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Band Rehearsal - Do you really need the singer?

#21
pmorlen said:
Interested in your opinions:

A lot of times when rehearsing with my band, I use a song's lyrics as cues to where I am in a song. I was wondering if that is considered a crutch. In other words, should a band be able to play a song without relying on vocals?

Thanks
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Not a crutch at all. If you just memorize how many measures there are in each verse and chorus and play them in the correct order, you'll never be able to just sit there and jam when the singer is busy interacting with the crowd.

Your singer does interact with the crowd, right? Or are you guys playing everything CD-style?

I've been playing with my singer for so long that it's just second nature to follow her lead with where we are in the song. It's cool because not only do we get to keep rolling when she's trying to get the crowd fired up, we also don't look like idiots when she forgets to put in a verse or something. :)
 
#22
mambo4 said:
with a singer:
you can adjust your playing to support the true feel of the complete performance.

without a singer:
you gain independent confidence in the form of the song. As mentioned, every band member should be able to play the song correctly on their own.

both are worth doing.
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+1 practising with any combination of your band to talk about parts, go over little technical things, etc. is all worthwhile.
 
#24
The worst insult I can think to give to a musician is that they don't listen to the other musicians on stage. If you are pulling feel/cues/whatever from any other member, that is not a negative thing.

Let's be honest. The primary thing your audience is paying attention to is the vocals. For them, the music is a support structure for the vox. Practice just instrumentally if you like, but you have to be ready to change whatever is needed to if it doesn't jive with the vox.

Matter of fact, anytime you add anything you should be ready to adapt.
 
#26
the engine said:
Kind of a double-edged sword. You need to be able to play the songs without the singer. BUT... When playing live you need to pay attention him as well. He could miss a cue. He may want to "break it down" for some reason. You need to be able to cue off of him while not using him as a crutch. GEEEEZ! I hate it when people give two-sided answers and I just did it! Sorry...but that's the way I see it. Hope it helps.
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CORRECT, let us make one point VERY clear right now: "practice" is where YOU learn the songs, either alone or with other musicians. "Rehearsal" is where the entire band rehearses the show."Rehearsal" is where the entire band rehearses the show."Rehearsal" is where the entire band rehearses the show."Rehearsal" is where the entire band rehearses the show."Rehearsal" is where the entire band rehearses the show."Rehearsal" is where the entire band rehearses the show.
Get the point?
 
#27
Absolutely a crutch. You MUST be able to play your songs without the singer.

Simple reason: When it comes to record in the studio, the singers not gonna be singing it live with you guys all crowded around in the studio room. You need to be able to lay down the songs tight, and overdub the vocals.

Argument: Vocal booth!
Counter-argument: I don't think so. There's still going to be bleed, no matter how well isolated, and the general environment will be louder... the louder the singer's cans are, the hard it's going to be for them to hear well and hit the pitches right.

If you want professional vocals, they need to be done afterwords.

I dare you to find me 5 professional, polished, major label worthy pop music songs where the vocals were recorded live with the band. You think Micheal Jackson is singing while they're laying down beats and arrangements? I don't think so.

Whew, that was little long... kinda got carried away there...
 
#30
Your BD should be able to guide you through the set during your one-on-one practice with him/her as well as during band rehearsal. For the vocalist's sake, as well as the bands, there should be some combined rehearsal when you get closer to the show. This will allow everyone to make sure they are in sync with the whole group. Also, if you have a lead singer that strays from pre-planned song formats, it will be more important to have time with them leading to prep everyone for following unexpected changes. This is less important if you have a band that truly follows a BD instead of the lead singer, the BD will cue the changes he/she sees the lead singer making in real-time, the band only has to follow the BD's cues at that point.
 
#32
Phil Smith said:
Vocals equal melody and someone is either singing it or you're singing it in your head. It's not a crutch, it's an integral part of the song, the reason why you are playing what you're playing.
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I guess this is the fundamental difference between different mindsets.

I play for the MUSIC. Not someone's poem set to a tune.





Disclaimer: I play in an instrumental band. That probably explains everything. I'm not trying to flame, at all :) Just a realization.
 
#33
If you pull yourself away from the band dynamic, are you able to play the entire song/s? Or do you rely solely on cues from the band and singer? Knowing the songs individually/completely helps immensely when you go back to the band and as others mentioned a singer may take liberties or the guitar player trips on his cord or the mic gets unplugged....etc.

The better prepared you are yourself, the better off everyone is. Plus the confidence in your playing will be much improved.
 
#34
I play in a five piece cover band. We rehearse once a week. We are all in our 30's and have jobs, families, etc. So life gets in the way sometimes.

So, there are many rehearsals that someone is missing. We usually work around it. When the singer is missing, we work on solos, bridges, intros and so on.

All that being said, I think it is best to have the whole band together for each practice.
 
#35
I am in cover bands. I can't see the purpose of rehearsing without the singer. I can learn the songs at home; I need rehearsals to find out what chords the band changes or drops. How does the singer change the structure? Do they rush the chorus or a bridge? Will that cool little fill actually fit?
 
#36
megadan said:
I guess this is the fundamental difference between different mindsets.

I play for the MUSIC. Not someone's poem set to a tune.





Disclaimer: I play in an instrumental band. That probably explains everything. I'm not trying to flame, at all :) Just a realization.
Click to expand...

Even instrumentals have a melody it differs from a band with a singer in that an instrument plays the melody as opposed to the singer "playing" the melody with their voice.
 
#39
Normlly the singer needs as much rehearsal as the band. My new band is only together 10 weeks, we have been gigging since week 3, so without the vocals, some of us might get lost. When I was a kid first learning, I use to rely on memorization of repetive parts of a song, now I pay music. We all interact and respond to what the other player is doing.
 
#40
Vetchking Here:
I que off of everyone in the band. The singer is crutial.

Also when you record. DO NOT lay tracks and have the singer sing last.

Always use a scratch vocal track when Recording, sometimes it's a keeper. The second example is erase it later and re-do the vocal. But, always use the scratch track when recording.

And Yes, Major groups do this.

Later
 

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