For those of you who play in original bands

[stratovani]

I play in a three-piece that plays mostly originals, with the odd cover thrown in for good measure. I've crafted all the bass lines in all the songs we play, and I've been at it for almost a year now. There's something I've been noticing about my playing, and I'm wondering if it's a common occurence. Whether it's at rehearsal or a performance, I've got bass lines crafted for all the verses, choruses, bridges, etc., with all the required turnarounds and embellishments. I've internalized them very well, and I can reproduce them at will, but I've got a bit of an experimental nature, and once in a while I'll throw something in the song somewhere that sounds great, yet I can't play it a second time. My band mated think something I've played sounds great, and they want me to play it again, but I have to tell them it's lost in the atmosphere forever, until the next "great" thing I play!

Is this making any sense? I'm finding it kind of hard to describe!

[tangentmusic]

Nope.. I totally understand. You're developing a style that lets you "slightly improvise" bits here 'n there within your already crafted structures. This is a good thing. You want to do this.
Can you record rehearsals? Even in a crude manor? You may be able to capture these little moments of spontaneous genius. That way you'll be able to go back and remember what you did, and possibly be able to incorporate the "better bit" into your bass lines.

[burnunit]

I hear you. I throw stuff in all the time, but I like to improvise and most of it is gone with the wind.

If you want to retain your innovations, get something like an H2 and record, rehearsals at least. Try to note when a bandmate praises a line and pick it up from the recording to incorporate it into the song.

[burnunit]

Originally Posted by tangentmusic

Nope.. I totally understand. You're developing a style that lets you "slightly improvise" bits here 'n there within your already crafted structures. This is a good thing. You want to do this.
Can you record rehearsals? Even in a crude manor? You may be able to capture these little moments of spontaneous genius. That way you'll be able to go back and remember what you did, and possibly be able to incorporate the "better bit" into your bass lines.

I owe you a coke.

[tangentmusic]

Originally Posted by burnunit

I owe you a coke.

Great minds think alike... in the Twilight Zone

[Plays_For_Dog]

Me too. I think it happens to just about everyone. It's not skill that's so much a factor, it's your brain. You play something that sounds awesome, but your brain is already working on what bridge you will play to bring it back to the down beat. Therefore, your memory isn't concentrating on remembering it and you easily forget it. Even when I record myself, I can't always replicate what comes out with noodling. I can get close, and if I work on it, I tend to come up with something better and something I remember.

[tZer]

I bet it's very common. I can sure relate.

Best thing we ever did as a band was to make it a rule that we record everything. We've been doing that for the last 6 years and have hundreds of hours with many of those gems. We have our library online so any of us can download any session - one jam at a time - all the jams - and listen to them.

That's how I find those golden riffs or licks and am able to pull 'em out and do 'em again. Being able to listen back to those moments is key.

Record everything is only second important to LISTENING to the recordings. If you don't listen back, you are relying on your memory - and you just stated what we all know to be true - our memories just don't work like Memorex.

[Coop Soup]

Originally Posted by tZer

I bet it's very common. I can sure relate.

Best thing we ever did as a band was to make it a rule that we record everything. We've been doing that for the last 6 years and have hundreds of hours with many of those gems. We have our library online so any of us can download any session - one jam at a time - all the jams - and listen to them.

That's how I find those golden riffs or licks and am able to pull 'em out and do 'em again. Being able to listen back to those moments is key.

Record everything is only second important to LISTENING to the recordings. If you don't listen back, you are relying on your memory - and you just stated what we all know to be true - our memories just don't work like Memorex.

^^^ This

I'm still baffled on how hard it is on certain occasions to learn something I did in an improv moment. What the heck? I actually played it the first time.

[drewsky2004]

Originally Posted by stratovani

I play in a three-piece that plays mostly originals, with the odd cover thrown in for good measure. I've crafted all the bass lines in all the songs we play, and I've been at it for almost a year now. There's something I've been noticing about my playing, and I'm wondering if it's a common occurence. Whether it's at rehearsal or a performance, I've got bass lines crafted for all the verses, choruses, bridges, etc., with all the required turnarounds and embellishments. I've internalized them very well, and I can reproduce them at will, but I've got a bit of an experimental nature, and once in a while I'll throw something in the song somewhere that sounds great, yet I can't play it a second time. My band mated think something I've played sounds great, and they want me to play it again, but I have to tell them it's lost in the atmosphere forever, until the next "great" thing I play!

Is this making any sense? I'm finding it kind of hard to describe!

Most definitely man.This happens to me all the time. In a way it makes music all the more beautiful. Like seeing a shooting star, those musical moments come to you, and you may never see them again.

On the flip side, recorders can definitely work great. My band uses them and we've captured many things.

[Slyonbass]

Improvising is a vast and wonderful world...

I'd say recording as much as possible is the way to go if you want to be able to learn your 'happy accidents'.

[stratovani]

I have to see about picking up one of those little Tascam portable recorders. An ex-bandmate of ours used to bring his to rehearsals, then post them on his web site for everyone to listen to. It wasn't the greatest sound quality but it was good enough.

[DownWithTheDown]

Always Record. Always Record

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY8SIRqz0ig

[Spino]

If you've got an iPod /iPhone theres a Stereo mike available from Bluemike.com which gives excellent recordings .