Reading was the last thing I got together, because I came to it late. I know many guitarists who read better than I do, but at this point I seem to be able to do whatever I need to do on the gig. Your goal should be to be able to cut a big band or a rehearsal band book. If you don't have a lot of experience, it helps to know some things.

One, everybody is not playing everything flawlessly. OK, the lead trumpet and first alto probably are. But others are following, ghosting, and generally using an important skill, that is, refraining from playing rather than guessing. That's a relatively easy thing to learn to do. So stop thinking you don't belong. There's no room for fear or doubt, there's just no time for that. You're too busy, and besides, everybody's paying a lot less attention to you than you think. They're too busy for that.

Next, get and use a volume pedal. Control your dynamics in real time without taking your hands off the instrument and, more importantly, without breaking your concentration.

Keep a couple sharp pencils in your bag, spare strings, a cable and an AC extension cord, and also a spare battery powered stand light. If the charts are long, use two stands so you can spread them out and reduce or eliminate page turns.

Two thirds of every big band book are composed of the same charts. Thad charts, Sammy charts, Buddy Rich, Oliver Nelson, Nistico, Basie, Duke. You will play Groove Merchant, Splanky, Basie Straight Ahead. You'll see them over and over, you'll get used to them. Get the records, and play what's on them. Maybe you can get some charts from a local high school band director.

If you need to play Freddie Green style, back off the volume on your guitar to about 6 or 7. Set the amp volume so it's just a tiny bit louder than an unamplified L5 with heavy strings would be. Then strum normally, not too hard, and don't adjust anything. Stay off the plain strings. Play 3 note 7th chords that omit the 5th. Play on string sets 643 and 543. Keep the chords physically close together and in the middle of the neck.

Sometimes you play piano parts, or the whole piano book. Don't panic. Look at the intro and ending. Where you have notes to play, some are with the sections, and some of them are just you, exposed. And sometimes you have to play exactly what's there, but sometimes you don't. If the written out chords are coming too fast, look at the chord symbol and play whatever voicing works, but with the right top note. Afterwards, snap a picture of the chart with your phone, go home and learn the sucker.

Basically, do as little as possible where you are weak, and do what you are supposed to when you're strong.

Guitar parts sound an octave lower than actual pitch. Unless told otherwise read in this guitar pitch. But be prepared to read an octave up, in actual pitch, if asked. And if you're reading a piano part, that's supposed to be actual pitch, however, don't sweat it if you'd rather stay low.

The band will be happy with you if you get a good sound at the right volume and you don't play something that shouldn't be there. If you can manage this you'll sound better than you think you do. Always play with others, you need ensemble experience. Get some duet books and find another guitarist to play them with you. Get into a rehearsal band at the community college. Do summer big band music camps. Take lessons. Read out of your fake books with other instrumentalists in any combination. It's amazing how much you learn playing in these kinds of settings. Last but not least, if you play in a rehearsal band, you are networking regularly with at least 17 other people who are doing what you want to do. That can't be bad.