Whether you are playing in a band or jamming with a friend - you have to know how to fit in with the music. The first and most important thing to know is simple: You are not the only instrument in the band.
When we learn songs, we are very focused on ourselves - We are thinking about the song structure, the chords, the vocals, playing more consistently and probably a few more things. While concentrating on what we are playing is very important, when you are in a group, you have to worry about the other instruments, including the vocals. So, how do you know how to fit in? In a group, you will have different roles depending on the situation.
To give you a good idea of how this works, I’ll use the group that I play with as an example. In my situation, we have three instruments - banjo, guitar and mandolin. If I am singing, I will play a simpler banjo part than if I am not singing. It is easier to sing and play if the banjo part is less complex. The next situation you will encounter is playing leads and backups.
When I am playing a break or lead on the banjo, the guitar and mandolin play a backup role. This backup role can vary, but usually they play a simple part that doesn’t interfere with the banjo. When the mandolin and guitar take lead breaks, the banjo backs off and covers the backup role. Switching from a break to back up takes practice, especially if you want to do it well. You can play backup a lot of different ways, but the main thing to remember is not to over play - backup keeps the rhythm of the song without competing with the lead.
Here are a few rules for jamming or playing in a group:
- Be in tune.
- Have fun.
- You don’t have to play all the time.
- Don’t play a break over top of the vocals.
- If you can’t hear the lead or vocals you are too loud.
- Have fun
- If you can’t hear yourself you are to quiet.
- Music is not a competition - Do what you need to do to make the group sound better.
- You are NOT the only instrument in the group.
- Have fun
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