Not sure I am on the right section but thought I would mention the importance of jamming. OK jamming is traditionally a group of players getting together and just going with the flow. Apart from being great fun they are also great for expanding both your knowledge and playing ability. Now days with a computer and some software you can Jam with yourself simply by multi-tracking. Multi-tracking was credited to Les Paul and it something we can all use to help us learn.
For example lay down a simple rhythm track and add some lead, then a bass line and so on. You end up jamming with yourself and can say on guitars is me, me, me and me LOL
Many people avoid getting into home recording and using a PC but it really is a superb way to enhance your own abilities and in the process record your material for future reference.
Anyway here is an example of me jamming a blues track on one I called The Night Owl Blues. http://www.gerrycooper.com/songs Possibly one too many guitars but I post it just to demonstrate how much fun you can have playing with yourself :roll: Perhaps I should say that another way but i am sure you get my point.
Gerry
Those who can't dance always blame the band.
I second you Gerry. Jamming with yourself or others is a fun way to explore your guitar and try new things. Plus if you get used to using recording software you can edit out the bad and cut in the good.
Also, if you get tired of playing with yourself, go HEREand you can play with others.
Jim
“The hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn” - David Russell (Scottish classical Guitarist. b.1942)
Excellent advice Gerry < newbies, take note of what this man says! :lol:
Recording yourself is a great way to listen out for mistakes and things to improve upon as well as for producing quality pieces of music which you can take full credit for.
One thing I'd add; whatever you record (and I mean WHATEVER) keep it; being able to compare your current playing to that of 2 weeks / months / years ago can be a real booster for confidence and inspiration.
Pete
ETD - Formerly "10141748 - Reincarnate"
Thanks Jim, yes of course online Jams are another option and a good one. There are some buts though, the need to be at roughly the same level, the problems with different time zones and of course the dreaded internet connection. When I jam with someone in the USA I am normally up all night LOL so I gave it up.
I find playing in my own time and my own speed suites me better. In either case improvising and jamming are great ways of improving your skills be it with others or on your own.
Gerry
Those who can't dance always blame the band.
Good point Pete one of the problems of learning is that you do not notice how you are improving. Record a song or a few bars at the end of every practice session.
Save them and date them then after a few weeks go back and listen, you will be amazed that just when you think you are making no progress you have actually come on leaps and bounds.
Many players sadly stop because they think they are not improving or getting any better. Sadly in most cases they are but they are unaware of the fact.
Gerry
Those who can't dance always blame the band.
before I could record. before I had a drum machine.
I would jam along with CDs.
more learning a song than jamming. still, it was awesome having Neil Young or Keith Richards in my room.
jamming is a fantastic experience and makes for good learning.
I post it just to demonstrate how much fun you can have playing with yourself :roll: Perhaps I should say that another way but I am sure you get my point.
To get the most bang out of your solo experience, I recommend one of these guitars: http://www.johnsongtr.com/ :lol:
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
I post it just to demonstrate how much fun you can have playing with yourself :roll: Perhaps I should say that another way but I am sure you get my point.
To get the most bang out of your solo experience, I recommend one of these guitars: http://www.johnsongtr.com/ :lol:
To be honest Ricochet what brand or type of guitar you use is a personal preference choice full stop. I am sure you are not suggesting that someone who uses a Gibson Les Paul cannot enjoy it as much as someone with the guitar you recommended. Looks to me like a gratuitous plug for a particular brand or type of guitar and forgive me for saying so is grossly misleading to any would be guitarist.
My advice is purchase and play the guitar that inspires you the most be it an acoustic or electric. If your dream guitar is a Fender Strat then do not stop until you fulfill that dream. Its holding a dream that can help you realize your own.
Gerry
Those who can't dance always blame the band.
Gerry, I'm making a tongue in cheek recommendation about playing by yourself with your Johnson. :lol:
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Jamming by yourself is a great option if you don't get out much.
Often, I'll put the WM player on shuffle and just play along with what comes on. Most of the time I'll play rhythm, but sometimes I'll play lead and a couple of times a week have at least an hour playing bass.
Another thing you can do is record your own backing track and play along - I keep a couple of backing tracks I've already done for that very purpose. When I learn something new, for instance double stops or unison bends, I'll put one of the backing tracks on and try and incorporate the stops or bends into the solo.
And of course there's always the online jams forum - if you're not confident enough to post your solos, you can always download the backing tracks and jam along.
And for those who are just getting into jamming, there's always Margaret's "Jam Incubator" post in the same forum. Nice easy progression to play along to.
Above all else, though, it's great to jam with others - you may not be up to their standards, but being thrown in at the deep end is a great way to learn to swim....worked for me anyway. I started going to a pub jam a couple of years ago - just a bunch of guys about my age with acoustics playing a bunch of old songs. I learned so much from that - and the most priceless thing of all was how to watch other people's fingers for the chord changes, and even anticipating them.
So what are you waiting for? Pick that guitar up NOW!!!!
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Gerry, I'm making a tongue in cheek recommendation about playing by yourself with your Johnson. :lol:
Thank goodness for that Ricochete I nearly went out an bought one LOLO
Good on you Vic lets all pick 'em up whatever make they are :lol:
Those who can't dance always blame the band.
Actually, I do have one, and I play with it by myself quite often. I rather enjoy it. :D
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Actually, I do have one, and I play with it by myself quite often. I rather enjoy it. :D
Rico, the johnson slang may not work in Spain...And do you ever change strings on your johnson ?
By the way, the pun is getting fairly old as you have used it countless times over here. Time to think a new one ? Or time to have a new johnson ? :lol: :lol: :lol:
Actually, I do have one, and I play with it by myself quite often. I rather enjoy it. :D
Rico, the johnson slang may not work in Spain...And do you ever change strings on your johnson ?
By the way, the pun is getting fairly old as you have used it countless times over here. Time to think a new one ? Or time to have a new johnson ? :lol: :lol: :lol:
Nooooo......Ric'd go to pieces if he wasn't allowed to talk about playing with his Johnson......this place'd be like a Schwarzenegger film without Arnie saying "I'll be back".......
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Rico, the johnson slang may not work in Spain...
Thanks Rahul! I thought everybody turned crazy here!
Fortunately, Internet is great: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=johnson
Ricochet, you are great, man! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
