Lesson Download Store
DVD Lesson Store | Podcast 007 - A “Let’s Get The Hell Out Of Here” Guitar StoryApril 26th, 2008 |
A viewer had a question about how to deal with the problem of being able to play while sitting down, but losing your focus when standing. So I thought I’d share the story of my first public guitar performance. It was a mess. Enjoy it at my expense…
Loading ...
August 4th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
The first time I played in front of a croud was… about a mounth ago (I’m 12) And I was playing Pride and Joy that you tought me and singing it. And When I got to ”My heart and soul”, I forgot the words!! So I stoped for 3 seconds and went to the solo. DANG! That was Embarasing!!!!
[Reply]
Anthony Stauffer ( StevieSnacks Teacher ) reply on August 5th, 2008:
I forget the words to a song at least once per show. I’ve manged to come up with some clever ways to disguise it:
1) Pretend that someone did something funny and start laughing as if you can’t keep singing.
2) Back up from the mic so it’s not as obvious
3) Look at the crowd with a puzzled look on your face and say “I have no idea what I’m doing”
Number 3 is probably not a very good idea, but it got some laughs.
[Reply]
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:46 am
The first gig I played in public was in 1983 and I was playing Bass at the time. We ripped into the song and the other band member were all looking weird at me. It was then I realized I was playing the bass line to the second song on the set list. oops my Bad. I forgot the words to a song another time when the crowd was really big (20). A few more frat perfromances and I was all good. Now that I’m 50 I can’t screw up the courage to perfrom at the local blues night jam. Oh well, Maybe some day.
[Reply]
April 27th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
When I first played in front of a group of people ( ’bout a month ago )
my hands started shaking and I kept messing up, but they still liked it. By the way it was at my aunts house for one of my cousins birthday parties. Whenever I learn something sitting I have no problem playing it standing. It just never bothered me.
[Reply]
April 27th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Two unrelated comments -
Firstly, Joe Satriani (prominent guitar virtuoso) laments that a track he wrote while sitting down (Crushing Day) used to give him fits when he went on tour because he wrote and learned the song sitting down and is incapable of playing it while standing. I thought I’d share that so you (Jason) see how the problem resonates with professional musicians as well. His solution, by the way, is that he now plays the song while seated. (After a decade+ of not playing it at all, I believe)
Second, I have a problem similar to the one Anthony used to have. I have the bedroom rock star thing down, but playing for others - particularly others I know and whose opinions I value - makes my fingers like jelly. I have an uncle who plays professionally who has never yet heard me play well with him…he may think the recordings I publish to the web are stolen.
Cheers folks,
Julio
[Reply]
April 26th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
It’s a good idea to practice standing if you play out as the way you hold your guitar sitting in relation to your hands is different unless you usually wear the guitar up high with the strap. When I noticed that stuff I could play sitting wasn’t happening as easy standing I switched to practicing standing. Also with me i gotta make sure my fretboard hand or more accurately my wrist is not bent too much as in my case hand pain will result especially with barre chords and playing on the bass strings. I guess it’s an individual thing but i wear the guitar higher now than I used to. It makes it easier on my left hand.
[Reply]
Anthony Stauffer ( StevieSnacks Teacher ) reply on April 27th, 2008:
That’s actually a really good point about the whole bar chord thing. Your wrist is at a completely different angle when you stand and if you’re not used to it it can really take you by surprise. Good stuff..
[Reply]
April 26th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
“I don’t think the room was filled with music lovers, or people who were really knowledgeable about music. But I think everybody knew that we had no idea what we were doing.” = classic.
[Reply]