Terrible playing with others

[noisepolluter]

I can probably guess the responses will be along the lines of 'stop being soft and get on with it', and I know that this is the case, but are there any tried and tested ways of getting one's busking/jamming skills honed a bit?

I'm still pretty inexperienced as regards playing with other musicians, but I find things seem to improve once I just relax a little and stop being quite so nervous about making mistakes - I start to "remember" a little bit more of the stuff that I can actually play on my own.

I think having fun is the most important thing really.

[timmyo]

I started playing guitar about 10 years ago with the intention of playing with others, but it's just never happened successfully. The few times I've had a 'jam' with anyone else I come across as all thumbs and I don't really know how to lock into someone else's playing or anything.

I'm proficient in guitar at most other times; I can sightread, fingerpick and play all manner of stuff solo it just all fails when someone else is playing as well.

I can probably guess the responses will be along the lines of 'stop being soft and get on with it', and I know that this is the case, but are there any tried and tested ways of getting one's busking/jamming skills honed a bit?

In terms of ability you're ahead of me then - I was in the same boat re playing with others though until last summer. Doing IGF forced the issue and although I felt very exposed in the classroom and cacked it in the student concert I got through and afterwards my attitude was totally changed - biting the bullet once in a supportive environment was all I needed.

Maybe think about doing IGF this summer or find a local Jam that seems to be friendly - and once there when you do get the gumption up to do something listen to yourself - play less rather than more, and try and enjoy it a bit more each time.

I understand that mental barrier that is in the way - I created one too !

[antonioctd]

very good advice has been given.

Only one thing to add: Make sure you only play things that you are 100% confident that you can play flawlessly.

If you feel unsure about every thing you play then you need to practice a lot with backing tracks until you feel you can nail the song/part perfectly and reading the newspaper at the same time.

If you feel just a little bit less confident about a part is certain that it will fall apart when confronted with pressure (emotional pressure of playing with others).

So, the key is: repetition!
Play over those backing tracks until your fingers bleed (DON'T! You will not be able to practice for a week!) and build confidence while you do it!

That way when, confronted with other musicians, your hands will go into "automatic-mode" and you will be free to listen to what is happening around you.

[StageStruck]

I've played in a band for the past couple of years, I was a bit of a late-comer to playing (first gig, age 30 for instance!). I found it wasn't too much of a problem to sit and play through little amps in a small room, but you were more aware when playing in a practice room at volume along with a drummer of any errors you made in your playing. Best thing for that I found if you hit a bum note was to keep on playing and trying to pick it up again as quickly as possible and to try to not dwell on it. Try not to be overawed or intimidated by playing with others, especially if they have a bit of experience in playing in a band too. Most players will try and help you settle if you get nervous, especially in the practice room.

Knowing the structure of a piece in your mind, I find is very important. For instance, certain songs rely on a drum break or song line to bring in the solo,key changes etc etc.... Knowing details like that can help you a great deal. It's also worth preparing in your mind beforehand how you are going to approach solos, rhythm patterns and the likes. Try not to over-play and throw all of your chops and tricks into every solo, some things can sound great with a simple solo too.

I suppose 'practice practice practice!' is the way to go more than anything.

[GuitarZorz]

Yeah it's practicing like everything else.. At the session I play at they intentionally distract you and shit to get you used to it. It's probably the best thing they've done for me, it teaches you the golden rule, which 'No matter what.. DON'T STOP'

Once you learn that, and you stop being nervous, it'll be easy going.

Just find someone you know pretty well and play with them as often as possible if you're worried about doing it with strangers. It doesn't take long and you'll wonder why you thought it was so hard in the first place.

[oolong]

Being non-conventional as I generally am, I'd say the opposite to some of the advice here. If you want to play in/with a band, the best preparation for it is to just start doing it. Playing to CDs/backing tracks wont be anything like playing in a live band, because no band is perfect.

