building confidence

[make_noise]

does anyone know some tips to help build confidence in playing? i'm in a jazz band at school with several very talented people and every time its my turn to play, i suck because i get so nervous. I want to enjoy it and relax, but I'm always just scared. :upset:

[Aus_rock_god]

Before you play, close your eyes and put your hand on your forehead, it sounds stupid but it works.

What works for me is if I look for someone in the room that I know HATES me, and stare at them. It kinda fires me up and makes me perform better.

There's a guy at school who lothes me, and when I'm playing at a show and he's there, I feel like punching him in the head, which makes me kinda forget that I'm playing at a concert and makes me perform with a lot more vigour. But then again, I angry heavy rock and not jazz.

Also, drink a lot of water.

Or just simply close your eyes and play, works for Eddie Van Halen (who suffers from nerves quite a bit).

[Ozduck]

i used to play in the jazz band.. and there was two of us, like takin it in turns

This guy was reallly realllllly good, and i at first i was so imtimidated

There isnt much u can do, execpt try and ignore and after a while you will begin to feel comfatable around them :)

[ani_starkiller]

i was never in jazz band i love jazz tho and have played in jazz band. dont think about anger...music isnt about that. its about love, peace, imagination, and soul. just relax, dont think about the other guys...play what you feel...and practice your stuff as much as possible. and if you mess up, who cares...everybody screws up...even trey anastasio.

so chill out and play some music

[Trigger_003]

See if you can get to jam with one or two of them some time out of jazz band. People that are more outgoing/accepting of course. If you get used to playing with even just one other person, then there's going to be someone you can grin at and get a confidence boost from.

As you get to know the members of the band more, it'll hopefully turn into a fun thing as opposed to some type of trial for you.

Knowing your material inside-out helps a lot too. If you're able to say, hold a conversation with someone whilst playing the song, that means you're going to be able to play it during a band rehearsal/performance even if you're stressing out about what you think you sound like.

Of course, that doesn't really apply if you're improv'ing, but hey.

[Merkaba]

Practice

[CelticPunkRocker]

Do some stupid cool sh1t. Roll around on the floor ala guitar solos. No one will care how crap you are.
"that kid sucks"
"who cares, hes rolling on the floor"
wikid.

[Samick]

just do what i did...

next time your local radio station has a guitar contest call up and when your on the air get about 4 notes into your solo and choke...after you choke you'll be pretty pissed off, but eventually you say to your self "i'll never let that happen again"
then next gig you'll be confident you wont choke cause you know how to handle it

worked for me:thumb:

[Aus_rock_god]

i was never in jazz band i love jazz tho and have played in jazz band. dont think about anger...music isnt about that. its about love, peace, imagination, and soul. just relax, dont think about the other guys...play what you feel...and practice your stuff as much as possible. and if you mess up, who cares...everybody screws up...even trey anastasio.

so chill out and play some music

... unless you play loud angry guitar music...

[Lady Lex]

does anyone know some tips to help build confidence in playing? i'm in a jazz band at school with several very talented people and every time its my turn to play, i suck because i get so nervous. I want to enjoy it and relax, but I'm always just scared. :upset:

the only adage: Practise Practise Practise :)

Youre band members are with you because you must have some talent.

Trigger has a good idea there - not only practise on your own; practise and jam just for the hell of it. Your confidence will come about because you are used to performing :)

Another trick: play your tunes and read a magazine at the same time. Its not as easy to do as you think, but once you get there, you'll know your fingers have it down pat. This is a Liszt techqnique - so I assure you it works :)

[Camel42]

learn theory

[Jasarn]

learn theory

Yep, that should do the trick alright.

[TheJarve]

no offence but how does theory help confidence?

[moogoogaipan]

^^^nervousness is usually a sign of ill preparation. If you learn detailed theory...like scales and digital patterns, you will be more prepared to do stuff on the fly.

[make_noise]

ok thanks. i know theory pretty well, what happens a lot is my fingers get stiff and cold and i forget stuff like what scale im supposed to be using or i'll just hit the notes in the scale without expression. i can usually do ok when only i can hear myself but for some reason not in front of others.

[moogoogaipan]

that just comes with time and practice. You'll get it soon enough

[Sexypants.]

Maybe you should tell them that you don't suck, you're just nervous sometimes and that might help calm your nerves, or at least they'll be able to relate, they probably went through the same phase.