what does chops mean

Posted on Mar 12, 2003 06:59 pm
coolo
Frisco's Most Underrated
Member Since: Jan 28, 2003

On the real, what does the term chops, when referring to playing an instrument mean. I can't figure it out.

Walt
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002

Mar 12, 2003 07:50 pm

Yup that is an obscure term used by those wierd musician folks! It started with a slang term "chops" meaning mouth. Like getting smacked in the chops. Brass players adopted it first to mean their ombature or how well they can use their mouth to create sound through their horn. Now its a globle term for expertise on your instrument. If I where to say "I have got to get my chops back" I would be saying that I have not practiced in a while and I need to practice to get my skill level back up to par. Your "chops" are basicly your skills on your instrument.

Dan
Member
Since: Nov 21, 2002

Mar 12, 2003 08:09 pm

Most oftenly i hear the word "chops", i think of physical ability on the instrument, not neccisarily expertise. Cause it isnt all in how strong or fast you can play, there is way more to music than just physical training, more people should realize this, particularly guitarists have a habit of this, sure they can play a million notes per second up their pentatonic scale, but can they do something constructive? they've got the chops, but they aint got the mental/spiritual part of the music. Just a thought, though.

Walt
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002

Mar 12, 2003 09:09 pm

Interesting interpretation of expertise? But you are right. Chops entail all aspects of skill, musical intrepretation, ablilty to convey feeling, Control, etc. not just speed and agility.

Noize2u
Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Mar 13, 2003 09:51 pm

I will add this, chops is and will be the skill and ability. Could also be, expertise as Walt said. Chops can have varying degrees of skill also, he could have slow and sloppy chops, he could have wicked fast chops. We could even say as in coolos case, after listening to his CD. He has some interesting chops there.

So chops basically refers to the notes one is capable of playing, wether fast or slow, up or down, sideways or backwards. Its all chops.

Now I must go polish my chops for my tinkle fingers is gettin rusty.