Tips for playing or singing with other musicians at a jam

Transcription

1 Tips for playing or singing with other musicians at a jam

2 What s so different about playing with other musicians at a jam? Playing with other musicians can be more rewarding, but also more difficult. You need to be aware of what everyone else is doing and how your piece fits into the whole. This requires you to watch and communicate with the other musicians during a performance.

3 How is a jam different from an open mic?

4 Open Mic Each performer or group signs up for a performance spot That performer then performs material that they have prepared ahead of Hme Performers usually do not improvise and play with anyone they have not rehearsed with in advanced

5 Jams Performers sign up to play an instrument or sing for a given Hme slot. They do not usually know in advance who they will be playing with. Performances are improvised and are not rehearsed in advance Performers play a song based on song structure, style and key that is communicated immediately before beginning the song. Singer or lead guitarist usually picks the song, but this can be done by anyone in the group.

6 How do musicians at a jam know how to play a song they ve never heard before?

7 Song Structure Most songs are built on simple structures that musicians must understand to be able to play at a jam. Most common blues song structure is a 12 bar blues or a 12 bar blues with a quick change

8 Song Structure - cont Here s my easy way to cheat and find out if a song is a 12 bar blues or a 12 bar blues with a quick change. Go to youtube and search for 12 bar blues backing track. If you know what key your song is in you can add that to your search as well. If you can sing or play your song to the backing track and it sounds good it s probably a 12 bar blues. You can also use this trick for a 12 bar blues with a quick change.

9 Song Style Song style is easier to communicate. Does the song have a gospel feel? Does it shuffle along? Does it boogie or rock? Is the tempo fast or slow? These are all keywords that you can use to communicate the style of the song you d like to play.

10 Song Key Musicians must know the key of the song. If you play an instrument, you probably know how to do this already. But what if you don t play an instrument and you don t know how to find the key of a song?

11 Sneaky Tricks to find the Key Use sheet music. Musicnotes.com lists the key of a piece of music on the right hand side of the preview page. You can also look up the key signature on sheet music to idenhfy the key Find a karaoke backing track. They usually indicate what song the key is in. Karaoke- version.com lists the original key for songs. You can also rehearse or play along with the karaoke track to prepare for the jam. Find a savvy music buddy or music teacher who can help you

12 COMMON STAGE SIGNALS AT A JAM

13 Stage Signals for who wants to take a solo Eye contact is the biggest indicator that a musician wants to take a solo Musicians may also step forward to the front of the stage Musician somehmes nod to indicate they d like a solo

14 Stage Signals to indicate when the song should conhnue or end Twirling finger in the air tells the group to play through the song structure again Closed fist in the air indicates the last Hme through the song structure CuZng across the throat to kill song Stopping the song by cuzng it off with your clenched fist. When you have an instrument in your hands, you commonly use a leg in the air to end a song Guitar neck can also be used to signal cut off by circling

15 Stage Signals to control the volume of the song Easiest method is poinhng! Nope, it s not usually considered rude on stage but it should be discreet. Singers can also point at the monitor then up or down in the air to indicate that you d like your monitor turned up or down. Palms down can tell the band to quiet down Palms up with raised arms can ask them to get louder This is also commonly done with the give me more and back off hand signals as well.

16 Jam EHque]e Give the other musicians room to play. If you re a vocalist, be sure to leave room for the other musicians to solo. If you re playing an instrument, don t play overtop of other people s solos or vocals. Be sure you re in tune and ready to play a few minutes before your scheduled Hme Don t noodle around on your instrument in between songs. If you re using someone else s instrument or amp treat it with respect. Don t choose song structures that are too complex. Jam songs should be straigh_orward and easy to communicate to others on the fly.

17 Jams EHque]e - cont Most importantly be kind and supporhve of the other musicians. Improvising can be difficult, try to not get upset if someone makes a mistake or accidentally cuts off your vocals or solo.