Make Rehearsals Really Count

English: Chord progressions. Français : Progression d'accords. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

All too often band rehersals turn out being arguments, gossip-mongering or  drunken debacles. There are a few easy things that can be applied to avoid any of these scenarios.

Before the rehearsal

You should learn to play yourself alone all the parts or songs you have planned for rehearsals, and along with metronome. Be self-critic, to avoid making mistakes that you won't be able to fix on the spot later on. Prepare all your ideas and write them out or record them, and even send them to your band peers, so they could be prepared to what you're about to work on. If you have some solo spots, make sure that you don't look for notes or options of how to play them on rehearsal. That really should be done at home. Make a loop of chord progressions you have to solo on and hit it. The only exception to this should be a complexly constructed solo that involves all band, though, that can be worked on alone, too. If you have in plan to make new songs on rehearsal, get enough sleep and try to warm up before, if you have time. Don't be late for rehearsals, especially if you pay for rehearse time, have respect for time of everyone else in the band, and they will respect yours. Also try to make sure you take care of all important phone calls and potential distractions before the rehearsals, as well as other basic stuff such as changing strings and similar things. And of course, don't go to rehearsals drunk or under some other influence.

During the rehearsal

The worst thing that could happen on a rehearsal is when someone comes in really bad mood. It reflects on everyone else, and the music itself. If everything irritates you, find real reasons for that, and calm down. Don't snap on your band peers, because they might not be the source of your bad mood. Negative energy issue can be a real band-breaker.

Set up your sound. I suggest you to study the physical nature of sound of your instrument, and learn how to make a healthy sound for rehearsals. Don't allow yourselves to play in the noise. And make sure you don't play too loud. If you don't hear yourself well, and you hear that you're in balance with drums, lower other instruments, or fix your frequency configurations. Sometimes more noise occurs at bad equalizer settings than on loud playing. Be informed about making a good sound setting or have someone set it up for you. Have this problem fixed in the beginning because it will drive you to deafness and uncreativity.

When you're working on your new stuff, be open to everyone's opinion, even if you're about to play the song you wrote yourself. Have everyone put a part of themselves in the song and listen to everyone's idea, because they just might provide a bit to the song that you might have missed or hadn't thought of before yourself. When some band members have to work on the part they play together and that doesn't involve you, don't make noise with your instrument, you'll distract them a lot, and it can get on a nerve easily. Rather think about other ideas you can provide for the song.

Always. ALWAYS stop whatever you're doing if you get some really great idea, and write it out or record it immediately, because no matter how good it might be, there is an enormously big chance that you will forget it. Don't allow yourself that. I lost few of ideas that way, and I totally regret it. It is also advisable to record your whole rehearsal in some way, especially if you're making new songs on the spot. You might find lots of potential material on those recordings.

When you fully practiced out a song with your band, and it is technically ready, don't stay on playing it while stand and not move at all, or even worse, not move and only look at your guitar. Jump, move, dance, give your peers a deadly eye look, play with your guitar behind your back, play with your guitar on the floor, play with your teeth, with your tongue, whatever. Just don't stay on playing it with your mind. You should get to the point where you actually don't even think about what you play. When you get to playing live, there is a certain problem that comes out if you don't listen to what I just wrote, even more often if you play energetic music. The problem is that when you play, you turn the crowd on, and when you turn the crowd on, they turn you on even more, and you want to do all the things you should've done and practiced on rehearsals, but you won't be able to do them, or you will do them, but make tons of mistakes. Turn of your lights and get a small light show for your rehearsals. Feel and go into it like you're on stage, in front of thousands of people! You'll find this very interesting and amusing, and it will spare you of all the bad things on the stage. Even make a small choreography of your live shows if necessary, and go into details. See what might happen on stage, and try to work it out on rehearsals, before unwanted consequences can occur.

