Practising songs, how much time does it take?

NielsBass · #1 09-24-2010, 02:04 PM

How long should it take to practise a new song till you can play along with a track in time?

I just joined a coverband and they asked me to learn at least 1 song a week so i can play it on the next practise session.

For most of you experienced bassplayers this sounds like a easy job to do, but for me it means i;m practising every night of the week for at least 1 hour (till i get frustrated mostly

), is this normal for a lesser experienced bassplayer?

Also is there a good structure in practising that makes you learn it faster?

Right now i practise to play different parts of the song at slow pace, then i play along with the track and see if i run into any difficulties, if so i go to step 1 on those parts and try again.

bellis1 · #2 09-24-2010, 02:08 PM

It all depends on how experienced you are as a bass player. If you are familiar with notes on your bass, then I would suggest googling the song name followed by "chords" most websites have the root notes for the songs. Thats how I usually do it.

bellis1 · #3 09-24-2010, 02:13 PM

Or if you're having trouble on a particular song, try simply meeting up with one of the guitar players, who knows the songs already (tell him to bring an acoustic) and run through the songs with him. That way, for the next practice, you can feel comfortable.

GianGian · #4 09-24-2010, 02:19 PM

It depends on a lot of things. If you already know the song, the melodies and the structure, it is easier. If the song is complicated, it will be obviously harder.
The method I use is pretty much what you do. Play it slow, get the notes right, get confortable with the changes, differents parts and all, and then practise with the song and see what can be perfected.
Also, listen to the song a thousand times without playing. Just listen to the whole thing, guitar parts, bass, drums, vocals, melodies. This way, you will be familiar with the song, and it will be easier for you to play with the other musicians, since you have an idea of what they are playing too, instead of knowing only the bass part.

MNAirHead · #5 09-24-2010, 02:23 PM

Learing as a nashville system should only take an hour a song max.

Strip it down.. simplify it.. and accept flubs.

Nashrakh · #6 09-24-2010, 02:42 PM

1 song a week should be doable.

Of course, it depends. If it features intricate or hard to play lines, it takes time. If you only have to play root notes to simple changes though, it's gonna be easier.

You should be able to play in time with a track right away though... that is, unless you're TOTALLY new to this.

paganjack · #7 09-24-2010, 02:50 PM

The more things about music you know the easier it gets. This holds true for theory, rote memorization, note names...EVERY single aspect of playing feeds into learning songs.
That said, the more songs that you actually sit down and learn the easier it becomes to remember them (mostly). Spend time listening to the song, break it down and write down the parts of the song (not even holding the bass), then play along with the song, then try playing it while thinking of the lyrics/guitar parts in your head. It sounds like a lot but it gets way easier.
It generally takes me about 10-15 minutes to learn a song that I am familiar with hearing. If I don't know the song at all, then it will take a bit longer. I'd say that unless you have literally no experience whatsoever with playing music at all one song a week is very doable.

C.Linton · #8 09-24-2010, 02:50 PM

One thing I find that sometimes helps ...
If you're having trouble with a song and feel you aren't getting anywhere, take a break and relax, go do something else for an hour or so, then come back to it later. Sometimes you will surprise yourself, that part of the song that was giving you trouble might seem just a a little bit easier. Don't force it.

Fergie Fulton · #9 09-24-2010, 03:16 PM

Listen to any song till you know it by heart, then learn the notes.
you will find it easier and faster to learn a song when you know exactly how it goes in your head. In time this becomes a routine where you hear songs and you can learn them in your head. Representing them on your bass is just the last step....after all you hear a song once and can whistle it or hum it, bass is no different in the end.

sammyp · #10 09-24-2010, 10:33 PM

first you may give us more info on the style of the band! like say - Rush tribute or classic rock LOL ....it will make a difference in your feedback.

hmmm ok, if it takes you every night of the week and slow speed practice to play the bass parts then i would say you are almost out of your ability range for this band.

however, if you can get the tunes down and nail em by 1st or 2nd practice i'd say stick with it and keep your work ethic strong .....you will get faster and faster ....soon it will be easier but for now ....drive it and work like a dog!

Ric5 · #11 09-24-2010, 10:43 PM

I can learn several songs in one night and most songs I can learn just by going through a few times. Sometimes I need sheet music or tabs. Sometimes I pick songs up on the fly. A guitar player shows me the chords and I play along. Or I also learn songs from concert dvds as well.

Learning one song a week is not a challenge.

Don't force it ... learn to play with good timing and good feeling. Learn to improvise. Learn to get put on the spot and come through and deliver.

Learn to play from the right side of your brain ... the creative intuitive side. Not the anal intellectual left side of your brain.

Don't over rehearse.

NielsBass · #12 09-25-2010, 02:31 AM

Thanks for the tips, it's kinda frustrating to me because I play for 1 year now and I still have a hard time figuring out new songs

Gav4003 · #13 09-25-2010, 10:53 AM

I hated learning other peoples songs for a long time but the more you learn the easier new ones become.
I also found this websitea massive help: www.songsterr.com
You can single out the bass as what you want and watch the tab rolling out as the song plays. Hope that is of help mate, the harder you work the more it will definately pay off for you.

Reaper Man · #14 09-25-2010, 11:02 AM

the learning curve will get better. At first you may find it "hard" to learn a song in its entirety in a week. After a little while, you'll think 2-3 songs a week is easy

I have found that as my knowledge of music theory increased, it became easier to learn the songs

hrodbert696 · #15 09-25-2010, 03:32 PM

I've been playing about a year too. Getting chords or tabs, or sheet music if you can read it, obviously speeds up the process a lot, although sometimes I sit down and discover that the tab is wrong and go back to the drawing board.

Honestly, though, it depends on the song. If you're talking about something basic by U2 or whatever, I can generally pick it up pretty quick, maybe half an hour, depending. If it's some prog rock masterpiece, on the other hand (which my cover band doesn't do anyway, but I try in my own time...) I'll be at it for weeks and still have parts I can't figure out. Most of the stuff a classic rock/top 40 cover band does shouldn't take all that long to pick up.

somegeezer · #16 09-25-2010, 03:39 PM

Just gets easier through time. Depends on how experienced you are and how hard the song is. Even how long you take to practise it. Even when not playing it on your bass, you can think about how to play it. Some people would argue it's as good as actually playing it.

klokker · #17 09-25-2010, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NielsBass

Thanks for the tips, it's kinda frustrating to me because I play for 1 year now and I still have a hard time figuring out new songs

Dude, it will take more than a year to get it going. You can't expect in one year for it to be easy. Some songs require like almost zero practice others take a lot of time if you're trying to really cover it.

The mind is an interesting thing. You won't get better for a while then one day its like you just jump up a notch or two. You're getting better even if you don't realize it as long as you continue to work at it.

LiamPodmore · #18 09-25-2010, 04:33 PM

I'm like most of the people whose replies i have read. I can generally learn a song in about 15-20 minutes, weather i have heard it before or not. I use a program called Guitar Pro which has the tabs for every part of the song, sometimes including vocals and i play along with that. It lets you change the tempo and repeat sections, and also repeat sections with a tempo increase each time, very helpful program to have for learning songs.

Liam

skwee · #19 09-25-2010, 05:46 PM

one hour per minute of music. (for memorizing)

Already In Use · #20 09-25-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

You won't get better for a while then one day its like you just jump up a notch or two.

Thats so true..I have been paying for 9 months. The thing that works for me is get the chords and changes. Find a recording of the music and play, play, play along. I find if I really like a song..its so much easier and more fun to learn.

The notch or two thing is a reality for me. It feels so good after many days and hours of practice.