Gigtips 18
Many thanks to DA Palm for these gig tips and the use of his sketch “Bluecaps” below. DA Palm is a Pacific NW area musician and producer. Many of his jazz tunes are featured on Guitar Chasers Podcast and other podcasts, internet radio and broadcast radio stations.
“I was reading through your gig tips and had some ideas. You had asked me to write you with some.”
You had one about multi-instrumentalists. The interesting thing about being a Guitar player and then playing keyboards (piano /synth /etc.) - is then new way it makes you play your guitar. You lay down some tracks and then add a melody with keyboard - not guitar. Then go back and double that with guitar (or in harmony). I assure you - you will come up with some new and difficult (always good) fingering on the guitar. In a slump? Play a different instrument for a few days. Dont play at all for a few days / weeks. When you come back to it, keep playing for a few minutes -you will ALWAYS get warmed up and it never lets you down.
I know -you want to play that really heavy tune in E (the one with the E7th+9 maybe?) - play it in F instead. Hows that for new ideas? Now figure out how to incorporate an Open chord into that key.
You had mention of playing Bass and to really listen to the drums /rythmn. More than that. Sit down Really listen to where the Bass drum is. You may want to hit the roots and 5ths right with the Bass drum. Passing notes and embellishments with the snare and accents.
With the modern software available , you can go into the Sequencer views and REALLY tighten up your bass if you are a little off.
Random wtf - Where do allergies go when its after a show and they wanna get something to eat - Paul Simon