Playin' it Loud...

Archtop Eddy

Well how about, just to get us started...

One of my pet peeves is a jam session where the rhythm guitarists blast out the soloist. You know--when you have two or more guys slamming on the six strings while one guy tries to play above the din one string at a time.

Do you think that this is an issue (or am I just being a whinny weak-wristed single-stringer?)

Also, what's this obsession about having a "loud" rhythm guitar? Wouldn't one with less volume and better tone be more useful?

dennis

i agree with you... at DFNE, stephane's bassist, jared asked me why i didnt' jam at the big party... simple reason... too many guitarists... what's the point? when you got 10 guitar players, no one's listening to eachother anyway, it sorta becomes a competition...

i prefer intimate jams between no more than a quintet (any instrumentation)... i don't want to hear a 50 minute version of nuages

regarding loud accompanists, that annoys me too... it's all in the right hand technique though... if you're unable to play the pompe softly, than you're unable to do the pompe.. PERIOD....

ya i sound like an asshole but those are my pet peeves

djangology

Hey guys! First post!

Being very experienced with jams in Portland I find that the main problem is not how loud people play but how long they sustain their chords. When they let the chords ring out then it creates far more racket. If you play "choppier" or "punchier" then the rhythm stays tight and everyones chords aren't washing all over each other.

By reducing the sustain of your chords by half then you, in effect, reduce the amount of noise you make by half, philisophically and literally speaking.

Dave

First post- I'm pretty much a Django rookie-took a run at it a coulple of years ago, didn't get much traction, just started up again. I have spent plenty of time on other style, mostly finger style blues and folk. I've found in a big jam session sometimes you just have to find some other part (ie smaller, quieter etc) to play when you have ten rhythm players-it may be that traditional gypsy style isn't as ammenable to big groups, but not everyone has to bash away at full bar chords.

Having said that, I find it hard to play le pompe quietly, especially with my big fat Wegen pick. Any general technique hints would be welcomed.

Dave

Dave wrote:

First post- I'm pretty much a Django rookie-took a run at it a coulple of years ago, didn't get much traction, just started up again. I have spent plenty of time on other styles, mostly finger style blues and folk. I've found in a big jam session sometimes you just have to find some other part (ie smaller, quieter etc) to play when you have ten rhythm players-it may be that traditional gypsy style isn't as ammenable to big groups, but not everyone has to bash away at full bar chords.

Having said that, I find it hard to play le pompe quietly, especially with my big fat Wegen pick. Any general technique hints would be welcomed.

Hey Djangology, where are these jams in Portland?

svetasmedved

Hi Ed!

Yeah, I'd agree... it can be like being at a hand drumming jam ... it just falls apart... that said, I was in a giant jam in Sorrento last summer where Michael Dunn made the point of making everyone listen to the soloist while they were comping and everyone on either side of the soloist as it went around the circle was obliged to lay out and listen... it was a very pleasant jam.... and the solos had a lot more continuity as it went around the circle....

So, no, I don't think you're being picky....

What a great forum!!

djadam

New here, as is everyone I suppose - hope this forums does well...

Great question, Eddy. Your question reveals the inherent flaw in most jam sessions. I think people are there more to test their chops and cut their teeth then to contribute to an excellent night of music.

Not drowning out the soloist would definitely make for better music, but that would require those playing rhythm to play more softly than they might in smaller groups. And that's an adjustment that people are either unwilling to make or they are knuckleheads who are not even aware there's an adjustment to make.

Either way, it's a case of individual egos interfering with the overall quality of the music. It's understandable that it happens, as jam sessions are not really about making the best music, but most of the time, people could be more considerate of the soloist.

nwilkins

While it is true that some people may play too loud, take a look at this quote from Moreno's website:

"Moreno est né en Moselle, l'Alsace a vu émerger des guitaristes comme Dorado et Tchavolo parmis les chefs de file d'un courant reconnaissable au son typique de leur pompe si énergique qu'elle oblige le soliste à produire un son plus fort pour dépasser la puissance des guitares des accompagnateurs."

mitch251

Its is kind of a no brainer (which is good for me) The rhythm player needs to adust his volume so that the soloist can be heard in all situations.
especially in jams with alot of players.
More than 2or 3 rhythm guys is too much any way, I find that I shy away from large jams, its just to much work for nothing. Also I am curios about how the Hotclub wouild have set up in the studio, would it be like the pics I see of them playing on stage?

nice site
Thanks
Tom

MichaelHorowitz

nwilkins wrote:

"Moreno est né en Moselle, l'Alsace a vu émerger des guitaristes comme Dorado et Tchavolo parmis les chefs de file d'un courant reconnaissable au son typique de leur pompe si énergique qu'elle oblige le soliste à produire un son plus fort pour dépasser la puissance des guitares des accompagnateurs."

Hi Nick...good to see you here.

In my exeperience Gypsy rhythm players can be extremely loud....it works because the lead players hammer those rest strokes so hard that you can hear them a mile away. Patrick Saussois came down to my jam session last week...I think of him as one of the more subtle players on the scene. However, in a jam session he plays SOOOOOOO loud. Both lead and rhythm...he really worked the rhythm hard and makes it pretty exciting. However, it doesn't work unless the lead player can project.

Anyway, I think that a sensitive accompanist will adapt to the situation. If you're backing a player with a soft touch you shouldn't drown him out.

-Michael

dennis

nwilkins wrote:

While it is true that some people may play too loud, take a look at this quote from Moreno's website:

"Moreno est né en Moselle, l'Alsace a vu émerger des guitaristes comme Dorado et Tchavolo parmis les chefs de file d'un courant reconnaissable au son typique de leur pompe si énergique qu'elle oblige le soliste à produire un son plus fort pour dépasser la puissance des guitares des accompagnateurs."

ya but just because they play loud all the time doesn't mean it's always appropriate... and another point i'd like to make, just because you're gypsy doesn't mean you re always right and know everything about the django style....

personally at a jam session there should be no more than 2 people playing rhythm guitar