Re: [Harp-L] Re: [HarpTalk] Playing at Jam Sessions

[jdeall@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Wow, all great inputs by everyone, so here's my 2 cents:

COMMUNICATE,
Ask the guitar player who's doing fills, can we switch off and how about some sort of signal as to who's turn it is.
Vocalist, ask what they like, I have a friend who wants me to occasionally hit the same long note as her, some strong vocalists, don't mind if you play on top, but ASK.

Rhythm, only if you can really keep the beat, sometimes I'm not good enough for a really fast Rhythm so I lay off.

Lastly if I really want to play, but I know it's not my turn/place, I play off the mic so only I hear it.

Jerry
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "David Brown" <nonidesign@xxxxxxxxx>
> Rule of thumb for me when someone is singing is to play *quietly* during the
> vocals (if at all) using chords or a single note held long but again *
> quietly* and only play notes that cut through the mix when the singer is
> taking a breath (get in and get out quickly).
> 
> I follow the same general rules I expect during my solos: if it is an accent
> to what I'm playing, and it's only done occasionally and not intrusive,
> that's OK. If someone else is jumping my solo with a solo of their own, no
> matter how quietly they play it, I have a problem with that.
> 
> Like spice in cooking add sparingly to add taste. Rmemebr, we are ACCENTING
> the singing, not competing for lead position with the vocals.
> 
> The problem with jams is often that it draws:
>  -a lot of players who don't get out much and want to play as much as they
> possibly can,
> -players who think the world revolves around them and so want to play as
> much as they possibly can,
> -players who are fine people but who don't have a lot of experience
> interacting as a band member, ie: as part of a whole.
> -players who don't understand that they are part of a song as opposed to the
> song getting in the way of their solo.
> 
> 
> On 9/17/08, Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > It all depends on who is running the jam. When it was a B3 player, he was a
> > show off and the guitar player was his buddy. Now that I play with a baby
> > grand piano player, everything has changed. The piano player loves me.
> >
> > smo-joe
> >
> > On Sep 17, 2008, at 8:57 PM, billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> >
> > I used to wonder the same thing! "hey the other instruments are all playing
> >> when the singer is singing!"  I think it's fine to play background/chords at
> >> *low* volume to provide the same type of backing that the other instruments
> >> do. I like using the opportunity to work on chords, split octaves when doing
> >> this. Sometimes I try to parallel what the person on the organ (hammond b3)
> >> is doing or compliment it (not during their solo of course).
> >>
> >> Bill
> >>
> >>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> >> From: MARVIN Fleischman <m0flei01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >>
> >>> When playing at certain types of jam sessions, why is it that guitars,
> >>> etc., are
> >>> welcome to play while someone is singing, but not the harmonica, even if
> >>> it is
> >>> being played softly? Regarding playing the harmonica during a blues jam
> >>> and an
> >>> Americana jam, I have been told to play less and make it count. When it
> >>> is an
> >>> unfamiliar song to me, I like to play very quietly to get the melody in
> >>> my head.
> >>>
> >>> Marvin Fleischman
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
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