HOW TO LOCK INTO A DRUMMER if you’re a bassist

This one took me a while to get.  But I was always wondering how come it took so long to get the song sounding “right”.  I’m the bass player usually for the music projects that I do with my friends, and it always seemed like it wasn’t “locked in” when we played songs and stuff.  [...]

HOW TO PLAY AT A RECORDING SESSION

So, you’re making a demo… You’ve rehearsed a lot, and are ready to lay down some tracks at a nice, or not so nice recording studio.  You’ve probably like I did, paid a bunch of money to have someone engineer the demo and are really wanting things to go well. Here are just some thoughts about what [...]

HOW TO SING BACK UP IN A BAND

I’m not a singer, but I have played in bands and have tried to sing.  Most of the time, it sounded bad.  It wasn’t that I am a bad singer, although that probably contributed to the situation.  It’s because singing at a club in front of loud instruments calls for some adjustment of technique.  For [...]

HOW TO WRITE A SONG

Hmmm, hummm, hmmmm, hummmm, da da da da! You know what? I gots myself a song or a melody or a chorus!!!!  That is the thought that comes to mind when I embark on the task or writing a song. Songwriting is a unique experience for everyone,  and for me the initial melody comes from [...]

HOW TO WRITE OUT A CHORD CHART

So, this is a simple one.  You’re ready to play with your friends, or a new person, and maybe you have a new original song to try.  So, this involves teaching a new song.  You can do it section by section and show your bass player, backup singer, and drummer how to play your [...]