By Mark Grove
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Sounds too easy doesn't it guys. But most players and guys for that matter aren't good listeners. Not just with the wife, but when playing with other band members, jammers and especially when doing session work. It's a learned thing. Most guys will say they're great listeners when they actually aren't. This affects the way you play, and your ability to improvise and play what some other player wants.
You still don't believe me do you? Just bear with me lads. You go see other bands right? Okay, you watch and you listen. Try doing that when you play. You listen intently when watching, but tend to disassociate and become oblivious to certain aspects of a lead guitar or rhythm player's texture,chording or riffs.
Read this important post and use these tips on listening better when playing. Hell, you might even listen better when the wife is talking. Probably not though. Just the way the old DNA is built into most guys, including me.
Okay, you've been honing your blues rock chops on your Fender Strat or Gibson Les Paul at home, or with your garage band. And for the last number of years you said you would always hit the blues jams in your city. But, you’re afraid of looking foolish on stage if you make mistakes.We all go through that. Before you do go on stage, go to a jam and listen to other players, really listen and write down the name of the band or musician hosting the jam. Take notes of songs being played, especially the best blues guitarist in town who’s up there.
If your blues chops aren’t up to his level, don’t worry, and go with the songs you know how to play and ask if he would be willing jam on your requested tune. I know, you’re scared up there, but if you don’t take that step you’ll never do it, it’s that simple. Chances are they’ll ask you to lead the song so practice the song until you kill it. I know it fly’s in the face of blues improvising on the fly. But you at least have to know the material, even if it’s just one song.
You’ll learn how to jam in a pressure situation that way. Then the best players will want you up on stage consistently.
Blues players will also help you more than most rock players. Even though it’s your song, listen to the other players and their techniques which will give you some insight, into how to use little new variances in your chording technique. Here is another little tip. When listening to other players, listen and watch their phrasing which will give you clues and cues when there is space and headroom available for you to inject your dose of riffs which complement the playing of others, not playing above everyone else. You need to be confident, yes. And your playing has to be top-notch, but be humble about it. it's not a head cutting contest.
Very few players can head cut. Luther Allison and Albert Collins were bluesmen who could get away with it.
They were two of blues greats, who played with bravado and confidence, but left it onstage. Two people who followed in their footsteps as great listeners and players were, Bernard Allison,Luther's son, and Coco Montoya who was mentored by Collins.
Much respect to Collins and Allison and their blues legacy.
Okay, back to listening when playing gigs, jams and sessions.
Don’t try and play above everyone else or in your own little virtuoso world either.
Even if you or someone else makes a mistake, play through it and in sync with every one else. Even if it is your first jam try and pick out someone in the crowd to play to and connect with. Don’t worry about being a shred king, Blues is about simplicity. You’ll get fans you never knew you had playing that way. So play tunes you know, and Save improvising for later, until you’ve started playing jams regularly with other musicians.
You’ll know the right time to fly on the frets if you do that. Don’t just listen to and copy guitarist’s, get your own style and include just little snippets of the Blues Masters, or top players in your town. Listen to drummers, Bass players, singers and harp men. Apply their techniques to yours so you can get beyond your own chording and improvisation techniques. It’s not about being the baddest and best blues guitar cat on the planet. Jamming and playing with others better than yourself is key, to glom some chording tips and even a wild blues lick or two, from a newbie like yourself. Blues jamming, It’s all so beautiful man.
Lets see how long you can listen intently to the wife before getting slapped again. Not long.
Mark Grove
Sounds too easy doesn't it guys. But most players and guys for that matter aren't good listeners. Not just with the wife, but when playing with other band members, jammers and especially when doing session work. It's a learned thing. Most guys will say they're great listeners when they actually aren't. This affects the way you play, and your ability to improvise and play what some other player wants.
You still don't believe me do you? Just bear with me lads. You go see other bands right? Okay, you watch and you listen. Try doing that when you play. You listen intently when watching, but tend to disassociate and become oblivious to certain aspects of a lead guitar or rhythm player's texture,chording or riffs.
Read this important post and use these tips on listening better when playing. Hell, you might even listen better when the wife is talking. Probably not though. Just the way the old DNA is built into most guys, including me.
Okay, you've been honing your blues rock chops on your Fender Strat or Gibson Les Paul at home, or with your garage band. And for the last number of years you said you would always hit the blues jams in your city. But, you’re afraid of looking foolish on stage if you make mistakes.We all go through that. Before you do go on stage, go to a jam and listen to other players, really listen and write down the name of the band or musician hosting the jam. Take notes of songs being played, especially the best blues guitarist in town who’s up there.
If your blues chops aren’t up to his level, don’t worry, and go with the songs you know how to play and ask if he would be willing jam on your requested tune. I know, you’re scared up there, but if you don’t take that step you’ll never do it, it’s that simple. Chances are they’ll ask you to lead the song so practice the song until you kill it. I know it fly’s in the face of blues improvising on the fly. But you at least have to know the material, even if it’s just one song.
You’ll learn how to jam in a pressure situation that way. Then the best players will want you up on stage consistently.
Blues players will also help you more than most rock players. Even though it’s your song, listen to the other players and their techniques which will give you some insight, into how to use little new variances in your chording technique. Here is another little tip. When listening to other players, listen and watch their phrasing which will give you clues and cues when there is space and headroom available for you to inject your dose of riffs which complement the playing of others, not playing above everyone else. You need to be confident, yes. And your playing has to be top-notch, but be humble about it. it's not a head cutting contest.
Very few players can head cut. Luther Allison and Albert Collins were bluesmen who could get away with it.
They were two of blues greats, who played with bravado and confidence, but left it onstage. Two people who followed in their footsteps as great listeners and players were, Bernard Allison,Luther's son, and Coco Montoya who was mentored by Collins.
Much respect to Collins and Allison and their blues legacy.
Okay, back to listening when playing gigs, jams and sessions.
Don’t try and play above everyone else or in your own little virtuoso world either.
Even if you or someone else makes a mistake, play through it and in sync with every one else. Even if it is your first jam try and pick out someone in the crowd to play to and connect with. Don’t worry about being a shred king, Blues is about simplicity. You’ll get fans you never knew you had playing that way. So play tunes you know, and Save improvising for later, until you’ve started playing jams regularly with other musicians.
You’ll know the right time to fly on the frets if you do that. Don’t just listen to and copy guitarist’s, get your own style and include just little snippets of the Blues Masters, or top players in your town. Listen to drummers, Bass players, singers and harp men. Apply their techniques to yours so you can get beyond your own chording and improvisation techniques. It’s not about being the baddest and best blues guitar cat on the planet. Jamming and playing with others better than yourself is key, to glom some chording tips and even a wild blues lick or two, from a newbie like yourself. Blues jamming, It’s all so beautiful man.
Lets see how long you can listen intently to the wife before getting slapped again. Not long.
Mark Grove
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