Kickin' off a Song

[Duane Graves]

What is the best way to kickoff a song? Is a short riff the best way? Is playing a part of the chorus the best way? Maybe both of the above, maybe neither of the above. Do you have an opinion? What is the best way to introduce a song with your mandolin just before you sing a song? What is effective for you anyway?

--Capo ~o)

[TonyP]

The short answer is the best way that fits the arrangement of the song. That's why you hear so many different kicks. I don't mean to be vague, but there are no hard and fast rules. And if there are I tend to shy away from them as the music ends up being formulaic and everything ends up sounding the same. When I think about it the only rule that applies to me is know the chorus and verse, that way you can play either, and therefor use whatever that fits to kick the song.

[allenhopkins]

Good question, but hard to answer. On some up-tempo numbers, you might actually play through the entire verse or chorus as an "intro." A lot of slower or medium-tempo songs start with what's called a "turnaround," which usually (not always) involves a chord progression of 1-5-1 and a suggestion of the melody. It can be effective just to play a measure or two of the 1 chord (G chord in the key of G, e.g.), then start the vocal. Sometimes taking the last phrase of the chorus and using it as an intro is effective. If the song has a really distinctive riff or "hook" somewhere in it, that can be part of the intro. (Think of those distinctive rock riffs in songs like (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction and Smoke On the Water.)

A really effective intro states the mood of the song -- cheerful, introspective, sensitive, rowdy, whatever -- and also gets all the musicians organized as to tempo, etc. Good performers think about the entire presentation of a song, from the spoken introduction, through the instrumental "bed," vocal technique, breaks or solos, and finale. You can tell when a singer or a band has spent some time working on all parts of their music.

[fredfrank]

If you're playing in a band, you can do whatever you want, and eventually the band will get used to what you are doing. But if you kick off a tune in a jam, you need to stick close to the melody so people will recognize what you're playing. If you don't play a strong melody kickoff, everybody will get lost.

I don't profess to be an expert, but mandolin kickoffs are an art form. In our bluegrass band, I kick off probably 70% of our material on the mandolin. But if I can't get a good feel for the tune, I'll have the banjo or fiddle do it.

I had a fellow tell me one time that you can tell if a band is any good by the way they start and end a song. I always wanted to kick one off and play the ending immediately so everyone would think we were great!

[AlanN]

Critical to a convincing kick-off is the rhythm behind it. Nothing worse than an instrument taking the kick and the band flubs the backing. Bad.

[Andy Miller]

I had a fellow tell me one time that you can tell if a band is any good by the way they start and end a song.

There's sure some truth to that. Those moments in-between songs are a likely time for an audience to tune out and turn their attention elsewhere, don't give 'em good reason to do it by being sloppy with those important transitions!

The type of kickoff varies widely from song to song and style to style. In a jam it's all about communicating what you're doing very well, whether it's through talking or playing. In a band situation I rehearse the band to know the kickoffs. Then I can expect that once I look either side of me and know everyone's aware we're gonna start, all I have to do is start or in some cases give a brief count-in and start, and they'll come in. It takes some work to develop that through dozens of songs, but it's sure worth it when you get a willing audience in front of you and have the opportunity to draw them in.

[Willie]

I have seen some bands start a song and I had no idea what they were playing because they never told what the songs title was...I suggest that you always announce the name of the song, usually like someone else stated, if it is an up tempo song we play a whole verse, if it is a slower song we usually play just a tag line or half a verse...Tape some or all of your practice sessions and try different kick-offs and see what the band members prefer, keeping band members happy is a must or you`ll lose them by and by...Like the man said there isn`t a cut and dry answer to your question, a lot of bands try to do it like the recordings they have heard of a song.....Willie

[Ivan Kelsall]

You too Allen ! - Many of the old Bluegrass 'standards' that had a Banjo intro.began with what you call a 'turn around'. Not too many of them played the whole verse or chorus,i think that was a bit like hearing the song / tune twice over. A nice short intro.well played,then right on into the song is the way i'd want to do it if i was ever to play with a band again - other folks may wish to do it differently - i'll listen !,
Ivan;)

[Ed Lee]

"Kick Off" is peculiar to me ... I immediately look at my toe for a drop-kick in football (which for health reasons I can't do anymore) but I put it in proper context that you are writing of an introducton segment to a song. Well, if doesn't already have one, one often selects 4 to 8 measures of the ending that presents the song's theme and is not a riffing finale. --- Ed Lee

[Fretbear]

Listen to Doyle Lawson's band Quicksilver......

[GVD]

...I had a fellow tell me one time that you can tell if a band is any good by the way they start and end a song....

I had a guy tell me the same thing. In fact it was some guy named Jamie Dailey come to think of it. He said he learned that philosophy from Doyle Lawson. Doyle convinced hime that audiences by and large really notice the starts and endings and will know if you blow them. Make a mistake in the middle of a song and a lot of the audience never notices.

After that I really started paying attention to that theory and have to agree. Nothing sticks out more than band members dribbling in one or two at a time and/or not all stopping at the same time. If you're supposed to kick off a song you better pull all the tone and volume you can and make sure it's distinctive enough the other members know when to come in.

[Fretbear]

Light 'em up hot and put them out cold, the rest is just smokin'.....