Playing in band that doesnt rehearse.

ThomasG · #1 10-10-2007, 11:16 AM

This one cat has a dance band they play the hits from 60s-today, rock, pop, disco, etc. etc.

He may be having an audition soon. You have to learn 100 common tunes, and if you dont know some, he kicks on a sequencer and you bass sync, but, 98% of songs you must know. With out rehearesel is this a taunting task, or I guess it depends on the type of musician you are.

BassChuck · #2 10-10-2007, 11:42 AM

Are you expected to read, or are you doing covers from the recordings?

IAmTheDood · #3 10-10-2007, 12:16 PM

if you think you know a bunch of the tunes already go for it.

I'd see if I could get a list of the tunes from him and learn 'em before the audition. ask what tunes they'd play .. maybe learn a few more ..

if they like ya, then they'd ask ya to learn 'em all.

it'll take a few weeks with them live to really get a feel of how to play the song with them, but if you know the key, the basics of each tune you should be fine .. i think it's doable.

theshadow2001 · #4 10-10-2007, 12:36 PM

holy crap that's a lot of songs! I think it depends how long he gives you to learn them. Which if they're established will not likely be too long, sounds like they might be a popular band (I dunno why I just get that feeling) it might be a lot of fun if you can pull it off. It would be tough though. I don't think I'd be able to pull it off.

mutedeity · #5 10-10-2007, 06:28 PM

I do this kind of thing a lot. I don't really want to do rehearsals for these kind of bands unless they are going to pay me to go so I personally would take it as a bonus. There have been times I have had a day to learn 50 or more songs and on occasion I have had to play songs I have never played before in my life. If you have a good enough understanding of theory, can read a chart, and have a good knowledge of most popular "standards" these kinds of gigs can be pretty much bread and butter. I would make up some rough charts or cheat sheets you can pull out and follow as you play. Also ask if they have any charts you can follow.

Winterpegbass · #6 10-10-2007, 07:08 PM

My brother plays guitar in a band that plays 60 songs or six sets (4 classic rock, 2 country). They play every second weekend and have for 10 years at the top 5 bars in the city. They never practice and rarely add any songs to their sets. If one of the guys is sick, the replacement is expected to be able to play 30 of the 60 songs for that weekend. Most of the songs are rock standards eg summer of 69, brown eyed girl, play that funky music, you sexy thing etc

This sounds like a good opportunity to learn new tunes and make money. Good luck!

theshadow2001 · #7 10-10-2007, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mutedeity

I do this kind of thing a lot. I don't really want to do rehearsals for these kind of bands unless they are going to pay me to go so I personally would take it as a bonus. There have been times I have had a day to learn 50 or more songs and on occasion I have had to play songs I have never played before in my life. If you have a good enough understanding of theory, can read a chart, and have a good knowledge of most popular "standards" these kinds of gigs can be pretty much bread and butter. I would make up some rough charts or cheat sheets you can pull out and follow as you play. Also ask if they have any charts you can follow.

Can you expand any more on your methods of learning 50 songs in a day?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winterpegbass

My brother plays guitar in a band that plays 60 songs or six sets (4 classic rock, 2 country). They play every second weekend and have for 10 years at the top 5 bars in the city. They never practice and rarely add any songs to their sets.

Wow are you saying he's played the same more or less 60 songs in the same 5 venues for 10 years? How could anyone get away with doing that?

DocBop · #8 10-11-2007, 12:05 AM

I done gigs like that. I was playing bass for a Country singer for awhile and we never rehearsed ever. No song list no nothing. I got the call talk to the guy on the phone and he said show up the next night. I expected at least chord charts, but no he just look and me and call a key and off we went. My ear playing with him got real good and good at guessing where changes were going to go. I did other Country gigs like that later on.

There was a very popular club here that had this band fronted by this piano player that claimed to know any song people could request. Scary pretty rare that he didn't know a song, but the band mainly pickup players and lots of sub's. Needless to say the band didn't know all the songs the piano player did. So piano player had hand signals to give chord changes to the band. Also most the subs had good ears and could follow the tunes even without the hand signals. You will find a big money making skill is bass players who can call out chord changes to songs rest of band.

So what your are being asked to do is pretty normal for guys doing casuals.

mutedeity · #9 10-11-2007, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshadow2001

Can you expand any more on your methods of learning 50 songs in a day?

Sure. Basically I will learn the verse and chorus and mid section quickly, make a note of the key and any chord progressions I might think are important. Generally I won't go through a song more than once or twice unless there is a specific change or part that I need to play note for note. Really the key to doing this kind of thing is to make some guides you can follow on stage but the most important thing is to be able to read what the band is doing. I have found that you can learn any given song note perfect but when it comes to doing these kinds of gigs the band can reinterpret them and play turnarounds where you might least expect them.

rodl2005 · #10 10-11-2007, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mutedeity

but when it comes to doing these kinds of gigs the band can reinterpret them and play turnarounds where you might least expect them.

This is where the FUN??? starts!!!!!

theshadow2001 · #11 10-12-2007, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBop

I done gigs like that. I was playing bass for a Country singer for awhile and we never rehearsed ever. No song list no nothing. I got the call talk to the guy on the phone and he said show up the next night. I expected at least chord charts, but no he just look and me and call a key and off we went. My ear playing with him got real good and good at guessing where changes were going to go. I did other Country gigs like that later on.

There was a very popular club here that had this band fronted by this piano player that claimed to know any song people could request. Scary pretty rare that he didn't know a song, but the band mainly pickup players and lots of sub's. Needless to say the band didn't know all the songs the piano player did. So piano player had hand signals to give chord changes to the band. Also most the subs had good ears and could follow the tunes even without the hand signals. You will find a big money making skill is bass players who can call out chord changes to songs rest of band.

So what your are being asked to do is pretty normal for guys doing casuals.

This kind of gig would scare the crap out of me. Although the genre might lead to using standard and simpler chord progressions and song structure still though. I would probably of left a few bricks on stage after a gig like that.