Hand signals during playing

[nemo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdGDh...eature=related

Hi, I have noticed a lot of hand signals the keyboard player is giving to others in directing the song.
I guess it is some established code, is there any overview of them, like on youtube? Thanks.

[treekiller]

Watch a video of Frank Zappa sometime, he the was master of hand signals!

[Hoover]

I think it's only an "established code" within individual ensembles.

Eg, It may be common knowledge for everyone in the LSO that when Michael Tilson Thomas points to his right ear that means the 'cellos aren't loud enough, but it's certainly not expected that every 'cellist in every orchestra would know that. (Totally hypothetical example btw, I just made that one up.)

Some of them are almost universal: twirling the the finger in skyward circles means "play through the form again" or "keep vamping" or "one more time" or... hmm, wait, that's not really universal, is it?

[Mark Wilson]

At school, a friend and I have been trying to incorporate specific hand signals. We've come up with something for all the big ones like lay back, more on top, louder, softer, repeat, move on, coda and DS.

[nemo]

Yeah, some ot them are prety universal like circling to symbolise repetition of what part is currently played. But it looks like he also signalises key changes with his fingers (like C or something?)
I am surprised it is still not establised as official and it is not teached at music schools or some master classes so any fill-in musician can understand.

[mambo4]

I've seen/used
-Twirl finger in a circle :repeat section
-slice finger accross throat: cut /drop out
-pat head : take it to the top /head
-move hand in a horizontal arc "bridge": take it to the bridge
-finger to lips in a "shush" gesture: quiet down
-hand up: get ready to stop
-hand swings down/out: stop
and really they have to be body/arm signals not just hand signals -for maximum visibility

One challenge is that players often have both hands full
So practically it boils down to eye contact and raising/lowering the instrument,
heavily depednant on a certain degree of farmiliarity with the arragnement to begin with.

Without hands I use my headstock angle and posture and eye contact to indicate things tp the drummer:
Headstock angled up, eyebrows raised: Here comes the next part!
Headstock angled downward, steady gaze : not yet, keep going
Hunch down low: quiet /sparse dynamics
Rise up with eyebrows raised: increase dynamic level
Bang head and other wise "rock out" Max Dynamic level


A standardized signal system would be cool, especially one that accounted for busy hands.
I think it could break down into 8 basic signals
1.)4 dynamics : Louder/ Quieter; Faster,Slower
and
2.)4 arrangements: go to next section, go to Top , go to Ending ,Stop
(presumably "start" wont need special signals)

[hublocker]

Finger signs for

1

4

5

is common.

[Valerus]

Originally Posted by mambo4

I've seen/used
-Twirl finger in a circle :repeat section
-slice finger accross throat: cut /drop out
-pat head : take it to the top /head
-move hand in a horizontal arc "bridge": take it to the bridge
-finger to lips in a "shush" gesture: quiet down
-hand up: get ready to stop
-hand swings down/out: stop
and really they have to be body/arm signals not just hand signals -for maximum visibility

One challenge is that players often have both hands full
So practically it boils down to eye contact and raising/lowering the instrument,
heavily depednant on a certain degree of farmiliarity with the arragnement to begin with.

Without hands I use my headstock angle and posture and eye contact to indicate things tp the drummer:
Headstock angled up, eyebrows raised: Here comes the next part!
Headstock angled downward, steady gaze : not yet, keep going
Hunch down low: quiet /sparse dynamics
Rise up with eyebrows raised: increase dynamic level
Bang head and other wise "rock out" Max Dynamic level


A standardized signal system would be cool, especially one that accounted for busy hands.
I think it could break down into 8 basic signals
1.)4 dynamics : Louder/ Quieter; Faster,Slower
and
2.)4 arrangements: go to next section, go to Top , go to Ending ,Stop
(presumably "start" wont need special signals)

good ideas here.

[Jazzdogg]

I recall a longish TB thread on this subject within the past few years; a search might find it.

[plangentmusic]

You can also give chord changes by stating the amount of flats or sharps in the key. For example, if you hold up one finger, that's G. (One sharp in the key). 2 fingers down is Bb. etc.

That's pretty standard in the New York, New Jersey area.

[mambo4]

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

You can also give chord changes by stating the amount of flats or sharps in the key. For example, if you hold up one finger, that's G. (One sharp in the key). 2 fingers down is Bb. etc.

