Things you learn after quite a few years .. add yours

guitarjack66

distressed said:

I think body adjusts after some time. My drummer is sort of functioning alcoholic, like 10 beers a day. But he takes a piss no more often than us.

A doctor's appointment would do him good. The results of a blood test would no doubt find kidney problems.

guitarjack66

grappagreen said:

Relax...

Don't do it...

Lestratcaster

Usually have 1 drink before I play then 1 drink after as normally driving the gear home once we've played! But recent shows I've not had a chance to get a drink in, not that it makes any difference to my performance haha.

G4pei

Ignore the picking hand at your peril

Let your solos breathe, just like a singer, leave space for breathing

Rocker

The lead singer in your band is the one who (mainly) makes the connection with the audience and is potentially your star striker.  Do whatever it takes to make your lead singer look and sound good.

Don't be afraid to turn up your amplifier.  Especially if you play bass.  At a practice session recently, I noticed that I played one of our songs a half step down but nobody commented on this.  I increased the volume a fair bit and at the session end the lead guitarist complimented me on my bass playing and how it had helped him with his playing.

Appearances do matter.  Not as in what you wear or what guitar you play but how you interact with the other band members.  Remember to laugh at the jokes the lead singer tells the audience [even if you have heard them a hundred times before].  Look impressed at a solo played by another band member whatever instrument he/she plays.

Change your guitar strings frequently.

Keep your guitar in tune.

CoffeeAndTV

Have a good time, all the time.

RickLucas

Vibrato.

sev112

Lebarque said:

sev112 said:

1 standard pattern and 2 rules gives you every scale and mode all over the neck

What is this sorcery you speak of?

I suppose it’s 3 notes per string 

starting lower strings to high, the diatonic scale and all the modes (as a result) all follow this pattern
1 3 5 (frets starting from whatever root note or modal home you choose)
then next string 
1 3 5 , then
1 3 5
1 2 4
1 2 4
1 3 4
1 3 4 and then continue 135 135 135 again ad infinitum for as many strings as you’ve got 
The 2 Rules, are when moving from 135 to 124 move left hand up a fret 
and when moving onto the B string , move up a fret.

if you want a Major scale you start with 135 135 (then 124 etc)
You want Mixolydian you start with 135 135 135
You want Aeolian start 134 134 
Dorian start 134 135
Lydian 135 125

You can start anywhere on the neck, any string any fret.

Sounds quite complex but it taught me the fretboard really quickly after years and years of playing and not knowing it.

digitalkettle

sev112 said:

Lebarque said:

sev112 said:

1 standard pattern and 2 rules gives you every scale and mode all over the neck

What is this sorcery you speak of?

I suppose it’s 3 notes per string 

starting lower strings to high, the diatonic scale and all the modes (as a result) all follow this pattern
1 3 5 (frets starting from whatever root note or modal home you choose)
then next string 
1 3 5 , then
1 3 5
1 2 4
1 2 4
1 3 4
1 3 4 and then continue 135 135 135 again ad infinitum for as many strings as you’ve got 
The 2 Rules, are when moving from 135 to 124 move left hand up a fret 
and when moving onto the B string , move up a fret.

if you want a Major scale you start with 135 135 (then 124 etc)
You want Mixolydian you start with 135 135 135
You want Aeolian start 134 134 
Dorian start 134 135
Lydian 135 125

You can start anywhere on the neck, any string any fret.

Sounds quite complex but it taught me the fretboard really quickly after years and years of playing and not knowing it.

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/3206548/#Comment_3206548

Lewy

Reverb is a massive part of tone. If you can't dial in the sound in your head, check it's not because you're using the wrong type of ambience. If things are sounding muddy or dark, see what adding a bright reverb does. 

dbvirago

Quit trying to learn too many things at once. Quit jumping from one shiny toy to the next. Ashamed to say it has taken me almost 4 years to get this through my head. Working on one or two things at a time now and making huge progress.

Yorkie

For some reason, I can't play expressively through headphones. My playing was absolute rubbish until I ditched the headphones. I have the Peavey Bandit to thank for that – no headphone out. One of the very few times I've been able to adapt to change as opposed to trying to invalidate change itself.

midlifecrisis

When rehearsing ( and performing) make a concerted effort to actually listen to what the rest of the band are playing. Sounds obvious but i think, me  especially, have been guilty of concentrating so much on my guitar playing the timing has gone astray.

midiman1962

Here’s mine 
1. You’re probably a better guitar player than you think.
2. There will always be a better guitar player than you.
3. Embracing and mastering all guitar styles (plectrum and alternate thumb and pick for instance ) is going to potentially be a big ask
4. A band with a virtuoso will rebook more frequently.
5. Re: 4 work out whether you are happy to “accommodate “ this person and associated issues in your band.

6. If you can sing at all you’re probably better than you think.
7. Triads are worth knowing 
8. Don’t use music stands 
9. Keyboard players can’t front bands ,Elton and John Mayall excluded.
10. Some knowledge of music theory helps.
11. Nice people in bands trump prima donnas as you get older.

HAL9000

midiman1962 said:

2. There will always be a better guitar player than you.

Indeed. Took me a little while to realise that performing isn’t a competition. It’s about making music and enjoying it.

Bezzer

Couple of live ones.

1. What I hear on stage is significantly less important than what people hear in the audience.
2. Playing lots is ace but sometimes playing nothing is better.
3. Loop the bloody cable through the strap, you've known this for years and still don't do it every time.
4. If there's no sound you (or your singer) have probably stepped on the tuner.

CaseOfAce

Aiming to be a singer first (even if not an outstanding one) and a guitarist second. Out of all the things I've done to try and take Player 1 to the next level this has been it. 

Stupidly obvious. Takes effort. Truly rewarding.

BenSirAmos

midiman1962 said:

8. Don’t use music stands 

This is a tricky one for me - I can't read the lyrics when they are on the floor. Much better to have them on a stand

Roland

BenSirAmos said:

midiman1962 said:

8. Don’t use music stands 

This is a tricky one for me - I can't read the lyrics when they are on the floor. Much better to have them on a stand

Even better to have them in your head.

guitarjack66

Roland said:

BenSirAmos said:

midiman1962 said:

8. Don’t use music stands 

This is a tricky one for me - I can't read the lyrics when they are on the floor. Much better to have them on a stand

Even better to have them in your head.

I cant even remember what I walked into the next room for. Kudos for those of you who can remember such stuff.