GUITAR
PREPARED | James Duke
The last few weeks have been a bit of a whirl- always fun. I try to keep it low stress while still When I get to rehearsals, I have my charts with
wind for me (and probably all of us). The end getting the work done. me and keep writing notes on them. That’s
of the year has been approaching, and now it
helpful because in a band situation you start to
has arrived. While some people are buttoning The first thing I always do is make charts. If I’m realize what parts you aren’t really solid on and
up all of their loose ends and coasting towards in the zone and not distracted, I can get a lot you can make note of it. It’s different than when
the new year, musicians don’t usually have that done in just a couple of hours. I typically chart you are playing along to a mp3, and it’s easy to
luxury. I don’t, at least. We have to work! De- out the arrangement first and then move on to trick yourself into feeling more solid on a song
cember through January can be a really hard the next song. After I have the charts done, I will than you really are.
couple of months for freelancers. Thankfully, go back to the first one and start writing out the I’ve had three live album recordings to work on specific hooks and lead parts on each song.
during this time, so I thought I would share my
I always feel like the night after the rehears-
al is when you really get to work. I look over
process of preparing for multiple projects at the The next batch of songs? I start listening to my charts and the new notes I took and play
same time. those in the car or when I’m working around the through the specific parts that I wasn’t solid on.
house, instead of listening to podcasts or Elton Then I rewrite the charts. Yes, I rewrite every
First off, I am extremely fortunate. A career in John. I make them my clear-my-head music. I chart while listening back through the songs.
music is not an easy thing to achieve, let alone don’t start charting or picking out parts, I just That might seem like a waste of time, but af-
sustain. I am blessed and I know it. I also know let the music soak in. After a couple of days, terwards I always feel ready and confident. So,
that you can’t live off past accomplishments. I’ll start charting them and I already feel ahead it’s worth it.
You have to keep working. You have to keep of the game.
innovating and doing your absolute best at all
The goal is always to be so prepared that I can
times. There isn’t a point where you can phone After the charts are written, I play through the leave the charts behind and walk on stage feel-
it in and risk doing a less than stellar job, be- songs as much as I can. If I find myself distract- ing confident. I want to be present in the mo-
cause next time you won’t get the call. If that ed and losing focus, I stop. I go do something ment and have fun (music is fun, remember?).
happens a few times, maybe your phone stops else for a little while. Taking a 20-minute break ringing. It’s real. It happens. You don’t have can get me back into the right headspace to time to prepare? Make time. really get the songs in my head and under my
fingers. (Pro tip: Write the names of the artist on
One thing I always try to remember is that mu- the chart and file it away. You never know if you
sic is fun. That sounds silly, but when you have might need it again.)
thirty songs to learn and write parts for, it isn’t
December 2019
James Duke
James is a musician, songwriter, and producer from
Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Most known for playing
guitar alongside artists like John Mark McMillan, Matt
Redman, Johnnyswim, and Steven Curtis Chapman,
James also records his own music under the name
All The Bright Lights. He currently lives in Nashville,
Tennessee with his wife and 3 kids..
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