Dave Grohl Sees Songs As Legos In His Mind

Dave Grohl founded Foo Fighters over 25 years ago, and he still plays music by ear, because he never learned how to read sheet music. Dave explains how music has always been visual for him. Whenever he hears a song, it's almost like seeing "Lego shapes" in his head. Dave also talks about his new memoir "The Storyteller," and gives Kelly advice on writing a memoir herself someday.
#KellyClarksonShow #DaveGrohl
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[@Sourcoolness]

I love how soft-spoken he is.

[@damienosullivan193]

For someone who does not read music, he has done pretty darn well.

[@hazy_lacy]

Nothing’s necessary, when there’s a will there’s a way

[@damienosullivan193]

@@hazy_lacy very true Jack, very true 👍.

[@chelseahulmston9056]

I can read music and can play violin and taught myself guitar. The fact he can write. Compose and play many instruments and not read music but still be able to create such good songs....its a talent and skill. Amazing.

[@damienosullivan193]

@@chelseahulmston9056 I have always played guitar by ear mostly also. Quite often, I would hear a riff or a solo, and just mess around with the guitar and then play that tune. I always think I am doing it a lot different to how it's meant to be, but think people would at least know the song I'm intending to play. I even a number of times just fiddle with it and then by accident, I'm like "hang on isn't that the sound of Fade to Black or the Unforgiven?" I sometimes surprise myself when things like that happen.😁😁

[@earledaniels4539]

Most great Rock musicians can't read music but what they do have is a deep music theory background and a great ear. In fact about the only genre of musicians that learn to read music are the classical trained ones.

[@paulswain5199]

Dave is just the coolest person alive. So incredibly talented and smart. And just a genuine nice guy.

[@lufflyness]

I love when Kelly interviews other musicians.

[@ronachzet9714]

He is so relatable. As a self taught drummer I feel this.

[@allthingswavy6420]

This is an excellent interview! They really get into "creative mind" aspects, how a creative mind often works--soo good!!

[@elliec7677]

Absolutely love dave grohl and Kelly!! I was so happy I got to see her show in from the audience before covid hit California!! I was supposed to go again but it got cancelled 😩 I moved to England now so I doubt I’ll get chance to be in the audience again!! Oh well, it’s one of my treasured memories 💗💗💗💗 I wish Dave grohl would have been on when I was there… he’s amazing!! I grew up loving foo fighters 💕💕💕

[@evanshiong3557]

Wow did you u get to meet her?

[@patton303]

It’s cute to see her fan girling on Grohl. And Grohl is fan boying on her. Both of them are freakishly talented musicians.

[@VirgoJams]

Dave Grohl has been all over the place for interviews regarding his new book. I love his storytelling! If you have ever been to a Foo's concert he tells some of the funniest stories in between songs. Just that alone is worth going to see them in concert! He's just an amazing guy. 👍

[@LxE9799]

As a self taught guitar and bass player who also has a sound to color synesthesia, it's so cool knowing I share that with one of my favourite musicians!

[@tbell1698]

Two of my favorite performers and people in the world. Wonderful!

[@mariapires7170]

The other for me, is Mr Taylor Hawkins, we talk about drummers, I Think!

[@meechneek]

Such a genuine and open person I love listening to Dave telling the stories about anything

[@tonihagan6330]

These guys are great! It's like watching two people finding they have a lot in common over a cup of coffee except we get to be there!!💕💕

[@robbiedigital79]

I’d say it’s probably pretty obvious what he’s referring to at the end of this clip in terms of what people wanted him to write about and how he navigated that

[@lozcb8790]

Can't wait to read this book and read his navigation of a real tragedy. Some things are best kept in your heart anyway

[@allentrice1703]

Okay I'm stand down for the '90s rock band! Because I knew about Dave Groul I heard that music! Play it loud, Kelly! 🎸🎵🎵🎶🎶

[@seanwilliams3103]

Two of my 100 favorite (famous/artistic) humans. Good stuff.

[@davidshanholtz6674]

I love Dave Grohl! I love the Foo Fighters and I always liked Nirvana as well! I literally just learned, through this video, that he grew up in Virginia, Springfield, VA to be exact! I don’t know how I didn’t know that before now! I’m from West Virginia. So, fun fact, there is also a town in WV named Springfield, and that just so happens to be where I’m from and currently live!! How cool is that?!?!! Dave freaking Grohl grew up in the same town as me, only his Virginia and mine West Virginia, which is only 2 hours from me!!! I’m geekin over here!!!

