Is this a technique you use in your band, maybe sometimes?

Dick Sexton · From: Greenville, Ohio

I'm lucky enough to currently be playing with an excellent guitar player that has many years of bandstand experience. I get plenty of space to do what I love to do. Except for mine, occasionally, egos on the bandstand are not a problem. Lately, we have been sharing a few breaks and even a few intros in the following way. He starts, I play the fills he would normally play for himself, when it is my turn at the 50/50 point to take it and I remember to, he plays the fills I would normally play for myself. The crowd seems to love it... A sorta speak/answer type of technique. Some times only a few notes is all that is required. As you may have guessed, we don't normally do chiseled in stone, covers of songs.

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

You're lucky you've got a guitar player who gives you enough space to play a fill, even if it is just a few notes. I've tried this with a lot of guitar players, and very few get it.
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John De Maille · From: On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.

Most of the bands I've worked with, it was like that.
We usually lengthened the tunes anyway, so, splitting the breaks up came natural. If a tune had a double guitar and steel intro, some of Merle Haggard's tunes were like that, we'd work it out, same thing with the endings. It was quite good and sounded great. But, there were some ego heads, that, were impossible to work with. I've had problems with guitar, fiddle and piano players. They just didn't understand the concept of a band. There's no "I" in band. It made for a tiresome, frustrating night.

Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

Dick, That's because Al only knows the first half of all the songs you guys do!! Laughing

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Dick Sexton · From: Greenville, Ohio

Greg, It could be because I only know the uh, hell I forgot.

Cal, Thanks for chiming in... It's like he has a sixth sense, first one I've played with. I'm glad to be working with him... He's brought me along.

John... ;>)

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

This sort of behaviour is mandatory in my book.

Bob Vantine · From: Freeville, New York, USA

it all comes down to respecting :
~the music
~your bandmates / friends {assuming they're both}
~your audience
~yourself

if everyone is prepared and on the same page {to the best of their ability} .... sometimes just getting along outshines phenominal talent . Just like not getting along can screw things up no matter the talent level.
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Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

I won't work with a guitarist who plays fills constantly and leaves no space for anyone else. Whenever I find myself on stage with someone like that I wonder... hasn't he ever listened to country music? "Trading fills" is the norm and can clearly be heard on the recordings. Fortunately I play with good players most of the time and we've Never had to discuss the fills... who backs the verses and who backs the chorus, etc. That should naturally fall into place with good players who use their ears and know when to back off. Winking

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Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

In the days of olde, every member in the band took his appropriate turn to do backup throughout any given song. It wasn't anything 'special' but it's just the way it was, like everyone getting in tune by tuning to the TOP "E" string........

If it was a totally unfamiliar song to anyone, that person would simply nod his head and the rotation would merely give him a pass.

Intro's were decided upon at the outset of any given songs introduction to the band. From then on, that person would merely kick it off.

Now, you new comers must recognize that this was back in the day when musicians were responsible individuals with character, were proud to wear the assigned uniform or attire for a given event and it all flowed smoothly with minimal conflict. The best sound in music was the desired objective.

In spite of this next statement offending anyone, YOU in particular, this disorganization within bands got started when many of the self-taught ROCK & ROLLERS figured they could play anything as long as it was LOUD! Loud, shrill noise replaced musical sounds and disorganization replaced inspirational interactions between musicians. Songs could no longer be played 'as a group' UNLESS some drummer banged away on his sticks in order to start a song.
Pianos and Fender guitars, frequently two of each, became the given standard.

Some of you newer folks are having to discover today what at one time, was the NORM. It's sad, but if you use your head, it will all blossom once again, I'm hopeful. Good suggestions in this post.

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

The Texas Troubadours had some arrangements that were like what I think Dick is talking about. "Thanks A Lot", for example, has Leon playing the the ride in the middle - very simple, basically the melody - with Buddy filling between his lines, the same places he'd be filling during the vocals. Very few guitar players have the ears to hear this and go with you on it, or the willingness to sacrifice a few half a bars of their big solo to let you play something, but one of the best at it is Pete Mitchell, another Texas Troubadour.
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Dick Sexton · From: Greenville, Ohio

Takes more discipline then talent sometimes and you have put yourself aside for the sake of the music. Doesn't work every time, but it's sweet when done right.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I was fortunate enough to work with a fiddler who had a nearly innate grasp of taste; on some songs, right before my solo, I'd shoot her a certain look, and I'd leave pauses for her to drop in fills, and she'd lay in the perfect accent.
We did this most often in "Today I Started Loving You Again" and that old Johnny Bush waltz "You Ought To Hear Me Cry."
Musical magic requires teamwork.
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Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

Yeah if I have to discuss stuff like that I'm on the wrong bandstand.

