Got Fired

[Krause]

I joined this death metal band back in March, and last week they fired me.

There add said they wanted a bass player willing to tour, record, all the normal stuff a serious band is looking for. I answered the add, and they asked if I could come down in 2 days and audition. I said sure. They sent me the bass tabs to one of their songs, no indication on the rhythm, tempo or anything just what notes. I learned the song, but had to work out tempo and all that at the audition.

Went to the audition and got the spot. Came home and they emailed me the tabs to 12 songs. Same as the first, just notesand was told that they practice once a week on Tuesdays 7:00 till 9:00.

From the end March until now I was able to play 6 songs from beginning till end with the band. They would cancel every second or third jam which made it difficult to learn their material on my own. I had not jammed with them in over a month. Went to practice last Tuesday, and got fired.

I showed up, they were outside; first thing the guitarist/vocalist says to me is "How many songs do you know?" I tell him “6 all the way through." Other guitarist says "We need to part ways. You should know all 12 by now." I agree that in that time span learning 12 songs isn’t that hard but without regular jams. ***. I explain this to them and they reply “We need a bass player that can learn on there own and not with the band.”

How am I supposed to learn 12 songs by myself without recordings, not knowing how fast the song is, how slow the song is, and be able to play them perfect with the band when they cancel every second jam?

I am wrong. Does this make sense.

I am not mad (as I am probably better off without them) I just wanted to post this and see if my fellow TBer's think this bands reasons make sense, and if anyone else has been let go from a band for the same reasons. I have had some people tell me that I deserved it and others say I didn't. What do you guys think?

[Daniel Trolie]

Too bad man..
But, hey: If they were giving out tabs....

[threshar]

What? You were unable to use ESP to learn the rhythm of tunes you do not know and which there are no recordings of?

This clearly shows you are not fit for the job!

[thedude77md]

They sound like a bunch of dolts to me and no, that makes no sense. I can't imagine how anyone could say it was justified. You are def. better off w/out 'em.

I've had similar situations and am dealing with one now... joined a cover band not so long ago and have not played covers before. They told me I had two months to learn the 50+ tune list. No sweat. After two weeks w/ these guys, they were annoyed at rehearsal this weekend that I didn't know the whole set and giving me dirty looks. I think I set the expectation too high after learning 15 songs the first week (I had a couple days off "sick" from work and sat around playing all day).

[WayneS]

You're not wrong.

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Krause

I joined this death metal band back in March, and last week they fired me.

There add said they wanted a bass player willing to tour, record, all the normal stuff a serious band is looking for. I answered the add, and they asked if I could come down in 2 days and audition. I said sure. They sent me the bass tabs to one of their songs, no indication on the rhythm, tempo or anything just what notes. I learned the song, but had to work out tempo and all that at the audition.

Went to the audition and got the spot. Came home and they emailed me the tabs to 12 songs. Same as the first, just notesand was told that they practice once a week on Tuesdays 7:00 till 9:00.

From the end March until now I was able to play 6 songs from beginning till end with the band. They would cancel every second or third jam which made it difficult to learn their material on my own. I had not jammed with them in over a month. Went to practice last Tuesday, and got fired.

I showed up, they were outside; first thing the guitarist/vocalist says to me is "How many songs do you know?" I tell him “6 all the way through." Other guitarist says "We need to part ways. You should know all 12 by now." I agree that in that time span learning 12 songs isn’t that hard but without regular jams. ***. I explain this to them and they reply “We need a bass player that can learn on there own and not with the band.”

How am I supposed to learn 12 songs by myself without recordings, not knowing how fast the song is, how slow the song is, and be able to play them perfect with the band when they cancel every second jam?

I am wrong. Does this make sense.

I am not mad (as I am probably better off without them) I just wanted to post this and see if my fellow TBer's think this bands reasons make sense, and if anyone else has been let go from a band for the same reasons. I have had some people tell me that I deserved it and others say I didn't. What do you guys think?

depends..did you ask for some additional info or a tape,or did you just kind of sit on what you had and not try........all those cancelled practices kind of make me wonder about their work ethic tho......

[JimmyM]

They suck. You're better off without them. Tabs...bah.

[BB75]

My friend (guitarist) and I recently joined up with an "Indie" singer/songwriter and started learning his songs. I took notes on the songs at our first practice, then the following week we took a recorder and had him play all the songs unaccompanied so we had rough recordings to learn from. I'm not saying you are in the wrong here, but there are definately ways of learning the tunes especially if they provided tablature. Even something as simple as recording them on your cell phone will give you an idea of tempo/timing for learning on your own. Just my $0.02.

[jgroh]

You are better off without a band like that.

[Krause]

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

depends..did you ask for some additional info or a tape,or did you just kind of sit on what you had and not try........all those cancelled practices kind of make me wonder about their work ethic tho......

I asked for recordings and I also asked for the guitars tabs as well so I could see how they wanted the bass lines to mesh with them. Never got them, even though they agreed to provide me with them, and that they understood why I would need them.

[JimmyM]

BTW, this thread stands as a great example of why tabs ultimately suck. No rhythmic info, no translation to other instruments, just the raw "put your fingers here" info that means nothing to anyone without any context.

[Krause]

Originally Posted by Daniel Trolie

Too bad man..
But, hey: If they were giving out tabs....

I knew the notes to all 12 songs. But was only able to play 6 with the band. I only had time to work out the rythem of 6 since I only had 5-6 practices with the band.

[J. Crawford]

Originally Posted by Daniel Trolie

Too bad man..
But, hey: If they were giving out tabs....

This. A band that wants to tour, record, and get a deal should be past tabs.. IMO.

[mikeyswood]

Originally Posted by threshar

What? You were unable to use ESP

I hope he was able. He said death metal which is exclusively ESP or BC Rich right?






OP - you should congratulate yourself that you were unable, despite your best efforts, to stoop to their level.

[RobertPaulson]

Sounds like you're better off honestly. Tabs are only good if you know the song and even then they are just a reference really.

The lack of rehearsals in itself would have sent me packing.

[FreaqyFrequency]

Tabs will never replace the communication that is a jam, and understanding the feel of a song. You can do better than them, and you will.

[Krause]

Originally Posted by Jordasch

This. A band that wants to tour, record, and get a deal should be past tabs.. IMO.

I agree I prefer notation, but even when I asked for that they replied we don't know any theory.

[walknbluez]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

BTW, this thread stands as a great example of why tabs ultimately suck. No rhythmic info, no translation to other instruments, just the raw "put your fingers here" info that means nothing to anyone without any context.

+1

IMO, one of the first things they should have done is hand you a recording of all of the songs they wanted you to learn.

[FreaqyFrequency]

Originally Posted by Krause

"we don't know any theory."

This seals the deal. Be VERY happy you're done with them.

[J. Crawford]

Originally Posted by Krause

I agree I prefer notation, but even when I asked for that they replied we don't know any theory.

You should have just burned all of their instruments for thinking they would get any kind of music deal without knowing theory.

Pete Wentz just got lucky!