band

Here are the two most common breaks used in the middle of a song: 1) Downbeat of Bar 1 - This is where you start your slow hand raise (remember, count of 4) in Bar 12 and drop your hand on the downbeat of the next chorus. You play for 4 Bars by yourself and the band enters back in on Bar 5 (IV Chord). A good example of this is George "Harmonica" Smith's instrumental "Juicy Harmonica" (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/filiskobarrettgruenling) 2) Downbeat of Bar 12 - This is where you start your slow raise in Bar 11 and drop your hand on the downbeat of Bar 12. continue reading...

This one is messed up all the time, but is an easy fix. Raise your hand to the count of 4... slowly raising it high over your head in an arcing motion and drop it quickly on beat 1 of the next bar. This "up slow" (4 counts) and "down fast" (downbeat of the next bar) is key. Practice this to varying speeds of music. More on this tomorrow.

"Man, we played that song really fast!" And they're surprised to hear me say, "That's the tempo you asked for." Here are the steps to being successful in counting in your band at the tempo you want.

1) Hum a couple of bars in your head - Pick a part of the song that really gives you a sense of the rhythm (this may not be the opening of the song).

2) Tap your foot (or bob your head... something of your body should move)

3) Count 1 (then skip one beat) 2 (then skip one beat) - this is the "pre-count" and is there to get the band ready to play continue reading...

Some of you know that I own School of the Blues in San Jose, CA and that we create house bands constructed from the student body (two new bands each year-long rotation). Within this training program they learn from me, the other instructors and through their experience working as a band in a jam session. Today starts a series of tips for you based on common challenges that these new house band deal with.

Band Training, Part 1 - Don't Map Solo Order and Lengths continue reading...