Audition help

Depth_Charge · #1 01-15-2012, 06:59 PM

After too long I finally have an audition next week! 4 songs:

Long Train Running (Doobies)
Blame It On The Boogie (Jackson 5)
Georgiey Porgie (Toto)
Moondance (Van Morrison)

I'm chasing any info on some theory behind these songs - key centres, scales, chords etc that may aid me in learning these tunes.

MalcolmAmos · #2 01-16-2012, 12:44 PM

Let Google find fake chord on the song.
Long Train Running by Doobie Brothers - guitar chords, guitar tabs and lyrics - chordie
That will give you the lyrics to help with the beat -- one note per lyric word Doo-bie would get two notes as would Bro-thers - singing the lyrics helps with how many notes to use, i.e. is just roots all that is called for or do you need more of the chord tones. Sing the tune as you play, let the lyrics help with the groove.

Then find some YouTube on the Doobie Brothers playing and singing the song - play along with them.

Always helps to listen to the band you are auditioning for and see how they handle those songs.

Good luck.

Depth_Charge · #3 01-23-2012, 12:11 AM

I tried blowing the audition off but they really want me to try out this week now! Im at a loss why - I told them I'm not a chart reader, I don't handle surprise key changes well and Ive been a 4/4 rock guy for the past five years at least! If someone told me that as a bandleader, I'd thank them for their time and honesty and wish them well on their search!

When provided recordings from the band I'm auditioning for I avoid learning off Youtube because of the potential arrangements/tuning/key differences and while I tried applying your "follow the lyrics" suggestions, I had no success at all (of course I did try it with Paradise City by GNR after failing on the songs Im learning).

Once I get some coin I'm going to arrange some lessons as I can't believe I'm struggling to even identify the keys on these songs! Its borderline embarrassing.

That said I think Long Train is in G and Moondance is in A and I've been able to play along with those ones pretty well. Georgie Porgy Im working on today/tomorrow and I just can't get my head around Blame it on the Boogie - Its a quick line (to me) and I'm just not that good of a bass player to be popping and skipping along that chorus ... its a bit sad to realise that really

MalcolmAmos · #4 01-23-2012, 02:21 AM

Sorry it did not work out. Perhaps it is not the right time, or the right music.

Keep plugging and good luck.

Depth_Charge · #5 01-23-2012, 03:22 AM

Dude are you even reading my posts?

I'm auditioning this Saturday after trying to blow them off last week, so things haven't not worked out yet (despite my best attempts)

cracked_machine · #6 01-23-2012, 03:35 AM

It might be easier to learn the rhythm of Jackson 5 song using fingerstyle at first and then switching to slap later - if at all - once you have the main sequence down.

James Judson · #7 01-23-2012, 04:17 AM

I wouldn't audition for a band like that. My response would be "You only have four songs???? Call me back when you have forty four songs".

A better audition would be, "Heres our song list (44 songs), pick 4 to audition and give us your list so we can pick four of yours so you can audition us".

Febs · #8 01-23-2012, 05:07 AM

Long Train Running is in G minor. It's essentially a modified G minor blues:

Gmin7 | % | % | % |
Cmin7 | % | Gmin7 | % |
Eb7 | Dsus D | Gmin7 | % |

Febs · #9 01-23-2012, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Judson

I wouldn't audition for a band like that. My response would be "You only have four songs???? Call me back when you have forty four songs".

A better audition would be, "Heres our song list (44 songs), pick 4 to audition and give us your list so we can pick four of yours so you can audition us".

I took his post to mean that the band has selected four songs from its larger repertoire for him to learn for the audition. That's a pretty common practice.

Depth_Charge · #10 01-23-2012, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Febs

I took his post to mean that the band has selected four songs from its larger repertoire for him to learn for the audition. That's a pretty common practice.

+1.

I would not audition for a cover group with only 4 songs down either

Ill try that advice on the jackson tune I am really dumbing my lines down to get a handle on them.

Sadly Im amazed how much this change has hi-lighted the many weaknesses in my playing.

Febs · #11 01-23-2012, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Depth_Charge

Sadly Im amazed how much this change has hi-lighted the many weaknesses in my playing.

Nothing sad about it. Now that you've identified a weakness, you can address it and use this an an opportunity to improve.

Depth_Charge · #12 01-23-2012, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Febs

Long Train Running is in G minor. It's essentially a modified G minor blues:

Gmin7 | % | % | % |
Cmin7 | % | Gmin7 | % |
Eb7 | Dsus D | Gmin7 | % |

I think I do an OK job of this one when I know the key

Myspace Music Player

But any feedback welcome

Depth_Charge · #13 01-23-2012, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Febs

Nothing sad about it. Now that you've identified a weakness, you can address it and use this an an opportunity to improve.

Yeah Ive already started scoping teachers out

**bassybill** · #14 01-23-2012, 07:49 AM

I have a chart for Blame It On The Boogie if that's any use. I took it from a MIDI file of the tune that I found online. It's messy and far from accurate but it helped me to nail the changes and get through the tune pretty well.

Depth_Charge · #15 01-23-2012, 08:25 AM

Thanks Bassybill, that will prove useful as I work through the tune!

niels125 · #16 01-23-2012, 08:49 AM

Just find some chords online, and practise with that

IF the chords are slightly off, or the band transposed them to a higher/lower note, just play it from there (song construction and intervals should stay the same, you just play it a bit up or down the neck from what you learned)

Biggbass · #17 01-23-2012, 08:57 AM

That short list is kinda all over the map isn't it?

Russell L · #18 01-23-2012, 02:44 PM

Long Trian Running has a distinct bass line. Something like G G C-D F G, syncopated from the C onward. (Sorry, I can't do all this computer stuff). The second G is up an octave from the first one. Anyway, listen to it, it's an easy lick.

Depth_Charge · #19 01-23-2012, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggbass

That short list is kinda all over the map isn't it?

Agent backed corporate cover band - not that uncommon for a group to cover such a wide range of genre's around here. I've played gigs where we were asked to do soft dinner music, then rocked the joint for 2 sets, then thrashed the last one out hard. Then got asked back to do it all again next week just to save the venue the "hassle" of bringing 3 bands in for the night