Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Video - Old Crossroads practice - getting stuck in your break

#1

I’ve been out of commission picking wise since “The Kitten Incident…” a few days ago :grimacing: So I was looking at things I’ve recorded that I try to improve on, play along with etc.

Ever feel like you’re getting stuck in your break and its dragging on and you’ve not got any good solutions at the moment to get out of it? That’s how I was feeling in this video.

I ended up throwing in some kind of ending tail which was then off/didn’t sound too good. (Not to mention the obvious 5 chord I missed towards the beginning) :confounded::grimacing::rofl:

Branden NEVER forgets lyrics - prior to this little practice, I asked him if he wanted the lyrics. Ofc he says no, then forgets them halfway thru, which made me laugh even more. :rofl:

When we finally played it Sunday in Church, there weren’t any missed lyrics, or chords, and my break was shorter - which sounded better, but for whatever reason we played it a lil faster Sunday… :thinking: Looks like we need alot more practice time!

Question: Do you/have you - ever - get/feel trapped/stuck in your break when playing with others and how do you get out of there?!!! I’d love to know how others handle that!!! Thanks :slightly_smiling_face:

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#2

yes, happens all the time when I’m not intimately familiar with the piece.

What helps me most I guess is learning an alternate lick for each phrase, and working on inserting them one at a time where i can. This not only gives me the ability to play a whole second break, but to vary what I insert when (numerous different breaks)…it makes practicing far more interesting, helps with improvising, and helps keep me from getting 'trapped".

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#3

@Fiddle_wood
Thank you Dave!
Appreciated reading what helps you work that out. For some reason this particular song gives me trouble, but I’ve had others do me the same way.

I’m not real technical or intimate with most of the songs I end up playing, lots of times havent ever played them before, or end up playing them (for people!) with little or no advance notice/practice. Which is probably most folks experience when going to play at a jam where unusual, unexpected, & unknown material comes up.

What you mentioned sounds good & I’ll try and implement that for eventual usage playing w others.

Just did an edit to add your @. Seems like when I reply on someone’s post last few months it doesnt automatically make it a reply to that specific person anymore… it just makes it a generic reply… wonder why that is…??

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#4

Yeah, I’ve noticed that too.

And yes, I’ve often experienced that “Uh oh” feeling in the middle of a solo… Like when you literally forget how to play a scale. :grimacing:

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#5

Michael, yes-sir, it happens to everyone from time to time.

 This is why when i practice things to add in I try to stay focused on what I'm doing against the chord progression. It helps to get used to just adding something that fits musically (not necessarily matching melody),  It's sort of like building a basic melody solo and then building a free-for-all solo on that chord progression. 
 It helps me to play over progressions to unknown songs...not that i get it all just right every time, but it does help...

Now how did that happen?

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#6

Haha, how DID you do that?!

Playing breaks over chord progressions the way you’re saying, melody, or not necessarily strict to the melody sounds great, offers variety. It’d be super to be able to do that someday… I’m not up to that skill… I can usually get a melody break pretty good though.

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#7

Or how about a kick off you’re getting ready to do & you suddenly forgot what the entire song sounds like in a (thankfully) brief but scary blank moment :grimacing:

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#8

And then when you accidentally kick off the wrong song…

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#9

@Simone @Michael_Mark

haha…you two are bring back all sorts of old memories…I’ve done all that and more…so have many band mates. Very normal/human circumstances!

I have absolutely no idea! haha

Sure you are! It’s the same as Ben’s Build-a-Break lessons. You start with just one or two measures, or one chord duration, and use an alternate grouping of notes that fits.

You don’t even need to change the whole measure/lick…you could simply choose a “blue note” (i.e. a flatted 3rd) in place of the major, or switch the order/emphasis/length of two or three notes from a lick… something simple like that.

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#10

@Fiddle_wood
Thanks again! Will definitely give that a try!

#11

Great video! Love to watch it :smile:

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#12

Thank you @Severin !! :grin:

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