The most important thing about being in a band is learning to play with the rest of the band.  To do this, everyone has to know what is going on.  While many people have great memories and can retain a lot of knowledge, anyone can have a momentary lapse.  This issue can easily be overcome with the use of a chart.

First, a chart can take many forms.  One is full blown with every note written out, some are lead sheets with melody and chords, another is lyrics with chords and yet another lists a roadmap of verse/chorus order.  You may want to discuss as a band what the best form is for your group.  Some things to consider is ease of use and being able to recognize and recall what is on the page. 

When practicing on your own, you have an opportunity to invest in your upcoming rehearsal with the rest of the band.  (You do practice, don’t you?)  If you have a reference track to listen to, you have an incredible advantage.  Write notes on your chart.  “When to play, when not to play, any special interests, breaks, solos, groove pattern, kick pattern, fills, etc.”  These notes will serve you well.  Feel free to include notes of reference not limited to your instrument.  “Bass intro, sax fill, B3 Lead,” whatever will serve as reference for what is going on.  Remember, someone else may not have taken notes and forgets what happens when.

Second, rehearsal.  One of the things that will always happen is change.  Guitar solos become sax solos, one chord is substituted for another, the “road map” changes from verse, chorus, tag to verse, chorus, chorus, tag.  If you are playing seven different tunes each time you play, will you remember all the changes made in rehearsals?  A pencil is a cheap alternative to, “Oh yeah, now I remember.” 

Finally, if you are allowed to use charts during a live set, USE THEM.  If you have taken good notes through your practice and rehearsals, you can save yourself from that “aaauuuggghh” moment.  I am not saying don’t memorize, by all means do.  Memorization helps with interaction and that is a wonderful thing.  However, if you happen to have a memory glitch, your chart is just a glance away and could save you from a public “oops.”  Charts won’t cure all your “moments,” after all other things happen, but they will help. 

Remember:

“Practice does NOT make perfect.  PERFECT practice makes perfect.”

God Bless,

Greig

“Hold tightly to God and loosely to everything else.”