Unrealistic ?

Bart1966 · #1 08-12-2009, 06:50 AM

Hi there, would like you guys's opinion. I play in a band and the band leader writes out all bass parts for the songs we play. I just started reading bass cleff and consider myself a beginner in this although he is helpful in teaching me. He however booked a gig for 8-21 and I have to learn 17 new songs. I can "read" the charts at the gig although I have a difficult time sidereading, basically i'm not that far yet. Also he is very picky and expect me to play as written, including rhythm. The other "thing" is that he ,for some songs, tunes his guitar down half a step which means my parts are written half a step down which changes the fingering in a not favorable way. I don't want to whmp out but i think it's too much for me. I don't mind practicing , a lot, but i have a regular day job and other obligations. Should i shut up and just do the best I can or is this unrealistic? The songs although not originals are not songs I normally listen to. let me know what you think as I am unsure, can't sleep and want to have fun playing which right now it's not. Thanks
Bart

jgroh · #2 08-12-2009, 06:57 AM

So you are playing covers? If I didnt read that right, sorry, but if so, why couldnt you get the songs and practice them at home? Oh and as much fun as being in a band is, unless they are paying me, Im playing how I want to play (and Im in a cover band so its very close to the original, with some embellishments chosen by me)

dmusic148 · #3 08-12-2009, 07:02 AM

It depends. Do you want to be a pro someday? Or is it just for fun? If you want to be a pro, I would say do the gig- you'll gain a lot from it. These things don't happen very often, so if you can get through it, I think you should.

HogieWan · #4 08-12-2009, 07:17 AM

I'd say go for. Even super-anal-band-leader-guy won't notice your mistakes (yes, you'll make some, don't sweat it)

BTW, I think you meant "sightreading"

slybass3000 · #5 08-12-2009, 07:39 AM

Yes of course Go for it!
If you can have a tape of the songs as well it will help you to learn the songs and relate to the charts.

Good luck, presssure and deadlines are our friends sometimes,

Sly

electracoyote · #6 08-12-2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bart1966

Should i shut up and just do the best I can or is this unrealistic?

Okay, as a beginner, reading cold, or sight-reading in real-time, is going to be a challenge. The best you can do is try to commit as many passages as possible to memory and use the chart to cue off of. This way you can scan as you play and change your level of focus on the sheet music as needed. Realistically, that's the best you can do. Also, the altered fingering from the drop tuning is going to mess you up. If it were me, I would drop tuning on my bass to keep the fingering consistent. Otherwise, you're transposing in your head in addition to trying to keep up with the chart. Way too much work for where you're at. Finally, I'd have a good heart-to-heart with the guitar player and let him know the very real challenges you are facing. Tell him you want to rise to the occassion, you'll do your best, but he's asking alot.

We often emerge from these situations better than we were before. You're in for a big learning curve. I would approach it with committment and gusto.

Good luck!

Bart1966 · #7 08-12-2009, 08:52 PM

Thanks for all the wisdom and advice. I'm going for it, downloaded the music, using the charts as cues. I know it is a good experience. Thanks again
Bart

Billnc · #8 08-12-2009, 08:57 PM

wowa, he's changeing his tuning and not altering the charts for you? That is highly unfair on a reading gig. If it's a by ear gig you should be prepared but someone handing you a chart in the wrong key? Having said that I have done reading gigs where the keyboardist hit the transpose button, and told me to deal with it.

electracoyote · #9 08-12-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bart1966

Thanks for all the wisdom and advice. I'm going for it, downloaded the music, using the charts as cues. I know it is a good experience. Thanks again
Bart

That's the spirit. Good luck, and please let us know how it went.

electracoyote · #10 08-12-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billnc

wowa, he's changeing his tuning and not altering the charts for you? That is highly unfair on a reading gig. If it's a by ear gig you should be prepared but someone handing you a chart in the wrong key? Having said that I have done reading gigs where the keyboardist hit the transpose button, and told me to deal with it.

+1

If OP does an Eb Ab Db Gb tuning (I assume that's what the guitarist is doing), he should be fine.

Im a sock · #11 08-12-2009, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

+1

If OP does an Eb Ab Db Gb tuning (I assume that's what the guitarist is doing), he should be fine.

Exactly. Bart, on the songs where the guitar is tuned down half a step, tune the bass down a half step and play as normal. If you're not sure about reading along with the charts just listen to and learn the recorded version even if it's in standard tuning. If you learn the fingering and feel of the song, you'll be able to tune down half a step and use the same fingering.

Good luck and let us know how it goes

**embellisher** · #12 08-13-2009, 12:27 AM

You might also consider borrowing or renting a 5 string, to assist with the songs that he tunes down on. Might be easier than retuning your bass in the middle of a set.

Febs · #13 08-13-2009, 05:38 AM

I'm reading the original post as saying that the charts are written in the key the guitarist is playing them in, but that is sometimes half a step below the original key.

caeman · #14 08-13-2009, 08:52 AM

Febs, are you comfortable with this style of playing? That being, where your parts are written out in detail and expected to be followed? Were you looking for a simpler style of playing?

electracoyote · #15 08-13-2009, 09:29 AM

Okay, thanks to how Febs enlightened me, my earlier post doesn't make as much sense anymore. Duh. Sorry about that.

I just noticed that you have the sheet music in the dropped Eb tuning written in Eb? You'll need to learn them in the key they're written then. I thought the guitarist dropped his guitar tuning but played from music in the normal key. Which would be the easy way to do it. You could have had a second bass on stage tuned to Eb, play off the normal key, and been in the same key as the guitar player for those songs. You could switch back to a standard tuned bass for those songs.

Yep, this stuff gets a little confusing.

N.F.A. · #16 08-13-2009, 11:25 AM

I would like to see the list. I may have some tabs for you.

Bass_Machine · #17 08-13-2009, 12:56 PM

Go for it dude!

I first learnt to read when I was asked to play Les Miserables. I lied to get the gig and said I could handle dots, but I couldn't - talk about trial by fire! Still, my reading is comfortable now, so it's all good.

jollygiantchris · #18 08-13-2009, 12:59 PM

Go for it. Worst case scenario on the songs where the bassline isn't extremely prominent jot out a chord chart and just improvise the whole time if you find yourself almost but not quite having learned all 17 songs.

dmusic148 · #19 08-13-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bart1966

Thanks for all the wisdom and advice. I'm going for it, downloaded the music, using the charts as cues. I know it is a good experience. Thanks again
Bart

I tip my hat to you, sir. And I know exactly how you feel- I've been in your shoes. Do the best you can, and have fun. Please tell us how it went (psst...I'll bet it goes better than you think it will).

derekd · #20 08-13-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by embellisher

You might also consider borrowing or renting a 5 string, to assist with the songs that he tunes down on. Might be easier than retuning your bass in the middle of a set.

Excellent suggestion, particularly for someone not as sharp on reading.