Session Playing is Not About Having Major Chops--And Why You Need To Realize That As A Player

By Mark Grove

With a Little Help From My Friend and Mentor Dee Curtis--Blues Bandleader

If you've been fortunate enough to work through years of session playing for free,little money and been humble about it,yet continued learning--Pat yourself on the back.

Now get back to work.The best players are like the best athletes.They make lousy utilit yplayers or coaches for that matter.I've seen Dee Curtis my consultant here on the blog go through a multitude of players who couldn't keep it simple to save their life.

Yeah,there's room to make small mistakes with Dee,but if you can't keep the bottom down as a bass player or drummer--forget it.Whether it's live or in the studio Dee could screw you up if he wanted,but he's not that kind of band leader.

He throws players a bone,yet a lot of them don't get it.They think session playing is all about playing like a bad ass mother-fucker to impress people.Not it's not.Dee taught one bass player named Dave.Yes,he does exist and finally got it together as a bottom-feeder. Dee didn't cut him off at the pass and make him do parts that were beyond him.He worked with him and showed him how to play blues bass like a
bastard.

He could have just fired him,which he considered many times.Dee is a player you want to hang with,and that's what you want to be if you want to do session work with Dee.If you're a player who wants to do session work--you have to learn your part like a son of a bitch.Dee also says to include an element of your own playing, but to limit it and keep the bottom down.That's the key.

In our little music community,if you're a session guy who plays like he knows it all,you won't last long.Be humble and approach session playing whether it's live or studio like a pro.

For more info on how to be a great session player,email me.

mdgrove@rock.com