Cheap Guitar Accessories

How To Enjoy Playing Music In A Makeshift Jam Band

Have you ever play or sing with a jam band? A jam band is a makeshift band and the musicians probably played together for the first time unrehearsed either in an impromptu performance or in a Jam music bar. Jam bands usually play jazz or blues both these genre of music have fixed music chord progressions and free form personal interpretation can be weaved into the chord sequence.

Since most jam bands play to a small audience, there is usually no sound technician to balance the sound produced by the bands and thus the musicians have to be 'sound sensitive' and able to detect unbalanced sounds and adjust their volumes and timbre themselves.

So how to play good and balanced music when you play with a jam band? Here are some pointers.

a) Listen to the lead singer
If you cannot hear the singer's voice and the lyrics, then the musicians should turn down the volume of their instruments immediately so that the singer can be heard clearly by the audience. If a fellow musician is unaware, do not be afraid to remind him to play softer. Even if the singer is too soft and shy, it is always the duty of all musicians to play softer so that the singer can be heard.

b) Be attentive to the song
Certain parts of a song are sung softly and sweetly,perhaps the introduction, or the first verse, or at the emotional part. The singer will usually take the lead. If these parts of the song are supposed to be quieter, then play softly. If the chorus is more energetic, then play louder during the chorus. But once the next verse arrives, we tone down for the softer verse.

Whenever we have such alternating dynamics of loud and soft, the listener will be captivated, moved and thus sing with more emotions and feelings. There will thus be 'expression' in the music, as opposed to having just one full volume all the way. If you listen and pay attention to the whole performance, you will automatically know when to go softer and when to let down your hair and rock away.

c) Bass player should listen to the volume of the kick drum
There is always a tendency for bassist to play too loud. The volume of the bass guitar should be at the same volume as the kick drum. If you cannot hear the kick drum, then bring down the volume of the bass.

d) Pianist must take the lead role in controlling musical dynamics
The pianist should listen attentively to the singer and know what kind of style and emotion the singer wants to portray in the songs. When the pianist softens, then the drummer, guitarist and bassist should follow suit. When the pianist starts to crescendo, then the rest of the band can rock and roll along.

e) Singer should feel free to guide the band and tell them to play softer, louder, faster or slower. The musicians must remember that your main job is to back the singer, to help make the singer sound good. So please oblige the singer while on stage and let him have it his way. Do not oppose the singer no matter how bad he or she is. If a musician wants to take the limelight and be a star, then wait for your turn to do your solo.

f) Listen to the soloist
If a soloist is playing, all other instruments should not be louder such that the soloist is drowned. When the soloist is soloing, do not compete with him by playing all sorts of fancy stuff on your instrument that is totally unrelated to his solo. Just play some back up chords will do.

g) Give everyone a chance to solo
One of the reasons why many musicians do not play dynamically in a jam band is because they are eager to show off and be heard. We as musicians all want to be heard and noticed, so there is a tendency for us to make sure that we are loud so that the whole world can hear us. I believe one reason is because the musicians are not given ample opportunity to solo and be a star of the moment.

Perhaps this is the reason why jazz musicians seldom have problems with dynamics. Jazz musicians always seem to know when to play soft, when to play simple, when to play harder etc. This is because they have already been given ample opportunity showcase their talents during their solos so there is no more need to fight to be heard and noticed.

Keep these pointers in mind when you play or sing with a jam band the next time and have a rollicking good time.

Mellowtone MEEP 2 Tri-Mode Filter

Fender SP10 Squier Guitar Amp $89.7 The Fender Squier SP 10 guitar amp has a 10 watt power which makes it suitable for practice. This Fender Guitar Amp Combo features overdrive and clean channels allowing you to give the desired sound effect to your music. It s easy to control frequency sound with this Electric Guitars Amplifier providing control over Volume treble bass. With a 6inch speaker this Fender Guitar Amp Combo does high power handling. Having a builtin override the Electric Guitars Amplifier can powerup your music to tune it according to the sound requirements. Carry handle of the portable Fender Squier SP 10 makes it convenient for you to take it around. Amplifier Type: Guitar Amp Combo. Power Output: 10 Watt. Speaker Size: 6 .

