I used to have a webpage bookmarked that had a visual aid for the hand signals bands use during jam session (fingers up for sharps/down for flats, etc) I recently lost the link and the google search has come up empty.

Anyone help me?

Larry

members.tripod.com/~Rizal_L/handsigns.html

YES!!!

This is it!!

Thank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank you

:D

How do you use hand signals when you're playing? :confused:

LOL, the sharp hand signal could possibley be misinterpreted me thinks :D

Where's the one saying 'just listen to what I'm playing and pick it up by ear'? :rolleyes:

As Howard points out, there's the problem of finding a free hand... how about a chart of suggest body language positions to suggest the same things....?

Wulf

As Howard points out, there's the problem of finding a free hand... how about a chart of suggest body language positions to suggest the same things....?

Yeah, you could have all sorts of things...

A Michael Jackson style leg twist, the moonwalk even?
..or a groin thrust, or one of those spins like the kids from Fame did?!

I reckon facial signs would be better, winks, blinks, twitches etc... might be a bit of a problem when a soloist really let's go mind....

Originally posted by Howard K


Yeah, you could have all sorts of things...

A Michael Jackson style leg twist, the moonwalk even?
..or a groin thrust, or one of those spins like the kids from Fame did?!

I reckon facial signs would be better, winks, blinks, twitches etc... might be a bit of a problem when a soloist really let's go mind....

LMFAO!

Imagine that, it would look like the band is having a fit!!

Groins randomly thrusting, legs flailing, winking, twitching...

Groins randomly thrusting, legs flailing, winking, twitching...

Yeah, that's what I pictured too... like a whole band full of Joe Cockers!!!

"Man, this band are great, but they sure as Hell cant dance!"

:D

Originally posted by Howard K

"Man, this band are great, but they sure as Hell cant dance!"

Hahaha :D

Originally posted by Howard K
How do you use hand signals when you're playing? :confused:

LOL, the sharp hand signal could possibley be misinterpreted me thinks :D

From my experience of Jazz jams - these are aimed at soloists, like Sax and Trumpet and not rhythm section players.

So - everybody knows that Sax players are egomanics who really want to control everything and this is their way of trying to rein in the rhythm section, who don't need hand signals and can make changes by ear and musical cues! ;)

On a serious note in the big band I play in, our trombonist makes all the hand signals - so we have a few solo sections where it is 'open' and the section comes back on cue. Trombone is ideal as he is the loudest horn so if people miss a signal he can drown them out! ;)

Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield
So - everybody knows that Sax players are egomanics who really want to control everything and this is their way of trying to rein in the rhythm section

...won't work :D

There is a quartet that I've done quite a few gigs with in the past, (their pianist kept cancelling on them, I stand in) - but, the thing is, they don't have a bass player... so, I am providing all the harmony :smug:

The sax players don't like soloing over the bridge of the girl from Ip, and they like me to just vamp over the A section for solos...

...but I don't, no matter how many hand signals they throw at me :D

Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield

So - everybody knows that Sax players are egomanics who really want to control everything and this is their way of trying to rein in the rhythm section, who don't need hand signals and can make changes by ear and musical cues! ;)


Yes, but what if the horn players are too lazy to give you any musical cues? Or want to modulate in half a bar?

yeah most of these would be great but i dont think many people at a gig would think that the singer flipping the bassist the middle finger would mean "sharp!", so some might not seem very professional like they do at first

yeah most of these would be great but i dont think many people at a gig would think that the singer flipping the bassist the middle finger would mean "sharp!",

this really brings a smile to my face.. i can just picture it!

the sharp note would register as a mistake to the audience, then they see sax player turn round and flip the bassist the bird.. excellent!

Okay guys...

actually here is another link to a different set of signals, that isn't so subject to misinterpretation...

http://www.ohek.co.uk/history/handsigns.htm

Anyway the people I play with don't use too many sharps or flats, and don't know key sigs very well either

:(

Oh well. Thanks anyway.

L

I've tried that last one, "Audience holding fingers in both ears", but it doesn't work... I now resort to earplugs.

What matters is not the details of the code but that everyone else you're playing with understands it!

Wulf

Wow, thats so complex, for me, I just follow along, and when the leader looks at me n the drummer and gives me a nod kinda thing thats when we end :p

Originally posted by Reverend Duke

Anyway the people I play with don't use too many sharps or flats

So - they only play diatonically in C Major or possibly A minor ? :confused:



;)

So - they only play diatonically in C Major or possibly A minor ?

..maybe they could play in F or G and miss a note? :D

Errr...my D Minor is the relative minor key of F and has a Bb in it!! :confused:

Originally posted by Stephanie Dawe
Or what about D minor?

Like Bruce said, that's 1 flat, it's the relative minor of F Major.

G7 (mixolydian)?

G Major. If you were simply specifying the key of a song the band knows (i.e. such & such a song, in G) - you'd just specify G Major, which is 1 sharp. Even if the Fs aren't sharp.

B diminished? (lochrian)?

And can you think of any tunes for which you'd want to say "B Locrian" is the key?!? :D

Originally posted by Stephanie Dawe

Just thought I'd show you what I know, Bruce ;) :p

Back to the 'shed!!:D