Back, Back, Back it Up!

All About the Back Up

It is all about the backup. 90% of your time in a band or jam is spent playing backup, so you should spend a large amount of your practice time working to become a backup artist! Backup changes depending on the context of the group. In a standard bluegrass band you might play the traditional chop. If you are just jamming with one other player, you might use more open chords and play with a style like Sam Bush to fill more space. Put on the looper, turn down the band track, and play rhythm with the lead. Try switching between traditional rhythm and more open chord rhythms. Don't just play rhythm once through and stop, keep it going, this is what you will do in a band or a jam, so start preparing for that.

Where to next, is next.