Terrible Jam Session

[Prazz32]

We had our weekly band practice tonight. We have been playing together for only a few months, and none of us have more than a year of experience playing our instruments, so the three of us are sort of all learning together. Well, tonight our bassist/singer's brother came with him to jam with us. He has been playing alot longer that I have, and can, and did play circles around me on guitar. I spent the last week learning the solo for "Just What I Needed" by The Cars, and can play it not too bad at about half speed so far. Well tonight I totaly blew the solo. So bad that everybody else just stopped playing and started to laugh. I was so mad at myself, and we didn't even bother to play the rest of the song. After that I felt that I played terrible on every other song we did. I think that I was too nervous having a more experienced guitar player show me up, and in my mind I had myself convinced that I couldn't play well. Usually when we get together, I play alot better, and with a few exceptions, I feel that we sound not too bad. I was just wondering how many other people have had the same type of experience, and how did you handle it?

[Lukus]

dont worry, everyone has to put up with it in sometime in their band, whether its the drummer hitting the wrong drum, guitarist messing up the solo, singer being forced to sing very high notes. just go with it, as you get better, therell be less chances of mistakes. just bear in mind (and this is especially true when recording) if you mess up lots, the laughter will soon turn to frustration and death threats

[Guitarglen]

I agree with Lukus. It doesn't matter how much you screw up in rehearsals just as long as you improve and learn by your mistakes. Better to have a bad rehearsal than a bad gig. We've all been blown away by a better player at sometime if we're honest and I guarantee one day you'll (unintentionally) do the same to someone else. Remember: "It doesn't get any easier, but the more it happens, the less it hurts".

[This message has been edited by Guitarglen (edited July 19, 2002).]

[Prazz32]

Thanks guys, I will use this as a learning experience. By the way, we are playing our first gig at the end of August, so wish us luck!!!

[Jagstang666]

Just cuz somebody ran circles around you doesn't mean you can't run circles around somebody else. He has more experience, you'll have that much experience someday, and keep in mind that he had only been playing for a year once, and that everyone gets better with time.

[StoneDragon]

That very solo was my first attempt (and horrible failure) to wow everybody with my lead guitar prowess.

The attempt was made during highschool pep band practice, and I totally blew it.... wrong key and everything. (rememeber anything about this Sixstring?)

One of the drummers went over to the gong and let me have it (a la the gong show).

I don't think I could ever be as embarassed as I was at that moment.

But... you pick yourself up.... dust yourself off and keep practicing. One day you'll be the guitar player that intimidates the new guy.

[Prazz32]

Well, all the practicing finally paid off for us. We played a one hour set in my backyard last night in front of about 20 people. Everything went fairly well, being our first "live" show, and we got alot of compliments on how good we sounded. The main thing is that we had a good time doing it, and can't wait to do it again. I just wish that we started playing 10 years ago, because the rush is almost as good as sex. LOL. Thanks for your support guys, I really appriciate it. http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

[dmt]

Wow, good job! Looks like you really got over that hump! My band had quite good musicians, but it looks like we have disentegrated before we got to the point of our first show. I know how tough it is to stick with something like this, especially if you have to drive far and you have other things like a job, relationships, hobbies, etc. going on. Re-reading your first post made me think of how hopeless you must have felt. Again, good job.

[marcosoto]

Better players suck....erm...well, you know what I mean.

I think the most important part of playing is for it to be fun, and it's not fun when you feel under pressure.

So what if the other guy is better, that's life and the only thing you can do is to do it your way and enjoy it.

Chances are the other guy wasn't trying to show you up anyway, I can imagine how many times he got frustrated before he was able to play the solo as well as he does now.

Well done on your gig. ANd if it's any consolation to any people out there with performance issues, try being the singer/guitarist in a band where the other members are both much better singer/guitarists than you are (yup, that's me and my band).