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"New" student playing my first sit in / improv gig - tips?

justbark

justbark

Give me all the bacon and eggs you have.
Aug 20, 2006
138
34
Raleigh, NC
#1
For the last 10 years I have played by ear and taught myself some basics. I got sick of it and started taking lessons 2 months ago. I have been working on memorizing the notes on the fretboard, major and minor scales, and the circle of 5ths / 4ths. All of this is starting to sink in.

I figure it's time to jump out of the nest and try to fly so this weekend I'll be taking part in my first teacher and student improv / jam gig at a local venue. There really isn't a setlist. What I know is that the teachers sit in, call out the key signature, play the main riff or chord progression, and the rest of the students join in.

This type of gig is totally new territory. I have played out a lot with my original band and cover bands and have thrown some improv type stuff in there, but I always came in knowing the set by heart.

I've got my trusty Fender B-dec and will be working on all the canned tunes in every key. Any tips going into this gig?
 
#4
don't stop playing.
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Awesome. I'm only a half step away from the right note? :p

GypsyMan said:
:p I love that concept! :p

Glad you like it. Is this school based or just that teacher's technique?
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#7
Roots and fives. Root on 1. Follow the chord progression, yes you will probably have to assume that.

If you get lost the tonic pentatonic R-2-3-5-6 for the major key and or R-b3-4-5-b7 for the minor will keep you in the game.

If there are drums get the beat from the drummer. If there is a rhythm guitar watch his hands and change chords when he does. Nothing fancy just the ole I IV V will see you through. Going to be a lot of I's, a few IV's probably one or two V7 in each verse. If you really get lost tonic root to the beat and hang on.

It's supposed to be fun, enjoy it and just flow. Yes laughter helps.

I love a jamming circle. Have yet to see anyone get upset with a newby, everyone will help. It's all smiles.

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Good luck.
 
#8
Sounds like a nice, SAFE dip into the jam world.

Focus on the groove. Keep it simple - lock with whatever rhythm section is there - don't try to say too much in one breath, so to speak.

Less is MORE and your 1/2 step quote is close... You're always 1/2 step away from a good note.

While that's 'true', roots and fifths are YOUR BEST BUDS! Hang tight with 'em!
 
#10
jaymag_87 said:
That sounds like an awesome concept. I could use a setup like that. Have fun.
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Ditto.

The closest I've come is my instructor trying to drag me out to an open mic jam that unfortunately is no longer happening. It's supposed to be starting up again soon - hopefully - am I'm looking forward to it. But I've also heard from multiple people that a lot of really talented people show up at that, so it will definitely be a baptism by fire. :p

But I really like the concept you (the OP) described. It's even less pressure than an open jam since it's known that it's for students. Sounds like a fun and also relatively low pressure way for students to learn to play up on stage. Good luck and have fun! :bassist:
 
#11
Unfortunately I totally crashed and burned. I went on stage last after watching and noting the keys, chord progressions, and what I could play over them.

The last song comes up and the instructor decides to sit this one out and he pulls the drummer opting to put him on guitar instead. Ruh roh.

Waiting on the key and it is...Autumn Leaves?!?! I had never heard it before and they were starting up while I was tuning. It was really hard to make out the key with only a trumpet and clean guitar, but I managed to muddle through the last minute or so playing the circle of 4ths down from D minor.

Good thing I'm 34 because my 14 year old self would have gone postal! :eek: I am still very, very disappointed. We all have bad gigs so I guess I was due.

I've since researched this "Autumn Leaves" on the internets and it is sounds like a beginner jazz tune. As disappointed and angry I was about the last minute change, I now have something to work on with my teacher for the next month.
 
#13
Hmmmmm... for a student/teacher jam that switch seems a bit much. So he told you the format is supposed to be calling out progressions and then jamming from there but then he calls something (jazz standard) as if he expected you to just know it. Yeah, that kind of thing could certainly happen in "the real world", so maybe the idea was to test you before you actually hit that situation in the real world? But still, to do that to you for the first time out in that kind of situation? :eyebrow: (keep in mind my experience level, I'm probably not looking at it the way someone with a lot more experience might, so ...)

I'd talk to him about that at the next lesson and compare his assessment to yours - as well as what his intentions were and what you thought about it. I'm not saying to go into that discussion looking for a fight, but at least talk it out to make you both understand each other.
 
#14
I'll definitely talk to him. We have known each other since 1992 when I started guitar so he knows I have a ton of real world (gig, band) experience but absolutely no formal training. Maybe he got some positive feedback from my teacher and thought I was ready.

On a side note, I have to salute those younguns (young guns?) at the gig because they are good - *really* good. I really wish I took a different path!
 

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