How to not zone out?

[organworthyplayer337]

I've had this problem for a long time but I didn't really notice it until I started playing in more advanced settings....

So say that during a certain song you have turnaround after the third verse, for example. I could literally practice it all day and have it down pact. Then I'll get on stage and completely gloss over it. It's like it leaves my brain. As a matter of fact, one time as I entered the stage and was telling myself in my head "B A, B A, B A.." the notes of the bass part) and I still missed it. I don't have an attention issue with other aspects, I can sit down and do 300 math problems or do a puzzle or whatever. It's really only music and bass parts that get me.


Also I don't think it's a stage fright problem as I'm not scared of playing on stage. I hate it because it's so unprofessional. I really want to fix it

Any advice is appreciated

 

[walterw]

as a non-reader, all i can think of (besides listening to the song a bunch of times) is to clue in the other players, like "hey guitar player, give me a big nod when the change happens after the third verse, i keep messing it up!"

 

[BAG]

A similar thing happens to me too. It's usually on the easiest songs to learn, play and remember, so that at a gig, it's all going really well, the sound is great, the crowds having a great time and I don't even have to think about what i'm playing. It's usually at this point that I go off into la-la-land and miss a change. Rarely happens in the harder to play songs as I don't stop concentrating.

 

[StyleOverShow]

As an aside, years ago played in a dance nightclub band, 6 nights a week, 5 sets a night. You get bored, high and you kinda drift.

Guitar player buddy across the stage would start to move up to the mics like we were about to go into the refrain (and we weren't) and I would occasionally belt out my harmony part, the singer/soloist would evil eye me and the guitar player would laugh.

 

[Arion]

I've had this problem for a long time but I didn't really notice it until I started playing in more advanced settings....

So say that during a certain song you have turnaround after the third verse, for example. I could literally practice it all day and have it down pact. Then I'll get on stage and completely gloss over it. It's like it leaves my brain. As a matter of fact, one time as I entered the stage and was telling myself in my head "B A, B A, B A.." the notes of the bass part) and I still missed it. I don't have an attention issue with other aspects, I can sit down and do 300 math problems or do a puzzle or whatever. It's really only music and bass parts that get me.


Also I don't think it's a stage fright problem as I'm not scared of playing on stage. I hate it because it's so unprofessional. I really want to fix it

Any advice is appreciated

Think of frets, not notes. I can't read Western Music, but Indian Classical Vocal Music is heavily dependent on memorising songs than reading them. What I (and probably many others) do is "queuing up" the next section in my head, that means, it's playing there in my head, I just don't sing it or play it on my instrument. To do so, listen to the recording for at least a 100 times, if not more (of course that's an exaggeration, but you get the idea.)
Indian music has a different kind of notation; it's quite similar to the Nashville numbering system, but uses phonetic devices. Very easy to sight read, since there is no transpositioning in keys.

 

[LeeNunn]

So say that during a certain song you have turnaround after the third verse, for example. I could literally practice it all day and have it down pact. Then I'll get on stage and completely gloss over it. It's like it leaves my brain. As a matter of fact, one time as I entered the stage and was telling myself in my head "B A, B A, B A.." the notes of the bass part) and I still missed it.

I can relate. When I fear losing count of how many times I've played a repetitive passage, I subtly change each repetition to help me keep track. It's much easier to remember what I just played than it is for me to remember how many times I've played the same pattern.

 

[Later_Peter]

I thought it was my being TOO comfortable with myownself & the tune... I "look out the window" (in my brain) & next thing I know... I don't know where I am... (on the fret board)

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Anything keeping you from having this song's sheet music on top of the amp, or on the floor?

 

[fhm555]

as another non reader, the safest thing for me is to learn it by rote to begin with, then play it enough times i can't mess it up even if i'm asleep.

While this sounds laborious, in my experience it's not nearly as boring or time sucking as it sounds. If I have a recording of the song it's pretty quick, even more so if it's the actual people i'll be playing it with. If i can't have that, the lyrics written out with the chord changes written above the words where they occur is the next best thing. That will be enough to get me in the ball park then work out instrumental breaks and such at rehersal or prior to taking the stage.

