Oh, those auditions ...

[Thor]

Originally Posted by dtripoli

Snip...

Use caution if you hear one these statements:
"We have a home studio" (Garage with the car not parked in it)
"We're playing Classic Rock but make it our own" (We're unable to actually play it as recorded so we've dumbed it down)
"We have some standards we do but we also Jam" (Play 12 bar blues in 'E' for 20mins, then in 'A' for 20mins, drink a bunch of beers and repeat)
"Here are the songs I'd like to possibly do" (We don't actually know them and was hoping you could show us)
"We like to have fun but are serious about our music" (One or all of us are perfectionist Divas)
"Can you sing backup?" (None of us can sing worth a damn and hope you can carry the load)
"We have mgmt and gigs lined up!" (My girlfriend's brother's step-uncle knows a friend of a friend who knows a guy who worked with Tito Jackson on his solo album in 1982 and can maybe get us a gig)

So you were the guy we auditioned last Friday. Dang! I didn't know you hung here!

[Fair Warning]

Haha....I seem to fail auditions more than I should. One meantion of the "key" is very important. I showed up one time knowing my songs in the key of the original recording, and these guys stepped things down and around to the point where I did not know which end was up....then once a band takes me on, then I am usually the one who is not satisfied with another member, and end up having to quit for one reason or another

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by Fair Warning

Haha....I seem to fail auditions more than I should. One meantion of the "key" is very important. I showed up one time knowing my songs in the key of the original recording, and these guys stepped things down and around to the point where I did not know which end was up....then once a band takes me on, then I am usually the one who is not satisfied with another member, and end up having to quit for one reason or another

I love it when TB handles fit so perfectly.

[guy n. cognito]

If anyone ever shows up at my audition and asks to play along with a CD, he'll be shown the door without playing a single note.

To the OP: the audition isn't just to test your ability to ultimately learn a song. It is to see how quickly you can learn songs, and if you come prepared. Showing up to an audition without knowing the material, or without asking a few simple questions, is a giant red flag that you won't work well.

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by Finsterino

I bet I am not alone in these situations. Where you go meet the band, they pull out the playlist, and they want you to just jump right in.

Now if I was a better bassist, I would not struggle with these songs. Like Fire on the Mountain (Marshall Tucker). I've heard it for 20 years, but never played it. And I did not pick it up fast enough during the audition. Fail!

Of course I should have asked for a playlist in advance. My mistake.

But even playing a song I have played dozens of times in the past (Seminole Wind) throws me for a loop if I don't have my cheat sheets and/or playing with the live band, and not the recording. Another Fail.

So one way to make this work: I bring an mp3 player to the audition with a few of my fave songs, and ask the band to play those for my audition. (these songs would be some that most folks should know - nothing off the wall). So we could all start by playing along the the recording. That way, I should be able to demonstrate that I am a capable player, given enough practice.

Comments?

Also, I have heard nothing from the band for a week, so I am not positive I was rejected , but ...

Live and learn. From here on out be sure to ask for a few tunes to audition on ahead of time.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Fair Warning

Haha....I seem to fail auditions more than I should. One meantion of the "key" is very important. I showed up one time knowing my songs in the key of the original recording, and these guys stepped things down and around to the point where I did not know which end was up....then once a band takes me on, then I am usually the one who is not satisfied with another member, and end up having to quit for one reason or another

I wish more guys were having more positive band experiences.

I have been lucky in that most of my band experiences have been good experiences.

I think it's the guys with multiple bad band experiences that end up saying " forget it" and go back to the bedroom forever. And unfortunately some of these guys resort to rationalizing why they prefer the bedroom like it was their choice. Which is rarely the case.

Some of the problems stem from guys getting so excited about getting into a band, they forget about putting thought into what they want, and who they are.

Blue

[guy n. cognito]

Gotta love blue.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by BWileyTally

Being fairly new to the bass scene I am curious to learn how to chart out songs. Do you have any links, suggestions or tips for me?

There's a sticky on the topic that includes my method for writing notes for a song.

How To Learn Lots of Songs Quickly for a Gig

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

Gotta love blue.

I guess that means my post has some truth to it, but at the same time stuff people don't like to hear.

Blue

[Joebarnes]

I have a terrible ear. I can't pick out specific notes to save my life; but I am darn good at seeing a guitarist's fingers. My standard line is "If I can see fingers, I can play the song".

Find a way to overcome your shortfalls. I looked at the tab's on Ultimate Guitar for Fire on the Mountain (don't know the tune), and it appears to be mostly roots following what the guitar is playing. So, watch the Guitar's fingers and.... ta daaa.. fake it.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by dtripoli

Standard Operating Procedure

Band Auditioning
Prior to the rehearsal,
*Get their Song list w/Keys
*Agree on 5-6 songs to go over
*Learn those 5-6 songs so you can play them in your sleep
*Have a working knowledge of the rest of the songs. 5-6 songs only take around 20mins to play so,
you'll more than likely end up having to play others. Best to not get caught flat footed.

Use caution if you hear one these statements:
"We have a home studio" (Garage with the car not parked in it)
"We're playing Classic Rock but make it our own" (We're unable to actually play it as recorded so we've dumbed it down)
"We have some standards we do but we also Jam" (Play 12 bar blues in 'E' for 20mins, then in 'A' for 20mins, drink a bunch of beers and repeat)
"Here are the songs I'd like to possibly do" (We don't actually know them and was hoping you could show us)
"We like to have fun but are serious about our music" (One or all of us are perfectionist Divas)
"Can you sing backup?" (None of us can sing worth a damn and hope you can carry the load)
"We have mgmt and gigs lined up!" (My girlfriend's brother's step-uncle knows a friend of a friend who knows a guy who worked with Tito Jackson on his solo album in 1982 and can maybe get us a gig)

You nailed it.

