Nigel Tufnel, eat your heart out. by Hryck. via Flickr

If you’ve ever heard an exchange like this, then you are aware of the volume problem:

Bassist: “Hey, you need to play the song with a little more dynamics…”

Drummer: “Dynamics?! I’m already playing as loud as I can!”

Not the right answer.

The volume problem is what you experience when you’re not sure if you’re too loud, not loud enough, or can’t tell the difference.

One of the hardest things to learn as a young musician is how to control your volume properly. When you begin to start playing with a group, out in varying live situations, you’ll immediately find that the way you experience the music on stage as you play it not only changes from venue to venue, but the experience the audience is having also varies.

Let’s talk about a few things to consider when attempting to reign in your volume that will hopefully make your future gigs a bit more sonically under control…

The Song

The first thing I think of is what the song calls for in terms of volume. No matter what the other variables are, sometimes you just need to turn up, and other times, you just need to turn down.

For example, if the next song in your set is AC/DC’s “Back In Black”, and you’re the guitarist, you MUST turn up. If you play that riff quietly, it does not rock, it sucks.

On the other hand, if the next song on the list is, let’s say, Norah Jones’s “Don’t Know Why”, and you’re the drummer, you need to bring it DOWN. Keep the groove firm, and the tempo up, but save the heavy strokes for later (like when the AC/DC song happens). you must take care to adjust your physical approach to the instrument

It may seem like an obvious point, but when you think about it, this means that for every song that comes up in a set, you need to quickly rethink your volume. It means you must not float from song to song with your instrument’s levels exactly the same, and you must take care to adjust your physical approach to the instrument, as well as your mental space, as the next new song begins.

The Set

The next question to ask yourself is: What kind of set are you playing? Is this a set of 4 songs in your original grindcore band? Or is this a 5 hour wedding gig? The answer should frame your approach to the entire set.

Naturally, a short set of original rock music should be louder. You’ve got a short window to really give people the rock, so come out swingin’… leave yourself some room to take it higher, but don’t be timid.

Of course, if you’re playing a whole wedding reception, you’ll want to tailor the set accordingly. Your opening set of songs should be a bit more reserved and gentle, as you don’t want to blow the crowd away from the down beat (especially as they eat dinner). If done properly, you’ll give yourself the opportunity to raise the energy as the night goes on. The volume you play at greatly affects your tone.

The Venue

Are you playing the bar downtown, your school’s football field, or the Staple’s Center? Are you meant to be background music, or are you the main attraction? The answers to these questions should help dictate the volume you play at.

At the local blues bar, it’s expected that you’ll be a bit on the loud side, so give the people the noise they need to drink to. If you’re playing an outdoor area, you might have to play much louder than usual just to stay audible. And if you’re playing a hotel cocktail lounge, you may need to back off the volume to keep the atmosphere relaxed.

Also remember to read the audience at the venue… are they enjoying themselves? Or are they avoiding the stage? Adjust your levels accordingly.

The Tone

The volume you play at greatly affects your tone. A guitar amp pushed to 10 sounds amazing. A drummer that smacks the snare drum with some real force makes the back beat sound like it should.

And yet at the same time, you may have to sacrifice these things for other variables in your gig. Use your judgment.

Your audience does not have access to a button like this. So please, pay attention. LOUD by Henrique Vicente via Flickr

The Right Time

No matter any of the above mentioned considerations, sometimes it’s just time to turn up. Are you the guitar player in a band that backs a singer songwriter, and there’s only 1 tune the whole night where you get a solo? You better take that solo for all it’s worth and deliver… don’t let the moment go by without bringin’ it.

But remember this, when the solo is over, back off! There’s probably another verse, chorus, or bridge, and it’s time for the vocal to take everyone’s attention again, and for you to go back to your “support” role.

It’s All Experience

Even with some good pointers, the only way to solve the volume problem is with experience. Every gig, set, song, audience, and venue is full of many many variables that can affect your choices. The most important thing is simply to be cogniscent of the volume problem. If you make it a habit to always be asking yourself if you’re too loud or not loud enough, you’ll avoid suffering from the volume problem.