A Guitar And Gear Support Forum

Rollin Hand wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 10:53 am So today I am going to jam with a drummer friend at a local rehearsal studio. We agreed on some songs, agreed that we will both suck, and decided to do it anyway.

Since that discussion I have been really nervous. It's funny -- I feel less nervous about singing in front of others than I do about playing guitar.

Of course, EVERYTHING needed new batteries, one of the strap posts on the guitar I am taking was stripped and loose,and I couldn't find ANYTHING.

Still, looking forward to reeking for fun!

tlarson58 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 11:27 pmHow'd it go?

andrewsrea wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 4:41 pm
...and nothing like a little fear to move your abilities forward.

sabasgr68 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 5:11 pm @Rollin Hand All in all, I´m happy you enjoyed it.

A pic would have been nice, though

How big was the rehearsal area?

andrewsrea wrote: ↑Sat Aug 07, 2021 11:56 am @sabasgr68 :

That quote comes from the heart.

I was in a band for three years, purposefully as a sideman. I took a solo or two and a lead vocal or two aa night of 4 sets. I did not want the spotlight, or to push the intent or direction of the band. I played rhythm, did harmonies (my favorite!), humped gear and made sure member got their thoughts in. I was entertaining on stage when I was required to be.

The lead guitarist and I have been in and out of bands since we were 13. He and I are 'peas & carrots' (same guy who played most of the guitars on the track I recently posted). He exceptional player, who also did harmonies. He had some emergent work and family commitments, and had to leave the band for 5 months. Huge shoes to fill.

The band was booked every other weekend for 4 months straight. I had about two weeks to learn how to cover for two guitarists, or ask for help from the bass player and drummer to fill the gap and learn to cover the solos. We had dual-lead songs, like 'Highway Star' and 'The Boys Are Back In Town', which I had to figure the root part (usually his parts). I had to learn some really necessary and complex solos, like the Car's 'Best Friends Girl' and learn to play songs like AC-DC's 'You Shook Me All Night Long' unaccompanied, where the rhythm guitar typically propels the song forward.

I was scared out of my wits, but the show must go on as the saying goes. Complimented by my ability to cover my gaffs, I did okay the first gig and kept getting better. Then I realized at 50 years old, I had progressed further as a musician in 6 weeks than the whole decade that preceded it!

Rollin Hand wrote: ↑Sat Aug 07, 2021 1:15 pm

sabasgr68 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 5:11 pm @Rollin Hand All in all, I´m happy you enjoyed it.

A pic would have been nice, though

How big was the rehearsal area?

It was this room: https://recordrunner.ca/products/room-a

10x17. Perfect for our needs.

As for fear being a motivator, yes it is. I am going to try (hah!) to woodshed a bit more to get my callouses up, and to learn to play to a drummer.

I also need to get my equipment sorted a little. As I have discovered that belly cuts are a requirement, i need to make sure those guitars are ready to go.

Rollin Hand wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 9:42 am

tlarson58 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 11:27 pmHow'd it go?

It went OK. It was a bit eye oening as to what playing alone does to you -- I have played with a drummer maybe three times in my life, so having to tie my timing and rhythm to someone was more challenging than I thought it would be. I have things that I do on songs that are now reflexive, and sometimes I realised that I was out of time.

We started with"Somebody Get me a Doctor", and we alway broke down at the bridge before the solo. After a few failures, we moved on to "Deuce", which went better.

Oddly the one that worked best for us was "Unchained", which has that weird 3/4 bridge that somehow we stuck the landing on immediately.

In terns of gear, I took my Peavey Wolfgang and my Strat. As much as I love that Wolf, the Strat got more of the work. I was sitting down, and there is no belly cut on the Wolfgang.

I used the Bugera V22 that the rehearsal place had, and I did not like it - it sounded muddy and abrasive to me. I took a Joyo Us Dream with me, but didn't use it -- we had 2 hours, and I didn't want to spend time tweaking when I should be playing.

I might take my 11Rack next time, or use the MSDI output of my 6505MH into the PA in the room.

As for playing, I was sucking hard. My fingers hurt after about 20 mins because my calluses are no longer calluses. I had to do some speed runs to remind myself I still had SOME skills.

Milkman wrote: ↑Sun Aug 08, 2021 9:12 am

Rollin Hand wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 9:42 am

tlarson58 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 11:27 pmHow'd it go?

It went OK. It was a bit eye oening as to what playing alone does to you -- I have played with a drummer maybe three times in my life, so having to tie my timing and rhythm to someone was more challenging than I thought it would be. I have things that I do on songs that are now reflexive, and sometimes I realised that I was out of time.

We started with"Somebody Get me a Doctor", and we alway broke down at the bridge before the solo. After a few failures, we moved on to "Deuce", which went better.

Oddly the one that worked best for us was "Unchained", which has that weird 3/4 bridge that somehow we stuck the landing on immediately.

In terns of gear, I took my Peavey Wolfgang and my Strat. As much as I love that Wolf, the Strat got more of the work. I was sitting down, and there is no belly cut on the Wolfgang.

I used the Bugera V22 that the rehearsal place had, and I did not like it - it sounded muddy and abrasive to me. I took a Joyo Us Dream with me, but didn't use it -- we had 2 hours, and I didn't want to spend time tweaking when I should be playing.

I might take my 11Rack next time, or use the MSDI output of my 6505MH into the PA in the room.

As for playing, I was sucking hard. My fingers hurt after about 20 mins because my calluses are no longer calluses. I had to do some speed runs to remind myself I still had SOME skills.

Ahhhh, the Bugera V22…. Now I know EXACTLY where this jam took place! Nice place, great owner, but those V22 amps don’t float my boat either.