Different band exercise jams

[phatphillss]

Well im trying to get some ideas on improv jamming for the band, so we can think on the fly more and look at each other to comunicate.Different exercises to help communicate stops and key changes on the fly.

Currently one we do is all play in one key say Amajor for 4 measures and stop,
let the drums do a solo type peice for a non structured time and
then everyone goes back in to playing 4 more measures of the Amajor, then next instrament
that felt they should go or if eye contact was made he or she will do a non structued peice solo type peice.
So it goes around to every one once every one got there chance to play a part we would make a change of key on the 4th measure and start over.
We do this as a exercise but are trying to incorperate in to songs we have within a jam of that song played. Its a challenge the eye contact is the hard part to read what your band mate is thinking. kinda have to fell the vib of the song.

So thats 1 we do anyone got any cool exercises for live comunication.

[paul_wolfe]

Great question.

Here's a non visual one....play through a song that you all know really well. And have the drummer decide when there is a going to be a 4 beat stop.

Here's the test - the drummer has to communicate that it's coming up in his playing...(and it can be done. If you're struggling - or your drummer is struggling to work out how - post in this thread and I'll give you some pointers).

I'll be back with more suggestions...

[bassandbeyond]

There's a band called Kneebody that has taken this idea to a new level:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X42GIjWz1z0

They have an extensive vocabulary of musical cues, riffs that indicate to the other members "I'm going to change key now" or "I'm going to change time signature now".

For example, after playing the "I'm going to change tempo now" riff, a musician will play four quarter notes at the new tempo, and the rest of the band spontaneously adjusts their parts to the new tempo. They can pull this off because they've been playing together for years.

[phatphillss]

Sounds like that 1 particalure song was a bit structured up.

We can structure a jam and make it a song thats not hard.
The hard part is.One if our songs is structured into 7 parts and the last part is all improv.We have many ways of playing the improv part only because weve played it 300 times but the improv itself can have 2-3-4 parts or get trippy>trancy>rocky>trippy.

So to keep it intresting you give parts to people on the fly,its more or less every one listening to the music and vib it to go different ways.BY EAR

The bass is not a problem I fell, for droping out i can do that,just sometimes when I get put on the spot, its a bit hard to come up with somthing intresting to me and go with it. Im not really a solo player I like to hear the beat the four and just role with it.Right now our keyboardist is doing his job.

The keys seem to be very versital when doing this.
Next would be bass then guitar then drum.


Another EXERCISE I just thought of simular to the 1 I just posted.IS the Dueling Exercise
Everyone starts in the same key say Amajor
Play 4 mesures,and stop
guitar on the first bar
Bass onthe second trying to match what the guitar did
Back to the guitar on the third
Now on the forth everyone but the drums
Back into the jam everyone plays

you could do this dueling with any instrument drum vs bass guitar vs keys keys vs drums

Does anyone do this? Does it work? ill try it to night to see how it goes at practice.

Anyone got anyothers I can take to practice tonight.

[phatphillss]

Thanks wolf we do that one, once in awhile. We told him to start looking for good spots to drop out in our originals to keep them more open rather than thats the way it goes. WE play for a year like that nope do it again wrong thats not the way it goes. Sometimes we will mess with speed to. I dont mind just jamming in 1 or 2 keys. But my keyboardist dont like that and I understand why Well .......its boring......communication and listening are key also to never get caught up in one progression.Being more open leaves it to being open.Somtimes you like what your doing and not paying attention can really mess up a good improv jam.

Nothing worse than confusion in a improv jam.

[phatphillss]

Thats weird 100 people looked at the post but seems only 3-4 people do weird exercises at practice. Thats not right how does anyone feel out a player to mesh as a band.Everyone is not a pro here and I would think pros do these type of things.

Comon people lets be a bit more open.

Anyother Ideas peeps got, post them.

I thoght of 1 peeps do use its more for your band leader.

As you play your set and a song ends have the band leader tease the next song with a lick or note and see if the mates know the songs?
might work trying to find ways to get rid of the talkin after a song.

[kenlacam]

um, we have a right to look at the post without needing to respond. Get your ego in check, buddy.

[phatphillss]

No ego bud.And not offended,just figured peeps should chim in on a thing that might better my sitch and theres.
I dont get the EGO thing?