ANY pointers would be great!

Wear dark pants.

 

Also might want to wear a cool/silly hat

 

Listen to how its played by the master!

 

Get over stage fright! I used to complain about solos, but now: I pretty much strive for them.

 

We all got the jitters at one time, and I suspect most of us still get a little jolt just before the first note is played, especially when there are people watching that we want to impress. Part of the life.

And we've all choked before (okay, maybe there are a few mutants that nailed their first one and never looked back, but for us mere mortals there's no getting around it.)

Amazingly, life went on. The next time we found that we didn't choke as badly.

Six bars will go by fast. So I say, take your time to compose a solo, memorize it note for note (heck, write it out if you have to), and play it. Then as you get comfortable, monkey with it and let it evolve, and pretty soon you'll be doing less from memory and more from the whim of the moment.

You'll do fine. And don't worry about the flaws, 99% of the audience won't notice, and the 1% who do are musicians who have had to work their way up the hard way, just like you are.

And remember, by definition, the bari sax is a cool instrument. If you're playing it, you're cool. Not show-offy cool, but cool-cool, so don't strut it. Just be it and dig it.

 

Lol, i must admit, Moanin' is possibly the worst song to start a beginning bari with. It's like a Bari Tribute and Feature! Take your time and enjoy the thrill and show off, it's not very often that baris get features.

 

I agree. But don't let this overwhelm you.

 

Honk! Enjoy that low register. On tenor and alto, I tend to spend more than 50% of my solo time in the second (and +) octave. On bari, quite the opposite -- expect to spend more of your time down low. Show off that big bottom range, push some real air through -- that's what people want to hear on bari (and an Moanin', in particular).

 

Number one do you have a jazz collection. Have you listened to jazz?

You can't play this music and I do mean CAN'T, if you haven't listened to it with your full attention.

If you practice 12 hours a day you might sound like this someday.

 

I have played bari for like 4 years. I am just new to Jazz... And its a new director. I am going into get help Monday from my teacher, and my piano teacher is helping me as well...

The only problem is i am NOT one to show off... I don't like to.... especially musically... I have done a few solos before (most on alto) and went into a few comps with with them and did fine (other than with one duet)... I just...really really don't like to!
The thought of doing it gives me a headache

Mymartintenor-
Yea thanks for the advice. I wouldn't think about doing a solo in the higher registers... I took bari because i am into the "gravel-crusher" sound... the deep low sound that vibrates you off your seat... and if they don't like the lower register... don't listen... lol, actually i may prefer that!


as to Healths question-
I Have listened to some jazz... The problem is... i prefer blues. I have not found a jazz song yet that i went "oh i love that!" I have heard a few songs where i go "i wish i could do that" or "i like that bar" But most jazz songs are to long for my short attention span (something i am working on)...

so thanks for the help so far... um if you think of anything else let me know. I will try to record it when we ever do it.. don't know if i can though...

 

The only problem is i am NOT one to show off...

So stop thinking of it as showing off. It is your contribution to the music. No one is asking you to "show off". Be humble in your presentation. Make it a gift. Be sincere.

 

Perhaps the new band director thinks more highly of your abilities than you do. Or he hears potential there and wants to help you develop it.

Run a fast scale from the lowest note of the key scale you're in up one octave. Hold that note and play it loud. Play with it rhythmically. Then go back to the starting note. Play around with that note. HONK. Repeat as necessary until 6 bars is over. For the solos, do the same thing but add a few more notes to honk on - the 5th note of the scale is always good. The 6th will sound jazzy. Try the flat 7. Run through the 4, 5, 6. Try the flat (minor) 3rd. Play the major 3rd if it sounds right to you. Explore and enjoy. You're playing jazz bari. Remember to HONK.

 

S.U.A.P. is the answer to all.

 

OK, I think i have been misunderstood. I used the word show off, since it was what the person before said... or at least that is what i read...

Let see if i can put it better. My teacher has only been my teacher for 5 days... How can he hear potential in someone that he has barely heard? He let me into jazz band before he had even met me, so it wasn't like he saw how great a player i could be... he let me in through email.

