Hand Gesture Use in Bands

ksandvik · #1 07-20-2008, 01:06 PM

I'm curious about various techniques using hand gestures to indicate endings, starts and all kinds of middle parts, this as I think in one of the bands I'm working with we have little time to rehearse all the parts and if we agreed on certain hand gestures how to end songs, that would work fine as well.

There's of course the famous Zappa hand gestures (http://www.popular-musicology-online...s/05/carr.html) but these were mostly to change the style of music or direct solos and improvisations.

Anyway, feel free to post any notes you have how you communicate song endings and similar things with hand gestures, as I need to put together a simple and working model. Thx, Kent

nsmar4211 · #2 07-20-2008, 06:57 PM

Everyone in my group is too busy using their hands to play their instruments, so we go on raised eyebrows/head nods/eye contact/and talking.

Other groups I've been in use:

Raised closed fist means either "last time" or "go to the end"
Twirling hand in the air means loop it
Pointing at someone means "Your turn for a solo"

I can't remember the rest right now

.

Spector_Ray · #3 07-20-2008, 07:13 PM

We've been playing together for a while and in most cases, a look or some sort of eye contact is all it takes.

fenderhutz · #4 07-20-2008, 07:15 PM

My hand gestures are MUCH simpler.

I use it for when the singer steps on my foot, guitar player decides to solo too loudly, drummer knocks his cymbal stand into my rig, or someone in the audience requests a Skynard song.

I guess you can figure out which one it is

ROON · #5 07-20-2008, 07:18 PM

Just do an Axl Rose. Whenever you want the song to end, just stop doing your thing, leave the rest of the band there thinking "do I keep going or do I stop?!", and just expect them to eventually stop as well.

rustynuts · #6 07-20-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROON

Just do an Axl Rose. Whenever you want the song to end, just stop doing your thing, leave the rest of the band there thinking "do I keep going or do I stop?!", and just expect them to eventually stop as well.

Didn't Jim Morrison introduce that move?

Jeff K · #7 07-20-2008, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spector_Ray

We've been playing together for a while and in most cases, a look or some sort of eye contact is all it takes.

+1. However, if the tempo is either too fast or too slow for a certain song, I'll generally raise my headstock (if we need to pick it up), or lower it to slow it down.

Phalex · #8 07-21-2008, 06:40 AM

We mostly just use eye contact or read facial expressions. The chin point is always handy too.

anderbass · #9 07-21-2008, 06:16 PM

I first get my drummer's attention and then I either look downwards (to get him to play more behind the beat)
or upwards if he should be pushing the tempo a bit more.

Fassa Albrecht · #10 07-21-2008, 07:47 PM

We use a lot of hand gestures and signals at worship band where a lot of changes and improvs are done as we play.

Repeat line- the bandleader makes a circling motion with his right hand.

Repeat verse- bandleader raises right leg.

End of song- bandleader raises guitar headstock into air. Drummer uses crash cymbal.

Instrument omission- bandleader points a horizontal hand towards the person he wants to stop. Same action to start again.

Improv on guitar- bandleader steps forward one step and raises hand.

Volume- bandleader raises or lowers hand as needed.

Start signal- bandleader nods three times.

fenderhutz · #11 07-21-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

We use a lot of hand gestures and signals at worship band where a lot of changes and improvs are done as we play.

Repeat line- the bandleader makes a circling motion with his right hand.

Repeat verse- bandleader raises right leg.

End of song- bandleader raises guitar headstock into air. Drummer uses crash cymbal.

Instrument omission- bandleader points a horizontal hand towards the person he wants to stop. Same action to start again.

Improv on guitar- bandleader steps forward one step and raises hand.

Volume- bandleader raises or lowers hand as needed.

Start signal- bandleader nods three times.

We call that square dancing in these parts.

bassist15 · #12 07-21-2008, 07:55 PM

Most of the time Ill just get their attention to end songs by raising eye brows or making head movements. Other times Ill mouth words to them or just say something quiet enough. The coolest use of hand movements and gestures is watching John Zorn conduct. He has a whole arsenal of gestures and his bands he conducts all know them. You can really seem them when he is conducting the Bar Kokhba band. Also Zorn has the "Cobra" band where he has tons of signs and facial expressions and such to conduct a whole improvised group.

cronker · #13 07-22-2008, 12:02 AM

We just borrow the Paul Schaffer schtick from Letterman.

bongomania · #14 07-22-2008, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsmar4211

Other groups I've been in use:
Raised closed fist means either "last time" or "go to the end"
Twirling hand in the air means loop it
Pointing at someone means "Your turn for a solo"

Yeah those are commonly used and understood; the only other common one I can think of ATM is when the bandleader pats his head it means "go to the head" (of the tune, not the boat

).

ksandvik · #15 07-22-2008, 12:44 AM

I better record Letterman show tomorrow and watch Schaffer in action. Thanks for all the interesting posts.

blizzard · #16 07-22-2008, 01:37 AM

Is it just me but it seems the bassists are the only ones who know when to end a song. I know in my band I'm the one who gets questioned about the song structures.

Unrepresented · #17 07-22-2008, 11:28 AM

Some of these are really helpful. Eye contact alone doesn't always communicate what I want with my drummer.

Is there a quasi official reference list for these things?

Joey3313 · #18 07-22-2008, 12:28 PM

Nod= "yes, that is working"
Head shake= "don't do that again/you messed up"

unbasslichkeit · #19 07-22-2008, 01:39 PM

James Brown used to do all these subtle little hand gestures which usually meant that a band member had made a mistake and was going to be fined:

James Brown is not the featured vocalist on any of the tracks, but he writes every song, sings back-up and plays the organ. He also is famous on all his recordings for handing out fines. He had hand signals and each time he gestures at you - you’d lose 5-10 bucks for missing a beat or bar. He fined Lynn Collins once for having a wrinkle in her dress. Before each show he would quiz members of the band on the whole set list — the player would have to recite every intro, bridge and hook and was fined for any mistake. You would also be fined for not looking at James. If he caught you looking anywhere else while on stage you’d be in BIG trouble. This was a band of funk warriors. --Michele Myers, KEXP.org

ehque · #20 07-23-2008, 02:13 AM

In a church setting hand signals are really important. Signals differ from church to church, but the more important ones tend to stick.

Chorus - Form a C with the hand
Verse - The victory sign
Bridge/Prechorus/Instrumental - Usually a "half" sign, where the hand is bent at the knuckle, fingers straight. Otherwise, some places use the DNA sign, where the index and middle fingers are twisted around each other.
Last x lines - Last finger(s) held out.
Faster - We use the army symbol - fist clenched, swung rapidly between chest and gut.
Slower - Hand opened, palm down, moved up and down.
Louder - Hand opened, palm up, moved up and down.
Softer - Thumb and fingers brought together in a pinch, above the upfacing palm.
Change key (up) - 1 finger up.