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Well said, Ray. Smile

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Alan Tanner · From: Near Dayton, Ohio

A big part of this skill comes from experience and working with folks who are willing to both share and teach without acting like pompous butt heads, and the willingness to learn. Nothing worse than "well I been playin' fer 50 years, and this is the way we always did it" It's just possible that maybe the way "you" did it was not the best way.I think all lead instruments require some discipline when playing together. I have also worked with and heard steelers who never quit. Always in the background chopping wood, making loud chime sounds, ENDLESS whistle and horn blowing on certain songs (let up...we get it....it's a train song), refusal to split a ride and just generally making the experience less than enjoyable. I think one of the hardest parts to learn is that SOMEBODY does NOT have to playing ALL THE TIME. This is part of proper phrasing, and also comes with experience. Once the techniques are learned, it is a pleasure to work with each other and it changes the whole dynamics of a song. It gets pretty "boring" to listen to a steeler, guitarist, fiddle or any other instrument constantly hammering away, and even WORSE if they are "fighting" over the lead line. The instruments and picker will have a MUCH better impact if heard only at certain points during the tune. It is also good to listen to bands from the past who knew how important this was. The Troubadours are a required study. Listen, listen, listen, but also understand what you are listening to. Don't just concentrate on learning the licks, understand why they are WHERE they are in the tune structure. A nice little fill does not have to be some big huge chord shot, or ten thousand notes on the guitar in 6 bars. I will have to agree however, that fiddles and harmonicas are probably the worst offenders, and steel and guitar running second....it is a pleasure to work with Dick as he wants to learn technique and is an excellent student, open for anything, and has come a long way in the four years I have known him. We have a lot of FUN doing it. We can't make any money, so we might as well enjoy ourselves.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Amen. If you're lucky enough to work in a full band, with fiddle and guitar, or maybe even piano too, you have the opportunity to put your hands in your lap and watch the show.
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Steve Alcott · From: New York, New York, USA

i have a certain (small) amount of sympathy for guitar players in that much of the time, they may be the only lead/rhythm instrument in the band. This leads to them forgetting how to play nice with other musicians. They end up playing whatever comes to mind whenever they feel like it, just like they would do in a bass, guitar, drums trio, except it's an eight piece band. Habits are hard to break, especially when the desire to break them isn't there.

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

Along with good songs and vocals, this subject is what makes or breaks the live experience for me. While I understand wanting to strut your stuff and "work on your chops", I'm always surprised by how otherwise professional musicians simply refuse to see how holding back a bit and sharing the musical stage makes their contribution all the more attention-grabbing when it happens.
I play in one band where it's all beautiful, and one where I often wonder if I should even be there.
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Steve Alcott · From: New York, New York, USA

It's all about listening.

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Steve Alcott · From: New York, New York, USA

Thanks, Herb-the worst thing is the gig I "had" to take is turning out to be one of those gigs you have to save up to do. I don't bail on a commitment, though, and it is in Key Largo, so I guess break even is sort of OK. You oughta come up here for a visit when you're getting around some-I can put you on my hand truck and wheel you around just like an amp...... Shocked

Gary Preston · From: Columbus, Ohio, USA

Hi Dick . I was very fortunate to have played in a Southern Gospel Group that had a '' 7 '' piece band . We had a great lead guitar and mandolin player along with a so so steel player . All we had to do was look at each other and we knew it was our turn to play . We never did any question / answer type of songs though . This would be a challenge i think , you would have to be on your toes to keep up ! Sounds like fun though ! G.P.

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

Dan Galysh · From: Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA

Four Or Five Times comes to mind, in a vocal sense.

Brett Lanier · From: Madison, TN

I filled in for a band I'd never played with last night. It was very frustrating for me in this way. I kept 'winding up' to play when I thought it was appropriate only to be cut off, again and again. You have to wonder whats going through the lead guitar players head at that point. He even botched the intro to You Ain't Goin Nowhere three times in a row without asking me if I could do it. Boy was that a long gig.

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