Toughest part of your set?

[Jared Lash]

For guys who gig or perform regularly, is there a point in your set that stands out as being tough on you?

I currently have three gigs. In my originals band, I occasionally write something that can be a little tricky if I haven't played it in awhile, but for the most part its easy since it's my lines.

I also gig with a piano player/songwriter, who gives me a lot of room to do what I want during her songs or covers, but I try to keep it simple. Aside from the occasional oops on the fretless, I don't struggle too much on anything.

My last gig is with a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band I am doing for fun with my old band. What is funny (and what prompted me to start this thread) is that out of all of Flea's basslines it's not the break of Hump de Bump or the solo to Naked in the Rain that I have the most trouble with, but the simple chorus/outro to Snow (Hey Oh) that bothers me.

It's just three strummed powerchords, but especially at the end where it goes on for what seems like forever, I feel both hands cramping up and waiting for it to end while trying to keep the rhythm right.

Anybody else? What gives you fits?

[MoD_Scotty]

We have a 8.5min song that starts off pretty fast. If I'm not warmed up my right hand will cramp a little in the beginning. Then in the last minute, I have two short solos, where I'm basically playing as fast as I can. To top it all off, I'm trying to maintain as active on stage as possible...so the blood that would normally go to my hands is also going to my legs, back, neck, etc. Heck, the song is so long we had to split it into two parts on our myspace page!

[Riley]

im in a coverband and one the songs we play is no-one knows by Queens of the Stone Age...

the song goes great untill after the bass interlude and there is a solo... but not just on guitar.. pretty much on bass and definetly what could be considered a drum solo (grohl rocks).. now try to get all 3 members playing that flawlessly and on time and most of the time it just sounds like sh^t salad

[Jared Lash]

Riley, yeah, I know what part you are talking about - around 3:20 right? I've found that type of lockstep part isn't hard on an original, where you develop it together, but can be a PITA during a cover.

Scott, after listening to parts I & II on your MySpace page, I can see why that's tough on you. It would definitely be hard for me as I actually have a problem playing fast for a sustained amount of time period. It's just not something that I practice all that often. So whether it's metal or "What Is Hip?" it's a strain on my right hand.

Anybody else?

[I-Love-Ratm]

I play in a cover band and most of it is fine but we play Ben Harper's "Brown Eyed Blues" and it is quite tough as we play it faster than the original.Good to keep me on my toes though and it always gets a good reception so I can't complain!

[msquared]

Playing "Move It On Over" while three guitarists take five solos each and trying to keep my brain from melting out the side of my head.

[anderbass]

The first song.

[jady]

Set up and tear down.......................


Actually, the roughest thing I get is usually in a jazz trio setting on my upright. When the pianist calls up a tune I am not familiar with in a different key than the fake book at twice the tempo, then he nods at me to take a few solos....................

[theshadow2001]

There's one song where I go to double time at the end. I find it hard to keep the notes on time and consistent

Or another where I play a fast paced line that I find hard to keep going for a length of time without screwing up

Maybe it's time to start writing stuff I can actually play.