Charlie Hunter Gets It

Two great quotes from Charlie Hunter on playing an extended-range instrument (in this case, the 8-string guitar, where he plays both basslines and the chordal and solo parts normally reserved for higher, tinny six-string instruments):

I wouldn’t recommend it unless you want to do something different. I think I’d recommend it to bass players more than guitar players. Because bass players would do the right thing and guitar players would do the wrong thing with the instrument. Which is what I did in the beginning — the wrong thing, trying to make it sound all like a guitar and flashy and impress everybody.

Whereas bass players would do the right thing, which is what I’m doing now, which is taking care of business. Whatever is left over is the contribution that you’ll make to the rest of the sound. You grow out of the dumb guitar thing after awhile.

And a gallows-humor take on the job security of musicians:

My friend Bobby Previte said it best. Someone told him, “Oh, it must be awful for you musicians, everyone is getting fired.” And he said, “What do you mean? We come pre-fired.”

Read the entire article here - I'm going to keep taking care of business.