The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #124593 Message #2755702
Posted By: John P
30-Oct-09 - 11:17 AM
Thread Name: Musicians' signals
Subject: RE: Musicians' signals
Maybe you should follow that link to Mayne's website before you expand any further.
Why? I've no doubt that Mayne is very accomplished and experienced. What's that got to do with what I said?
But my hope was to talk about different signals people know and like or don't
Yes, indeed. One of my favorites is the distressed look someone in the band gets on their face when they are trying desperately to communicate something to everyone else on stage, but no one can figure out what they're trying to get across. Everyone has their hands busy and can't signal, and a PA system is going so no one can talk . . .
As for sessions and/or dances, the raised leg to signal the end is the only one I've seen used a lot. I personally would rather the signal was in the playing; there are lots of ways a lead player can change the last B part of a tune to let the other musicians or any dancers know that the tune is winding up. As someone who mostly plays accompaniment, I enjoy playing along with that and amplifying it in my playing.