The Guitarist's Survival Guide: 10 Secrets to Great Guitar Accompaniment
As a long-time six-stringer, I’ve played around the world, in countries close to home and far-off distant lands. Throughout my journey, I have spent a lot of time accompanying singers, ranging from solo artists to full-fledged bands. These experiences have given me some insights about the art of guitar accompaniment, and I'm excited to share them with you. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your skills, these tips will help you become a more effective and supportive guitarist.
Support the Singer!
This is our golden rule. Your job is to support their performance, not steal the show. Every note you play should enhance their voice, not compete with it. Let's see how you can achieve this.
1. Listen
Yes, maybe this is obvious, but you’d be surprised just how many performances I have watched where the guitarist was totally caught up in their thoughts, thinking about who is watching them, what chords come next, whether or not their B-string is actually in tune (it’s not, and it never was).
Instead of getting lost in your own head, focus on the present moment. Lock in with the singer's timing and groove, and pay close attention to the song's dynamics. By working together as a unified front, you'll create a much more engaging and powerful performance.
Take some of the pressure off and make sure you know your chords beforehand. Doing your homework goes such a long way!
2. Watch your volume
Remember how I said you and the singer should work together? Well, let's make things easier for both of you by keeping your volume in check. The audience is here to hear their voice, not struggle to make it out over your guitar. So, turn it down! Make sure your guitar is supporting the singer, not overpowering them. A happy singer usually means a happy audience and happy audiences lead to more gigs, and if you play more gigs, your parents will start telling you they're proud of you (maybe).
If you're playing acoustic, an EQ pedal can be a real lifesaver. Try cutting around 250Hz – it often helps to clean up the sound.
3. Pay attention to dynamics
Listen closely to how the singer's voice moves up and down throughout the song. You'll notice the choruses usually have more energy. The last chorus is often the climax of the song, so leave some space for a powerful finish there.
Adjust your volume accordingly. Play louder in the choruses and pull back a bit during the verses. This dynamic interplay between you and the singer makes the music more exciting and adds so much life to the performance.
4. Find the right key
If the singer is relatively new to performing, it's worth spending some time in rehearsals finding the right key for the song and their voice.
Just because the original recording is in C doesn't mean it's the best key for your singer.
- Does the key suit their vocal range?
- Does the song's original key suit your singer's gender? Women tend to sing in higher keys after all.
- Is your arrangement drastically different from the original (like going from a full-band rock sound to a mellow acoustic duo)?
If any of these factors are in play, consider transposing the song. You can use a capo or simply transpose the chords. Don't underestimate the impact this can have. Finding the right key can significantly improve your performance!
5. Roll with the punches!
We live in the real world. Things don’t always go to plan, you know? Singers get nervous, and mistakes are bound to happen. Maybe they'll sing an extra chorus or jump to the wrong part. Maybe they'll even forget the words entirely.
Don't panic! If they go off-script, just roll with it. If they forget the lyrics, maybe play a little louder or even play the melody to help them find their way back. The more you play, the easier this is to handle, but hopefully, this gives you a head start.
Do not play the blame game! Whatever you do, don't stare at each other after a mistake! This goes for every musical performance – fight the urge to swivel on stage and look at the person who messed up. It looks really unprofessional and trust me, 99.99% of the time, nobody even noticed. Just keep playing, allow yourself a smile, and keep the music moving.
6. Timing
Be in time! Simple, right? No, as it turns out. This topic is an inch wide and a mile deep.
The genre of music matters considerably. Rock and country often call for a tight, on-the-beat feel. But for jazz or soul, a slightly looser, more laid-back and behind-the-beat approach can groove better. Pay close attention to the genre and adjust your timing accordingly.
7. Call and response
I'm tempted to write 'This is crucial!' for every tip, but this one really stands out. Focusing on this will dramatically improve your guitar playing with a singer.
The key is to focus on playing when the singer isn't. If you're just playing chords, increase your volume between their vocal phrases. If you're adding lead lines or melodies, play them when the singer is resting. Bonus points if your melody echoes what they just sang!
Think of it as a conversation – you're not just playing chords, you're weaving your guitar around the singer's voice. This creates a much more interesting and engaging musical dialogue. It's a technique that's easy to grasp, but mastering it takes time. Give it a try – you'll immediately notice a difference in your playing.
8. "It’s about the notes you don’t play!"
Building on the concept of the previous point, let's look at more ways to increase your interplay.
Less is more: I find that doubling the vocal melody with your guitar (or whatever instrument) isn't always the best approach. It can sometimes feel redundant. Instead, focus on playing chords and letting the singer shine, or try adding a complementary harmony line. This gives the singer more space to breathe.
You might also notice that one of the notes in your chord clashes with the singer's vocal line. If this happens, try omitting that note or focusing on a different interval within the chord, like a third or a fifth. This not only creates more space but also makes your playing sound more intentional and considered.
Introduce subtle countermelodies: Instead of directly doubling the melody, try playing a simple countermelody that complements the singer's vocal line. This adds another layer of interest without overwhelming the song.
Your singer might not even consciously notice some of these adjustments, but they'll appreciate the support and feel more comfortable.
9. Fingerstyle
There's an art to adapting songs for an acoustic performance. Even when playing popular covers, you have more creative freedom than you might think (within reason, of course!).
Instead of simply copying the original recording, think about how you can put your own unique spin on it.
Start by building a strong foundation: Learn the harmony – the original chords and any prominent bass lines.
Explore your options: Experiment with different strumming patterns, fingerpicking techniques, and percussive elements like muting and slapping.
10. Chord inversions
Learning different variations of chords can help your cover flow smoothly and naturally, more so than always playing the standard open-position chords. If you have never put time into practising chord inversions, here is a quick introduction.
The open-position chords are triads. That means they have 3 notes in them. For example, "C" has:
The root note: C
The third: E
Usually, the root note is the lowest note in the chord. However, you can experiment by inverting the chord – placing the third or fifth note in the bass. This can lead to a more interesting and sophisticated sound within your chord progressions.
Working on some or all of these will improve your accompanying leaps and bounds. Don't be afraid to experiment, give yourself a break, and most importantly, have fun making music with someone, as that’s the whole point! Good luck!
If you have found an error or typo in the article, please let us know by e-mail info@insounder.org.