My advice would be, find a band and start playing, and whatever you do, DONT DO COVERS. When playing covers/established peices, all you're concentrating on is trying to make it sound like the original. Even if its an original interpretation, you're still essentially copying someone else. When you write original stuff, no-one tells you where to play or what, so its up to you to figure it out. When you hear the beat of the drummer, you'll lock in better because you'll put things where YOU think they need to be, not where someone else put them. You're technique will develop a style of its own instead of emulating someone else, and it'll start to feel far more natural. Covers always feel forced to me.

[JaseMorris]

My advice would be, find a band and start playing, and whatever you do, DONT DO COVERS.

Yeah, that'll make sure gigs are nice and easy to come by......


Sorry, but IMO, that's bunkum.

[Paul Hurley]

My advice would be, find a band and start playing, and whatever you do, DONT DO COVERS. When playing covers/established peices, all you're concentrating on is trying to make it sound like the original. Even if its an original interpretation, you're still essentially copying someone else.

My approach is similar, yet different.

I learn and record some covers purely for a learning experience. Right now, I'm studying the songwriting of some of my fave bands (Jellyfish, Crowded House, The Knack). I want to understand what it is they do that I like so much, so that I can develop my own skills for my own songs. So I'm studying their chord progressions, the melodies they use over the chords and all the hooks in their songs. The end result, hopefully, is that I can write my own original songs, which will contain elements of my fave bands, while still being uniquely mine.

When you write original stuff, no-one tells you where to play or what, so its up to you to figure it out. When you hear the beat of the drummer, you'll lock in better because you'll put things where YOU think they need to be, not where someone else put them. You're technique will develop a style of its own instead of emulating someone else, and it'll start to feel far more natural.

This is a very valid alternative approach IMO. Many bands have come up with their own unique style, by mere accident, rather than as a result of adopting a genius masterplan. As Jase suggests, this route might make getting gigs much harder than the convential way (doing covers) but with the likes of MySpace make it possible to play the music you want without having to worry whether anyone likes it or not! That's certainly my approach!

[antonioctd]

Being non-conventional as I generally am, I'd say the opposite to some of the advice here. If you want to play in/with a band, the best preparation for it is to just start doing it. Playing to CDs/backing tracks wont be anything like playing in a live band, because no band is perfect.

My advice would be, find a band and start playing, and whatever you do, DONT DO COVERS. When playing covers/established peices, all you're concentrating on is trying to make it sound like the original. Even if its an original interpretation, you're still essentially copying someone else. When you write original stuff, no-one tells you where to play or what, so its up to you to figure it out. When you hear the beat of the drummer, you'll lock in better because you'll put things where YOU think they need to be, not where someone else put them. You're technique will develop a style of its own instead of emulating someone else, and it'll start to feel far more natural. Covers always feel forced to me.

So, you're saying that you can cook a chocolate cake without knowing how it should taste?

Come on! Not even you believe in what you just said.

First you need to learn to play some songs with a band in order to understand how your instrument fits in a band situation. Ideally you should learn to play a LOT of different covers in a LOT of different styles. That way you will now how to use your instrument to create what you hear in your head.

I have a covers band ( MOP ) and an originals project ( Deep Dream ). And I can tell you that every time I have to play a cover in a style that I'm not used to play it inspires me lot for original music that in any other way I could never create!

For example: I never used syncopation in my music. Just because I didn't feel comfortable with it. But I had to play AC/DC covers with MOP (pub owner request) and suddenly I've learned syncopation. Now I incorporate that in my own music because I think it's cool and I no longer have issues with it!

See what I mean?

[timbalero]

its all pretty much been said already. practice makes perfect and all that so the only way to be good at playing with others is to play with other musicians just remember to listen to what everyone else is doing and try to fit in with them. Theres nothing more annoying than someone who doesnt listen when they're playing with a group and just goes off on their own, expecting everyone else to follow them