Supporting the soloist?????.............????? PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!

[Bruh Kell]

Here I go again............

Just exactly what is behid supporting a soloist when you don't know the song?

Last time I asked this question it seemed like I was getting pretty close. Then it all went into making no sense again.

Here's what I'm thinking now.........

1) Soloist sings a note

2) I build a chord off that note

3) I reslove that chord in due time

4) I fill in here before the soloist goes to his/her next note

5) Repeat until song is over.

BEFORE YOU LAUGH ME TO THE GROUND:

I can see that I need some serious help here........I know I probably have this all the way wrong. PLEASE I NEED IT!!!!!

[T-Block]

Just exactly what is behid supporting a soloist when you don't know the song?

You shouldn't be playing anything at all if you have no clue what's going on.  You first gotta figure out the pattern of what the soloist is singing.  Once you got the pattern, it's all about following him/her through the pattern.

[under13]

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You shouldn't be playing anything at all if you have no clue what's going on.  You first gotta figure out the pattern of what the soloist is singing.  Once you got the pattern, it's all about following him/her through the pattern.

I agree. Listen to her (or him) sing it once and then try to remember what they sang. Its all about following, so dont do too much moving while shes singing, wait till she pauses, then do your changes or what have you. Its a lot easier on the organ , cuz you can cover your mistakes and hold notes as long as you need to. If you dont know the song, then it is alright not to play. They cant expect you to know every song in the world.

[Fenix]

Under13, dawg, you crack me up, fa' real!!!!! ;D;D

You should just pay and get those green stars man. LOLOLOL

You shouldn't be playing anything at all if you have no clue what's going on.  You first gotta figure out the pattern of what the soloist is singing.  Once you got the pattern, it's all about following him/her through the pattern.

This is me right here. If i don't know a song, i jsut do not play! Simple as that. Even if i get the evil eye, i don't play. I hate it when someone else plays and doesn't know the song and messes up, it throws everyone off so i don't do it either.

One thing i do do (funny ) is that once i get the pattern of the song, THEN i play along.

Otherwise bruh, fold your arms, smile and praise the Lord.

[under13]

Under13, dawg, you crack me up, fa' real!!!!! ;D;D

You should just pay and get those green stars man. LOLOLOL

I didnt think it went through, so I posted again and added some stuff I meant to say at first. I think I was lookin for it in the piano room, not the hangout

[Metronome]

.....well......if it was only that easy.....man i WISH i could ever have got away with not playing a solo. this one lady about 6 months ago got up and sang a joint in E (dont get it twisted...........i'm fluent in E) its just that she cant sing lol and I was stuck..........so basically i thought of every chord pattern I've ever heard in a solo and had to make it work............the lifes and times of a musician..wow lol

[Bruh Kell]

.....well......if it was only that easy.....man i WISH i could ever have got away with not playing a solo. this one lady about 6 months ago got up and sang a joint in E (dont get it twisted...........i'm fluent in E) its just that she cant sing lol and I was stuck..........so basically i thought of every chord pattern I've ever heard in a solo and had to make it work............the lifes and times of a musician..wow lol

Help me man you seem like you know what's up!

[Brittsings87]

You shouldn't be playing anything at all if you have no clue what's going on.  You first gotta figure out the pattern of what the soloist is singing.  Once you got the pattern, it's all about following him/her through the pattern.

 I agree, I'm a soloist. And several times the musicains didn't know what i was playing, and it gets annoying when they try to play the song, but have no idea as to whats going on. So often times i look over at the musicains and give them the eye, like NO I'll just sing acapoco!

[T-Block]

.....well......if it was only that easy.....man i WISH i could ever have got away with not playing a solo.

Man, what church u go to?  I get way with it all the time.  If I don't know what to play, I'm not bout to make a fool of myself and just do something.  That's unprofessional and tacky.  I've been known to "fake" my way through a solo, but that's only cuz I knew what was going on.  Other than that, ACAPELLA!!!

[Bruh Kell]

You shouldn't be playing anything at all if you have no clue what's going on.  You first gotta figure out the pattern of what the soloist is singing.  Once you got the pattern, it's all about following him/her through the pattern.

