How do you keep track of where you are at in a 12 bar blues?

[matonanjin]

When I'm playing at home I never lose track.  I'm always right on track.  With my weekly jam every time I'm playing the rhythm, I lose count of where I'm at.  Your immediate response, most likely, is, "You're nervous".  But I really don't think I am.  We're not on stage.  Just three guys with guitars jamming.

It is always on the first four bars.  I will switch to the IV chord either one bar early (on the 4th bar) which is what happens most of the time, or I will play 5 bars of I chord and switch, obviously on the 6th bar.

As I said it just 3 guys jamming.  Last Wednesday I started the rhythm, just an easy shuffle, and I don't know how many times the guy playing lead to my rhythm would go, "You're early ( or late)"

So is there any secret to trying to keep in time AND play the rhythm clean AND count bars?  ??   Or just experience?

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

Wish I had an answer,  I did the same thing on my church music trying to keep up to whatever the old guy was playing 

Of course I'm singing at the time and listening to the other singers as well as the musicians 

Edited July 3, 2018 by Eracer_Team-DougH

[Blue Dog]

I keep track in the count . Like 1234, 2234. 3234, 4234. back to 1234 2234 3234 4234. and after a while you dont have to do it. when playing leave this country boy alone you have to play the D chord 40 times strait . then go to g chord for 8 times. so i count . it up to 8  1234 2234 up to 8234. and start over do it 5 times . then i have to keep a mental count on the five times . but i count them backwards.  5 4 3 2 1. two not confuse them with the other count. . its tricky with out a backing track or some one singing the words to the song. or you can just follow the music in the song book. as you play. its just a mental count and you have to work it out the way it works for you. Sorry.  

He counts it out at 2.53 in video

 

Edited July 3, 2018 by Blue Dog

[AcousticM]

Thats a great question! I have often thought about how to keep it straight as well. 

I dont have an answer, i wish i did!  But I'm thinking this is a great question to run by Steve?? 

Maybe a great topic for the Tues night Live Lesson. 

[Nutty1]

12 hours ago, Eracer_Team-DougH said:

Wish I had an answer,  I did the same thing on my church music trying to keep up to whatever the old guy was playing 

Of course I'm singing at the time and listening to the other singers as well as the musicians 

If you are singing at the same time you may be able to associate chord changes with certain words, but it all takes time to learn. I am really in awe  of you guys who play in bands.??

[John Wells]

As you suggested, it's experience. Suggest that you try listening rather than counting the rhythm. Even with a trio of jammers, somebody sets the beat. The beat's the thing. "It don't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing". Lotsa luck.

[Steve Krenz]

Matonajin,

Great question.  Yes, sometimes it's nerves but in this case I think perhaps the culprit could be.... Syncing up to an external group.

When you're at the house, it's just you playing.  You don't have to worry about playing along with anyone or anything - you just play.  But when you're with a group, you need to take some one else's tempo, rhythm, and flow of the music - instead of just doing whatever you want.

It's a different skill - trying to sync up to something else.

Playing along with tracks (YouTube or others) might be helpful.  Just type in "Blues Backing Tracks" and try to play along with the track. Don't even look at the chords, just try to keep up by listening.

The Blues is a standard 12-bar form with only slight variations so this might be a good place to start.

Let me know how it turns out.

- Steve

 

 

[Triple-o]

In Griff Hamlin’s Blues course he says that when you are fully developed as a blues player you will “feel the changes”. I know what you are thinking and no I am not confusing Griff with Obi Wan Kenobi talking to Luke.

Edited July 3, 2018 by Triple-o
Spelling error

[matonanjin]

3 hours ago, Triple-o said:

In Griff Hamlin’s Blues course he says that when you are fully developed as a blues player you will “feel the changes”. I know what you are thinking and no I am not confusing Griff with Obi Wan Kenobi talking to Luke.

Changes I'll feel you say Obi Wan?

[Plantsman13]

@matonanjin  I feel your pain.  Executing the "changes" either visually/or mechanically can be daunting enough for me; much less feeling, sensing, or hearing them.  Then I hear people talk about playing over the changes...and D. Bowie isn't singing in the background.  ?

Bryan

[Texaspackerfan]

@matonanjin 

I'm with @Steve Krenz, If you know it just listen and feel the players, a lot of lead players will guide you to the next change. It took me a bit to get used to playing with different people. 

good luck,

Danny

 

[gotto]

Try playing just the 1 per bar for the first time through and count the 1's 4 times to get the fee l of the  changes, if it is a straight 12 bar blues. If it is a quick change, one goes to the IV in the 2nd bar, returning to the I for bars 3 and 4. Add strums per whole beat as you begin to grasp the flow and changes. Or just mentally count..1,2.3,4 ...2,2,3,4 etc. Adding vocals definitely helps or playing to a specific 12 bar blues song or track. It starts getting tricky if it is an 8 bar , 16 or 32 bar blues-I Sing The Blues by Etta James is a great example of the latter. Trying to solo over that is a killer. Best of luck on this.

Greg