Recording nerves

[Buebo]

Entire bibles have been written bout stage fright. I myself can cope quite well with playing in front of other people. But I get really nervous when I need to record something. Perhaps this has got something to do with inexperience since I've only did it a couple of times but when I did it took me a long time not to lock up when playing. Perhaps you know that feeling, there is this final solo/lick that needs to get recorded, so your in there on your own while your entire band is behind the glass watching you. I guess I just have to relax and nail the bastard but I got really nervous, way more than playing in front of large crowds.
Well any ideas or tips would be greatly appreciated!

Greets, Buebo.

[Matze]

My advice is: Practice it!

Hook up your computer (or minidisk recorder, or whatever) , so that you can record yourself.

Use a Lick, guitar solo or rhythm part that you know very well. Turn on your metronome. Record yourself.

Then listen to it closely.

You may experience the feeling that you:

a) didn't play it as good as you just did one minute before, without recording yourself

b) that it doesn't actually sound as good as you thought it sounded when you played it.

Keep working on the same part until you are satisfied with the recording.

Now the trick is to do this as often as you can, if possible every day. Try to minimize the number of attempts needed to nail the part. Concentrate before you record. You can also set a limit of tries before you start your recording session.

If you record yourself regularly it will definately take away your nervousness and also make you sound better.

[Bongo Boy]

I've got no tips, except to do it a lot. I have the same experience--turn on the record button and whoa! Instant panic.

What is good about this is that it highlights how little attention I pay, when practicing, to mistakes. I'm making the same mistakes whether recording or not--it's only when you THINK you can do a good take that you flip on the recorder, only to discover you can't play 90 seconds without an error.

It makes you think a bit differently about how you listen to your own practice, and about what you DO when you're practicing and make an error. The RECORD button makes you really HEAR what you're playing, and for that, it's a good thing.

[rmuscat]

hi, like bongo boy i don't have much experience in fact i am thinking of gearing up for home recording ...

but anyway last week we recorded some stuff on a computer over at the garage where we rehearse, some of my mates were so concious about the fact that we were recording that they got too excited and actually started to mess up. I remember looking at the keyboardist who had to end a song and see his fingers all shaking like hell. During the solo for that song i totally forgot i was recording coz i'm particularly fond of that part and my take wasn't that bad.

I messed up in another song when i decided to experiment DURING recording cause i totally forgot we where - NOT good.

My small tip (from the non-expert that is) try to forget all and try to become one with your guitar and music. Concetrating on the fact you're recording doesn't help you!! Concentrate on playing! (it's like thinking obsessively about a mistake and pushing yourself to do it)

[sugarbee]

Best thing I can think of, and it's something I think we've talked about before in here somewhere, is to breathe. It's so easy to forget to breathe. Maybe before you record spend a few minutes just relaxing, focus on your breathing, long, deep breaths. This will calm you down and that may be all you need to get through it. It's just like stage fright, it's pretty much all in your head, so focus your attention on something else, something you can control, like breathing. It might help.

[fortymile]

my solution costs about 12 bucks and is called "beer."

i also recommend the DIY approach to home recording. no one watching you at home in your darkened room. my second home is www.homerecordingconnection.com lots of stuff to learn there. and full of great peeps!

[Buebo]

Thx for all the tips. I'm considering getting a MiniDisc plus Mic so I can record myself often. Is anyone here experienced with using MD to record your guitar playing? If so can you tell me something about the quality etc. of the recording?

Greets, Buebo.

[ChrisJ]

When I first started out on my recording career, I did terrible when the tape started rolling. It takes a little experience to get over the stress. If there is any advice I have, it would be:

1. Instead of recording in the room with your amp, have the engineer run a line to your amp in the room and play your part sitting with everyone else in the control room. This way you won't need headphones and it makes the whole thing easier to deal with. You can also make sure no one is bad mouthing you.

2. Play less. I tend to underplay a little while recording, I can usually pull everything off that way.

3. Be prepared when you go in. I see so many bands waste money by trying to work out endings when they get in the studio.

4. One of the best thing I learned is this: Pretend you are recording all the time. Whenever you practice or are on a gig, pretend that the tape is rolling and make an effort to play everthing perfect begining to end. By doing this you will develope the ability to play everything top to bottom without any mistakes.

It isn't rocket science anyways, nobody is going to die if you don't get it right the first time through the take. Relax.

-CJ

PS: here is a link to an article I wrote on recording: http://chrisjuergensen.com.hosting.domaindirect.com/soldier_of_fortune_article.htm

[fortymile]

one time, this guy died when i messed up a solo.

[Buebo]

one time, this guy died when i messed up a solo.
Haha :D. He was so impressed by you burning over the fretboard he spotaneous combusted.

Thx for the advice ChrisJ I'm gonna read your article right now.

[Gandalv]

In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, some bassist was shot because he played the wring riff three times in a row.

[fortymile]

he was? who? i loved those books and read them all as a teen and i read them again about 2 years ago (and intend to keep reading them) but i don't remember a bassist being shot. member of hotblack's band? i must have missed that!