Daler
Hi all.
My guitar teacher has put me in touch with another pupil of his so that we can jam together as part of our learning curve. We plan to get together for about an hour a week to practice. Any tips and suggestions on how to get the most of this arrangement? Neither of us has ever jammed with someone else before so don't know the best course of action to take.
regards
Dale
briang-telkomsa-net
Some suggestions
Learn songs together that incorporate what you're learning in your lessons at the moment?
A goal of learning a few songs to perform somewhere may be a good motivator if you are up to it?
Read up a bit on playing with others and in groups and what to look out for when doing so - completely different to playing by yourself.
Enjoy it
Cleric
I'd work on learning 2 complimentary guitar peices. I remember learning to play early Metallica duos with friends in highschool, taking turns between the rythm riff and intro solos.
But find some music that you both enjoy that uses two guitars and learn the same. If you can both play the rythm and lead, then both get to feel like rockstars ?
chrisbark
Use a tuner
Use a metronome or drum track
Daler
All good suggestions, thanks all. Enter Sandman and Hotel California come to mind. Maybe "Thrill is gone" by BB King for some blues vibe 8)
Keira-WitherKay
Mmmm if you both at same level .... Rather Ask your teacher to set you up with a player who is a good bit better than you are ..
Best advice i got 30 yrs ago and teach my students today is ..... "always jam/play in bands with musicians who are much better players than you are....." this way you the one learning and growing , and believe me it works ... Yes you will need to swollow any ego , BUT you will develop into a noticeably better musician quickly ....
Daler
Thanks Keira. I would say we are of a similar level, although I am currently better with chords and rythm and he is better with lead. After a while I am sure we will get to a point where we are at the same level and then yes, being able to play with more advanced guitarists would be ideal. Not a lot of opportunities though ☹ as I live in Wellington, not a hotbed of guitar talent as far as I am aware).
Anybody know if there are there any guitarist get-togethers in the Boland from time to time?
Cleric
Apart from my advice above, a big part of playing with other guitarists is being exposed to new songs and approaches as we all tend to learn and play what we are familiar with in the beginning. So have a couple songs that you enjoy that you've learned to play that you can teach him, and learn some songs from him. Teaching is a great way to learn as well, so a bit of give and take is great.
As an example, one of my best mates was into In Flames and Children Of Bodom, whereas I was more into Tool and Pearl Jam. So he'd show me some lead or ryhtm from a CoB song, which I would never have gotten to learn of my own doing, and then I'd show him something by Tool.
Very rewarding process, and can help you become a more diversified player.
And remember, you're not there to show off, you're there to help each other, have fun, and make some music together.
PeteM
Playing with someone else is always rewarding and challenging... and I applaud your teacher for suggesting it. Yes it's good to play with someone who is better than you, like Keira says, but the better player will soon become frustrated and this will only help you in short term... that's what your teacher is there for anyway.
Playing together means being at your best at all times... and although its not about being competitive it is about sharing what you might have discovered on your own and feeling good and proud about it. It is about challenging one another to get better.
It also means learning disciplines like playing in tempo.
And one important thing... don't forget to make sure your guitars are in tune with one another. 8)
Good luck and have fun.
Daler
? Thanks for all the advice 8)
RJN
Keira WitherKay wrote:
Mmmm if you both at same level .... Rather Ask your teacher to set you up with a player who is a good bit better than you are ..
Best advice i got 30 yrs ago and teach my students today is ..... "always jam/play in bands with musicians who are much better players than you are....." this way you the one learning and growing , and believe me it works ... Yes you will need to swollow any ego , BUT you will develop into a noticeably better musician quickly ....
+1
I live by this principle.
Chabenda
I always like looking at where your mate is playing and playing in different chord positions and, at times different rhythms, (as long as it is complimentary and not the result of alcohol abuse). That gives you the opportunity of getting to know your guitar neck better and also helps you improvise and create.
tiller
Listen to your partner, look how he plays and help him learning. He will help you. This is the best practicing with the partner ?
Don't make yourself a way better player than he is. You both will learn from each other ?
