Learn how to count.
You are the center of attention, please be interesting. Move and smile. Make eye contact.
Know the good and bad qualities of your voice, and pick material accordingly.
Nobody cares if the song is deeply meaningful to you.
Really, learn how to count.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Keyboards
You are playing with a band. They are creating the groove. You don't need to play it all yourself.
When playing pads, only use your right hand. Do not voice them in thirds or play block chords. You don't need to change with every chord; often it sounds cooler to allow the notes you are playing to extend the new chord. Keep your notes in the upper-middle register.
When playing strings, remember that strings are arranged in lines, not block chords. Try to limit yourself to two voices, and do not voice in thirds.
If a song is heavy on guitars, simplify your playing. Lay out for long sections and only play punctuation. John Jarvis is the master of this.
When playing pads, only use your right hand. Do not voice them in thirds or play block chords. You don't need to change with every chord; often it sounds cooler to allow the notes you are playing to extend the new chord. Keep your notes in the upper-middle register.
When playing strings, remember that strings are arranged in lines, not block chords. Try to limit yourself to two voices, and do not voice in thirds.
If a song is heavy on guitars, simplify your playing. Lay out for long sections and only play punctuation. John Jarvis is the master of this.
Guitar
Nobody came to hear you. They came to listen to the singer. Turn down your amp.
You will spend 90% of your time playing rhythm, so learn how to do it properly. Listen to Steve Cropper or Malcolm Young and acknowledge your inferiority.
Don't crank up the bass on your amp. Everything under 100 Hz is just noise, so use a hi-pass filter to cut it out if you can.
Reduce your effects by at least 50%. Try practicing with no effects to get a really great tone without them. Leave your reverb and delay off when playing rhythm. Chorus can kill your sustain.
Just because you have six strings doesn't mean you have to play them all when you play a chord. Sometimes the top 3 strings are all you need.
You will spend 90% of your time playing rhythm, so learn how to do it properly. Listen to Steve Cropper or Malcolm Young and acknowledge your inferiority.
Don't crank up the bass on your amp. Everything under 100 Hz is just noise, so use a hi-pass filter to cut it out if you can.
Reduce your effects by at least 50%. Try practicing with no effects to get a really great tone without them. Leave your reverb and delay off when playing rhythm. Chorus can kill your sustain.
Just because you have six strings doesn't mean you have to play them all when you play a chord. Sometimes the top 3 strings are all you need.
Bass
You are not the lead guitar player. You will be bored.
When you end your notes is almost as important to the groove as when you start them. Cutting off the note right before the snare drum hits can really make it pop. Listen to any Mutt Lange production and see for yourself.
When you end your notes is almost as important to the groove as when you start them. Cutting off the note right before the snare drum hits can really make it pop. Listen to any Mutt Lange production and see for yourself.
Drums
A hi-hat is not for tapping out Morse Code unless you are Neil Peart. If you are Neil Peart you do not need this blog. Learn how to play an 8th note groove that lifts the band off the ground. Learn how to swing it and lock with the bass player.
Use a click. A click is like deodorant: the people who need it most refuse to use it.
Listen to Phil Rudd, Mickey Curry, or Paul Leim. Those guys lay down an outstanding foundation for the music to happen.
Use a click. A click is like deodorant: the people who need it most refuse to use it.
Listen to Phil Rudd, Mickey Curry, or Paul Leim. Those guys lay down an outstanding foundation for the music to happen.
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