But how do you get the pattern? I feel like I'm almost there again.

Can you run me through a typical scenario here?

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ I need it!

[SoundofJoy]

You have to learn the standard songs solosit sing and practice with a melody track. If you post a song you want to practice with I'll create a solo track and post in LGM.

[Ladyn]

There is nothing wrong with acapella!!!  I don't think you should try to play until you have a good grasp of what the soloist is doing.  Practice many progressions so that you have something to pull from. But most of all DO NOT HINDER THE SPIRIT FUMBLING AROUND!!! I have sang acapella many times and I was just fine.  I also have sat and let someone sing without playing and I did not feel bad about it at all. 

[under13]

You have to learn the standard songs solosit sing and practice with a melody track. If you post a song you want to practice with I'll create a solo track and post in LGM.

Yeah there are some songs that we should just know. If a singer doesnt have a musician and expects you to play without practicing, she should sing one of those songs.

IE:
Great is thy Faithfulness
His Eye is on the sparrow
How Great thou art
And There are quite a few other songs that musicians from any church or denomination should just know. Learn them in every key if you need too. I've heard musicians try to play for a soloist in a different key than they were singing in. SMH

[Metronome]

Learn them in every key if you need too.

LOL......the people i play for like phatness when they sing (they want me to open up, not as much pocket).  I've had to play Faith in A, To God be the Glory in B, I wont complain in D...................MADE me learn practically every chord I know lol

[musallio]

Yeah there are some songs that we should just know. If a singer doesnt have a musician and expects you to play without practicing, she should sing one of those songs.

IE:
Great is thy Faithfulness
His Eye is on the sparrow
How Great thou art
And There are quite a few other songs that musicians from any church or denomination should just know. Learn them in every key if you need too. I've heard musicians try to play for a soloist in a different key than they were singing in. SMH

The only time we'll ever sing His Eye Is On The Sparrow @ my church is when my pastor is preaching..Nonetheless, it's a good song to learn..
We barely use the hymbook.

[SoundofJoy]

In order to play for soloist you must have the ability to command six chord structures and their inversions in every key:
Major
Minor
Minor6
diminished
7th
9th

You must also be able to deterimne the flow of the meldoy which will guide you as to which of the chord structures are appropriate to use. I'll work on a midi file of "Great is thy Faithful" and give and example of the use of hese chord in that song.

[SoundofJoy]

I did a DVD lesson of " I Won't Conmplain " and a lesson sheet you can view at www.samsmuzikco.com/pdf/complainvideo3.pdf This lesson sheet shows you the best example of playing this song for a soloist showing the lyrics, melody, chords and bass I use.

[SoundofJoy]

This is the link to the melody line of " Great is they faithfulness" done in hymnal and soloist style. Remember to use the 6 chords rule:
major, minor 6, major 7th, diminished, 7th and 9th chords. Use the notes of the melody to determine which chord structure will fit the path the melody takes.


http://www.learngospelmusic.com/media/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=86220&pos=-2945

[SoundofJoy]

You know Youtube has everything you need if you go looking for it. I've found some singers singing without music for you to practice with. This is the best experience you will ever receive here they go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtMYiKgz-LU

- G to Gb ( at the end she loses her key, don't laugh this happens all the time)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuMYnSbCoYg

- Eb to D ( starts in D, yeah the same thing but its great practice for you)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D9olve5PD8

- D - Bb -Eb it all about ear training this an excellent rendition!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAlRjntvls8

- Eb enventually - you need to practice all these stlyes to become comfortable with anyone who sings this song

I wish I had youtube when I was younger....

[under13]

Another great soloist clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeG_PRiKTH8

If you listen to the Organist, You'll notice how he:
Starts of simple and builds up
Plays runs and stuff, when she pauses
sets her up for the next part of the song
Pays attention to her hand signals
Plays just as well in all three keys

Of course to play like that you have to know the song. You should also be able to hold down a song in every key. It would sound bad if you were to drop out cuz you couldnt play in G or whatever

What I do, is wwat SOJ suggested. Play along with youtube clips that you havent seen before. This will help you learn to play for soloist that you havent played for before