I am also very big on communication on stage. If someone is having a regular brain fart, work out a high sign and stay eyes up. This is also invaluable for intros and endings when you don't have much (or any) rehearsal and solves a myrid of problems coming out of solos. Rather than worry about counting, just play until the soloist gives the high sign they are ready to come back to earth and follow them on down.

I also imerse myself in whatever the upcoming show is going to be by putting the songs on the set list on an MP3 player (in order if that's known) and listening to nothing else in the days leading up to the show.

It's rough at times to not be able to read but it's not that tough to pick up something like Nashville numbers if you can get songs notated that way. Other than that, take Tom Waits advice and get behind the mule (in the morning) and plow.

 

[mpdd]

i was lucky enough to play with a really good drummer in the past who was excellent at little double tap cues or high hat variations

 

[brianrost]

Missing part of the arrangement means you need more practice, ideally solo...not playing to a recording! When you have free time (like driving to work, etc.) try singing the arrangement to make sure you know it cold.

Remembering where the passage is but clamming it anyway means practicing playing it very slowly to figure out what is difficult about it and spending time working out alternative fingerings or whatever else is needed to make playing it smoother.

 

[buldog5151bass]

As stated above, nothing wrong with one member of the band signal when the change is about to hit.

 

[IanA]

I feel for you, I have done it many times. the only thing that improves it for me is rehearsing the songs over and over with the band - especially the problem sections... and even then I still occasionally mess up

 

[Wesley R]

When you say you have practiced it and have it down. Has the practice been with the band? That's my suggestion. Please note that this is not a recommendation to show up to practice unprepared More of a recommendation as to how to make things tighter quicker.

 

[AztecViking]

Make up some very simple and "non-intrusive" variations of the bass line which act as markers in the song that will function as your own cues to the coming changes. It works for me.

I tend to screw up if I'm playing repetitive figures for too long. So for certain material I'll make them just a tiny bit less repetitive.

 

[DavC]

remember ... music is math . !

maybe learn/study a bit about " mindfulness " ... being present in every moment , self-aware and fully aware of everything going on around you ... and in your head .. !!

maybe listen/learn more of the song lyrics .. ? they give good hints as to where you are ..

 

[mikeyjm2]

I rely on the drummer's cues at times, which is fine if he never messes up but he is human after all.

Also I find myself relying on the singer a lot like DavC says, which is not necessarily a good thing either for the same reason.

The only method that doesn't rely on a cue from another player is just counting in my head. Even doing my best there I sometimes zone out though. Agree that it is worse on simple repetitive songs for some reason.

 

[lermgalieu]

One important point is that the more you eff it up, the more your brain "learns" that mess-up, and it becomes ingrained almost in the way you want the proper version to be. So part of this is unlearning the mess up. In other words, you aren't just forgetting a turnaround, you must be playing something in its place that's "wrong" - even if that is just continuing on the part you were on. The techniques everyone are suggesting are important for that process, so that the proper version can eventually drown out the improper version in your mind. The key (aside from all the practicing mentioned above) is to get it right live once, and then build on that. Don't get nervous about it or focus on it to the exclusion of your other parts/changes, but make a note next to the song on your set list, then make a mental note as you start the song, then make a mental note for each chorus/verse prior to the problematic part. You'll get it, and it will become unconscious/perfect before you know it.

 

[foudufafa]

I do what AztecViking said. Especially on easy repetitive basslines. I try to incorporate subtle variations that help me keep track of where I am in the song. And it also makes the bassline more interesting

 

[Growlmonkee]

I find I do this occasionally, on songs I dislike, for me a subtle change in the turnaround, one that doesn't ruin it, or throw anyone else off, usually gets me to do my job, that's probably not best, but it's sometimes just a simple move to same notes, different fretboard position, something I have to remember, (I still probably do not like the song), but get through it. (wow, I didn't read AztecViking's post before typing this...so...what he said)