Listen and follow the leader

david Blair's picture
david Blair

Member since
January 10, 2007

I love playing with others, beginners too, but become frustrated when the proper chord progression isn't followed and the player doesn't seem to know it. Eye contact with the person leading the song and listening is so important. If you can't hear the other players turn yourself down. Also annoying to me is when the song leader/vocalist is interrupted by another who either doesn't follow the song and verse structure intended by the leader, or worse deliberately derails the song, taking it somewhere else without so much as a wink or a nod of approval first.
And as mentioned, not tuning their instrument to the circle. The circle could be out, but playing together fine. Hendrix played intentionally tuned flat.

So that's my beef. And I agree with most of the above, but I do think there can be value in playing rhythm chops quietly along with advanced players.

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lillylarue's picture
lillylarue
Breaux Bridge ,LA
United States

Member since
January 16, 2008
etiquette when playing with one or more....

Been around music a long time..and my views are..Be in tune, share the lead..let others know the mode you are going to play in..and aa bb or something else..if you will be taking a singing break and where..and how many repeats..etc etc. Just good old manners. And to make "music" not "noise", just not the thing to do, players that are Really really loud..as they just don't look around and realize that. Always better to be a little quiet till you have played for awhile and are sure of how the other person or group perform. I think I am going to enjoy this new place to read about others adventures, I live way up here in the SNOW ...winters are long..and I practice to a Yamaha with a floppy of my favorite tunes---- lillylarue

Submitted by lillylarue on Wed, 2008/01/16 - 12:55pm.

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