For a weekend warrior band I would respond with a definite and absolute NO! No need to post a list of why.
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- Thread starter Bass Man Dan
- Start date
Bass monkey! That funky monkey!
“Body Like a Backroad” was pretty much the song of the summer two or three years ago. Pull up a chart from UG and you should be good to go. It’s capo 2 or 3 maybe, can’t remember.
A Latin band i played with in the 90s had a wedding gig. The couple was mixed anglo and Mexican, so we added achy breaky heart to the set list. Much to my surprise it was the one song everybody danced to. I say give the people what they want, but only if you're competent enough to pull it off. A lot of country crowd pleasers aren't very complicated musically IME. I prefer rehearsals and homework for new material these days, but back in the day i could get away with faking stuff like that.
I think I like this best...
What will probably happen is that you play them on the fly, do pretty good at it, and they will end up paying the lead guitar extra for having to learn the song on the fly.... Pretty much sums up what band leaders think of good bass players! 
To me it isn't just about whether the songs can be done, with charts or otherwise. It's also a boundary issue. I really don't like it when people wait until the last minute to decide something just has to be done a certain way and then expect me to jump on a dime due to their lack of planning.
I've learned how to structure and plan my time and I don't appreciate that someone else's lack of foresight leads to a rushed job on my part. If you want me to learn something, give me some notice. Don't spring stuff on me at the last minute and expect me to be ok with it. Sure, these songs might be easy ones but if you do it once this will just keep on happening and the next last-minute requests from the guy who doesn't have any work to do might not be as simple.
I've learned how to structure and plan my time and I don't appreciate that someone else's lack of foresight leads to a rushed job on my part. If you want me to learn something, give me some notice. Don't spring stuff on me at the last minute and expect me to be ok with it. Sure, these songs might be easy ones but if you do it once this will just keep on happening and the next last-minute requests from the guy who doesn't have any work to do might not be as simple.
I wouldn't do it. I've been in bands that have done awful covers that I would've opted not to do if I had any more say. 
At least it's country and they aren't Tool fans.
The other week I was scrawling a number chart for the Grateful Dead tune "Ripple" on a napkin while YouTubing it on my smartphone, about 10 minutes before downbeat. The music client was happy and so was the audience, so I consider that a total win.
That sort of thing might not work so well with the sextet in a sold out theater.
That sort of thing might not work so well with the sextet in a sold out theater.
I think our drummer/BL wanted us to do Life is a Highway. It is not a typical easy song you can pull off without working on it. One of our guitar players didn't learn the bridge and we went through it at rehearsal a number of times and then dropped it.
It is not a song I would choose to do because - to a point - the more chord changes you have in a song, the less danceable it is.
It is not a song I would choose to do because - to a point - the more chord changes you have in a song, the less danceable it is.
Yep. With, by your own say so, a weekend warrior setup, I'm with saying sorry but no as politely as you can, but happy with maybe a day or two notice in the future. Hopefully that will also nip it in the bud so that the message is gently got through that this won't fly.
devnulljp
Supporting Member
Yeah I've done that. Singer goes ff script between songs, introduces a new song he just wrote and starts playing. Mind you, he only knows 3 chords so it wasn't hard to keep up.
Jazz band did it a few times too, but in a way that's almost easier as you're expected to improvise right?
Gig the day Leonard Cohen died, we decided to do Halleluia on the way to the stage. Quick Google for chord chart on my phone before going up there and we nailed it.
It's a country song.
Fifths.
That said, adding music on short notice always requires unanimity for me.
Fifths.
That said, adding music on short notice always requires unanimity for me.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Does anyone in the band know the tunes? Look up the changes on line, keep your eyes on the left hand on the guitarist/keyboardist, and keep your notes muted and short.
Dig deep and do some free form jazz experimentation. "What does the title of this unheard song mean to me and how do my fingers react?" Encourage the drummer to do the same. But don't collaborate.
And take some video and post here.
And take some video and post here.
What's the problem? As a former singer I played with said when he would pull the same stunt. " Its just like those other songs, only different".
If I bring “2 or 3” Rush fans to the gig, will you play Anthem and Freewill?
