sessions

[Psychicpet]

Hi Justin,

I'm curious to know your approach to songs on sessions, more so when you're given a chart (in whatever format/numbers/notation/stage of evolution/....song title )

How do you approach it?

~Do you give it a listen a couple of times and see where the gut reaction to it is and then mine from there?

~Immediately turn to chord/scale kind of thinking?

~Think of what kind of artist or tunes this particular tracks sounds like to you and work that angle?

~or do you start seeing shapes and such on the fretboard and just let the ol' Freak Flag Fly??

thanks.

pd

 

[jmjbassplayer]

Hi,

Yes, I go gut reaction after listening once or twice. Then I tend to overplay things a bit (and I usually warn the producer/engineer of this) and pare down from there...within a couple of times through, I've got a part that fits well, hopefully.

I don't exactly know what you mean by chord/scale thinking. I'm not a particularly trained musician, so I just tend to play.

 

[Psychicpet]

cool. ya, I was just wondering if ever feeling "lack of inspiration" you'd look at the chords/key center and pull out some scales that'd work to maybe spark something.

that whole "gut" thing and just plain listening and being musical is great, and has done all of us well to hear the lines you come up with!!

 

[Myke Myke]

I have 2 questions
do you write out your own charts?
I hope this isnt a dumb question
but do you need to be an excellent reader to be a session musician?


Thanks

 

[jmjbassplayer]

1) I usually write my own charts, but sometimes they prepare them for you beforehand. It's a good idea to clear this up before the day of the session.

2) You don't need to be an excellent reader, but every bit of reading skill you can muster will usually get used.

 

[Myke Myke]

thanks..

I should also ask do you know anything about the hip hop and r&b market
because I like jazz and stuff but I want to play with artists like Jill scoot john legend and some hip hop singers

but i also like jazz n gospel so im not really sure what i want to do yet. I just want to play music

 

[jmjbassplayer]

Hi Myke,

I confess a bit of ignorance with that market; I write and record with Macy Gray, but I don't really have any connection with the field, or any insight as to how to specifically break into it.

Best,
JMJ