Any tips on how to concentrate on your own part

[JohnLovesRush]

I find keeping rhythm if bass isn't getting lost and hard to hear pretty easy..enough.. like challenging at times.

but where i have the real problem is when I have to keep playing something.. drums go crazy..guitar goes crazy and every other instrument decides to go mental and you can't hear yourself

Just wondering if there are any particular tips to over come this?

like counting and practice and working with a metronome or drum machine are the ones that come out in my head and I probs need to do a bit more of that.. but apart from that?/..anything you have picked up over the time you've been playing.. or has it never been a problem etc?

Thanks a lot.. and I did do a search for some thread like this but got no where.. they are probably here so sorry for bringing up an old topic again.. it's just a great pain in the arse when you totally loose where you are

thanks

 

[seanm]

I would argue you shouldn't be concentrating on your own part. I try to listen to the other instruments at least as much as mine. I should know my part.

 

[JohnLovesRush]

indeed.. but I am talking about the times when you get "drowned out" and it's hard to actually keep your own rhythm.. well for me anyway

 

[AmieLouHat]

I generally tap my foot and keep time by feel. I've played with drummers that go off on solos forever and don't bother counting how many measures they play or even if they actually come back in on a beat, so I just sort of learn the part by feel and sometimes simplify my part a bit until I can be heard in the mix again so that it's very simple not to lose my place.

 

[DocBop]

I would say in that situation I would back up into my amp to try and feel the bass. I also would look to the drummer even when they go crazy something is keeping time like the hihat so I can visually find the beat.

 

[JohnLovesRush]

ahh thanks I must try some of that, but for example..one or minor thing..which I think is improving a good bit..is say I am playing a blues backing.. E5555555555555555 A5555555555555555 E5555555555555555 A7777777777777777 E 5X32 and then back again.. average backing..and the guitar is playing along..everything is fine..no probs.. my notes are fine.. even and smooth,, but when the guitar decides to do a solo..and I am left on my own just doing the backing..mentally I can drift and subconsciously start like wanting to follow the guitar solo and therefore loose track of what I'm doing..

I've been trying to correct this by counting..and it seems to be working a good bit..but occasionally I just go into imaginary guitar solo land!..pain in the backside again lol

 

[Montsegour]

Memorising the song, your part, and the part of your buddies would be helpfull..