tips on jamming with inexperienced players?

[precijazz]

ALWAYS try to play with musicians of your caliber or preferably BETTER. Playing with inexperienced players means you have to play dumbed down music that they can hack and its difficult to play music you will find challenging to improve YOUR playing.

And cross your fingers that you can ALWAYS find BETTER musicians who are willing to play dumbed down music for you to hack, so you can improve YOUR playing.

SCNR

 

[icecycle66]

ALWAYS try to play with musicians of your caliber or preferably BETTER. Playing with inexperienced players means you have to play dumbed down music that they can hack and its difficult to play music you will find challenging to improve YOUR playing.

However, if your thing is to be a teacher, go for it.

That's horrible. If this were ALWAYS the case, then nobody would ever play anything because they would only play with someone who is better. Eventually you would reach the best player in the world and he wouldn't play with anyone because he can't find anyone better than him to play with him.

 

[Mystic Michael]

Any suggestions as to what to play that will be fun for everyone? Or any tips on how to bring the 2 guitarists up to speed fast?

I would have no interest whatsoever in such a situation. I've already paid more than my fair share of dues, spoon-feeding n00bs.

Let them get their experience elsewhere...

MM

 

[BillyIVbass]

Have fun, be encouraging, but suggest how everyone can improve. Give the guitarists some suggested listening and if they are into it it's possible for them to be "up to snuff" in no time.

 

[kanonfodr]

My current guitarist picked up the guitar shortly after I did, and has been playing since October. Whereas I started playing guitar to write songs, she's figuring out chords and stuff and while I'm a faster player, she's better with chords and finding "The Sound" I am usually looking for.

We just jammed together at first, and she still accepts input that I give on the songs we are working on while having very good ideas of her own. I'm impressed as hell with the young lady, we just need to develop her confidence in learning basic musical theory and she would be out-playing me in a month. I consider that a good investment of my time because my band has a rhythm guitarist that I know I can work with. And for a "new" player, she has very good ideas that, if they aren't very good from the start, give me a good start on material.

Peace,
Greg

 

[monokuro_bass]

Thanks everyone again for your input!

Just met up with the group last night.

They played better than last time, which I was happy about, unfortunately, I ended up having to spend more time showing them things on guitar than I did playing on my bass.

It's kind of hard to work on improvisational skills in that type of setting.

Oh man, I hope this doesn't become something that goes under "bad band stories"

 

[puddin tame]

i'm in a band that consists of just me and a drummer. the drummer is a good friend but he's only been drumming for like a year and a bit even though he practices a lot.

I like it. i've been playing for... at least 10 years cant remember exactly when i started. I like it - he can hold some nice creative beats and i'm sort of shaping him musically which is good because i'm basically investing in him to have as a long term drummer. most importantly we work very well together (he used to be my singer) and we're both totally reliable with eachother.

the trick for me is just patience and not expecting too much. but we're definitely approaching where I want to musically be, i'm slowly introducing him to different musical concepts and it's catching on.

just try a different concept each time, or as fast as he gets it, give him things to keep in mind when jamming, help him build musical awareness to factors like dynamics and tempo changes or creating space.

they'll never catch up because you'll also be improving, so if you want an equal it's not going to work. so it depends on your standards and patience. myself I don't care if it takes us a year before we can start looking at gigs, if you have any speedier expectations though i would reconsider.

it will also be not a very good feeling if you invest so much into helping them out and then they leave the band / quit playing or whatever. i also do a martial art and you see a lot of this, higher belts wont really pay much attention to new people until theyve proven they will stick around but once they do then the more experienced will guide the lesser experienced to become better training partners and in the end everyone wins.

it is also considered the responsibility of the of the more experienced to guide the less experienced and I hold the same view for music. guys like victor wooten are into that sort of thing, serving music as a whole and all that stuff

 

[duff beer]

That's horrible. If this were ALWAYS the case, then nobody would ever play anything because they would only play with someone who is better. Eventually you would reach the best player in the world and he wouldn't play with anyone because he can't find anyone better than him to play with him.

Yup...there are a lot of people who would jump at the chance to jam with someone good, but would run the other way if the roles were reversed. But that's no surprise considering how many people these days only think about themselves.

I'm the weakest member of one band, and the strongest member in another band, and I enjoy playing in both.

 

[ddnidd1]

Originally Posted by ddnidd1 View Post
ALWAYS try to play with musicians of your caliber or preferably BETTER. Playing with inexperienced players means you have to play dumbed down music that they can hack and its difficult to play music you will find challenging to improve YOUR playing.

However, if your thing is to be a teacher, go for it.

That's horrible. If this were ALWAYS the case, then nobody would ever play anything because they would only play with someone who is better. Eventually you would reach the best player in the world and he wouldn't play with anyone because he can't find anyone better than him to play with him.

Take the time to read the post. It says TRY as in 'if possible'. It also says 'of Your Caliber or preferably better'. Also, teach (the inexperienced) if that's your preference.

 

[Mystic Michael]

Yup...there are a lot of people who would jump at the chance to jam with someone good, but would run the other way if the roles were reversed. But that's no surprise considering how many people these days only think about themselves.

It's not a case of simple selfishness. More often than not, it just isn't practical, and it just doesn't work.

Yes, there are always exceptions. But generally speaking, the roles of teacher/mentor and bandmate are separate for very good reason.

Being a teacher/mentor means you don't necessarily need anything that your student might have to offer. You're assisting with his/her musical growth for purely altruistic reasons (or for an hourly rate).

Being a bandmate is much more interdependent. Generally you DO depend upon your bandmates, creatively & productively speaking. Everyone has to pull his/her own weight. And that means that there can't be any really large gaps in the comparative levels of musicianship, from one player to another. Or it simply won't work...

MM

 

[ddnidd1]

Also, keep in mind that the OP sounded frustrated at the differences in musical proficiency and asked 'any tips on how to bring the 2 guitarists up to speed fast?'

Anyone who knows how to take the average person and get them to become relatively proficient musically in a short time, especially in improvisation, should publish their method and become very wealthy overnight.

Learning to play music and play it musically is a long road.