I guess i play... When i play i follow someone. Even if they aren't in my section, I KNOW how my part should sound against theirs. I know that my rhythm should match up this way or that way against theirs. but when i don't have anyone to match up against, and i am all alone... i don't have a clue...

For some reason i love to public speak. I love to write speeches i love to give them... But music isn't the same. I don't... I don't seem to have found my "voice" yet. I haven't figured out how to say what i want to get across. I don't know even what I want to say... Does that make sense or am I on crack?

I mean its to the extent when i sit down on piano, im not one of those people to just start screwing around with keys, trying to get a little rhythm or melody going... I will do scales or arpeggios... I don't play something unless i know exactly how it will sound...

I guess I will just have to give it sometime... I guess Ill figure something out... not that i really have a choice...

Thanks for all your guys help. Im sure i will need all that i can get!

 

I don't play something unless i know exactly how it will sound...

Then get away from the instruments and just sing or hum... Once you find a line that sings naturally, find the notes on your horn. That will usually keep you from resorting to scales and argeggios - unless the music really takes you there.

Enjoy.

(and don't forget to wear dark pants)

 

I lied! I found a guy/solo I like!

 

Yeah. Play a solo just like that.

 

I was in a very similar situation last night. I've been playing at an open mic night, and last week I found Brown-Eyed Girl on the host's request list and asked if I could play on tenor while he played and sang it. He agreed and so with the immense help of SOTW I came prepared last night with a chart. There's a part of the song after the first "sha la la" that is about an 8 bar bass solo on the recorded version, but of course it was just me and him, so it really screamed out for a sax solo there. I felt like I should just jump in, but at the same time didn't want to step on what he was doing. He quickly said, "take a riff if you want" and I started in improvising on the A scale (song is in concert G major). I built to wailing on a high C#, tailed off, and the final verse came around and all was well. So basically, in the space of about two and a half measures, I went through the same process you're going through. All I can say is, grab on and don't let go. Or do let go, of your inhibitions. For my first improv solo I think it went fine; I wish I had a recording of it because I have no idea what I played.

 

I wish I had a recording of it because I have no idea what I played.

Yeah, I know the feeling.

 

Now THAT rates an "Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww..."

 

Thank-ew, thank-ew, thank-ew.

 

I now know why I don't think i will be good at this!
I decided to write a solo to that C jam blues, and there is 12 measures... It took me 3 hours, and I still hated it when i got done....:evil:

Is there a trick to this, or is it something you have to learn or what? since I am TOTALLY not getting it....

 

I now know why I don't think i will be good at this!
I decided to write a solo to that C jam blues, and there is 12 measures... It took me 3 hours, and I still hated it when i got done....:evil:

Is there a trick to this, or is it something you have to learn or what?

Yes... get better. Then you'll be able to write/play better solos. You might still hate them, but that's what spurs you on to keep improving.

 

Man, when you're playing you have to have to have a split personlaity. The best way I've ever heard it put is that "when you're soloin' you have to be the cockiest mother f@$#&r on the planet, but when you sit back down you have to be the must humble." It works man, I used to think about soloing way too much, but you're human and you're gonna make mistakes. The only way to improve is to screw up and learn from those mistakes, not hide from them.

 

Just freakin play the damn thing.....it'll take less than a minute and it's done. You do your best and move on - The key is to make your "best" a little better each time. You have to remember that its not a contest - its just for fun......If you're diggin' it while your playin' it - it will come through....

 

Don't back out.......

Just freakin play the damn thing......

 

A lot of people start in "jazz band" in jr. high, or high school on bari because they think that it's semi obscure and not a galmor/solo instrument. A lot of bari parts are written to include it almost as a rhythm instrument and don't write particularly difficult passages for the bari parts. From my personal experience, I really liked playing bari when I started out for a lot of reasons. One reason was that I didn't have to compete for a first or second chair slot since there was only one bari... that in itself took away the first inkling of stress. Another reason was that since bari parts were rather simplistic, I became fairly proficient at them very quickly and that led to more confidence which really let me play with some guts. Next, I started listening to Gerry Mulligan and Harry Carney as well as some RnR backups at that time that made me realize that bari actually had a role in music. That leads up to YOUR band leader wanting to feature bari solos in some pieces. You band leader knows that a bari can really "kick" a band's sound and drive it and wants his band to have that kick. He wants you to take on the role because the bari is hanging around your neck. If it helps, listen to your bass and drummer and use them to drive your phrasing... "talk" to them using your bari and kick their butts. Fader is right, it's over before you know it... walk away knowing that you're the big dog. Go nuts... you'll love it. (When you're done, nod humbly to acknowledge your audience and pretend you're not laughing on the inside.)

