Bad Lighting, or, why practice without looking at the fretboard?

[hrodbert696]

So I had a Thursday night gig with the Blues Bros. tribute at a local winery. They had a stage set up in a function room, the kind of place where people have wedding receptions and things. Maybe 75 people for an audience. Lighting and sound were provided by a guy who does a lot of local DJ and audio work, and he's quite professional.

Except...

The room had no built-in stage lights, so he brought lights. They consisted of two Chauvet 4-bars on stands. Since the stands were on the ground, not up on the stage, they were barely higher than head level. The group is an 11-piece act; three singers, four horns, and our bass/guitar/drums/keys combo (Granite State Rhythm Section). Suffice to say, eight LED pars barely stretched across all of us and at that height, cast a lot of shadows. When they dimmed the house lights, we were practically playing in the dark.

So... that was fun. Most of these songs I've been playing long enough that I can do them in my sleep. But there are some where I couldn't see my neck, missed a note by a half-step, and then was off my game trying to find my way back where we were supposed to be. Not sure how much the crowd really felt it, but it wasn't my best night.

 

[Jrussblues]

When I’m up before the kiddos I practice in the dark. Specifically to get better at playing notes by feel.
I suck at it, but I think audiences prefer for you to look at them vs the fretboard.
Also, when I can play without looking it helps me to hear the notes vs seeing the notes. It’s kind of freeing.

 

[TheBogart]

I use some glow in the dark tape to mark the dots in the back of the neck, before every concert I see that there will be no
Light.

 

[hrodbert696]

I use some glow in the dark tape to mark the dots in the back of the neck, before every concert I see that there will be no
Light.

That's thinking ahead! I might look into that.

 

[LukeSlywalker]

I had a similar gig experience to you a couple years ago. I’m sure no one noticed a couple flubbed notes but it really bothered me. I added roll on white out on the side dots of the neck and that has worked ever since. When they get scratched off, I just add another. Cheap and doesn’t permanently alter my vintage bass.

 

[LukeSlywalker]

If I ever get a new bass, I would have my tech add those Luminlay side dots

 

[TheBogart]

If I ever get a new bass, I would have my tech add those Luminlay side dots

You can use take. It works the same way and it’s not permanent

 

[LukeSlywalker]

You can use take. It works the same way and it’s not permanent

True. But I’m okay with permanent if it was a new instrument. I’m just not drilling in to a 42 year old instrument

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

A note on Luminlays… I have them and while I haven’t run an actual test, the glow doesn’t seem to last very long. Maybe half a set when charged up.

 

[Slevage]

I learned to play BG in 1972 from a great UB player. His method had a strong focus on reading.
I’ve played in many kinds of bands-
Zeppelin, Stones, Kiss as a kid.
Disco, lounge, weddings, ballroom dance…
Some of my gigs now (though fewer) require me to watch the sheet music, and conductor.
I do glance at the neck for reference, but staring at my left hand is not an option.
Watch the bass section of a symphony orchestra for a humbling experience.

 

[fourstr00]

If I ever get a new bass, I would have my tech add those Luminlay side dots

I put them on my last two builds and will never buy a bass without them now. They’re just great. A maple fingerboard helps, a little.

I’ve found we just look better onstage if we’re not all staring at our necks. Not looking at the board also reduces shoulder pain and my overall well being at the end of the night.

 

[Turnaround]

As a musician you are expected tp play at your best in the dark or when there are spotlights in your eyes so you can't see anything, in a hot room that has no AC, or on a cold wintry stage outdoors, in a space that's so small you can't move or spread out across a stage so you can't see cues from the BL, in a situation when you can't hear yourself and in places where you can't hear anyone else in the band. You are expected to come to work even if you are sick, and accept pay that doesn't cover your expenses. You are expected to do your job in horrid conditions while being amiable to the point of portraying your performance as the best thing ever.

Nice job.

 

[MrLenny1]

The poopie we do for gigs.
A popular room in the area has no stage lighting.
Kudos to 11 musicians who really want to play.

 

[bulldean]

I find it easier to see on a dark stage using a maple neck instead of rosewood. I hate dark stages, especially if the audience is illuminated more than the band.

 

[jad]

Visibility of position markers is something I think about when bass shopping. I have a black bass, painted neck with a dark rosewood board, and the position markers on the side are very small. The markers all but disappear under red or dim lighting. That bass has seen less use over the years, and one of the reasons is because it is hard to see. I put some larger whiter sticker dots on it, but they didn't last long. I also tried using white out at one point, but it scratched off pretty quickly. Tape worked pretty well but was ugly.

I own my band's lights, so the best fix has been to design lighting that is brighter and placed better. Most of the scenes have white front lighting. There are a couple of places we play regularly with lights provided, and I'll bring a more visible bass to those shows. When I find myself bothered by problematic lighting, I locate myself in a place and angle myself in a way to maximize my ability to see the dots, at least on the songs with a lot of left-hand movement. I'm guessing that this is less of a problem for 5 or 6 string guys who have the option of playing more vertically across the board.

I try to be cognizant of how much I look at the board while practicing, just as I am cognizant of how much I look at the charts while learning songs, so as not to become too dependent. Thinking about it, the songs that I sing on are the ones that I don't look at the board much at all out of necessity.

 

[s van order]

I don’t much look at my bass guitar neck because I also am a cellist, so I’m used to not looking. But here’s something that I use that I think might help. Put on an eye mask and practice playing the songs. I use one to run scales and warm up, and it really reinforces the physical touch and better opens the ears.

 

[fdeck]

Get a fretless, and you'll never miss a note by exactly 1/2 step.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Show biz.

 

[gln1955]

As a musician you are expected tp play at your best in the dark or when there are spotlights in your eyes so you can't see anything, in a hot room that has no AC, or on a cold wintry stage outdoors, in a space that's so small you can't move or spread out across a stage so you can't see cues from the BL, in a situation when you can't hear yourself and in places where you can't hear anyone else in the band. You are expected to come to work even if you are sick, and accept pay that doesn't cover your expenses. You are expected to do your job in horrid conditions while being amiable to the point of portraying your performance as the best thing ever.

Nice job.

That's why we're paid the big bucks.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Get a fretless, and you'll never miss a note by exactly 1/2 step.

And you can slide around until you find it.