big part of learning to do ANYTHING, how could anyone possibly disagree...

So what exactly is the point?

Excessive and oftimes pretentious verbiage occasionally obsfucates a particular subject to an extent that befuddles rather than leads to the desired enlightment...

Look ma, no thesaurus!

[This message was edited by Pete Finney on 12 July 2006 at 08:31 AM.]

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 28 Jun 2006 2:50 pm

I believe that muscle memory accounts for at least 90% of our albility to play ANY instrument. Just my humble opinion!

And probaly a lot more of you than will want to admit it!

edited fer spellin' but, not completly ![This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 28 June 2006 at 03:52 PM.]

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 28 Jun 2006 2:52 pm

.[This message was edited by Brint Hannay on 28 June 2006 at 03:56 PM.]

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 28 Jun 2006 2:58 pm

Wit and determination are required in the huge effort to attain steel guitar excellence. The wide spectrum of variables in steel guitarists, is recognized in solo performances. Sorting out reasons for faultless renditions by noted masters of the steel guitar, memory may very well be the deciding factor. Memory allows them to think ahead, which in turn prevents "drawing a blank" at a crucial moment.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 28 Jun 2006 8:09 pm

Larry I have to disagree.
I know people with incredible muscle memory,
and little musical taste.
Wailing precision, and little music.

I know people with shakey chops on a new instrument,
but the notes they choose are "cherce"*.

The memory of good music,
and/or applicable theory,
far outweighs purely muscle memory.

Of course combined you get much more.
I suspect 40% muscle memory
combined with 60% expirence and theory.
All extrapolated from 110% PRACTICE.

Practice in the woodshed,
and actually playing out.

*(Spencer Tracy)[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 28 June 2006 at 09:10 PM.]