Of all the techniques I have used to improve as an ensemble player, the most helpful has been recording and listening back to band practices. Listening to the playback, even with rough mixes, has given me invaluable feedback in terms of:
1. which musical lines or phrases work in the context of a full mix and/or song
2. which tones blend well with a full mix
3. when to stop playing so busily
4. when to add tonal or dynamic nuance
5. when to stop encroaching on the singer’s sonic space
6. when to stop “pushing” or “pulling” the beat
7. how well (or poorly) the rhythm section “locks” in with the drums
8. intonation (vocally, fretless bass, trombone, etc)
9. focusing on playing root notes
10. focusing on harmonic and/or melodic playing
11. how well the lyrics flow with the melody
Let me warn you that listening to a playback of your performance can be a very humbling experience. There is a big difference between what a player thinks he sounds like and what he actually sounds like. I liken this to looking at a photograph of oneself. The initial thought when listening to a playback is often, “ouch, I thought I sounded better than that”.
As I alluded to in the title of this post, listening to the recording can be a scary experience.
If I recall correctly, I did not want to play my instrument for a week after listening to my first playback. However, over time I was able to address the issues that were bothering me in the recording. So don’t be too critical of yourself when listening to the recordings. You will find that over time the feedback that intentional listening to these recordings will help you develop as an ensemble player.
