playing what you've practiced live

Jazzyteach65 · #1 03-22-2010, 11:46 AM

So I it was earlier this morning before I left for work, the pest control guy came to spray. He saw my instruments and a few Diorio books, and we got to talking. Turns out he is a retired guitarist who studied under Ted Greene for years, and he wasfrom my hometown.

We got to talking about music, then he asks me to play something. I played a few chord melodies, then he asks me to play some single note lines.

"Oh shit" I thought. What should I play, the stuff I have been working on lately, should I solo over a static chord, ect? I then realized how important making the application part of your practice when you go through tunes is.

Do any of you set yourself up like you're playing in front of people?

~mf~ · #2 03-22-2010, 12:43 PM

if some exterminator started making specific musical requests to me id tell him to get lost...

Jazzyteach65 · #3 03-22-2010, 12:47 PM

MF, he himself is a jazz guitarist who studied under Ted Greene for years. He retired from performing and just happenned to take up a pest control business.

He didn't request a tune or anything, he saw my axe next to me and asked me to play single line stuff

rlemos · #4 03-22-2010, 01:21 PM

Hi Jazzyteach65,

This is really an important topic. My basic rule is that ALL practicing should be in the context of an actual song/tune or chord progression. If you are practicing II-V progressions, play them in the context of a standard (Misty, All the Things You are, Girl From Ipanema). Same with any arpeggios and scales like whole tone, diminished, pentatonic, etc. First step is to just learn the melody of a song. Best to learn the melody in 2 octaves. You seriously limit yourself only playing the melody of a song on the top 3 strings. Then integrate whatever lesson you are working on into the song. This can be a bit difficult/challenging at first. However, you will be amazed at how quickly your skills will improve. Plus, you will be building a solid répertoire. This idea also applies to practicing techniques like slurs, hammer-ons, speed building, string skipping, legato, etc. What happens is that this approach makes practicing more "fun" and you will tend to put in more time and be less bored.

Hope this helps. Ron

Jazzyteach65 · #5 03-22-2010, 01:36 PM

Rlemos,

I do practice tunes every day, but my issue is even when I do play tunes is that I don't really give it a human element of imagining myself in front of others. I have played in front of people countless times, but I've never practiced like that.

markerhodes · #6 03-22-2010, 01:46 PM

I often play *as if* playing for someone, though I tend to think of myself as recording something rather than playing live. (I'm a songwriter, one of those loner a**holes...) But still, I still work on some things(-such as Jimmy Bruno's Six Essential Fingerings) that I never intend to play on stage or in a song.

In a case like yours, I would play something I've played before others often. When people ask to hear you play, they assume what you play is something you know well, not something you are still getting down.

I mean, think about it. If a friend tells you, "I'm a singer," you want to hear her sing something she sings well, not something she's still struggling to nail (-or whatever term a woman might use in place of that one).

rlemos · #7 03-22-2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzyteach65

Rlemos,

I do practice tunes every day, but my issue is even when I do play tunes is that I don't really give it a human element of imagining myself in front of others. I have played in front of people countless times, but I've never practiced like that.

It may be that you are being too hard on yourself. It is possible that you sound great when someone asks you to "play something" and you play a song that you know.

My point is the importance of focusing on songs and practicing all the time like you are performing. This means playing in time (metronome is good) and playing songs/ideas all the way through. If I were asked to "play some single note lines", I would play a specific song mixing the melody with improvised lines based on my practicing.

BTW: did you give the exterminator a chance to play?

Ron

billkath · #8 03-22-2010, 02:19 PM

My Kathleen says that is we're at a party,full of the evil drink, and someone asks me to get the guitar out and "have a session", I have a tendency to forget that I'm not on stage, and there is really no need for me to introduce the songs like I'd introduce them on stage - "And here's a number by the late, great blah-de-blah-Funny thing-blah-de-blah-blah-blah-it goes something like this---a-one-a-two- a-one-a-two-three-four". Also-there's no need for my eyes to be following the backsides of any young ladies as they walk into the kitchen for another drink.

Damn you, Arthur Guinness!!

Jazzyteach65 · #9 03-22-2010, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlemos

It may be that you are being too hard on yourself. It is possible that you sound great when someone asks you to "play something" and you play a song that you know.

My point is the importance of focusing on songs and practicing all the time like you are performing. This means playing in time (metronome is good) and playing songs/ideas all the way through. If I were asked to "play some single note lines", I would play a specific song mixing the melody with improvised lines based on my practicing.

BTW: did you give the exterminator a chance to play?

Ron

Haha, no I wouldn't ask him to play with those gloves he had on. He took them off to shake my hand and his hands were all sweaty. He gave me his number though in case we want to play, which is great because here in Vegas nobody wants to play if it isn't for money