[@lisap0919]

I just love him.

[@denvyzhang4006]

Dave Grohl reminds me of Nodame, a fictional pianist from Japan who couldn't read the music but very good on listening memorising music.

[@bigred4379]

Is he the coolest, most humble man? Cannot wait to read his moms book, FIRST! I think this is one of the best interviews I’ve seen on her show. He is sooo engaging, gifted, and interesting. No wonder everybody invites him to play on their albums .

[@elizabethcamacho615]

Dave and Kelly rock!

[@CrystleSky]

These gorgeous souls love these beauties. Love from a new youtuber

[@fenderfox5080]

That's funny I started learning piano on a 12 inch toddler keyboard lol, around 12 I finally got a cheap guitar from the J.C. penny catalog called the wish book. This was early 90s so no internet no cell phones nothing like that. Just sheet music that I couldn't read so I had to teach myself by ear. Ifinally got a fender strat from a real guitar store and it came with 4 free guitar lessons 1 lesson out of 4 later and I had a few chords down. The rest was listening and teaching myself and learning random stuff from other friends and concert VHS tapes lol. Haven't stopped playing for 25 years.

[@c.518]

When you say you cant read music, does that mean you dont know the names of notes, or chords? Like g sharp or whatever? I think dave also said that he learned the guitar by ear as well and he can't tell you the name of the chord but he knows the sound and where it is exactly. So is that " perfect pitch"? It's very interesting when people learn by ear. A natural ability.

[@fenderfox5080]

@@c.518 yes basically when I started learning I had basic named notes that showed like piano music. Then when the internet was first available at home some guitar tab pages were just starting and alot of the tabs were horribly wrong. There was also tab books at music stores but the ones I learned from were free on the internet lol. Eventually I could figure out my regular easy cord names but I don't know any scales of any kind, I just learn songs and memorize them. Not sure if that's normal but that's how I've learned for 25 years, I could always be better even after this long. I try to learn something new every time I pick up my guitar.

[@c.518]

@@fenderfox5080 this brings another question. If a person learns by ear, does it help to learn to read notes? What is the difference between a natural leaner and 1 who learned like a standard way if you wanna call it that. And can the 2 learn things from each other? Dave said that he thinks taylor hawkins is a way better drummer than him, he said he is more "mechanical", i think he said that word. Taylor thinks dave is great. Both think bonham is the greatest. It's very cool to hear that humbleness.

[@fenderfox5080]

@@c.518 yes it helps to know at least main chord names and if somebody could learn some basic scales. Depending on what style music you play will also depend on what scales you'll wanna learn. You can play blues scales for many styles of music , would it sound best with blues? Probably, but my point is the scales I believe are all similar but a little different. I never learned any scales but if you know someone that can teach you I'd take any opportunity to learn. I hope this helps

[@teganrae4499]

His book is sooo good. Especially they audio version.

[@nitetimepoetry]

i actually have a similar condition.. i see song as tetris in my mind

[@krissyanndepasquale3102]

Ona says" I thought he sings," 😆lol Love you Y 😁♾❤❤♾

[@Grohlizm]

I like Kelly she’s the chillest women I’ve ever seen, Kelly is the best name ever.

[@ShurekHam]

Where can I find the full interview?

[@ritaleoni4640]

Love you so much !!!!

[@avasinclare5037]

I was laying in the hospital the other day and all I wanted was for someone to bring me a foofighters cassette! ;) That band really is incredible though and such cool guys 💖

[@shoWbitz]

Kelly "Yeah" Clarkson

[@helenefaw3210]

Storyteller is amazing...just reread it and it's just as good the second time as the first!!!💜🎤🎸🥁

[@drapensmusic]

The legend Dave Grohl..

[@rmp5s]

Most musicians can't read music. It's really not that weird. lol It's really not that important of a thing at the end of the day, either. I refer to theory as "a shortcut". It's just a shortcut to what could work, when, why, etc..."uh, let's try the V of V there and see how that sounds" or whatever. You don't need to know what the five of five is to be able to do it but it CAN open up new options and new ways of thinking if you did.

[@halycon404]

Well, it depends. For most music, no. You don't. But I can't sit down and play jazz without all the theory. I know jazz singers who have no idea. But sooner or later jazz players run straight into improvising on an aspect of theory. Everyone who plays jazz ends up playing around with the idea of Giant Steps, it's just a right of passage. Chords B G and E flat. Everyone tries to do their version of it. But you cannot come into that not knowing the theory behind it and succeed. There's some serious book work before even trying to attempt it.

