Saxophone beginners Going to jam session tomorrow night

[cappers]

A few more jam sessions with your new mates and your development will rocket.
Happy you've found others to play with, it really helps

 

[Colin the Bear]

And so it begins. 😁

 

[PigSquealer]

And so it begins. 😁

Actually it continues. Alon has been on a musical journey for years. I’ve followed his journey. Often challenged at times, but yet he’s carried on. Perseverance to achieve when others have quit. That alone gets my respect to him.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I meant the obsession with playing live with others. Once you get the bug, you're hooked for life. 😉

 

[JayeNM]

The problem was that everyone was so damn boring, I couldn't help play over them. I knew what was going on. Most of the other musicians were asleep. So sad but so true and all I could do was be there, in the moment, with complete acceptance, lest I were to suffer too.

Ok, so you know...you speak of gratitude and acceptance in your words. Which is cool.

But then YOU come in with a tune you PREPARED....muff the head despite reading the chart....and then decide to take many choruses of solo.

So, I am perplexed. The attitude you communicated above...seems incredibly egoistical.

You went in, stumbled significantly, then blame the rest for being intolerable ....

 

[JayeNM]

Eww, the worst songs ever. To each his own I guess. Sorry.

Every one of those composers had more talent in their hangnail than you or most all of us will ever have in our musical lifetime.

The point of the suggestions was memorization, bro. You specifically wrote you cannot memorize....

But...

Tell ya' what, tho....sure... bring in "I'm Late" and some more "bass plays head" tunes in the future. Or the other half dozen obscure standards you seem enamored with.

That's the Ticket.

Your replies here actually reveal a pretty significant disrepect for your jam mates. That they are accepting enough of you to have you back says loads about their courtesy.

(Sorry to seem the badguy hete but IMHO people are being really gentle with you...both here and at the jam...giving you license which I am not certain you deserve, even taking into account your particular personality).

If you wanna develop, drop the attitudes and adhere to the conventions ...just a little...

And print your lead chart proper orientation...if it comes out wrong....reprint it...

We can discuss material and preperation all day here but until you get 'respecting convention although it is what you, at gut level, may not agree with'... under control...and don't stand up on stage thinking 'these guys are just BORING' ...'I'm not gonna DO what they DO'....we are all just spinning our wheels here in a potentially bottomless thread.

So, then....what are you gonna do for the next jam, to make your performance better than the last one ? What's the plan ?

Practice Autumn Leaves more ? Discard "So What" and have another (common jam) tune prepared and printed proper orientation ? Something more ? Something else ?

 

[JSL]

My definition of Rockers, playing anything other than Jazz or Classical tunes.

Not to me. Someone like B.B. King or T Bone Walker playing "Stormy Monday" is the blues! Certainly not the same as listening to a heavy metal rock band! Not even in the same universe. An extreme example maybe, but I could come up with plenty more examples (but really no need to).

 

[JSL]

The problem was that everyone was so damn boring, I couldn't help play over them.

Did I read this right? Are you saying that you played over them? As in, you played over someone else's solo? If so, that's not something you want to do.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

I use Kryptonite brand reeds.

 

[AlonW]

Did I read this right? Are you saying that you played over them? As in, you played over someone else's solo? If so, that's not something you want to do.

I played some rhythmic patterns on a few low notes to complement what he was doing on guitar.

 

[cappers]

I played some rhythmic patterns on a few low notes to complement what he was doing on guitar.

You played an unrequested backing accompaniment during the guitarist's solo? 😱
Sorry, that's a no-no!
As is IMHO belching before playing as on your latest Progress video

Not having a go, but one must maintain standards old chap, what what!

 

[Colin the Bear]

Can't learn a song? This memorising thing needs to be worked at. Just like everything else. It doesn't happen by osmosis, it doesn't happen instantly, it needs to be repeatedly hammered home till it sticks.

It takes me several days to learn one new song. Then it needs regular repeats or it disappears. Re learning it is quicker. The words help in all sorts of ways, phrasing and melody and linking phrases.

I suppose a brain injury may change things as may old age but it does seem that the more you use and push your memory the better it works and lasts.

 

[AlonW]

Can't learn a song? This memorising thing needs to be worked at. Just like everything else. It doesn't happen by osmosis, it doesn't happen instantly, it needs to be repeatedly hammered home till it sticks.

It takes me several days to learn one new song. Then it needs regular repeats or it disappears. Re learning it is quicker. The words help in all sorts of ways, phrasing and melody and linking phrases.

I suppose a brain injury may change things as may old age but it does seem that the more you use and push your memory the better it works and lasts.

