I got a call the day before yesterday from a girl who had desperately been looking for someone who could play guitar for her wedding. So I asked, when is the wedding? Tomorrow, she said. Wow, that is cutting time short, I thought. Thinking it over a bit, I figured I could possibly swing it, if I can learn some appropriate songs the night before.
Since I often perform with my friend Myra, I asked if she would want some nice vocals to go with the guitar, but she said she only wanted guitar music. I agreed to do it, knowing I would be putting some pressure on myself, as I had a cross-country running event the whole morning before the wedding.
I decided to use my JamMan to record basic loops, using my SX acoustic guitar for finger picking and flat picking the chords for each song. I scanned the Internet for some ideas for wedding music, and I came up with:
It took a few minutes to learn all the songs (I know 3 of them already) and then I went to recording them directly onto my JamMan. I made it simple as possible, since I did not have much time available. Therefore, I skipped bridges and other things - just sticking to verses + chorus. With a looper pedal, tt is sometimes hard to get the looping feature to end exactly where you intend to. I had to quite a few attempts for each song before I got it right.
So far so good. The plan will be to run the JamMan through my Vox AD50VT on a clean setting. I just need to play the melody on top of the loop, using either the acoustic or one of my electric guitars. I decided it would be with my Telecaster, since the gig is outside and the acoustic goes out of tune easier than the electric.
I packed up all my stuff, and headed off to the wedding. I knew it was in a park close by, and I saw a wedding party on the grass when I got to the park. I went over and talked to them, and they were just wondering who I was. "What guitar music? You must be at the wrong wedding!" Oh, darn it.
Jumping back into the van, I wondered what to do now. The park isn't that big, can't be too hard to find. After driving around a bit, I saw some signs. It didn't take long to find, but I was a little bit behind schedule by now. You don't want to arrive late at a wedding!
Turns out there was no big panic time-wise. However, there was no power anywhere. This was a park, after all. So, I could forget all about the JamMan and using any electric stuff. Oh, man!
I had no other choice but the bring out the acoustic guitar and try my best at playing songs "naked" - with no accompanying loops, etc. I am really terrible at playing chords and melody at the same time - have never really learned any of that. Would have come in handy today!
It was cold too. Freezing cold, and I had only a thin shirt. I played the songs mentioned, plus random ideas that came to my head. I tried to hint at the melody here and there best I could.
The biggest problem was the delay of the arrival of the bride. It took way longer than advertised, which meant I had to keep playing and playing for the crowd sitting there waiting. My acoustic has high action and pretty thick strings. I don't play it very much either, so needless to say, my fingertips were burning after a while. I tried to play stuff with as many open chords as possible; any chord that would make it easier on my fingers.
In the end, it all turned out good. I was cold and fingers were going numb, but the couple seemed happy with the music, and thanked me and said it was very nice and appropriate music.
This was a tough gig for me. I usually have Myra there to save my behind, and it was too bad all that preparation with the JamMan was of no use. However, I would do this again, but I would make sure I have access to power so I can use pre-recorded loops as mentioned. I think that would work really well, and I could make it sound like a "mini-band", with percussion, bass lines, chords, etc.
Now I have already learned some new songs that would fit a wedding, so if the opportunity comes again, I'll be ready for it.
If you want me to come play at your wedding, I have put up a wedding guitar music page, where you can read more about what I can help you with.
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You can sometimes find a car adapter that changes the DC power to AC. I had picked up a 1000 watt unit for 75 bucks or so. You connect to your battery, then plug your amp cord into the unit and voila! I have used power tools in this way when up north with no AC source.
Comment added on October 18, 2007What a tough gig! I think a Roland Microcube would have been nice to have. It has saved me some times when there is no power.
/ Micke
What a feat! You sure pulled this one through.. :D
Comment added on September 23, 2007