Plays well with others

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Just an idea I had this morning: What are the technical musicianship qualities that most contribute to success when playing live with other musicians? I'm not talking about the interpersonal/professionalism stuff (Don't be late, etc.)... just the things someone could practice with an instrument in hand.

Two things came to mind:
1. Time. This is probably an obvious one but there's also a nuance to it. Practicing with a metronome is great but humans aren't metronomes. When it comes time to play with others, determine who controls the tempo and be willing to adapt. I've played with drummers who would control it and I've played with one or two who would "bend" a little if the band leader started to rush or drag.

2. This one is not so obvious: Know who is supposed to be in the spotlight. If it's not you, play the supporting role. If it is you, though, BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT. I tend to not be extroverted and I don't want to be "that guitarist". I had to learn that people sometimes expect the lead guitarist to be a stage-hogging ham. It's hard to overcome your natural impulse but it makes for a better performance.
 
Ultimately you just need to be able to listen to the other musicians and play appropriately. To me thats most important and can't really be practiced without the rest of the band.

Time and dynamics are the next two most important things to me, and those can be practiced at home.
 
+1 on this thread!

I prefer to sit back and go with the flow. I am very introverted, quiet, shy and hate power struggles. If someone wants the spotlight, be my guest. If it is my time to shine I try to step it up and do what needs to be done.
As Mark said "listen", use your ears and play what needs to be played for the song to sound the best it can. Even if that just means hammin' out fifths for 4 min.
 
Mark Wein said:
Time and dynamics are the next two most important things to me, and those can be practiced at home.
Click to expand...

Dynamics is a big one for me. It's completely possible to dial it way, way down, yet still play something that impresses other guitarists while holding the song together. People who come in with the impression that they need to be the loudest thing in the mix at all times are absolutely no fun play with, and no fun to listen to.

Listen to what's going on, and use the volume knob and your touch to serve the needs of the song.
 
Know when not to play. This is a big one for me. The last band I was in the keyboard player played all the freakin' time. The first part of 'The Dance' where there is just acoustic guitar? He played.

As the rhythm player in our band part of what I am trying to do is on the songs where there is not a defined second guitar part I try to play something different than the other guitar player. If he is strumming chords I will arpeggiate something or at least play on a different part of the neck.

And yes - listen.
 
I think knowing when and what to play that will compliment the song is key.

There were 18 folk at my band's rehearsal yesterday.

We had:

A drummer
Me on djembe
several acoustic guitars
an electric guitar
electric bass
violin
tuba
a bunch of ukes
a sax
a clarinet
xylophone

and a few other things. On other occasions we also have double bass, more strings, more brass and a banjo :embarrassed:

Needless to say if we were all playing on top of each other it would be a total riot and one of my favourite things about the set up is that it's really fluid and you never quite know what's going to turn up but everyone finds their place and we build the song up layer after layer.

I might not be playing an in your face instrument there but I like the fact that I add another colour and feel to my parts and severa people came up to me yesterday and said they really dug my playing.

The clarinet player was moaning at one point about having to play the same 3 notes over and over in a certain song but the general consensus was that although the part was boring to play, it sounded great along with the violin and sax harmonising and she gets the opportunity to wail away on other songs so she was placated.
 
Denverdave said:
Know when not to play. This is a big one for me. The last band I was in the keyboard player played all the freakin' time. The first part of 'The Dance' where there is just acoustic guitar? He played.

As the rhythm player in our band part of what I am trying to do is on the songs where there is not a defined second guitar part I try to play something different than the other guitar player. If he is strumming chords I will arpeggiate something or at least play on a different part of the neck.

And yes - listen.
Click to expand...

Been there.

Not only did I once play with a keyboard guy who had to play every second of every song - he'd do the bass, lead and vocal parts too :facepalm:
 
Mark Wein said:
Ultimately you just need to be able to listen to the other musicians and play appropriately. To me thats most important and can't really be practiced without the rest of the band.

Time and dynamics are the next two most important things to me, and those can be practiced at home.
Click to expand...
Mark's first point is what I call having a "fast ear". Being able to react quickly and appropriately when someone in the band does something you don't expect musically.
There are actually a few ways you can practice this at home.

1. Record a whole bunch of looped tracks of random chord changes and then mix them up and practice soloing against them. (Taken from Mick Goodrick's Advancing Guitarist book). Change up sounds and styles within the loops and try to follow that with your patches and playing in real time.
2. Put on some play-alongs for tunes that you don't know yet and try to play with them without looking at the chord charts.
3. Turn on the TV and find some channels or movies that have music heavy soundtracks. Try to match the mood and style as quickly as possible and change as they change, ie don't just wank blues solos or something if it's Greek wedding music, lol.
 
Tralfaz said:
Dynamics is a big one for me. It's completely possible to dial it way, way down, yet still play something that impresses other guitarists while holding the song together. People who come in with the impression that they need to be the loudest thing in the mix at all times are absolutely no fun play with, and no fun to listen to.

Listen to what's going on, and use the volume knob and your touch to serve the needs of the song.
Click to expand...

10000000000000%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a nephew (Keys) who is super talented. Played Beethovan at age 4....
When we get everybody together for a jam session, he is ALL that you can hear....no matter who is taking the lead.
We don't bother inviting him anymore..

You want the stage all to yourself, cool. Everybody else has better things to do....
 
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