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by obimark

This may seem pretty straightforward but ask them for 3-4 songs to audition on in advance so you can learn them? (IF you don't know them)
Go play THOSE 3 songs, and if they like you they will offer you the position.

I would never go to an audition with out 3-4 songs prepared in advance. (and I also would NEVER learn 20 songs for an audition, unless it was with Bon Jovi or something)

Well put! This is exactly where I land on the issue. You need to play songs that you have already learned, but ones THEY are comfortable with (after all, it's their band). The very best way to do this is get a whole set list from them and you can choose what you want to learn. But if they give you a list of three or four to learn. But I would NEVER go to an audition without prepared material, even if it's an original band.

[Astreaux]

Originally Posted by jive1

There's a sticky on the topic that includes my method for writing notes for a song.

How To Learn Lots of Songs Quickly for a Gig

Excellent sticky for all to review... several times! Lots of great info Jive1. Thanks for sharing!

[Flyingfrets]

Originally Posted by Finsterino

But even playing a song I have played dozens of times in the past (Seminole Wind) throws me for a loop if I don't have my cheat sheets and/or playing with the live band, and not the recording. Another Fail.

I've met quite a few guys who could blaze the guitar lines along with a cd, but in "live" situation with other musicians just couldn't find their way through the same song. I think they pick up on subliminal ques that they've heard over & over on the recording, that may not be there when played by other musicians.

Only cure is experience. I'd suggest just jamming with other people for awhile before looking to join a band. It'll make you a little "looser" and more adaptable.

[the yeti]

Originally Posted by Finsterino

So one way to make this work: I bring an mp3 player to the audition with a few of my fave songs, and ask the band to play those for my audition. (these songs would be some that most folks should know - nothing off the wall). So we could all start by playing along the the recording. That way, I should be able to demonstrate that I am a capable player, given enough practice.

Comments?

Also, I have heard nothing from the band for a week, so I am not positive I was rejected , but ...

is this an established group that you're expecting to bend to you? probably never gonna happen (not even for a truly great bassist), at least during the audition.

if you want to demonstrate that you're a capable player learn the audition pieces.

[Finsterino]

OK guys. Thanks for the thoughts. I did talk (phone) to each of the other members before the audition, so we had the discussions on music, and gigs and practice session. So we seemed somewhat compatible. One of them told me they played classic rock/country, and he was sure I had heard them for years. That is prolly what distracted me into not getting the playlist.

And cheatsheets: I like to keep a chart with me of the playlist which includes the key and verse / chorus patterns. That info just does not stick in my head (or fingers!). Or, maybe I use them as a crutch - and should ditch them ...

[lokikallas]

Looks like I'm doing something right. I am auditioning for a band on Sunday. They have me a list of about 20 songs they are playing and told me to pick a couple. I'm learning 3-4 down pat and giving the rest a run through. I already know a couple pretty well, but I'm learning 3-4 new ones for fun.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by lokikallas

Looks like I'm doing something right. I am auditioning for a band on Sunday. They have me a list of about 20 songs they are playing and told me to pick a couple. I'm learning 3-4 down pat and giving the rest a run through. I already know a couple pretty well, but I'm learning 3-4 new ones for fun.

I once auditioned for one of the better bands in my area, and the competition for the bass slot was pretty stiff, lots of good players wanted that job. The band provided me the set lists from their most recent gig, and we narrowed it down to 4 or 5 songs to have down pat. Well, I had some extra time before the audition, and some of the songs weren't all that challenging, so I just kept learning. By the time I went to the audition, I could pretty much nail all the material on two full sets either from memory or with a few simple reminder notes written on the set lists. I asked them if we could just run through the first two sets, and they gave me and each other stunned looks. So we played right through, and they were thrilled that they had someone willing to be that dedicated to the project from the word "go."

I'm not saying everyone should do this, but as loki said, going the extra mile usually makes a very good impression.

[Fair Warning]

Originally Posted by Flyingfrets

I've met quite a few guys who could blaze the guitar lines along with a cd, but in "live" situation with other musicians just couldn't find their way through the same song. I think they pick up on subliminal ques that they've heard over & over on the recording, that may not be there when played by other musicians.

.

This is the most common problem, it seems, that I find with guitarists....

[Big Brother]

Originally Posted by Flyingfrets

I've met quite a few guys who could blaze the guitar lines along with a cd, but in "live" situation with other musicians just couldn't find their way through the same song. I think they pick up on subliminal ques that they've heard over & over on the recording, that may not be there when played by other musicians.

Only cure is experience. I'd suggest just jamming with other people for awhile before looking to join a band. It'll make you a little "looser" and more adaptable.

I've played with a lot of these guys, their method is basically to memorize a song as a sequence of moves or patterns. It's like memorizing how to ask questions in a foreign language without understanding what you are saying. You just listen to and mimic what you hear over and over, learn it piece by piece, then replay it from memory like a recorded track.

They aren't playing to a groove though and don't feel the rhythm at all so when they lose their place, they have to think ahead and so they can sync up their 'track' with the rest of the band.

They rely on cues in the original track to keep them in sync and if they don't hear them playing live, they have no idea where they are in relation to the rest of the song.

I knew a guy who could play Eruption so perfectly that you swore it was a recording, he had phenomenal tone technique and speed but if he lost his place he couldn't jump back on track, we had to add an extra beat in the song to accommodate it.

It isn't music, but some of these guys are so good at it that they can carry a show and nobody would ever know.