Don't Listen to Music Gurus: NEVER 'Play What You Hear'

If you're a musician, you have definitely heard the maxim, "Play What You Hear." This encourages the notion that everyone has fountain of inspired ideas deep down that they just need to train their fingers to execute. In this lesson we discuss how to this jazz-yoda proverb is harmful to your progress and what it takes to actually improve.

Dani’s Gear:

Danny’s gear:

#guitarlesson #improvisation #musiclessons #playwhatyouhear

[mdavidhuffman]

This guy keeps impressing me as a music teacher and musician. His advice is always spot on, most don't have the guts to say these things . And he articulates things so well .

[godinflt]

All of this. This is the musical equivalent of living in an echo chamber. If you only play what you hear, if you only cook what you taste, etc., then you’ll only be regurgitating everything that you already know. The epistemological struggle with music is knowing what you know and finding out what you don’t. This is one of your better philosophical videos on practicing and musicality. Cheers!

[danielprahl]

In Joe Pass' instructional video he states if your not playing what you hear in your head you shouldn't be playing. In Barney Kessel's instructional video the first thing he teaches is to hum a line from your head of then figure out how to play it. I think what they are getting at is the connection between the mind and fingers. Maybe those guys just approach the instrument in a different way. Joe Pass stated he doesn't ever think about modes.

[filipnowakowski]

I've subscribed 7 years ago for great fusion music, then i was hooked up on you'r fb jokes and content, btw it was a pleasure watching people meltdowns 😅And now some great videos coming up that finally break some of the music myths, looking forward for more.

[guitarras]

Maybe you aren't ready to understand that concept yet.

[mcadder]

Extremely true and well formulated. Greetz from Sweden!

[lucapiro]

This video gave a lot of hope as I'm still struggling to improvise well, thank you 🙏🏽

[leroysquab]

I love that I can always count on you for a completely unfiltered hot take opinion on music and theory, Dani. I also openly acknowledge my respect for both your mental grasp and technical prowess as a musician. Still, words are funny things... funny how differently we can interpret them. As a self taught late bloomer, as opposed to a well educated Berkley grad (which you emphatically recommended we shouldn't do)... I initially approached music by picking up melodies by ear. One might describe that as "playing what you hear". It is a method which I feel helps make the ear a bit of a musical compass. I have also learned theory along the way, but the ability to "hear it" has often surprised me by nailing the theory before I even knew what it was.

[michaelkiese]

Music is a language. Just develop your musical fluency and your fluency on your given instrument to the point where you just speak and are able to convey your intent.

Then when you get to that point, think hard about what you're saying and try to make it as articulate as possible.

It's the same as speaking in your primary language. We can all speak and communicate. But there are those among us that are very good public speakers, or comedians, or politicians, people who have honed their language and speaking skills to a higher extent than most.

On the flip side, there are many fluent people who talk and talk, and say nothing at all or worse.

It's all just language skills. Skills can be learned. It's not magic.

[johanndaart]

I feel like your advice is another side of the same coin. Then those as you called them "gurus" don't seem to attack guys with opinion similar to yours, meanwhile you do attack them ;) I still think that by practicing a lot you've developed musical imagination and connection of it to the fretboard. So is there even a real disagreement or a need to be contrarian?

[TrioAndYou]

A musician must be able to internally hear what the play otherwise it's just moving your fingers randomly without telling any storyline with some meaning.

[vanjajaja]

Very interesting post. I feel like this one bounces around to a few places. It was very interesting to hear about waiting to feel around for disgust as a counter-guide towards beauty. Probably a good starting point for beginners. I feel like "play what you hear" and "cook what you taste" is still pretty good advice for jump starting people into trusting their senses and evaluation (ie. building self esteem.) Sure, you might end up with a dud doge coin idea, but imo that's where you need to add good risk management techniques instead of fear of failure/mistakes. Great video either way, really enjoy the depth and insight!

[sharonkaskowski]

Great advice from a great musician You Rock 🎷🎶🎵🎤🎸

[andrewkratz]

This is a great message. Very refreshing
I love the channel!

[graemebarnes]

"Yoda Jazz Shit" 🤣🤣🤣. Good one! 'Dirty Horse' is a great album by the way. Graeme/South Africa.

[michaelwilliamson]

A bit clickbait on the title. Play what you hear is being able to audiate something in your mind and then play it. Nothing more. It’s a part of making music a first language. There is nothing qualitative about whether that is good or bad music. Being fluent in a language means you are more likely to be able to articulate your intention when speaking it.

[alexproh]

Very good speech sir, that's the spirit

[AlexAces]

Why the dislike of free jazz? As a personal taste, sure, but why would it be a bad idea to listen to/practice/... objectively?

Also, I agree with what you say about practice. But this sentence you're demonizing has been said to me by an incredibly thoughtful and talented teacher, who was not at all trying to distinguish himself from me. I intuitively understood what he said in a different way than you did apparently.

[Marunius]

I was not convinced untill you said "fart what you smell" :D

[steeping]

Coming here after watching Barney Kessel give the complete opposite advice