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March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | My wife, Jerrie, read in the local paper, a couple of weeks ago, that a local band meets at the Trabuco General Store (located in a pretty little canyon not far from us -- Temp, next door to the Trabuco Oaks Steak House where we had dinner) patio on Friday evenings at 7 pm and that anybody is welcome to come and join them. I took the FD14 (and Jerrie) last night and went. It was a lot of fun. I did 3 tunes and played on almost everything else. There was a bluegrass guy sitting next to me with a Santa Cruz D size that was beautiful and sounded great (he was a good player too), but the FD14 held it's own easily. No other guitars that impressed me. The band members were a guy on mando who was really good, a woman on fiddle (same comment) and another woman on upright bass (ditto). At least I figured that they were the band. There were about 3 other guys on guitar and a skinny, nasty looking woman (who was actually very nice) playing a drum held between her legs. She was good..
I'm going to go back in a week or so. I'm going to sharpen up Ricky Nelson's Hello Mary Lou and Travelin' Man, and maybe Alan Jackson's 5 O'Clock Somewhere. They should go good. The other people's music ranged from blue grass to the Stone's I Can't Get No Satisfaction, to Johnny Horton's The Battle of New Orleans. I did GOMM (of course), You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling, and I'm A Believer. It was a fairly eclectric group and a lot of fun.
It's good to get out and play with other people. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | I occasionally get to sit in with a group of acoustic players, about 3 guitars, a resonator, mandolin (Ovation!!), (sometimes a guy with SG bass and one that plays a strat) and a lady that sings with them. They mostly do old songs. Always forces me to get out of my comfort zone.
We all sit in a circle and do a song when it comes your turn. I take my black Elite T, they are not quite sure what it is.
Another friend plays a UKII, he played western swing as a young man, so that is different. He uses lots of chords, yes, I get lost quite often. I have learned different styles of music play chords in different ways, for instance C7 fingering at the third fret for D7 (X the sixth string) and the same at the fifth fret for E7. Sounds real good for St. James Infirmary in Am.
I don't have anyone to play rock and roll with.
After 43 years of marriage, my wife and I are working on becoming a musical duo, she has a real good alto voice. Been practicing together for a couple of months. Seems like we get along better trying now than in the past. (I have probably quit being such a jerk?) |
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Joined:
April 2005
Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | Sounds like a GREAT time! There is a "pickers circle" that takes place the fisr saturday of every month in San Angelo that is a lot of fun to go sit in on...and a local tavern does an open mike night every Wednesday that I am helping "host". Just fun stuff, playing with others that love music...makes even the worst player sound great :) |
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Joined:
May 2005
Posts: 486
Location: North Carolina | I must admit I never much cared for "jamming". However, these events are great places to make initial contact with other area musicians for more well defined projects, or for general networking. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | There's a part of me that hates going out an jamming. When you're a got player like Temp or Matt Smith, or Keller, or any number of guys here on the board, when you play, people are always going to be impressed, and rightly so.
But I'm not a lead player and when the turn comes around to me the first few times, I decline taking the lead. It's a little uncomfortable.
But I'm a good rhythm player and I can add time and texture to what's being played. So eventually, I find my area. And when the evening's over, people say "come on back out again". |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The important thing is to get out and play with others. Nothing makes you grow as a player more than that. There will always be players who are better then you and some not as good, but it's not a competition and you can learn something from all of them. And though you may not think so some will be learning from you (even if it's just about dress sense) As First Alt said, it's a great way to network with musicians and that may lead on to better projects. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | A jam is only as good as the the basic charcter (not talent level) of the the participants. Cliff, Keller, or Temp can play circles around me but I've always felt like I can fit it.
Now..Matt Smith is another story. Nothing about his character...he is a great guy who is open it any question and eager to share his knowledge. When Matt plays it's time to put the guitar down...and listen. |
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Joined:
April 2005
Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | The best jams are the ones where the egos finally get put back in the case, or are checked at the door, and everyone can learn and enjoy.
The "open mike" is a fun time, in that it is a combo of jam and perform. Someone comes in and wants to sit in, come on....if someone wants to do a solo, go for it...but if no one steps up to do a solo, then myslef or one of the other band members lead out and we are off and running again :) |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Always good to turn the volume up a little higher than you do when practicing alone. It is fun to hear the comments from people after your done with a set or song. Sometimes in a group situation you know it is OK but you can't tell just how it sounds until you hear it played back or listen to others comment about the voices or instruments.
When your by yourself it either sucks or it's great! And you know it while your doing it.
Randy |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | guess that is why you never called me back.
enjoy paul |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Isn't it funny how songs you hate to listen to are fun to play? |
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November 2002
Posts: 3666
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Perverse, but true. "Pencil Thin Moustache" |
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April 2005
Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | "Great Filling Station Hold-up"....or "Tire Swing" |
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Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 629
Location: Houston, Texas | That is weird. "Takin' Care of Business" BTO
They started using that in some office supply company commercials and now I can't quit playing it. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | "Happy Together" - Turtles |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | "Secret Agent Man" (a personal guilty pleasure) |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Actually, the guy playing the mando (looked like a beautiful new Gibson) played Secret Agent Man.... |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | moody,
I love "Hello Mary Lou" and I always liked the way Rick did "Fools Rush In".
Playing with others will make you a better player if you want to stay with the group and join in, not try to outshine.
I know I'm an old dog but, I can learn a new trick now and then. :D |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . Actually, the guy playing the mando played Secret Agent Man . ."
Patrick McGoohan??
I didn't know he played mando! . . . |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Learn somethin' new every day...... |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Playing with others will make you a better player if you want to stay with the group and join in, not try to outshine. I would have been very happy just playing along with everybody else, but got called on to do a few tunes. Everybody was called on to do some tunes..... Hell, I'm happy to just sit in the corner and strum my 3 chords (or just sit and listen). |
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Out playing