Hmm, how can I explain this? I feel like I know 10,000 songs but they are in my brain and I need the dots to help me remember. One note at a time. Also, you really need dots to know the starting note too. But at the jam I am going to everyone is using sheet music, so it's not a problem.

 

[Grumps]

I feel like I know 10,000 songs but they are in my brain and I need the dots to help me remember.

Turn on the radio. Put it on a music channel you're not familiar with. Get in tune and play along. Keep doing this until it you actually are playing along. Without sheet music. It can be done.

As for playing with others, about fifteen years ago I posted my rules for sitting in with random rock/pop bands which may be helpful in a number of situations. Here they are:


I find that many rock groups that don't have a saxophone player will be happy to have a sax player sit in. If you're a good ear player and can follow some simple rules, you might find yourself up for an entire set or even more. Here's what I'd suggest for such situations:

1) As I mentioned earlier, don't just straight up ask to sit in. Catch the band during a break and be genuinely complimentary. Mention that you play, and if you've got a regular gig or group, you can drop a name or mention a club where you play. Don't make it seem like bragging though. Make it more matter of fact. If at this point they don't ask, "hey, do you have your horn with you?", then leave it be and enjoy the next set as a spectator.

2) Let the band pick the tune for you to come up on. If you can only play certain tunes and you want them to play one of the ones you know, or play in only certain keys... then you're not ready. It's rock and roll for cryin' out loud, and if you don't know the tune by ear, they're generally easy to pick up so long as you can play in standard rock keys (mainly E). When they ask what you can play, you answer "anything you guys want me to play on," otherwise keep your horn at home. Asking what key they do a song in is okay, but don't always expect a quick answer here and be ready to pick it up on the fly.

3) Unless you're playing a set horn part to a tune the band picks, ease into a song. Be sure not to play over vocals, and if you're going to add rhythm, don't dominate. If let's say there's a part, line or hook not being covered (let's say there's no keyboard player, but there's a keyboard line), blow that and you might get some looks from the group like, "hey, way to go man!".

4) Guitar players like to solo first, so don't be surprised if you don't get that first nod. When the guitar player solos (or anyone else, for that matter), take the mouthpiece away from your mouth, hold your horn and wait. Don't play rhythm, don't play background, don't play anything. Wait and be patient for your turn, and show some respect. This is very, very important.

5) When you get to solo, now you get to do your thing. Remember though, it's rock and roll. You can be jazzy, but don't play straight up jazz. Also, don't go out in the crowd or do anything stupid. Just play and get into it on stage. Be sure to listen to the group as they back you, and answer them if they give you some nice cuts. Be part of their group, as it's not your show. Also, when the tune comes to an end, don't steal the ending. Be prapared to lay back and hold an appropriate note, or not. Listen to what's happening and don't step on anything the group might be doing to end the song.

6) When your first song is done, thank the group and be prepared to walk off. Only stay if they mention another tune and say, "hey, can you play this?", or they otherwise keep you on the stage. If you get a second tune, be prepared again to leave the stage if need be when it's done. Only stay for more if you know for certain you're welcome to. If not, thank the band again and make a gracious exit. As with an audience, it's always better to leave them wanting more than having had too much of you.

I've been sitting in with rock bands since I was sixteen, and these are some of the things I've picked up over the last several decades. Sure, I learned the hard way at times, but the point is to learn that any band that let's you sit in is doing you an extreme favor. Be sure to show some appreciation and be aware that you're not overstepping any boundaries.

 

[lig]

@Grumps

This should be a sticky. Excellent.

 

[Grumps]

@Grumps

This should be a sticky. Excellent.

I think it was on SOTW for some time. Ignored, probably.

 

[Colin the Bear]

To learn a song we learn the first note. Then we learn the second note then...

 

[Pete Thomas]

To learn a song we learn the first note. Then we learn the second note then...

The fourth note

 

[PiccoloPirate]

If you're planning to sit in with a group that plays locally, often, go listen to what they play, and learn those tunes/keys.
You blow with pros, not practice/learn while they work.
In an earlier life, the only mic, was leaning over the keyboard player's shoulder, to use his mic, when he wasn't singing.
Having your mic/eq, without needed a stand, and just plug in, is best.
If it's a tune you don't know, and they're kind enough to give you the Key, listen twice around, and you should be ready to play. If not, can you sing/dance? 😜

 

[jazzdoh]

The problem was that everyone was so damn boring, I couldn't help play over them. I knew what was going on. Most of the other musicians were asleep. So sad but so true and all I could do was be there, in the moment, with complete acceptance, lest I were to suffer too!

In all honesty it's not a good job to play over someone's solo, leave to the rhythm section that's what they are there for, your there to play lead, how would you feel if there was a trumpet player playing over your solo.