It’s been a long while since I’ve posted to this blog. Almost 8 years to the day. A ton of things have happened in those 8 years. More kids, bands, guitars, presidents and a pandemic. The pandemic has been an absolute killer for musicians and the network of people employed in the music business. Every one at this point knows how bad it is. It’s a time in history that is bleak for anyone who straps on a guitar, gets behind a console or pushes cases. What we are going to talk about here is what we can do as musicians to make jammin during the time of the ‘rona a little less miserable. Here are 9 things you can do during the Covid-19 pandemic to keep jammin’.
1- Discover new music. You have the time to do it now. There no excuse. Put on some random Pandora station, YouTube playlist or a random Apple Music station and just let it play. It doesn’t have to be a brand new artist, just something mew to you. Here’s one of my favorite new jams https://youtu.be/EuhL6aTONM0
2- Learn as many new songs as possible. Learn that new Rob Zombie song. You know you want to. Learn that Justin Bieber song that got stuck in your head when you were in middle school.
3- Learn some tv show theme songs. There are some really good ones that will make you a better player and writer. Learn the horn parts to this one https://youtu.be/tUltrX-ICew
4- Write some new songs! You have plenty of time to since your not gigging. Now is the time to get the crappy ones out of the way. By the time you can start gigging again you’ll be a better writer and maybe write something people will want to hear and not just your mom telling you your song sounds good.
5- Watch some live performances from some of the G.O.A.T.’s here is one of my faves that is a great all around performance and stunning live show https://youtu.be/E9Iau_oik-E
6- Do some jammin’ online with some folks. There are several ways you can jam online with people during the pandemic. Do it, come on , do it.
7- Practice more. You’ve watched some inspiring live performances, discovered some new to you music so you should be all geared up to dive into some scale work and finger exercises.
8-Learn a new instrument. I mean really learn one. Don’t just be a guitar player who “plays bass” by just playing the root note of the guitar chords you already know. Actually learn how to play bass and learn it’s role in a band. Start by learning some real bass parts. Forget you know how to play guitar. Start with this one https://youtu.be/ldqtc1OjZBU
9- Work on your tone. There are many cheap and easy ways to record yourself playing to get a listen to what other people hear when you play. For gods sake turn down the gain and add some mids. Hearing what you actually sound like will make it more bearable for people to listen to you play once you can get back to giggin. You’ll be very surprised what you actually sound like when you listen back to a recording of yourself. You’ll hear some buzzes and hums which will make you go get some decent guitar cables and learn how to make sure your amp is properly grounded . You’ll hear how clean or sloppy you play and make it better.
Until next time...........Get you jam on.
(Next time it won’t be 8 years between posts, promise)
