My goal at the jams has always been "do a bit better each time", and although I get very limited practise time (excuses, excuses, I know) I want to progress to a certain point, yet to be determined.
@markblagdon made the same point in the thread
@alnico made to me more than once, when looking to progress look at Hendrix, and in fact both used the Wind Cries Mary opening riff as an example, great minds guys...
So expanding the discussion a bit (and given the desire we no doubt all have given the new OT thread to have a great Hudds weekend so we tempt TTony and Digitalscream back) how is everyone going to practise for the weekend, how is everyone going to prepare and how should we all progress and support each other?
Personally, I'm working on my Champagne Supernova lead but have also volunteered to play and sing on Ace of Spades, so lots of challenges!
Where are the rest of "the Weekenders" at? It isn't actually that far off!
You are the dreamer, and the dream...
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Some of the songs I've played on and off for years, so it's just sorting out the bits I normally ignore (e.g. the solo and embellishments in Teenage Kicks). Some of them I've never played before (hell, never heard before), so it's getting used to the timing and song structure (the Green Day stuff). What that looks like in practice (ha!) is getting hold of chords/tab + recordings of the songs. Listening to them repeatedly, playing along, checking out the odd YouTube tutorial for pointers … but then putting that all into a big melting pot and taking some bits away, and adding others of my own.
I'm also assuming that at some point there'll be a bit of a PM-fest where people playing together suss out exactly which version we're doing, confirm keys, and sort out the verse, chorus, break structure (and beginning and endings). But I've never done one of these, so I'm trying to relax and go with the flow.
In general, I am a very bad person, and rarely practice. I try to pick up a guitar at least a couple of times a week, but will often just bash out familiar stuff due to lack of time. In between are bursts of motivation where I'll try to improve a scale, or memorise a new position of a pentatonic, or look at inversions etc. but that stuff is rare, and usually motivated by The Fear, having committed to doing something out of my comfort zone (tFB jam, playing for the local panto etc.).
However, I play in public at least twice a month, sometimes a lot more, as part of a variety of church music groups. In that context I am used to just turning up and working stuff out on the day, because words/chords/notation is in front of me, and most of the songs are familiar. But that might see me switch between acoustic + singing, electric + singing, electric free-form noodling (pentatonic toss), or bass, depending on the band/need and what the songs are. That sort of keeps me on my toes, but also has my in a rut, so I consume various YouTube things (Paul Davids, Justin Sandercoe and so on) in a slightly dilettante manner - I rarely have the discipline to practice the stuff they do as I should, but I try to absorb the concepts and work on them in a bitty fashion. Takes longer to get in, but it get there eventually.
Right now the other thing I'm doing is to start working on my voice a bit - doing some exercises to try to extend my range and to get better control when going for the higher notes. I've neglected my singing dreadfully over the years, and it's starting to tick me off, as it stops me doing some stuff I want to
is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is?
is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is?
I'm currently working on finding a drummer. After that, if needs be, I'll enlist organising help and start learning bass / vocal parts just to keep songs on the list.
My Trading Feedback | You Bring The Band
Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youHowever, if it's acceptable to have the chords scribbled out on a bit of paper so I've got a guide, and I don't need to manage a recognisable riff on bass, I can blag something into anything, I'm used to doing that in other contexts).
Of course nothing will beat the folder of knowledge brought by Dr @mrkb ...so rock and roll he could do a presentation on it!
My Trading Feedback | You Bring The Band
Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youI'm thinking along the lines of a set key, following the original released version of a song single or album tba) by the original band. For instance, if it's a Beatles song, then doing the original Beatles version and not a Guns n Roses (or whoever) cover version.
You dont have to nail the original or obscure remix exactly. Some songs at Water Rats were busked. The idea is to play, have fun, get handed a 53 Burst Conversion and told to play it, have people laugh at ones vocal performance and progress as a musician.
In other words:
"Hey, you know were were going to play xyz, well stuff that, we're playing Frank Zappa's Inca Roads instead... we tried texting you, but didn't have your number, so we just nailed it without you and thought you wouldn't mind because ...... well ... we think The Eagles suck."
Hmmmm ....
Ebay mark7777_1
I did a jam at a folk festival I got put on the spot and did lazy Sunday afternoon which isn't folk, I was off key for most of the first verse, fluffed the chords in the 1st chorus and forgot some of the words.
They loved it. Sometimes we are so on top of the minutiae that we are knitting in public not entertaining.