Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

I went to a jam sponsored by a friend of mine. He has his own band and our styles do not necessarily coincide.

So we were going to drink a little, consult Herb and talk to the great oracle that is the "silo of sill bin", until he told us what we wanted to know about life, the universe and everything.

I get there and there is a sheet load of people already at the farm.

I was tense and uncomfortable, as I didn't know what to expect.

He took me to the side and asked me what I wanted to play.
I mentioned 3 songs I had been working on.

He asked me, "If we should jam, what are you most comfortable with?"

I said that "I sing and play guitar". He said there were an awful lot of musicians here and if I had to choose 1 musical job, WHAT DO YOU DO THE BEST?

I said "I have a lot of material to play, it's fine".

He shook his head NO and told me that once it got going, it would last some time, cover many tunes and that if I wanted to play in most of it, I would have to make a decision.

I laughed.. He asked me if I can improvise? I laughed even harder.

I mentioned that during the "Motorwolf" days, everything we played was improvisational.

He laughed again and said I didn't answer his question. He said that "with all these people, it was 1 person to a band position and expect to move about unless they really like what you 're doing."

I said that I could play bass all night long with little to no effort, as long as you knew what key it was in. (and could tell me 1st) lol

I told him if I didn't have to sing the right lyrics, I could sing 3/4 of the night with little to no effort. (credited with a good version of Five to One)

And I told him that I could really only play guitar provided I knew the tune to be played or playing from my own set. (played my 3 songs I was going to play)

Long story short, I ended up doing all 3 things that night but that is another story.

I'll elaborate on that once I get the copy of the recording and see how it turned out. Upload whatever is pleasing to my ear.

So if he asked you, "WHAT DO YOU DO BEST"?

Which is it? You are filling 1 position during the night, so which is it?

Or you one of the ones drinking at the bar in the back?

Or the guy/gal who is eating everything ?

Or are you the dude passed out in the lounger, spilling a half a cup of beer as you snore through most all of the music played way too loudly to sleep?

Lead guitar all night long and it would be nice if you could tell me the key but not necessary, I can play lead to any song even if I don't know it.

Usually lead guitar. That's how I got in the band I'm in. I played a 12 song set in front of about 600 people, and I only knew 3 of them. Did leads in all of them.

But, if I'm to answer honestly, it would have to be hand percussion. Nobody expects much out of it, and I can play them to any song whether I've heard them or not. That's easy money. No challenge, no spotlight, no pressure, just adding to the basic beat and adding a fill here and there. Can do it in my sleep.

It would have to be just general guitar.
Probably be a little easier to add ornamentation, fills and leads - but I'd do 'just rythym' if that was the spot I could get.

I can play the bongos without even warming up. Playing rudiments and doing different syncopations just comes naturally to me without any thoughs behind them.

Percussion without a doubt. Wouldn't matter what it was, a kit or whatever I hit hit or get a sound out of? That was a deep question he threw at you though.

Singer here....lead on songs I know back up on stuff I am not as familiar with.

I make a mean lemon almond pound cake.

And the winner is...

jimmydanger wrote:I make a mean lemon almond pound cake.

KLUGMO wrote:I sing, only songs that have been practiced or are in my magazine. Singing is a whole other animal. I am practiceing now for a gig in central VA. Some sort of political event at a millionaires estate. 15 to 20,000 people expected over the whole weekend.Should be interesting. Hopefully I can record it and I'll post some video.

Please do!


Hopefully, I will be gigging again in a month or so, and maybe I'll take some video myself.

But... break a leg on the gig. Sounds like a big one!

Congrats! Looking forward to the video!

Fish. Just lucky when I get to play bass and sing for people...

HUMMM (licking my eyebrows as I ponder the question)
I just don't know for sure.
Guess I'll have to ask my ol lady.

Seriously: I only wish I was competent enough to take on such a musical task.
Do they need a bouncer ??

I've done a heluuva lot of these, on rhythm guitar & bass.

My own material is too complicated for jams, though, so I usually ask for some alone time, too.

I can play guitar over basically anything so I would say guitar would be my primary.

Ive done hundreds of pickup gigs over the years where I just sat down with a guitar to do a couple of songs and before it was over people wouldnt let me sit down.