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playing outdoors for the first time
- Thread starter misterCRUSH
- Start date
With all due respect, playing good notes goes without saying,
but if those good notes can't be heard clearly, they're not worth much.
If one needs more of something for volume, it would be more cab/speakers.
I'm going primarily on your original post--- patio gig, not loud.
I've done hundreds of those gigs--- make your sound work with the band, the audience will love it.
I love playing outside when the location is good and the weather cooperates. Having a FOH person to do sound or at least someone to give decent feedback is helpful. I use an iPad so no more clothes pins for me. Enjoy playing out in the open!
- Jazz trio, two players.
- Is this what you want sir?
- Yes, jazz trio with two players.
- Fine, we will deliver.
Tuners are harder to see outdoors, bright displays are good.
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I really don't enjoy playing outside but I never try to fill the air with sound. If I'm playing jazz I tend to stay volume wise with the group meaning I keep it intimate
I am jealous !! We don’t have anything like that here!
Suggestions:
We play a lower key outdoor gigs too.
Not much for sound to bounce off of. But the bass will still carry better than you think it will. Try not to stand in front of your amp.
I personally center tone controls, little extra on the lows, lower volume. Stand as far away as your cable will let you and practice thru a song. Adjust accordingly. Depends on how small and low key it is, I like a more mellow tone in small/low key gig. So easy on the highs and mids add a little (just a little to avoid mud) extra lows. Use neck pickup, if a musicman style bass play close to the neck.
Finally. Play easy, some or these gigs like this people are 5’ away from your amp!
Have fun!!
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Playing outdoors is really cool, generally the sound is better than most garages with lots of reverbs and etc. Have a good time!
Do a sound check prior to the gig -if possible- and adjust the amp volume a little up during the gig, to compensate for the people attending. Not sure if you use sheet music, but clips or pegs are a must if it is windy. Good luck and enjoy.
It depends, if your stage is a wooden deck or platform the acoustics are much better. If you play straight into the hard floor the sound is kind of metallic because the waves rebound in the cement. Other than that, point your amp to the people and your musicians too. As a sound check walk yourself or ask a good friend to stand by the public will be. Normally I adjust quite a lot on patio gigs.I'm relatively new in my performance journey, and will be playing a patio tomorrow evening. I play with a jazz piano trio, so it won't be very loud. Should I eq anything differently? What I'm playing is listed in my signature
Well, that’s why the Acoustic 360 fell out of favor, and your neighbors call the cops on you(they hear far more low end than highs, which dissipate quickly). Plus lately, it seems like so many here(and in general)have turned into their parents and complain that bands are too loud anyway.Uh oh...
Playing outside is a wonderful experience.
It can also be not so wonderful: weather, insects, no light, power issues, uneven ground, etc.
Sound wise, I think you will be ok if you are doing jazz. These groups are usually self-mixing. You may find you have to push your amp a little as your large bass frequencies have less to bounce off.
A rug for your stuff isn't a bad idea either.
It can also be not so wonderful: weather, insects, no light, power issues, uneven ground, etc.
Sound wise, I think you will be ok if you are doing jazz. These groups are usually self-mixing. You may find you have to push your amp a little as your large bass frequencies have less to bounce off.
A rug for your stuff isn't a bad idea either.
Yeah, I’ve been quite happy using an iPad on reading gigs, too. I never even bothered with a foot switch as I felt a quick V.S. with a finger swipe was doable if the right moment was chosen carefully enough.
Good point. That PF-500 can be boomy. Set the mid frequency selector to the 2 selection, roll the bass control back and boost the mids. Trust your ears to tell you the exact settings, though it helps to have a trusted musician friend stand back in the crowd and advise.
Or go out there yourself with a wireless or 100' instrument cable.
$50 for the pedal, worth every cent. I want to keep my fingers when they belong, on the bass. If you do decide to buy one, don't buy the ones with two tabs and a center module. Get the red one with two buttons, one for forward, one for back. The ones with tabs are not as dependable and prone to error. The red one, you press the button, you get one page.
If you do get a pedal, you can still finger swipe if you prefer while it is on.
For me, it depends on the area I'm playing to. If it's a relatively small space like a backyard, then my normal inside rig works fine. If it's to a broader area, say a park, I take more cab with me so I can push more sound. I played a gig once where my normal rig was not enough on it's own. I typically ran through the PA an subs helped push the sound; our sub died on that gig and I found that my rig didn't carry the sound more than about 30 feet from the stage.
Other than that, everything that's been said about matching your bandmates volume, adjusting your EQ (HPFs are great for this!), and being wary about being too loud are all good advice.
Other than that, everything that's been said about matching your bandmates volume, adjusting your EQ (HPFs are great for this!), and being wary about being too loud are all good advice.
