Get noticed by those around you. But how? On a recent vacation, my oldest brother and I got together in my hotel room and played a few songs he brought along in his guitar case. We both sang – he on lead/melody and me doing harmony (as best I could 😉 Little did we know, we had an audience in the hallway of the cleaning staff.
You don’t need to be intentionally playing in public for people to notice you. This was the second time I was on vacation just having fun and not realizing anyone was listening. On another occasion, my wife and I were in an AirBnB for the weekend and the owner overheard me jamming by myself in the bedroom. I was playing my Aria Sinsonido unplugged and the rest of the house was quiet enough he could still hear me through the closed door! Here are some ideas on how to get noticed without being on stage:
Get Noticed Playing Songs
People want to hear full songs and it stands out when you play an entire song. If it is a popular song that they can sing or hum to, even better. Live music is much more fun than the recorded stuff, anyway. Just playing riffs may be cool but it rarely gets people to stop and pay attention. Most people will not even recognize the riff out of the context of the song, anyway. It’s good practice and builds a repertoire as I have mentioned in a previous post: Learn To Play Guitar For Adults.
Additionally, it is good to learn entire pieces. This helps with learning how to transition from the different parts of songs. There is the usual verse and chorus or refrain. However, many songs have what is called a bridge that can be entirely different from the rest of the music. There may even be a key change that can throw you at first. Mastering those changes and playing them smoothly can be a bit challenging, at first. Great lessons to get under your fingers!
Get Noticed by Playing the Signature Riff(s)
I mentioned this before in Needs More Cowbell? Getting the signature Sound. Incorporating the readily identifiable riff of a song really grabs attention. Getting it smooth with the rest of the strumming or picking will help people hear the song even if you don’t sing. The ability to work in a little bit of the signature can make the music stand out. People will say, “That sounds familiar…” and stick around to listen more.
By the way, the signature “riff” can be the rhythm. Playing the single note run or arpeggio is good but it is not everything. Think about Extreme’s Hole Hearted or Jim Croce’s You Don’t mess Around With Jim.
Get Outside!
You can full on Chicago Saturday in the Park and play music in a park. That may feel like too much exposure for some but start slow. Find a bench by yourself and just try it out. When I go to a Christian retreat, I play my guitar during breaks. The facility is a bunch of cabins with porches and rocking chairs. Perfect place to sit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings with the inspiration of a little music.
That experience caught the attention of others who also brought their instruments. We connected at one of the meals and we make it a habit to get together at every retreat for an informal jam during free time on Saturday afternoon. We all look forward to it every year! It is a great way to learn new tunes and play in a supportive setting – no egos, just fun!
Finally, Preparation is Key
Practice and make mistakes but don’t forget to go beyond and play something fun! Get a few songs ready to play through. Just that little discipline will boost your confidence. If someone asks you to “play something”, you will be ready. Most of the time, it won’t even matter what it is. Take requests as suggestions of things to learn for the future. Your style may remind someone of a particular song or artist. Go with it and expand your repertoire!