Bandmates wond learn the songs correctly-help!

[ramrod]

Hello fellow bass players, I am in a rough situation. I play in a gospel choir. The music is very challenging and I love that. My problem is that the only band members that make an attempt to learn the songs correctly are myself and the drummer. One bandmate has even told me that he likes to "wing it" with the songs. I have always wanted to be in the best band possible. What do I do?..Do I grin it and bear it because of the challenging music or do I move on?..Thanks
in advance for the help

[Chiba]

Doesn't sound to me like YOU are the one that should be encouraged to move on.

"Wing it" is a lame excuse for laziness.

--chiba

[tZer]

Wrap a little context around this situation for us.

There are a couple of ways this can be interpreted. Sometimes learning everything "letter perfect" is great and sometimes it is a crutch. In genres like gospel and blues, there is plenty of room for "winging it" if the "winger" is true to form and the group as a whole is flexible enough to go with it. As a matter of fact, these genres are usually best served by having musicians who can do this sort of thing. That is what makes one gospel/blues/jazz ensamble sound different from another. In this instance, I would say, lighten up and consider a little winging it yourself.

On the other hand, if the "winger" is "winging" because they are simply too lazy to actually learn the songs AND they don't really have a strong enough grasp of the genre in general to be effective at "winging it" then you are right, you should ask them to kindly either do their homework, or go find a band that likes having members who don't pull their weight.

Does this choir have a director? What does the director think of this "winger"?

Good luck!

[ramrod]

Thanks for the fast replies...excellent advice from both of you!..The "wingers" dont have a grasp on the music at all...I mean they hit chords and notes that make me cringe (spelling)..The choir does have a Director and I have spoken to him about it. For some reason, he does not want to get rid of the "wingers"...He acknowledges that they are not very good musicians but does nothing else..

[Scottgun]

This tends to be the nature of local gospel/praise music in my experience. People in this seem to go for minimal competence in their instrument. When I see someone break out the capo for the guitar, I really have to supress the urge to yell, "LEARN YER FREAKIN' CHORDS!" What's really fun is when they put the capo on and don't inform the rest of the band of the key change.

My only idea for you (besides moving on to a better gig), is get a decent drummer in there on your side, turn it up and mace the rest of the band into submission.

Scott

[QORC]

Been in a similar situation. If you are in the majority, you can either force the lazy members to learn them correctly or replace the.

If you are in the minority - you either put up with it or leave. It's that simple