Are You Turning The Right Knobs?

If your playing ever feels a little off, but you can’t quite figure out why... perhaps you just need to adjust your "knobs" a bit.

Stay with me...

Sometimes the pipes are in tune, the tune is memorized, your hands are working, but something still doesn’t click. That’s where a concept I've affectionally called knob theory can help.

It’s a simple idea: imagine every part of your playing as a “knob” on a control board. Each one can be turned up or down to adjust how you sound and feel.

Here are a few “knobs” worth checking next time you’re practising or preparing to perform:

• Tempo: It’s easy to default to full speed once you’ve memorized a tune, but that can hide weak spots. Try slowing it way down and focus on control, lift, and rhythm. Then gradually build speed back up.
  Tip: If a tune feels messy, lower the tempo knob until it feels too slow. Then rebuild from there.
• Complexity: Too many embellishments or variations can muddy the melody. If something isn’t working, simplify.
  Tip: Strip a tune back to bare melody and add ornaments one at a time. This can reveal what’s helping, and what’s getting in the way.
• Emotional Intent: Even technically perfect playing can sound flat without emotion. Are you trying to be energetic, haunting, joyful, or solemn? Adjust your approach to match.
  Tip: Choose one phrase and experiment with playing it three different ways – light and joyful, smooth and mournful, bold and aggressive.
• Warm-up Strategy: Not every performance needs the same prep. A street parade in humid weather and a solo contest in dry air call for totally different warm-ups.
  Tip: Take a few minutes before each session to think about the setting, and adjust your warm-up plan to match.

There are many other areas of your playing and approach that could become these "knobs" that you can adjust to suit your circumstances. 

You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. In fact, the best players make small adjustments often. It's a bit like flying a plane – constantly responding to changing conditions, nudging the controls to stay on course.

Next time something feels off, don’t power through blindly. Pause and look at your knobs – then pick one, and adjust it.

Want to hear more about "knob theory" (with some questionable innuendo and dad jokes thrown in for fun)? Check out this episode of Dojo Conversations for more info.