Sunshine Of Your Love - singing and playing!

The Metal Guy · #1 05-20-2006, 02:19 AM

Okay, in a week or two I along with a drummer and guitarist need to play Sunshine Of Your Love live.

I need to sing and play (bass, of course), but I have no idea how to practise. Is there a form of tablature with the lyrics over the notes so I know what to play and sing at the same time? If not, can anybody tell me how they learn a song? Please help, I'm terrified.

mrWr0ng · #2 05-20-2006, 11:42 AM

When I practice, I like to play and sing a lot of Primus songs, like Tommy the Cat, Jerry was a Racecar Driver, Toys go winding down, etc.

Oftentimes i just learn the two parts separately, like if I'm not playing the song then I'm listening and learning the words subconsciously, and when I'm playing along, I'm also learning word placement.

After that, it's just a matter of actually singing on top of your playing. I focus on the rhythm mostly, first on the bass, then layering the vocals on top where I feel comfortable. Sometimes I just blurt out a couple of words just to figure out how to use my mouth, because typically your entire focus will be on your hands and fingers. You have to break that focus, and even just talking over your playin will teach you that. Eventually, I can sing and play the whole song from start to finish, but it's practice, practice, practice, practice, practice.

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably try to play the song at least 6-8 times a day. Play through a couple times sans vocals, then do it a couple of times with. Take a break, play something else, go outside, noodle around, then come back and do it again. It should start lining up pretty quickly.

But a couple of weeks to teach yourself to sing and do a performance right after? It took me months to start singing, I don't think I could have done it in your time frame. If I had to, though, I would just practice nonstop until I knew the song like the back of my hand.

fr0me0 · #3 05-20-2006, 08:35 PM

I come form 2 schools of thought. I like to play it slowly together and work up to speed. and if I have alot of time I'll play the bassline till i can play it in my sleep and then do the vox over it.

lilboo77 · #4 05-20-2006, 08:43 PM

Some people just don't realize just how big Jack Bruce's shoes really were. Props for just giving it a shot - I hope it all goes well.

sjleland · #5 05-20-2006, 09:04 PM

I actually practice my bass/singing with this song.

Sunshine of your love is also the perfect practice song because 70% of the time the vocals go with the song. As said before, its all about layering and (in my opinion) not having any dominant physical action.

The Metal Guy · #6 05-22-2006, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilboo77

Some people just don't realize just how big Jack Bruce's shoes really were. Props for just giving it a shot - I hope it all goes well.

Yeah, they are big shoes. I practised with the band today, I can actually do the entire thing, I'm amazed....Thing is, my drummer is kind of dumb and can't really do it.... Otherwise, the guitarist and I got it down.

Bruce Lindfield · #7 05-22-2006, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjleland

.. 70% of the time the vocals go with the song.

If all's going well, I would hope it's 100% of the time!!

The Metal Guy · #8 05-22-2006, 04:40 AM

Okay, would I be really crazy/stupid to do it without a drummer?

Bruce Lindfield · #9 05-22-2006, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Metal Guy

Okay, would I be really crazy/stupid to do it without a drummer?

No, but it would probably lose a lot of it's power and drive, without drums - of course you could do it, but it won't sound the same and drums are a big part of the sound in this kind of music - it will sound lighter and "emptier" - can be a good thing in some music - e.g. Jazz, Light Classical...

But "Heavy Rock" without drums is virtually unheard of.....

The Metal Guy · #10 05-22-2006, 05:28 AM

Because my drummer is kinda dumb and he can't play the part.

Bruce Lindfield · #11 05-22-2006, 06:16 AM

Create your own version of the tune with simplified parts...?

morf · #12 05-22-2006, 06:28 AM

Try finding the version that Earth Crisis plays. Very cool.

MysticMichael · #13 05-22-2006, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Metal Guy

Thing is, my drummer is kind of dumb and can't really do it...

What a pain in the arse! While it's not the simplest drum part ever, it's surely not the most difficult either - not by a longshot. I mean, the tune never really changes meter. And there aren't a lot of separate sections to learn - there's just the verse and the chorus. It's pretty much a matter of just learning the basic pattern, then inserting some fills that will fit...

If I were playing with a drummer whose skills were as severely limited as that, I think I'd be shopping around for another drummer - fast...

MM

arbitrary · #14 05-22-2006, 09:22 AM

I remember the Snare drum being such a HUGE part of that song.
I believe the snare is on beats 1 and 3 instead of the traditional 2 and 4.
Just have him hit the snare then since thats the case.
Good luck.

dougjwray · #15 05-22-2006, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

What a pain in the arse! While it's not the simplest drum part ever, it's surely not the most difficult either - not by a longshot. I mean, the tune never really changes meter. And there aren't a lot of separate sections to learn - there's just the verse and the chorus. It's pretty much a matter of just learning the basic pattern, then inserting some fills that will fit...

If I were playing with a drummer whose skills were as severely limited as that, I think I'd be shopping around for another drummer - fast...

MM

That's exactly my take on it.
It's funny, though-- recently, I read something about how, during rehearsals for the recent Cream reunion, Clapton and Bruce told Baker, "At last-- a drummer who knows how to play 'Sunshine of Your Love!'"
During the verses, it's simply that the "1" and "3" are emphasized on the toms... certainly doesn't seem like a big deal. But maybe drummers have a mental block about it, or something.

The Golden Boy · #16 05-22-2006, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arbitrary

I remember the Snare drum being such a HUGE part of that song.
I believe the snare is on beats 1 and 3 instead of the traditional 2 and 4.
Just have him hit the snare then since thats the case.
Good luck.

There is no snare in the verses of the song.

Sunshine is easy, if you want difficult try Politician!

arbitrary · #17 05-22-2006, 08:25 PM

Just listened to it for the first time in about 4 years, yeap its toms on the one and three...
same effect either way; accent the one and three drummer boy...huge

Crazyeelboy · #18 05-23-2006, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Metal Guy

Okay, would I be really crazy/stupid to do it without a drummer?

Yes. Unless you really mutate the song into something else, you just won't get the right effect without drums.

The Metal Guy · #19 05-24-2006, 05:48 AM

Well I finally fixed the problem with my drummer.

He did his own thing and it sounded really garage band-like. And we wracked our brains for days as to what was wrong, and we finally found out the problem (stupid as it may sound) was he was playing too much. If he really eased back, the song sounded great.

The band is all set for the song next week.

Well, I'm terrified, any tips to get over stage fright?

Crazyeelboy · #20 05-24-2006, 07:13 AM

Glad you worked out the drums. Now for the stage fright - practice, practice, practice and then practice some more so that you can do the song in your sleep. Then, jump into the song on stage and if you are still nervous, with all that practice, you will be able to do the song on "auto pilot". Perparation is the best cure for stage fright.