Learning Basslines in the real gigging world

[ThomasG]

I am going to embark in hopefully getting some local type gigs. Questions to all you bassists that gig alot, what is the protocol, do you have to learn most basslines by ear, or lead sheets, how long do they give you time to learn a set ? I understand it depends on various factors, but, let say a funk,classic rock, or pop cover band. Do they expect you to know the tunes, to me it seems like a challenge. I have played in a few jazz ensemble and everyon had the music, but I know that is not going to be the case in the local pop,rock, funk scene ? Thanks for the feedback.

[mambo4]

My experience is mostly auditioning for local , original bands.

Usually I grab 3-4 songs off their myspace page, and then write up my own charts. I practice the charted material till i feel confident. At the audition I usually am thrown 3-5 new songs as well, which I just have to pick up by ear, jotting chords down as I go, but perfection is not expected for the new ones.

I've also subbed in friends' cover bands, and I was given copies of their sheets to learn from, and a cassette of most songs in the book. That may not be typical however.

[Ostinato]

I use the nashville method, which is like crib notes for songs...instead of writing F7, Bb7, etc. you use scale degrees, but in arabic numerals, so a VI-I-II-V blues would be 1, 4, 1, 1, 4, 4, 1, 6, 2, 5, 1, 6, 2, 5..that way the singer can try a different key and you're notes are still useful. For licks I actually write down a mini-staff and show the notation in the notes...works great!

This works for any style of music

[Joeykun]

Originally Posted by ThomasG

I understand it depends on various factors, but, lets say a funk,classic rock, or pop cover band. Do they expect you to know the tunes, to me it seems like a challenge.

I just joined a new cover band and in 2 weeks I learned 30 songs. The band was impressed. My motivation is the quicker I learn these songs, the quicker we can play out and make $$$. Plus, you don't want to be on stage and cause a train wreck. Bass players keep the band together. Of coarse we all know this! So, the moral of this story is "know your role!"

[rduckwor]

Originally Posted by Ostinato

I use the nashville method, which is like crib notes for songs...instead of writing F7, Bb7, etc. you use scale degrees, but in arabic numerals, so a VI-I-II-V blues would be 1, 4, 1, 1, 4, 4, 1, 6, 2, 5, 1, 6, 2, 5..that way the singer can try a different key and you're notes are still useful. For licks I actually write down a mini-staff and show the notation in the notes...works great!

This works for any style of music

1+ for the Nashville method. 1300 and 59 guitar pickers can't be wrong! Besides that what they are likely to hand you when you walk into the session.

[DocBop]

It is very regional so when checking out bands or talking to other local musicians start making lists of the tunes they play. You'll find the guys that play simple and solid and know lots of songs get the most work. Also work on your ear so you can quickly pickup songs you don't know on the bandstand.

You will find the more songs you learn the easier it is learn songs. You start seeing and hear common chord progressions and learn the style bass lines. Also you start being able to predict chord changes and ways to cover if wrong.

One guy I know was a real good player but competition at the high end is tough. Then he started to sub a lot and got a reputation for being able to figure out and learn a whole show in a day or two, now he's a getting the gigs and not sub'ing. He'll tell you its not easy and sometime gets no sleep, but being able to learn a show fast and play it like you've been doing it forever is a money making skill.

[Dr_Funkdamental]

+1 on Doc's comments. When he speaks, I listen . I just joined a blues, new orleans, funk type band recently and I learned about 40 tunes in a week and a half. They said I could use charts and music if I needed to, but I wanted to challenge myself to memorize them. Blues seem easy, but when they ALMOST sound the same except for a few diff progressions, it can get confusing. Nevertheless, Im blessed with a sharp ear, so that helped alot. My first performance with them is a 4 hr gig this weekend. I just kept playing the songs as much as I had time to, and listened to them even when I didnt have a bass on hand (in car, etc). I going back now and notating some of the tougher ones and make some small notes about style, tricky road maps and such.

Also, the number system is whats up. The band had changed some keys of the music, so since I learned them by numbers, I was able to easily adjust. Since you have some jazz charts, thats a good way to start.

[ryco]

And +1 on Dr Funkdamental's post

For rock, pop and T40 gigs you usually have about two weeks to learn 4 or 5 sets of music @ approx 10 songs per set +/-. When playing rock cover gigs in bars and lounges the music is all memorized - no paper on stage. Once you get into a band and into the market you'll find the bands play a lot of the same tunes. When going into new T40 situations it gets easier because you'll be familiar with a lot of their current material.

