Terrible playing with others

[Sir Axeman]

Can't argue with the advice given at all. You need to learn to react to other instruments.

Stage 1 is playing along with the CD, stage 2 is playing with a backing track, stage 3 is with a live band.

When playing with a CD, the idea is to ensure that you can't hear original track as you're playing precisely over it. This will help your timing immensely. You need the structure in your head so that you can concentrate on listening to the drummer. Waiting for cues will often make your playing late.

Some good advice there, but the last bit 'waiting for cues' is how i thought most bands operated? I always did that....and even watching other bands (and even Queen/Brian May) played alot off eachothers cues. typical example....who counts when playing in a band? I never did - that was the drummers job! I'd be playing along say in the verse...hears drum fill and knows a change is coming etc.

[JaseMorris]

Some good advice there, but the last bit 'waiting for cues' is how i thought most bands operated? I always did that....and even watching other bands (and even Queen/Brian May) played alot off eachothers cues. typical example....who counts when playing in a band? I never did - that was the drummers job! I'd be playing along say in the verse...hears drum fill and knows a change is coming etc.

Depends, I guess - acknowledged cues are different, and I'm always wary of singers coming in bars after they're supposed to... ...but I tend to play stuff with odd meter bits, and odd gaps, so I find counting is neccessary, especially where you all have to stop and start together.

[TheThingThatShouldNotBe]

Eye contact = empathy
if you can look each other in the eye during a performance you can make the worst mistakes in the world and nothing will stop you from sorting it out . Sounds profound but this real fundimental nonsense is what holds lots of us back.
me included.
Other than that use a medium like a tempo source .