How to deal with this?

collicsws6z28 · #1 05-31-2009, 12:43 PM

Last night I sat in on a few songs with a band ive sat in with once before. The band is mainly blues stuff (Hendrix, SRV, Etc). The first time I played everything went well, Played two songs flawless. Last night I got to play 4. On one of the songs the guitar player played one of the songs alot different than what I was used to. I did not know this before the song started, (my fault for not asking). So I had to struggle through trying to find what key it was in and called for quite a mess. The other songs went well. Woke up this morning and couldn't stop thinking about it. All advice and stories like this are welcome..Help!

jazzbass_5 · #2 05-31-2009, 12:46 PM

Don't worry about it, really, you'll always have time to make bigger mistakes later on in life.

jazzbass_5 · #3 05-31-2009, 12:46 PM

I'm saying that from experience.

Bricesedge03 · #4 05-31-2009, 12:46 PM

man thats all apart of playing live. just go with it.

Johno Dunn · #5 05-31-2009, 12:47 PM

It happens to every one. Think about how many songs you have played, and are going to play in your lifetime. This was one song. Learn and move on.

Johno!

TheBear · #6 05-31-2009, 01:03 PM

Learn to have a good laugh at yourself, and when others share their horror stories, share a good-natured laugh with them!

At one show, I had to run to the bathroom between sets, and due to the previous night's indulgence of cheap beer and tacos I was in there longer than expected. Before I knew it my band was going back onstage. I couldn't get there in time, and I saw that the lead guitarist holding my 5 string and trying to figure out my pedalboard (which only had a tuner, compressor and volume pedal on it!). After the song I got back on bass, but it was a definite facepalm moment!

Another time, all six of us in the band each played a different song for our opening number. Not planned, we simply didn't communicate well and paid for it. These make for great stories to joke about with your band and friends.

Now, have a good laugh at me, and then one at yourself, and put it behind you.

lunker · #7 05-31-2009, 01:17 PM

Ear training - or just come up with a convincing face for staring down one of the other instruments for playing wrong.

Jazzdogg · #8 05-31-2009, 01:43 PM

When I find myself in that situation, here's what I tell myself: Focus on solving the problem instead of dwelling on how you feel; allowing your judgement to overwhelmed by your emotions is not an option. Do what's best for the band and the song.

Playing wrong notes usually makes things worse. Lay out until you get your bearings. If you're not playing, one of the other musicians is likely to notice and give you a clue. Try to see which chords are being played by a guitarist or keyboard player. Turn to another musician with a puzzled look on your face and make the gesture of someone trying to insert a key in a lock - which key? Don't be afraid to confirm the key signature before the songs starts.

RustyAxe · #9 05-31-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by collicsws6z28

All advice and stories like this are welcome..Help!

It happens. You are still alive. Why dwell on it? Let it go. did that help?

ric stave · #10 05-31-2009, 08:57 PM

I agree - there's nothing to really 'deal with'.

You can learn from it - next time, maybe ask or find out before you start, but it's not like you did anything wrong. They could've helped you out, maybe they didn't notice, or maybe it wasn't a big deal to them.

A few weeks ago I was filling in for a friend's band - I had played with them before a few times over a year ago, but since that time they added a female singer, so that meant about 10-15 new songs - and I found out it was really about 25-30 new songs when I got the songlist, as they had changed a lot of material anyways.

The 2 things I always ask are 1) what key do you play this in? & 2) is the form the same as the recorded version, or if not, what's different?

You'd think that would cover it all..... but.....

I learned/transcribed/made notes for all the songs, and at the gig they were impressed (their regular bass player is a great musician and guy, btw) - but then we hit a few 'simple' songs that were on the way to trainwreck status, because they 'forgot' that they repeat this section, or cut out this section, etc.... they didn't do it to me on purpose, they had just played the songs for so long together a certain way that they really didn't realize that they played them different from the recorded versions. So I'd laugh, stop playing for a sec, get my bearings (either by ear or by a cue from the guitar player) and jump back in.

Don't let it bother you - sometimes it just happens, no matter how anal you are to try to prevent it.

murphy · #11 05-31-2009, 09:41 PM

Been there ,done that

life goes on

orestes71 · #12 06-01-2009, 02:13 AM

Happens all the time to me, just watch whoever plays the cords and follow your drummer for timing. You get over it and most don't notice if you act normal

Richland123 · #13 06-01-2009, 12:05 PM

You can't go back in time and do it over; so, don't stress out about it. It's over and done. As stated in other posts, stop playing and get the key or ask in advance.

fretlesswonder · #14 06-01-2009, 12:09 PM

It happens to everyone, I had the same problem, jammed with a great guitarist, he told me the key changes ahead of time, but changed them during his jamming. It was okay with him, I locked in with the drummer, really no one noticed. Don't stress over this, it gives you gray hair.

Rick Auricchio · #15 06-01-2009, 02:00 PM

Lots of people learn songs differently, based on what they hear. Many don't look up chord charts. Others trust what they see online and can't hear if something is wrong. Still others just simplify the song to suit their playing abilities.

It's happened to me many times. After the first one or two times you change what you're playing to match the other player, no matter who's right.

If you're going to play the song again in the future with different players, you just learn who plays the song what way!

Pilgrim · #16 06-01-2009, 03:08 PM

There's nothing to deal with - that's life. Anyone can play in such a fashion that it will be difficult to follow them. There's nothing to apologize for, nothing to regret.

Jim Campbell · #17 06-01-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by collicsws6z28

Last night I sat in on a few songs with a band ive sat in with once before. The band is mainly blues stuff (Hendrix, SRV, Etc). The first time I played everything went well, Played two songs flawless. Last night I got to play 4. On one of the songs the guitar player played one of the songs alot different than what I was used to. I did not know this before the song started, (my fault for not asking). So I had to struggle through trying to find what key it was in and called for quite a mess. The other songs went well. Woke up this morning and couldn't stop thinking about it. All advice and stories like this are welcome..Help!

nobody died dude.......

EddiePlaysBass · #18 06-02-2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

Lots of people learn songs differently, based on what they hear. Many don't look up chord charts. Others trust what they see online and can't hear if something is wrong. Still others just simplify the song to suit their playing abilities.

You described me perfectly, there

eno50 · #19 06-02-2009, 10:48 AM

Well no big deal here,happens to the best of players,I seen a video of clapton not to long a go where he went to a lead part and was in the wrong key,he caught it quickly and looked at the camera with that oh well look and grin and went on playing.
So if it makes you fell any better. Also I will tell you an other one ,I went to a
Van halen concert years ago when roth was in the band, eddie did the same thing
went into a solo in the wrong key, he also had that old opps grin,but went on .
so it can happen to anyone, if it is late in the set and most are drunk ,nobody will notice, your more likely to be raged by fellow bandmates later than anyone else.
just take it on the chin and go on...

Rick Auricchio · #20 06-02-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddiePlaysBass

You described me perfectly, there

Well, I guess it goes both ways. Sometimes it's another player who learned the chords wrong. Sometimes it's us.

And then there are stylistic differences in the arrangement. Not necessarily wrong chords, but perhaps a different layout to the song. An extra chorus at the end, a longer intro vamp, things like that.