[@rmp5s]

@@halycon404 True true. Jazz is VERY theory-focused. You guys are a rare breed, though! 😆

[@halycon404]

@@rmp5s We didn't used to be though. One of the things I don't think younger musicians realize is just how much music education the bands of the 60s, 70s, and 80s had. Someone either in the band or in their orbit knew music theory. Deeply. That was the era of odd keys, weird time signatures, polyrythems, and big arrangements. Gone now. Did you know bands used to be assigned teachers? The job of manager used to be less about the money and more about imparting musical education so bands could grow. They didn't sit down with a stack of books and terminology homework, they'd ask, "Have you thought about this?", then play something and see what the band would do with the idea. A truly good manager could impart a complete musical education without the band even knowing they got one. They'd lack the ability to speak about it, but they could do it all.

[@rmp5s]

@@halycon404 And I think that's blatantly obvious if you look at the state of popular music today. A LOT of it is mindless mining drivel. I'm all about not being complex or whatever just for the sake of it, but my God. Some of this stuff, I'm like, "seriously, people?"

[@suehinze1566]

When Dave talks about getting a lesson at home and the guy had him playing on a pad, where did he go from there? Because I took my grandson to drum lessons and the same thing, learning on a pad and I felt the same way. He did well but just wasnt excited learning on a pad. I decided to take him out of lessons because he never wanted to practice at home plus he was 6 and maybe not old enough yet. He's 9 now and when I have a song turned up in the car, I can hear him playing with the song on things in the backseat right along with the song. He has musical talent on both sides of family, in fact all 7 of my grands do. Im hoping at least one of them leans on music and figures a instrument out.

[@nitetimepoetry]

the title of this video is so funny

[@MikaelAZw]

Moreeeeee

[@megarnerich2632]

I’m looking forward to reading his new book

[@cindyc4470]

When I was 3 to 4 I had a mini piano organ I would listen to cartoon or commercials and I would just fumble not knowing my notes and my parents said within 3 weeks I could play it back out on that organ. Then came piano lessons I gave it up in 3 years. It's an hour of practice a day and so much discipline it was boring for me. My father was an entrepreneur all business. I played flute, guitar and still piano and drums till this day. I remember my father took me to get my I.q. tested coz I knew my multiplication tables at 4 bcoz my mom bot me this board and I memorized it, but I did not know my minuses and pluses so how am I to use my multiplication tables duh? The test indicated I was a self learner and on the hyperactive side definitely not attention deficiency. He told my dad to just put me in every extra curricular activity, plus summer camp and let me learn everything so I can find my niche. My dad feared I was going to be an entertainer. I remember coming back from Whitney Houston concert and telling him she was wonderful but I felt sorry for her she stood for hours and changed like twice and never got to eat pee, and she has to do it again day day she must get real bored. I m now a lawyer, teacher, counselor and I am into writing. Thank dad. Cheers from Hong Kong.

[@Orangetension]

He says “i can’t read music”. I bet he could learn easily if he really wanted to.

[@robertfinch6602]

I enjoy reading sheet music I guess. :/

[@ClubMonchhichi]

I would have loved to hear more about his synaesthesia.

[@froggyjk]

LOVE U DAVE 💕💕💕💘🌈🌈🏡

[@gretacarter3498]

I am very musical - I have been singing since third grade and playing piano since first grade and I am terrible at sight reading - it’s like a corn maze !

[@froggyjk]

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE 🏡🌈

[@TheRealSweetcherryo]

💙💙💙💙💙💙

[@kurtsudheim825]

There a bit of a difference between music on paper for a voice & instruments

[@Zarakerr15]

Hii❤️

[@bw2937]

NO WAYYY, literally every musician has synesthesia it's crazy.

[@ClubMonchhichi]

It certainly is a common condition among the highly creative.

[@RoelCandaeleARTISTSPAGE]

😘

[@bidlad132]

Dave taught himself how to play many instruments.

[@tacitamorgan2134]

😀💗💛💜🔃

[@samuellalchhuanawma1033]

First

[@bw2937]

No you were second

[@Nomar.Norono]

sheet music is not my cup of tea either.

[@bigred4379]

Yeah.. I don’t blame you. I play piano, and I can sight read any music, but I’m no musician.