At what point do you *know* a song

[dazole]

I play in a cover band...well, "band", actually. We're not that good, but we have fun. Although we have some songs that I feel pretty confident I know, I noticed something that troubled me the other day. When we play, I'm listening for cue's from the other band "band" members for some parts, rather than just playing the song.

So, my question is (with some emphasis on wanting to play some gigs): At what point do you feel you *really* know a song? When you can play it with others with almost no error? When you can play it with just the drum track? Just a click track? When you can play it with the click track in your head and nothing else?

I've been working on playing along with just the drums, and, needless to say, its been...interesting.

Thanks,
David

[Absentia]

I think we all still take cues from the other musicians no matter how well we think we know the song.
I mean sure you "know" the song when you can play it end to end with a click track but is that any fun?
You'll always add little bits of you in anything you do and you'll always change your interpretation of the song.
All in all if you're playing out make sure you can play it solid with the band since they will without a doubt play it differently than the origional recoding.

[harry182]

i like this site for questions like this, really opens things up i never thought about!

Erm i think when you know the parts to each section and can play them fluently, its then up to you and your band which order and how long you play them for!

i use drums to keep time but then follow whoever is playing the main riff melody be it vocals, guitar ect

Ive seen some bands open sections up a bit longer such to say there thank yous, welcome we are _______ or to put some kind of solo in RHCP do this ALOT and i cant complain iv also seen sections cut out by some bands!

I used to jam with some friends were wed do the above just to have a mess about!

[i hate username]

You know the song when you can play it with little or no errors as a band.
Its easy enough to play the line on your own or along to the song on cd or whatever.
Dont worry about needing to pay attention to your band mates while playing. IMO that's a good thing. As a band you mightn't be playing the same tempo as the recording or if someone does make a mistake you may need to adjust for that.We all use something to keep in time with the band. Whether it be a click or the drummer or listening for ques from the singer or what ever.....I hate following clicks

[itswac]

I believe that you know a song when you can inhabit the minds of the original players when they wrote/performed their part. This means more than just theory, but feeling too.

[gre107]

You know the song when you're playing it and not thinking about what comes next. You're playing and adding spontaneous ideas to it like when you talk. Music is a language!

Yes, we all "listen" for cues but we should all be listening all of the time. Many players fail at the listening component. You should be listening to how the other members are playing the song at that time. Maybe they are playing it slower, faster or with a different feel. You should be aware of this and be complementing it. Listening awareness is the key to a good group and player.

[T-MOST]

When you know the rhythm, the notes and the structure and can put it all together and play it without mistakes on a consistant basis... you know the song. Otherwise you are just "faking it" (which can work in a pinch).

[Asher S]

Originally Posted by dazole

At what point do you feel you *really* know a song? When you can play it with others with almost no error?

There's a saying that goes something like this:

"An amateur practices until s/he gets it right. A professional practices until s/he can't get it wrong."

Many amateurs practice something, then stop as soon as they play it correctly. Pros practice way beyond that point, until they can't play it incorrectly.

[Bassmickeyd]

When you're locked into the tune. ..... Don't rely on the drummer to keep time for you. It's the bass player that sets the time so if you're not locked into the groove you're just following along. ..... Some tunes come easier than others. The ones that don't need more time to make right. Practice the tunes from beginning to end all by yourself and if you can't do that go back and listen to the song until you can. ..... The bass player sets the groove and the pocket that the rest of the band sits in. If at any point in the tune you're unsure of that, there goes the groove. You have to be committed from the count in right to the last note.
Drummers are well know for rushing fills and tunes. A good bass player can make any drummer sound better. A bad bass player makes every thing sound out. Very few drummers are good time keepers that's why bass players have to be.
I once had a drummer tell me I was the reason he was screwing up and I laughed in his face and said my bass playing just shows how weak a drummer you are and how uncommitted you are to your job.