A little help from guitarists please

[variax]

Hi People,

I am a guitarist in a duo and we play soul music as well as a bit of reggea. We are using backing tracks at the moment. The problem is, I would like to do more with the guitar in the songs rather than just playing chords all the way through. I would like to work out some sort of licks or lead within the songs.

I have a link to one of our backing tracks here by the four tops called "when she was my girl". I would very much appriciate it, if someone could:

1. Record a guitar track over the backing track including some nice fills/licks/lead etc.

2. Put their recording on a link so I can hear it.

3. Possibly offer some advice for me to play more interesting guitar over the backing tracks for soul and reggea.


Thankyou so much people, it would mean a lot to me if you could help me out

Here is the link to the backing track:

When she was my girl

[Outlaws]

That reminds me of playing Puzzle Bobble.

[Joepie]

It's kinda hard to play guitar licks for your track, cuz I don't know where the vocals go. Also, it doesn't sound very soul or reggae to me.

My advice for learning to play simple licks and riffs is

1) Listen to a lot of old blues, try to reproduce their licks. Great practice.

2) Learn the pentatonic (aka blues-) scale by heart. It doesn't matter what note you play, it always sounds nice. It's real easy, and it'll sound ok on soul or reggae or rock or any blues-based music.

3) Once you've got the hang of this, go on from there

[variax]

Joepie, thankyou so much for your input You're right, I don't like the backing track either. The only reason we have that is because of the other person in the duo. He is very rigid in his ways and doesn't want to get rid of his backing tracks. You see, I could make way better backing tracks, and I have, but he won't use them in the set. He's a lot older than I am so he won't listen to my suggestions.

Thanks for your help man

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by variax

Joepie, thankyou so much for your input You're right, I don't like the backing track either. The only reason we have that is because of the other person in the duo. He is very rigid in his ways and doesn't want to get rid of his backing tracks. You see, I could make way better backing tracks, and I have, but he won't use them in the set. He's a lot older than I am so he won't listen to my suggestions.

Thanks for your help man

My advice: Look for a new collaborator.

[legionserial]

Originally Posted by ggunn

My advice: Look for a new collaborator.

I concur...

You are either a unit that functions as a unit or not. The guy needs to be a little more open to suggestions if he is working with you.

Personally, when I was in a band situation, if there was something one of us really didn't like, we didn't put it in. We just didn't see the point in playing music that we weren't all completely into. Because when someones not into it, it will really show through in a performance.

[Creamyapples1]

Originally Posted by legionserial

I concur...

You are either a unit that functions as a unit or not. The guy needs to be a little more open to suggestions if he is working with you.

I double concur, I use to play in a band (bass) with a few guys I grew up with, one of them (guitarist) got mad when I or the drummer did something that drew the attention away from him. It wasn't pretty and I haven't talked to him in years, last I heard he sold 90% of his gear because he couldn't find anyone to put up with his shit. If your partner is so in love with himself he should have no problems playing (minds out of teh gutter pls ) with himself.

[variax]

Thanks guys. You are right, maybe I should look for someone else I really appriciate your adice on that matter.
However, i would be very grateful if someone could give me a little more advice for playing guitar over soul music (temptations, drifters, smokey robinson etc) or do you only play chords over them without any lead etc?

Cheers guys

[Creamyapples1]

You can do whatever you want. There is no real right or wrong when it comes to what to play, when to play and how to play it. Your best bet is to go listen to the originals and check out what they're doing, play along, and do whatever makes your ticker tick. As far as learning some new stuff, there are countless websites that offer free information on chords, scales, as well as general and genre based technique lessons and practice material. Just google search whatever it is you want to learn.

[soundchaser59]

Originally Posted by variax

is because of the other person in the duo. He is very rigid in his ways and doesn't want to get rid of his backing tracks. You see, I could make way better backing tracks, and I have, but he won't use them in the set. He's a lot older than I am so he won't listen to my suggestions.

Is he signing your paycheck? If so, then you got nothing to complain about. You can look for a new job.

If not, then you can look for a new collaborator!

Have you tried to ask him why he wont listen to your stuff?? "I'm older than you, so fuggetaboutit!" aint a good answer!

As for more interesting guitar licks, I'd say start watching Earth Wind & Fire clips, Dave Grusin clips, and then buy every Stevie Ray Vaughn video you can get your hands on.....

[ggunn]

One more thing. You said:

Originally Posted by variax

He's a lot older than I am so he won't listen to my suggestions.

I take issue with the implication that because he's "much older" it naturally follows that he won't consider your point of view. In the seven piece project that I am now involved in, the youngest member of the group is 24 and the oldest is 56. We all freely share our ideas, and they fly (or not) on the strength of their own merit, not by virtue of from whom they came.

[Creamyapples1]

Originally Posted by ggunn

One more thing. You said:



I take issue with the implication that because he's "much older" it naturally follows that he won't consider your point of view. In the seven piece project that I am now involved in, the youngest member of the group is 24 and the oldest is 56. We all freely share our ideas, and they fly (or not) on the strength of their own merit, not by virtue of from whom they came.

I'd venture to say that it's actually been discussed and the reason has actually been stated, thus negating the need to take issue with a reasonable fact, regardless of how elementary it may be. I don't think our original poster was being malacious in stating what his current situation is, and it's surely not his fault that his partner is uptight.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by Creamyapples1

I'd venture to say that it's actually been discussed and the reason has actually been stated, thus negating the need to take issue with a reasonable fact, regardless of how elementary it may be. I don't think our original poster was being malacious in stating what his current situation is, and it's surely not his fault that his partner is uptight.

??? I never said he was being malicious, nor did I take it that way, or blame him; I was the first to opine that he find another partner. My point is that just because his partner is older is no excuse for him (the older guy) to be dismissive of his (the younger guy's) ideas, and he (the younger guy) shouldn't just assume that all older guys will be all "my way or the highway" about it. Is that better? ;^)

[Creamyapples1]

Woah, I'm a dick...I totally took that as you giving the 'lil fella' hell because you thought he was bashing old folk. My appologies kind Sir. but I didn't get where he was opinionated towards older people in the first place, on any account, no harm, no foul.

[variax]

Thanks everyone. It really means a lot to me that there are very kind people on here to help me out with my dialema. Thanks again, all advice is greatly appriciated

[Treeline]

Originally Posted by Creamyapples1

I didn't get where he was opinionated towards older people in the first place,...

I don't see that he was - just that he's opinionated about this guy as set in his ways. Some people don't love their fellow man and I HATE PEOPLE LIKE THAT! (Fer you young 'uns, that's an old Tom Lehrer line from about 1959 or so )

But I agree that if he's trying to create with someone who is hanging onto a set of backing tracks like a crutch, it ain't gonna be happenin'. The real solution is to learn the structure of the stuff and hang out with people who do improvisation - watch them, how they react and communicate back and forth with the music, or dynamics, or timing. They're having a conversation without words and it's fascinating stuff they're talking about.

So there's no substitution for seeing this stuff live, but the next best thing is, as has been suggested, tracking down blues performance videos. Rent a bunch of them - SRV, BB King, Django, Joe Pass, Charlie Christian, and then watch Bob Marley stuff if you can find it. Videos are great - they prove this stuff is possible.

After a while the idea of playing to a backing track will be that it's better than nothing, but sure not the same as the real deal. It'll no longer be a crutch.