How Musicians like you can maximize gigs where no one comes out to see you

Every band when they start out have gigs where piss all people show up,or no one for that matter. See that as an opportunity for your band to really get your set lists down like a bastard and do some major improvising on stage to stretch your bands chops.Where as most gigs might limit a lot of bands in this regard.

Think of all these gigs as vital regardless if one person shows up,or 500.You should also tape the shows where no one comes out as well.Tape them to Analog instead of digital.You'll get a better feel of where your band is at in every little nuance of their playing more than digital recordings.Sterile recordings like digital don't tell the whole story.Analog does--with every riff,texture and tempo.These gigs will also give your band a chance to free wheel,improvise and become the band that takes your audiences on a journey.Real fans of your music will love your band if you take chances and are serious about playing at higher levels in your given genre,which I hope is Blues,Rock or Country.

These gigs will also give your band a chance to include snippets of other genres that complement your music.Recording those gigs are like an NFL football team that watches and studies their game tapes, then makes necessary adjustments and tweaks to get better,practice and play like a bastard!

You'll take your music farther and your fans will love you for it!!

Learn This great Zeppelin Tune That Will keep your blues/rock dreams alive

Want to learn one of the great blues rock songs from the early 70's?
This is another song that should be part of your jam list to learn.

A friend of mine who worships Zeppelin will laugh I put this up.
He used to drive me nuts with how much he played Zeppelin,but we
had some fuckin' killer parties where I never knew where I'd
end up back in the early 80's.

All that aside,Jimmy and company know how to play and compose
Blues/Rock that just blows you away with how simple it is,yet
their playing challenges what they are capable of.

It should challenge you too.If your band decides to learn and
play "Since I've Been Loving You",learn to do it your way.
Note the changes at the 5:40 mark which shows great improvisation
skills and playing for the note,not just the song it's self.

So start learning this great song and blow away your band members
and people you jam with in town.

Mark G

How Guitarists Can Get Started Playing Jams The Right Way

                                            
Picture of Jam Guitar King Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule

If you're a guitar player just starting out and have never played on stage,you need to get back to basics.Okay,let's say you already know how to play a number of songs but have never jammed           publicly at a club.

Start by watching other players--especially the better ones. Watch how they interact with other players and the audience as well.If you can record your favorite players to boot.Keep watching them and how they play songs.

There will be little clues that tell you how to play without playing over everyone else,or not in tempo.

Here's a Tip if You're Still Scared To Go Onstage:

Ask one of the better players if you could jam with them privately.Offer to pay for their time.Chances are a good player who's not a guitar teacher,can help you leap from a shitty player,to a great player faster.

Ask them if it's okay to record the songs you jam with them as well.Jam for 30 minutes.Then at home practice those tunes more playing to those tunes.Ask them if you could get together for half an hour once a week for a month.

If things go well with that guitar player ask him the next time you go to a jam to play with you onstage.This way your stage fright won't be so pervasive.If the player in question is a working bluesman or rock player,offer to interview him and start a blog that focuses on local blues or rock players.

After you jam onstage with that player,jam with other players
and interview the players who play regularly and have a drive
to be real serious musicians.This will help you in your quest
to jam with others,and you'll help out your local music scene.

You'll become a better player,create massive value for other
musicians,and have better access to players you will want to
start a band with as well.

So keep practicing and going to jams and learning all you
can in your quest to be a great player.

Mark G