I watch the CNN show "Parts Unknown" with Anthony Bourdain on Sundays. One show this season was about the Philippines. In it, they said that the main export from their country was native workers from their country who would go to work in other countries and send money back home to their families. The main work force was composed of cover bands that would go and play all over the world. The band they highlighted in this episode was asked by Bourdain the number of cover songs did they know how to play. Without hesitation, one spoke up and said "about 1000"! WTH?
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Bass "Parts Unknown"
- Thread starter jcdcus23
- Start date
There might be a bit of hyperbole, but real pro cover bands know hundreds and hundreds of songs. Heck, even the hack cover band I was in 15-20 years ago had a 300+ song list, and we really weren't that great!
Anyone who's played in cover bands for any length of time will be able to at least remember most of hundreds of songs.
They likely won't even remember the titles of many, but will be able to pick them back up pretty quick.
Unless of course, one has played in one of 'those' bands who only play the same songs everyone else plays 'ad nauseum'.
The you only need to know about 50.
They likely won't even remember the titles of many, but will be able to pick them back up pretty quick.
Unless of course, one has played in one of 'those' bands who only play the same songs everyone else plays 'ad nauseum'.
The you only need to know about 50.
s0c9
Supporting Member
I was in a band several years ago that played the same venues as a local guitarist who did blues and classic rock covers. I got to stand in with him a few times.
He must have known virtually every rock song recorded between 1955 and 1995---even some really obscure stuff. His memory retention was nothing short of incredible.
He must have known virtually every rock song recorded between 1955 and 1995---even some really obscure stuff. His memory retention was nothing short of incredible.
Hi,
Like most singing bass players who have been doing this as long as I have, I can probably sing 40-50 songs off the top of my head. I've got about 300 in my lyric book that I could sing if necessary, or by request. Plus I know many more than that well enough to play. But my brain is just about full and can hardly hold any more notes and words. I have to forget something old in order to learn something new.
Add what I know to band members of the same vintage and we probably could pull off 1000 songs between us. But for the younger folks, they've really had to cram a lot of music into their brains in a short amount of time, or they have deep books plus excellent skills, to be able to pull of such a vast repertoire. It is fairly common among working (cover) musicians who've been doing it as their profession for a while. But I would agree a good number of musicians have a great talent, fantastic memories, are expert at just knowing a very large number of cover tunes, and are able to pull them out at a moments notice. I wish I was one of them.
I do recall first starting out trying to get to that magic number (of songs) so that we could play a three hour after-school dance and not have to repeat a song. I think that number was 40, twelve songs per set plus a few extra just in case. Now I sometimes struggle trying to remember the words to songs I've been singing for 20 years. Sometimes it's not fun getting old. The first thing to go is..., um, the first thing to go is...., oh, I forgot.
Practice makes perfect and repetition is the key.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
Like most singing bass players who have been doing this as long as I have, I can probably sing 40-50 songs off the top of my head. I've got about 300 in my lyric book that I could sing if necessary, or by request. Plus I know many more than that well enough to play. But my brain is just about full and can hardly hold any more notes and words. I have to forget something old in order to learn something new.
Add what I know to band members of the same vintage and we probably could pull off 1000 songs between us. But for the younger folks, they've really had to cram a lot of music into their brains in a short amount of time, or they have deep books plus excellent skills, to be able to pull of such a vast repertoire. It is fairly common among working (cover) musicians who've been doing it as their profession for a while. But I would agree a good number of musicians have a great talent, fantastic memories, are expert at just knowing a very large number of cover tunes, and are able to pull them out at a moments notice. I wish I was one of them.
I do recall first starting out trying to get to that magic number (of songs) so that we could play a three hour after-school dance and not have to repeat a song. I think that number was 40, twelve songs per set plus a few extra just in case. Now I sometimes struggle trying to remember the words to songs I've been singing for 20 years. Sometimes it's not fun getting old. The first thing to go is..., um, the first thing to go is...., oh, I forgot.
Practice makes perfect and repetition is the key.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
