Several weeks ago Marvin Taylor of Five Feathers Music sent me his line of jam-along CDs titled Band in the Pocket through Band in the Pocket 3. I've been trying to find time to write a review ever since but I've been swamped at the paying job and spending what little free time I have jamming with the CDs instead of writing!

First, why am I reviewing these CDs in GuitarNuts Gear Reviews?  They aren't "gear" and I'm certainly no master musician!  Well, aren't they gear?  If "gear" is those things we spend money on in the hopes that we will make better music, then these CDs certainly qualify as gear.  As for being a master musician, probably the most exciting thing I find about these CDs is that they are the first CDs I've found that a guy like me can actually enjoy playing along with.  Face it, you may learn something from those products that purport to teach you how to play the White Album – but it's far more work than fun!

I'm a better tech than player.  Other "jam along" tapes and CDs I've tried have always left me feeling frustrated and tense.  These CDs simply aren't demanding that way.  There is no premise that you have to learn to play a certain riff or a certain song because these CD tracks are merely presented as a style of accompaniment in a given key.  Some tracks are reminiscent of a particular song or artist but even so there is no real pressure to duplicate someone else's performance.  You're free to develop your own lead style and solos.  If you know your scales even reasonably well I believe you'll find that you can almost instantly begin playing lead along with these tapes and you'll be surprised at how quickly you develop chops of your own.

I was also very pleasantly surpised at how much progress my ear has made since I've begun using these CDs.  A few weeks ago I had great difficulty picking up on chord changes even after they'd happened.  Now, I find that I am much better at anticipating chord changes accurately even when playing live with others or with recordings other than these CDs.  I definitely feel like I have a long way to go in this respect, but I finally feel like I'm making progress.

The experienced musician looking to break out of established ruts may want to stretch – play a fast track but instead of playing the obvious blistering lead, force yourself to develop a "sparse" lead that still fits with the track.

The first two CDs are almost exclusively blues and bluesy rock.  Even so, there is a great deal of variation of styles, keys, and tempos on each CD.  On some tracks you almost expect B.B. to play a tastefull riff and on others you kind of wonder what happened to Billy, surely he must be around somewhere! The third CD is oriented more towards metal, and again there is enough variation to keep you from falling into a rut.  Two more CDs, including one for Bluegrass, are in the works and I'm sure others will follow.

The jewel case inserts contain brief descriptions of each track, listing the chord changes and tips on what to listen for.  Don't get too hung up on the "directions," though.  The first couple of times you use the CDs, just start 'em up and let your fingers do the walking.  If you're a relative beginner, you may be surprised at how naturally it comes when you don't try to over-think everything!

The quality is very good.  I've heard some jam along products that sound like they were produced using the internal FM synthesizer of a PC.  Both the performances and the recording of these CDs are of professional quality.

The Band in the Pocket CDs are available at some music stores and online at Five Feathers Music.

These CDs claim to be "perfect for all levels" and I really believe that they live up to that claim.  As a very mediocre guitarist these CDs have helped me immensely in the few weeks that I have been using them yet a friend of mine who has been playing lead rock guitar for about thirty years is crazy about them, too.

Are you an "old hand" looking to stretch and learn some new chops, free of the pre-conceived "right" riffs that accompany many jam along products?  Or are you a relative beginner who is intimidated by the "learn to play it the way Stevie did" products?  In either case, the Band in the Pocket CDs might be just what you're looking for.

John Atchley
June, 2001