gimme your opinon/advice (am I selling out??)

[Biker4Him]

So.. I've been playing bass for 6 years now. I started in an all original (Christian) metal band, had a lot of fun, and learned a lot. The started another Christian band playing bluesy/rock originals, and I've learned a lot more. I also play in Church on Sundays, so I learn 3 or 4 new songs a week for that.

For a couple of years I've had cover bands asking me to come play for them, but I wasn't sure I wanted to do that. I don't have a problem with playing in bars, and I really dig most of the classic rock stuff. But I had never played covers, I was used to writing and playing my own bass lines. Also, when I play on Sunday mornings at church, I have the freedom to improvise and play my own lines.

I can learn songs by listening to them and figuring them out.. it just takes a while.. I learn a lot faster by reading nashville notes or chord charts.

Anyway.. this fairly well known and respected cover band here in Okie City is losing thier bass player, and they have asked me to come take the spot.

So.. should I make the jump from original Christian music to classic rock covers. (It would be nice to actually get paid to play for once.). But how hard is it going to be for me to learn 100 songs in the next month, especially since I can't just listen to a song once or twice and instantly play it like some people I know. Unfortuantely I have to sit down with each tune and spend the time to figure out the notes, and patterns.??

Any advice on a quicker way to learn would be great.. and your opinions on making the jump would be cool as well.

Oh.. I get along great with this band, so that chemistry is cool. I'll be playing with them for the first time Tuesday. I'd like to learn about 10-15 of their covers by then.. is that a realistic goal? and how do I accomplish it?

[VanillaO]

In this scenario, (assuming you don't have all day free) tabs are your friend. If you don't know how to read a tab, it's pretty easy to pick up. This will save you having to stop and rewind billions of times, and will let you profit from other people's work of having listened and writing it out. If they aren't very popular songs... good luck.

Brief overview of tab

G-----
D-----
A----7
E--5--

5 means play 5th fret (A) on the E string (closest to your head). 7 means play the 7th fret (E) on the A string (next one down). There will sometimes be rhtyms accompanying them, but most are pretty easy to get a feel for when listening to the song.

Realistically you could learn and memorize probably about 20-30 with ease in this time unless they're like the Lemon Song and call for a lot of variation.

[Biker4Him]

oh yeah.. I forgot about tabs. I never used them. I can I guess, never thought about it.

Here are a few of the tunes I need to learn by Tuesday.

"You're No Good" - Linda Ronstadt
"Little Pink Houses" - John Mellencamp
"Too Much Time on My Hands" - Styx (I'll be playing the syth stuff on the bass)
"Oh Darlin'" - The Beatles
"Double Vision" - Foreigner
"Lights"- Journey
"You Wreck Me"- Tom Petty
"Ventura Highway"- America
"Black Velvet" - Alannah Myles
"Hotel California"- Eagles
"Bring me Some Water" Melissa Etheridge
"Rhiannon" - Fleetwood Mac
"At Last"- Etta James
"Sunshine of Your Love" -Clapton/Cream
"Signs"- Tesla
"Bang a gong"- T-Rex

there's over 100 on the list...these are some they threw at me for Tuesday.

[Spoiled Grape]

You can do it man! Never underestimate yourself, especially as an experienced performer.

The band asked you to fill in for a reason. I'm sure it has to do with your experience playing out. Sure there are people out there who could probably learn all the songs in a day, but like you said, you have tons of experience, and that's what gets the gigs. So take the gig, don't look back, don't give it a second thought.

Tips:

Do you have the entire songlist? If so, get it in front of you, and circle TEN of the most popular/well known songs.

Those are the ten you'll learn first. Don't go overboard, if you can dedicate time each day to learning the music, learn two-three songs a day. That should leave you with 12-18 songs.

If you want, write your own charts. Most of the songs will have few changes, so just writing down the basic chord structures will suffice.

For ex:
Verse:
Ab - Eb - Bb - C
Chorus:
Eb - Bb- Ab
Bridge:

etc. etc.

You'll pick it up fast man.

[BadB]

You'll be surprised at how quickly you'll learn some of the songs, and shocked at how slow some seem to go. Playing covers does have an appeal. Playing in front of a crowd that knows the material and is dancing and having a good time makes for a positive experience. You'll be doing some improv on some of the lines soon, anyway.

[EricF]

If you're up for the challenge, go for it. It will probably be a fantastic learning experience.

[Biker4Him]

Thanks guys. I'm not worried about being able to play the songs. I feel I can play just about anything (not Wooten or Marcus stuff... but any classic rock tune I'm sure I can pull off). My concern is more about learning the tunes in a speedy timeframe.

Maybe I should get off the computer and go practice!!

[markjazzbassist]

classic rock tunes are IMO for the most part a lot of root, 5th and octave. you should be fine. Also, once you start learning by ear more and more, your ear will improve and you will be able to pick up patterns and notes faster and easier. By the end of the set list, you'll be flying in no time.


Good luck!!

[BuffaloBass]

Biker4Him, com'on now, that stuff will mostly be easy relative to what you've been doing.

HE will help you be more than you think you can be IF you take those darn shackles of self doubt off.

Hope the money cures the boredom. I get really, really bored playing some of the cover tunes we do. I couldnt play covers all night. Of course, they are not my choices of songs either.

Althought they do let me slap through Santana's " She's not There". I like that one!

Good luck brother.

[Biker4Him]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBass

Biker4Him, com'on now, that stuff will mostly be easy relative to what you've been doing.

HE will help you be more than you think you can be IF you take those darn shackles of self doubt off.

Hope the money cures the boredom. I get really, really bored playing some of the cover tunes we do. I couldnt play covers all night. Of course, they are not my choices of songs either.

Althought they do let me slap through Santana's " She's not There". I like that one!

Good luck brother.

Thanks for the encouragement ya'll. I do have some delf-doubt issues..

I spent a couple of hours noodling through some of the tunes I couldn't find any tabs for, and nailed down 3 of them. So, I figure the ones I have tabs for should go a lot faster. Maybe I really can learn 10-12 of these tunes by Tuesday.

As for why the sought me out. I do always seem to get compliments on my playing, but usually I just brush it off as people being nice. Maybe I don't suck after all. Maybe I'm downright average.

[Spoiled Grape]

Originally Posted by Biker4Him

Thanks for the encouragement ya'll. I do have some delf-doubt issues..

I spent a couple of hours noodling through some of the tunes I couldn't find any tabs for, and nailed down 3 of them. So, I figure the ones I have tabs for should go a lot faster. Maybe I really can learn 10-12 of these tunes by Tuesday.

As for why the sought me out. I do always seem to get compliments on my playing, but usually I just brush it off as people being nice. Maybe I don't suck after all. Maybe I'm downright average.

Average gets you played and paid!

I'm sure they sought after your for a reason. Don't underestimate word of mouth, or experience. Both usually outweigh chops and musical knowledge when it's gig time.

[Philbiker]

Do it, you'll have fun!

[vindy500]

yep do it, for the songs that dont have very recognisable bass lines just learn the changes and groove