MINIATURE GUITAR HEADPHONE AMP $33.99 MINIATURE GUITAR HEADPHONE AMP

Modulation $5.21 This book is in New - Excellent condition

Guitar & Amp - Rock Hard! $14.99 Guitar & Amp - Rock Hard! - Premium Poster

Pyle PPDLWW1 WahWah Electric Guitar Crying Effect Pedal $44.9 WahWah Effects Pedal. Designed for Electric Guitars. True Bypass Switch. Specially Designed Rubber Bottom Floor Grips. Instrument amp; Amplifier 1/4 Ports

Alfred 00K03841 On the Theory of Modulation Music Book $27.92 Alfred Music Publishing is the world s largest educational music publisher. Alfred produces educational' reference' pop' and performance materials for teachers' students' professionals' and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument' style' and difficulty level. This amp;quot;Supplement to the Theory of Modulationamp;quot; is intended both for the professional musician (for those learning harmony' for pianists' organists' singers and others)' and for the amateur to whom the rudiments of the theory of music are not a sealed book.

High Power Guitar Amp $117.99 PYRAMID GA810 GUITAR AMPLIFIER (800 WATT)

Silver Suburst Electric Bass Guitar Kit PGEKT50 $298.03 4 String Double Cutaway Electric Guitar. Basswood Wood Body. Maple Fingerboard and Neck. Bolt on Neck. Precision Pickups x 1 amp; Jazz Pickup x 1. fretless. Volume And Tone Rotary Controls. 34 Scale. Gig Bag with Carry Strap. Chrome Diecast Tuners. Steel Strings. 3 Picks. 15 Watt s Guitar amplifier with 6.5 Speaker. Distortion Effect/Headphone Output/MIC Input. Three Band EQ. Original Tone/Overdrive Select. 10 Foot to guitar cable. Instructional DVD which covers Tuning some Riffs along with some great tunes amp; technique

Electric Guitar 3 Color Sunburst Kit PGEKT30 $228.08 42 6 String Double Cutaway Professional Electric Guitar. Paulownia Wood Body. Maple Fingerboard And Neck. Bolt On Neck. 3 Single Coil Pickups. 22 Frets. 5Way Selector Switch. Volume And Tone Rotary Controls. Tremolo. White PickGuard. 25.5 Scale. Gig Bag With Carry Strap. Chrome DieCast Tuners. Digital Guitar Tuner. Steel Strings. 3 Picks. Electric Guitar. 15 Watt s Amplifier With 6.5" Speaker. Distortion Effect/Headphone Output/Mic Input/Cary Handle. 10 Foot To Guitar Cable Included. Instructional DVD Which Covers Tuning Some Riffs Along With Some Great Tunes amp; Technique

The Guitar Amp Handbook $18.71 This book is in New - Excellent condition

Gibson John Lennon J-160E Peace Acoustic-Electric Guitar Standard $3249 A guitar that salutes 2 legends.

Gibson John Lennon J-160E Peace Acoustic-Electric Guitar 00349065 $3249 A guitar that salutes 2 legends.

Gibson John Lennon J-160E Peace Acoustic-Electric Guitar 03089029 $3249 A guitar that salutes 2 legends.

Gibson John Lennon J-160E Peace Acoustic-Electric Guitar 03265050 $3249 A guitar that salutes 2 legends.

Gibson Custom SG Standard Historic Reissue Electric Guitar with Maestro 065842 $3499 The guitar that rocked the world.

Gibson Custom SG Standard Historic Reissue Electric Guitar with Maestro 090092 $3499 The guitar that rocked the world.