The Steel Guitar Forum

"take it" are the 2 most dreaded words at an unrehearsed gig. A visual "do you want one?" is easier to deal with, but one has no control over what's asked of you. Don't feel bad, but perhaps see it as an opportunity to work on stuff

I refer back to my improvisation techniques - paraphrasing, key of the moment, arpeggios, play over changes, guide tones, etc., etc. They give you lots of ideas to try. As I play the solo I "sing" the melody in my head - all these help me a lot.

Someone comes in from the audience to sing with the band, he decides to sing an unannounced song, just starts strumming away but fails to tell the band what key he's playing in. The rhythm guitarist looks at the guy's hands to see if he can figure it out, the bass player muffs it, and you slide up and down with the volume turned right down, trying to figure it out. Then he turns to you and says "Take it". You haven't even figured out what key he's playing in, so you try and make something up, while the lead guitarist is just thankful that it's not him.

The singer gets awesome applause, and returns to his seat to continue his night of drinking, and you think to yourself, "That audience is so drunk they'll appreciate anything..."

Good one, Alan. I try to avoid those situations.

I think that is what is referred to as a, "Learning experience," as in, "Oh no! Another learning experience!!"