Professional musicians have developed certain slang terms and “sign language” gestures to communicate various instructions to the other musicians on the stage. Knowing these is an important part of being a functional, gigging musician.

1. Bows, walk-ons, intros and play-ons — Specialized music used to introduce people when they are to “take a bow.” This music usually consists of short, well known melodies from popular songs or orchestral works. Bows are used for exiting as well as for making an entrance. Here they are called bows, walk-offs, outros and play-offs.
2. Calling tunes — Deciding what the next tune to play will be, and telling the rest of the band about it.
3. Count off — Counting aloud before the tune starts to establish the tempo and meter (how many beats in a bar).
4. Cue — A physical gesture, audio signal (specific melody, rhythm, lyric, etc.) or lighting effect, signaling that some change is going to happen.
5. Fingers in the air — either designate what chord you are on, or what key you are in. A “I chord” would have one finger in the air, a “IV chord” would have four. For showing what key you are in; fingers going up represent sharps, while fingers going down represent flats. Since the “Key of G” has one sharp, one finger going up is the “Key of G.” Since the “Key of F” has one flat, one finger going down would be the “Key of F.” (Definition: Roman numerals have been used as chord symbols for hundreds of years. A chord built from the first note in a scale is called the “I” chord, a chord built from the fourth note in a scale is called a “IV” chords, etc.)
   Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: band leading, cues, gigging, Music, musician slang, physical gestures, working musician