Covers - Do you always play it like the original?

[hsech]

My band plays it our way. The song has to be recognizable, breaks in the right place, volume appropriate for the audience and on beat. Short of that we improvise a lot. We get the drum beat like the cover song and I play bass like the song as close as I can get, but it's still our style. I never use a pick. I adjust at the amp and bass.

[morgansterne]

the point is really to sound good isn't it? I play 90 percent fingers because it's just a lot harder for me to be as locked in to the beat with a pick. Sometimes the song demands a pick to sound better. I don't really care what the original sounded like exactly. If the drummer in the band plays something a little different from the original, and seems set on playing it that way, I just alter my own part a little bit so it matches and grooves together.

on a related note, I think even big original bands can be a bit slavish in replicating their albums. For Rush's clockwork angels tour they had an eight piece (I think) string section that only played the second half of the show. I was wondering how cool it would have been to hear the synth parts in some songs played by the "orchestra" instead of being samples triggered with one button push.

[monkeybass68]

I think if it's just a cover band or a cover song your original band is doing, do what's comfortable for u. If it's a tribute band (I play in a few, including a Foo Fighters tribute :-), u should try to emulate the recording as best u can. For the Foo Fighters tribute, I use a pick & a P bass. If u simply practice using a pick with a P bass, you'll find u will get used to it pretty quickly. I'd been playing for over 20 years & had never used a pick, but got comfortable with it pretty quickly. I'm starting a Black Crowes tribute now, so I'm using my fingers for that & looking to get a Jazz bass.
However, when I do just a regular cover gig, I find I can add my own "flavor" to it & it still goes over well.

[jaxom]

I have no choice... I can't play with a pick to save my life....

[Itzayana]

I am happy to say that the band I am in never ever does a cover like the original.
We play 60% original music and 40% cover tunes. We make the covers our own.

[Rockford]

Originally Posted by Itzayana

I am happy to say that the band I am in never ever does a cover like the original.
We play 60% original music and 40% cover tunes. We make the covers our own.

Sometimes characteristic, but original lines are better than what's on the recording.

[Big Brother]

Originally Posted by bassteban

Get the hooks as there as possible- that's what he crowd semi-notices. Pick, fingers, 3, 5, 12 string, active, passive- WHATEVER. Make it recognize able and danceable, get people buying drinks, get paid. Play more, TB less

Exactly this. If you can nail the phrase that made the song memorable, you can pretty much play chopsticks over the rest of the song and get away with it.

[Joe Louvar]

Originally Posted by Kmonk

I used to play everything with a pick. About 10 years ago I began playing everything with fingers. I rarely use a pick now.

+1, (fingers and thumb) - this is my story too.

[amacauslan]

I think picking technique is important for bassists in covers bands. I would consider myself a fingerstyle player. The pick only comes out for me at covers gigs. I just can't quite rock out with fingerstyle to say, a Blink 182 song. Conversely I wouldn't touch jazz with a pick.

Serve the Song! That's the most important thing.

[Bassist4Eris]

I'm way better fingerstyle, but if I can tell by listening whether the original line was played with a pick, then I will try to emulate. But I play Pink Floyd's "Money" fingerstyle because I miss the strings a lot when I try to do the octave jumps with a pick.

If it's not obvious or crucial to the tone, then I use my fingers, regardless of how the original player recorded it. Unless it's driving 8th note rock. I find it easier to get the feel right on that stuff if I use a pick.

[bucephylus]

The answer ought to be that it depends on the gig, who is paying you, and what they need. It should not be determined by technical limitations on the bassist's part. Best to be able to hang with any of the styles. Pizz, plectrum, and slap should all be part of a good working technique library.

That said, I personally have a hard time treating popular music like classical music and trying to get as close to the "original" as possible. To me, the player and the band in popular music really have an obligation to bring something a little bit fresh and new to cover interpretations. But, there are gigs where the guy who got the gig wants a particular thing played a certain way. I gut through a few of those every so often, but I'm not not long for the door when it happens. Not a good fit for me. OTOH, it is good to have the original recording under your fingers for reference.

I also find it is equally important to learn a bunch of the other parts in a given tune, especially the signature stuff. If nothing else, it helps build awareness and can further create spontaneous goodness, when tastefully applied.

Typical cover gigs do not require complete faith to the original recording, but you do need to understand key parts, play them well, and generally swing. That's the thing the crowd actually picks up on. Way more "does it feel good and sound good" than "is it faithful."

IME, YMMV.

[SactoBass]

I have been playing in cover bands for the past 40 years, and for me personally, I always try to cop the sound of the recording as closely as possible. I don't do that to please other people, I do it to please myself.

I play fingerstyle, and I play with a pick. It depends on the song I'm covering.

I was in a YES tribute band about 10 years ago. We played their 70's era material for the most part. I couldn't imagine playing Mr. Squire's material without a pick.

But if someone asked me to play Ramble On by Led Zep, I couldn't imagine playing that song with a pick.

So, it all depends on the song.

[obimark]

Learn to use BOTH. You won't regret it. It isn't an either or.
Rock songs with mostly eighth notes, I use my pick, funkier stuff it is always fingers.
BUT I can play any song on our list with either or, but frankly the eighth note songs sound more even to me with the pick. (and I never used a pick for the first 18 years I played bass!)

[CJAtheBassman]

There are many songs that were originally played with a pick that I play fingerstyle (either because it sounds weird when I play with a pick or I can get the song down with a pick). However, there are still pick-played songs that I play with a pick on.
Unless you're absolutely trying to emulate the song, it doesn't matter whether you play with fingers or a pick as long as it sounds good and you're comfortable playing it.

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by Nashrakh

Last rehearsal my guitarist told me I can make fingered flats sound like picked rounds. So there's your answer. (not sure if I should take offense by that comment lol!)

No offense but your guitar player might be insane or something.

[Rusty G String]

I only use fingers. My band only has one guitar player, so my bass has to cover the rhythm guitar part sometimes as well as the bass part, so it's not always the same as the original. We play it as close to the original as possible. I sing many songs also, so sometimes the bass line will get dumbed down in certain parts to accommodate multitasking.

[js1]

My take on it is if you're doing interpretive covers, and really changing it up, then change it up. If you're basically playing the recording in the original style, then might as well try to get it as close as possible. Cause it forces you to NOT play like yourself, and you learn something.

It's also efficient. If you're like the typical weekend warrior band, rehearsal time is precious. An extreme example - I play in a covers band that doesn't rehearse. To learn new songs, the drummer and I both go back to the original recording. When we play the song (for the first time, live on stage), we know that our parts will work together and we know all the cues.

At the very least, learn what makes the original part work. Then, if you can make it better, have at it.

[Koji_Sunioj]

Most of the metal songs I cover or practice with actually are originally played with a pick. I might even go further and even play lead riffs that the guitar does if it interests me.

[Ezmar]

Originally Posted by Big Brother

Exactly this. If you can nail the phrase that made the song memorable, you can pretty much play chopsticks over the rest of the song and get away with it.

What if you're Playing the Manfred Mann version of "Blinded by the Light"?

[sammyp]

It all depends on the song and style for me .....like if it's Another one Bites the Dust i will play it note for note cause it's a real bass tune......for other tunes i just need to know the chords and kick pattern and do my own thing. I never use a pick, as a guitar player of 25 years all the fun and feel of bass is using the fingers although i do like that Carol Kaye muted vibe!

I play in bass in an 80s - current hard rock band ....the guys have mentioned upping the game and doing something heavy duty like Master of Puppets .....i'd be outta luck for that one with my fingers ....i'd have to pick it.