Jazz gigs usually do have sheet music ala fake books and popular song books. If someone in the group is an arranger he'll have lead sheets or chord charts.

In the few country gigs I've done the music was memorized too.

I love the Nashville Number System but I haven't seen it used it much on gigs. I wish it was more popular because it makes transposing a breeze.

In original rock projects it's usually all ears as the guiatists usually have no idea how to communicate what the heck they're doing

[chicagodoubler]

I've had cats hand me three cd's and say "see you Friday."

It really varies alot.

For cover bands, there's a sort of standardized rep that will crosstalk from gig to gig.

How many of you guys played Brown Eyed Girl this week?

The bottom line is: the more tunes you learn, the better you get at learning tunes. The more bands you play in, the more likely you'll be playing redundant rep in your next band.

Really imortant if you're trying to get more gigs-
Be nice.
Go to other bands' shows.
And remember- nobody in this world wants a side man with an ego!!!!

[Chris Breese]

As far as the basslines, the music is the same stuff I grew up listening to. It's already in my head. If something is really tricky, I will chart it out, but usually don't need it for too long.

As far as paper on stage goes, I sing about 60% of the songs. I find it necessary to have the words handy. I'm kind of a reluctant lead singer, so I am not very motivated to learn the words. Around here, nobody really notices the lyric sheets except my bandmates. One of them sings the other 39.9%, and he uses lyric sheets for a couple of those songs, and the other guy only has .1% of the lyrics - and he's been known to use a sheet too!

As far as 'Brown Eyed Girl' goes, I will have played it 7 or 8 times by the end of this month... Oh well. I get to sing it too, and, Hey! I'm getting paid to play it!!!

[chicagodoubler]

gettin paid makes the pain go away, brother.

[Chris Breese]

It's not that bad. I've been playing that song for about 15 years, and 98% of the time it fills the dance floor. Dancers are my fuel!!

[Mark Wilson]

As far as the number system, I use the Roman Numerals.
Also, if I'm reading a chart for the first time, and if I have time, I'll go through and play the arpeggio of every chord. Just to get a feel for what I have to work with.
But, I'm talking Jazz. I don't know what you're playing.

I just find things that help me Remember.

Example: Autumn Leaves. Key - Gm.

Starts on the 4th. and goes II-V to Bbmaj, then goes VI to Ami7(b5), which is my reference chord.

Ami7(b5) goes II-V to Gm, and the form is AABA. With the bridge starting on the Ami7(b5)

Probably a lot harder than it seems, but this helps me.

[winston]

Usually I find the best way for me to learn is to just listen to CDs/MP3s several times without concentrating too hard--while I'm washing dishes, surfing the net, etc. I get a general sense of the style and song forms on an instinctual level before I start intellectualizing it too much. Then I'll work on figuring out actual parts. At least for rock and groove based tunes I try to avoid charts as much as possible 'cuz I won't be using them on the gig. If I don't have time for all this then I'll write basic charts (with a big Sharpie so I can read 'em on the floor)--form, chords, figures--just to be safe.

I've done a lot of jazz, Latin, and funky jazz kind of stuff but some of the hardest gigs for me have been singer-songwriter ones where there are set parts. In these situations "close enough" ain't close enough--you've got to play the exact part (with the right tone & feel) so it fits into the overall scheme. I've also learned that my reading skills are passable but not quite pro-level, so that's something I'm working on.

[chicagodoubler]

Oh man

The worst for me is singer song writers who are trying to be the next Beatles...

Five bar phrases and crap like that where you've got to listen to poorly constructed lyrics to know when to change sections.

[jsbachonbass]

Whatever type of music you are playing, it best to start with a form chart from start to finish. A lot of music these days doesn't stick to the same basic 8 measure phrases throughout the song, and/or doesn't stay consistent from 1st chorus to 2nd chorus.
I basically get some note book paper, start the song, and then start making lines for every measure, and try to keep it organized for every change, like intro, vs,chorus, etc.
You can keep in mind that they mostly stick to the 4 or 8 bar phrases, but be prepared for the 7 or 9 or 5.
After getting the form down, i go through the song and tap along the bass progression while writing them on the chart. One you got the intro,1st vs, 1st chor, and the bridge, its just a matter of copying the progression and notate any changes.
Anyway, after you do this for a while, you get to where you can do a basic form chart in about 3 listens. it makes it easier to memorize the songs if you can see form as a whole.