That's pretty standard in the New York, New Jersey area.

never heard that before...pretty neat
course it requires players who know the key sigs :P

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by treekiller

Watch a video of Frank Zappa sometime, he the was master of hand signals!

Oh yes. FZ: The man.

After a while, you get the whole simple signal thing - not unlike the signals soldiers use when they can't talk (on stage, you can't just yell, right?). When I get to know a drummer, we inevitably develop a "language" for hitting breaks, crescendos, that sort of thing.

[BryanM]

Originally Posted by mambo4

never heard that before...pretty neat
course it requires players who know the key sigs :P

IME playing with an ensemble in general requires one to know the key sigs.

[timbledum]

With who I play with, these are common:

C with hand for chorus
Peace sign for verse
Flat hand horizontal for the bridge
Turning key hand for key-change
Hand looking like you're holding a small bug for the "little-bit" like the turnaround/prechorus etc.
Fist for the end
Rotating hand for keep going
Hand looking like its pressing a spacebar for STOP THE TRACK!
Clicking for tempo adjustments

And we also do the fingers for the chords given a key, eg 1 4 5 6 whatever.

Crap theres actually quite a lot!

[plangentmusic]

Originally Posted by mambo4

never heard that before...pretty neat
course it requires players who know the key sigs :P

Pretty easy to memorize. F... BEAD -- 1 flat, F, 2 flats Bb, 3 flats, Eb, 4 flats Ab, 5 flats, Db

Those are usually the "horn" keys --typical of standards.


The sharps (most guitar or rock keys) are GDAEB-- Great Danes Are Even Bigger.

C is a "C" shape/ A Minor key includes a slash.

Actually, it is pretty complicated! LOL!

[Samsound]

Don't forget the synchronized guitar/bass right knee kick to signal the drummer when to hit the last punch of the ending (when said punch falls on the 'and' of a beat.

[James Judson]

It is nice when everyone knows the song so well that no signals are needed. I watched Curtis Salgado teach a band he had never played with. He literally taught songs as they were played. The signaling thing is a real art. I always say the singer owns the song therefore he/she needs to give signals. Things go wrong on stage and the whole band needs to play "heads up". If the dance floor is packed we need to extend the song. If the dance floor is empty we need to get out of this song and into one crowd is into (singers call). Watch Austin City Limits and you can usually pick out the leader that is conducting the band. If you play with me I will raise the neck (meaning something is coming) then I drop the neck indicating here it is. I will show you all the breaks/stops and most changes, and I assign solos (hit it Jimi) etc. You know the ending that slowly slows down then the last note is played. That last note needs to be signaled so the ending is tight (even though the slowing down part is not). Drummers can signal all chord changes etc as well.

[PJSShearer]

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

You can also give chord changes by stating the amount of flats or sharps in the key. For example, if you hold up one finger, that's G. (One sharp in the key). 2 fingers down is Bb. etc.

That's pretty standard in the New York, New Jersey area.

I would say that is universal the whole world over!!. C is signed by Thumb and first finger making a "C" shape - be careful though, that signal also means A minor!!.

I once knew of a drummer/bandleader who sang and he signalled his keys the other way up - flats upwards and sharps downwards :. This was because most of his songs were in flat keys and it was easier to hold his fingers upwards when holding sticks . I'm told his Band bought him a crystal ball for his birthday...

[PJSShearer]

Originally Posted by nemo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdGDh...eature=related

Hi, I have noticed a lot of hand signals the keyboard player is giving to others in directing the song.
I guess it is some established code, is there any overview of them, like on youtube? Thanks.

I've watched this twice and, apart from the one time he taps the top of his head, I wouldn't say he was signalling, his movements do go with what's going on but that Band is far too tight and his "signals" come far too late for them to signify. I'd say he was just movin' and a groovin'.

[PJSShearer]

Originally Posted by BryanM

IME playing with an ensemble in general requires one to know the key sigs.

... but if you just play with guitards and drummists then I tend to find that they don't.

I was rehearsing with a Band many years ago and my sister (who plays the horn) was in the room. Colin, one of the guitards asked what key's this one in, "G" came the reply, to which my sister automatically said - "That's one sharp Colin". The totally blank look on his face said it all!!.