I also advise you to squeeze all the best from the rehearsal time. Don't go in senseless jams (unless you know for sure they'll benefit your band work), don't have a cigar every 5 minutes, don't get stuck in some non-music related chats for too long, don't have too long breaks (though, they are useful sometimes, when you go way over the top and it really doesn't make sense to push yourself too much, because nothing creative will happen) and most importantly, don't wander off with your thoughts. Be there 120%, or at least 100%, and you'll notice the difference.

After the rehearsal

If you have the time, go for a drink with your peers and talk about everything you've done on rehearsals. Review all your ideas, and talk about what you could do next. Give yourselves some directions for next rehearsals. Fix all the other problems you have in between yourselves right here, and not during rehearsals. And have a good time, establish a great personal relationships. If you enjoy being with your band outside the band, you will enjoy it even more when you're in the band. And everyone who'll hear or see the band will notice that, and it plays a big factor of success.

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Buying An Electric Guitar

It is a given that musical technology has changed a great deal over the past few decades but the electric guitar has remained essentially the same as when it was first introduced to the public.


The Simplistic Electric Guitar


In essence, the electric guitar is one of the most simple, classic examples of music amplification that was ever invented. Basically, whether you're playing a Fender Strat guitar or a cheaper beginner model, the central principle behind the amplified sound is almost the same.


How Electric Guitars Work


An electrical current is picked up when a string from the guitar moves over the coil. Maybe this is why it is called a pickup? Then, the current is developed and is almost magically turned into sound. If the guitarist is adept at his craft, that sound is called music. Nothing is much simpler than that!


The Differences


With that said, you will find a lot of deviation in electric guitars. In my humble opinion, the most crucial feature about an electric guitar is the way it feels to you. If you are not satisfied with the pickups residing on your electric guitar, and the sound is comparable to a dull thud, you can purchase new ones. On the other hand, if the neck on your musical instrument does not feel right to you, there is a chance you will never get the enjoyment you are entitled to when playing.


What an Electric Guitar Should do for You

A guitar is like an extension of your hand. It should respond when you stroke it and should not be work. In reality, playing an electric guitar is meant to be exactly as stated; playing!


When you press down on the strings of electric guitars it should respond with a smooth and even feel. Your guitar's neck should be right for your hand in width and feel, and the size of the frets need to be comfortable.


Fitting Your Hand to Your Musical Instrument


For instance, if your hands are oversized, your guitar frets need to be a bit further apart. For smaller hands, closer frets will be more to your liking. Go to the music store and you will find a smorgasbord of different electric guitars with unique fret boards, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one you like in the price range you can afford.


Name Brands vs. Off-Brands of Electric Guitars


When choosing electric guitars, you don't absolutely have to pick out a name brand instrument. Many novice guitarists spend a ton of money and sometimes go into debt in order to own a brand name electric guitar.


Although a name brand guitar is nice to have and especially fun to show off to your friends, It will not necessarily make you a better musician. There are many styles of Epiphone guitars which are virtually carbon copies of expensive Les Paul models when you look at the inner workings.


Don't Let a Flashy Style Lure You


Just because an electric instrument seduces you with nice cherry Sunburst finish and gold-plated pick guard does not it is going to sound better that a less expensive one. Although the wood may look better it has hardly any relevance when it comes to the sound electric guitars make. The only exception I can think of is hollow body electric guitars. Then you may notice a difference in the sound quality.


Should You Buy a Really Cheap Electric Guitar?

With that said, it is also wise not to buy cheap, cheaper, cheapest electric guitars when a person is just learning to play. It is a blunder to purchase a beginner entry model.


Why do You Play?


The musical instrument you buy should give you enjoyment and be easy to play. Skimping on this part will not only make learning to play guitar a chore but may discourage you from learning the instrument altogether! The better the instruments the more you will love playing, and that leads to more practice. As with any other hobby, practice makes perfect!

The 50% Discount codeword for "Mean Business" is: thistle