Had an open mic jam for the first time...

ofsalesmen · #1 06-19-2008, 10:47 AM

For the first time, I had a live improvised jam with complete strangers on stage. It was definitely an awesome experience.

The thing is, I'm sort of hung up on the few crappy moments I had, where I missed a cue or butchered a fill. Maybe it's cool and adds to the organic nature of the jam, but I don't know. I can improvise, but only when I'm sure of what's going on musically (i.e., chords, key, etc.). So I ended up playing boring lines for the most part and staying still at the back of the stage, which is definitely not my typical self.

What do you guys make of your mistakes when jamming/improvising live?

Easy8 · #2 06-19-2008, 12:45 PM

Shrug, smile, and move on.

E2daGGurl · #3 06-19-2008, 04:05 PM

Everyone makes mistakes - that's why studio work is what usually gets released for general play.

Don't be so self-conscious. Those other musicians made 'mistakes' too - you just were focused on your own. If they were more focused on someone's playing besides their own, they shouldn't be.

What style were you playing?

ksandvik · #4 06-19-2008, 04:08 PM

Jams and open mike sessions should be expressive and different, anyway. Feel free to try out odd and new things. The audience will like it, too. --Kent

joninjapan · #5 06-19-2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksandvik

Jams and open mike sessions should be expressive and different, anyway. Feel free to try out odd and new things. The audience will like it, too. --Kent

right on!!!

playing my 12 string piccolo with sax player

jsm81 · #6 06-19-2008, 04:59 PM

IME, if the guitarist or lead doesn't give a clear or strong pattern, I'll usually sit back a few bars 'til I get the feel and then set the mode with bass. That's what we're there for anyway. Most of the time, if the guitarist hasn't strummed out a clear idea of what they're doing in the first few bars, then they probably don't know what they're doing and they'll probably appreciate you setting up the tone for them. If anything, unless you're looking to sign up with the guitarist, at least the crowd with like you and other potential bands will be looking for that.

anderbass · #7 06-19-2008, 07:55 PM

Next time ya screw up at a jam session, just keep repeating your mistakes and tell-em you were playin jazz...

edbass · #8 06-19-2008, 08:01 PM

I think that an open jam is about the best practice you can get, it makes you exercise your brain as well as your chops. Mistakes are part of the experience, I'll bet you weren't the only person there that stumbled a little.

dragon6 · #9 06-19-2008, 08:43 PM

There is a place in your head where YOU hear the tune being played out by the rest of the band. FILL IN YOUR PART so to speak. As bassist's we have to be more prepared and adjust more to the other players styles.(Within reason or course).

Part of being a player is throwing out your vibe, your presence,
your soul. I know it's tough when the PANIC sets in and it's your mistake that threw the whole band off. But don't be passive behind
the music stand, Stand back, Stand up, Let ur rip, the good bad and the ugly, Say here take this! you out of tune guitar player.

PS, When your live, BLOW OFF all mistakes, move ahead, FORCE
your concentration to the next part. And please smile and thank
the guitar player for his unique style.(then flag his number in your cell to NEVER ANSWER AGAIN!)

mgash · #10 06-21-2008, 03:04 PM

mistake? not fimilar with this concept

Mr.Phil · #11 06-21-2008, 03:09 PM

Give the guitar player a dirty look and make the audience think it was him

ofsalesmen · #12 06-21-2008, 10:32 PM

Yeah, mistakes aren't a huge deal. I just tend to be a perfectionist. I had tons of wiggle room since we were just playing some simple blues thing. It was just unclear where the turnarounds were sometimes, so I'd ride the fourth too long occasionally.

And yes... a wrong note instantly means I'm playing atonal jazz!

Matt Till · #13 06-21-2008, 10:41 PM

Jams should give you excuses to make mistakes, and then hopefully you can fight through them and discover something awesome. In an open mic jam setting, repetition from the bass can often MAKE the jam. I've been trying to get better about doing this, but I think it makes jams appear more cohesive. Try to establish a riff while jamming, and make that something to fall back on every now and then.

Stumbo · #14 06-21-2008, 10:49 PM

Blues Turnarounds books:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/...rounds&x=0&y=0

HaVIC5 · #15 06-22-2008, 12:10 AM

The cardinal rule of performing live, in my opinion, is NEVER correct a mistake. You have to learn how to roll along with it and recover - like somebody said, "blow it off" - but never go back. By the time you start fussing over it, you're making new mistakes and very quickly derailing the flow of the music. Chances are, if you keep on chugging ahead, nobody will notice your f***-up, because the most important thing, the groove, was more or less maintained.