 

I think you're putting the cart before the horse - To properly write like you're trying to do, it helps to be able to hear "in your head" what you're writing.

Try just clearing your mind and playing......You know the notes already - don't try to be fancy - just play notes that feel good. then maybe graduate to trying notes that you're not feelin yet - Do that to your 12 bar blues everyday for an hour - Give it a month or two and you'll be smokin' hot. Good Solos don't have to be fast or fancy - The just have to connect with the listener...If there's no feeling from the player, there's no feeling for the listener to connect with.

I've been playing live a lot recently and while I hit the stage promising myself I'll stick to what I know - but then I start getting into it and suddenly I'll find myself headed into uncharted territory. A favorite "trick" of mine when I hit a really weird note is to play it again......louder.....then I'll wobble it around a bit and get a feel for it. I might follow it up with a lick I really know and then go right back to the "clunker". It's actually amazing how often that note starts to feel "right" by the time I'm done - By now the band knows whats up, so it's a lot of fun too when that happens - The piano player (Who is a virtuoso) has started "tagging along" sometimes with the klunker - IT's amazing how much fun you can have if you just let go a bit and play.

Be the Ball....

 

Is that what's known as hitting the "right" wrong note?

 

actually, just chew your fingernails down to the quick all you like cause once you're there you're commited. at that point you'll just go with it. you'll end up enjoying it and wondering why you worried so much.

 

So? We want an update! How's it progressing?

 

Its not. I have been working on improv a little ( had NO time at all recently), mostly on piano since for some reason i am more comfortable on it, and have one around most of the time. Its going......... tolerably.

The song, i got the solos down ok, but my main problem is, i play things wonderfully when only I am around (I have recorded it, so its not just my imagination) but you put even ONE other person nearby that i don't know well or trust, i can't play a simple scale!!! so its great with only me and a friend in the room.... I don't think i could do in front of my class let alone in front of 300+ people!!!

So... depends how you meant... lol

and I found a way out of playing it at all... I have not decided if i want to totally wimp out of it and hate myself for the rest of my life for being a coward, or show the world how much i really suck and that all this has just been a false front... Lol

 

Someone like your director who is a very proficient musician will be able to probably tell you are good within only a few notes. So, it is a compliment. So, decide to take it as such and hold your head up high. Even though you might be shaking in your boots.

First times are always the worst. So, don't give yourself such a hard time: do what you love, do something bluesy! It will work if you love it yourself. This will make it a little easier on you. There will be time enough to flourish and show your skills in time, when you have built in confidence.

You sound like an introvert (there's nothing wrong in that! I am one too) Musicians can be introverts or extroverts. It doesn't make them better or worse. I think performing in front of an audience is a whole new skill in itself, that's all. So give youself time to learn gently.

 

Pray it's a good stage - If the lights are bright enough, you can't see anything at all,

 

GO PLAY THE SOLO.

The worst that will happen is that you'll goof something up. You won't be the first to have made a mistake, though, and I promise you that the sun will rise the next morning, and your family and friends will still talk to you, because people dig when you play for them. They don't CARE if you make a mistake. Hell, most of the time, they don't even KNOW.

There's a way to beat this, and that is to tackle it head-on. If you can play with one friend in the room, great--go invite two. When your family has friends over, tell them you're working on getting comfortable playing in front of people and ask them to listen to you play a short solo. Ask a handful of band buddies for the same thing. Trust me... nearly everyone goes through this, and if you let people know it's freaking you out, they'll probably be glad to help you by listening as you get used to it. Also, when you do this and make a mistake (you will), consider it to be one you've "gotten out of your system" and keep working on it. Soon you'll run out of mistakes, and then you'll be playing great.

So go play the solo, and keep doing it. Again and again. The scariness wears off, but only if you don't let it win.

Oh yeah... be sure to let us know how it went....