Being in a band that never rehearses..

[kevindahl]

If a bass player misses the changes, which typically is going to be the root, then you sound like a doofus. Other players have way more freedom to mess up.

I equate it to a drummer that drops a beat and everyone on stage is trying to guess where the 1 is.

 

[LBS-bass]

If a bass player misses the changes, which typically is going to be the root, then you sound like a doofus. Other players have way more freedom to mess up.

I equate it to a drummer that drops a beat and everyone on stage is trying to guess where the 1 is.

I've been told the exact opposite- I'm always a half-step and an easy slide away from a note that works!

 

[JazznFunk]

I've been told the exact opposite- I'm always a half-step and an easy slide away from a note that works!

Depends on the genre. Jazz? Sure. You can make it work. Not on a country tune tho. It's always the simplest songs that will make a bass player (and band) sound HORRIBLE if the bassist misses something.

 

[kevindahl]

I've been told the exact opposite- I'm always a half-step and an easy slide away from a note that works!

Blues right? Sure np.

Not in the band I play in

 

[LBS-bass]

Blues right? Sure np.

Not in the band I play in

Oh, no. That isn't the blues band. That's the BL in a band that plays a lot more complicated stuff who told me that. We do all sorts of yacht rock, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, hits from the 70's, along with originals. I can send you a link to our most recent show if you want to see it.

 

[nick4bass]

(like a 12-bar blues, which is the NASCAR track of music)

I LOVE THIS! juggahnaught, I'm using this. I'm in 2 blues bands right now (tbh it's wearing on me).

 

[silky smoove]

I've been told the exact opposite- I'm always a half-step and an easy slide away from a note that works!

Exactly. If the note is "wrong" or more correctly non-diatonic, then it is no more than a half step away from something in the song's key. It still might not be the intended note, but if it's in the right key you can usually find a creative way to get it to work.

 

[DoctorZee]

My band will perform new material without rehearsing, but only if everyone has a heads up in advance with enough time to prepare. Our only rehearsals tend to be when a new batch of songs is added that requires some additional coordination.

 

[tbz]

Honestly. If the BL prefers this and you don't feel embarrassed by your performance at the end of a set, I'd just go with it.

You're getting some really solid practical experience in a context where your mistakes kinda don't matter.

If the BL gets upset because you play an unrehearsed, spontaneously called song badly, then you can bring up the rehearsal idea. Or stress the need for a set list at least.

But to me it sounds like that person either doesn't mind some rough parts, or doesn't notice them. In which case I'd go with it unless something about it is objectionable enough to you personally, that it's legit bothering you.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

It seems to me, from this thread and several others like it, that maybe this is a peculiarity of the bass-player psyche.
We tend to be the organised ones, the ones that get lumbered with the logistics, 'cos we're good at that stuff.
We come prepared and ready, we aim to give a professional result and we don't like surprises.

We also have to deal with the whole 'It's just bass, just play the damn root' mindset.

Frustrating as hell, I know, and I really wish I had a solution to offer, but just know you're not alone.

Logistics?? Heck the bass is all about logic. We provide what the music need to make chord changes sound logical. When you get put in a situation when you can't due to a lack of preparation, I don't know about you, but my stress level goes through the roof.

I mean I can jam and ride pretty while, I even do a good solo, but put me in an unfamiliar tune and I'm all thumbs… not to mention not real fun to be around if you get my drift.

 

[tbz]

Exactly. If the note is "wrong" or more correctly non-diatonic, then it is no more than a half step away from something in the song's key. It still might not be the intended note, but if it's in the right key you can usually find a creative way to get it to work.

I mean. A big hack in walking baselines is to walk into a target note from a semitone away. Even if said semitone is not a scalar note.

"I'm walking the part bro. No bad notes here"

 

[Spidey2112]

Easy-going, good pay, most songs aren't that complex.

+1

However, the BL (Guitarist/singer) throws us all curveballs each and every show. Songs we never played before. No setlists, he just calls them out.

-1

It can be challenging because since I've been with these guys, we have never rehearsed.

-1

I'm not complaining as this is the most playing I have ever done in my life. Probably played about 40 shows since I joined, and we have 23 more on the books this

+1

As I've said before, I'd love to hear what's produced musically, without a rehearsal, or twenty... especially, with songs you've never played before.

And you're getting that many gigs? Wow.

 

[john_g]

My band rehearses only about 3 times a year, and that's mostly for vocal harmonies on challenging tunes. I've played in many other bands that don't rehearse, and its not only become my preference - unless its a REALLY GREAT gig, I doubt I'll ever join another band that insists on rehearsals.

That being said, throwing songs at you that you've never played is pure ridiculousness. I'd make it crystal clear that you need to know what songs you'll be playing in advance, or it's not happening. Throwing those kinds of curve balls makes both you and the band look bad. If he refused to do that and the band wasn't a super high paying gig - I'd be out. Closing one door really does open up much better ones, so long as one has faith that that's true. That's been my experience.

RE the rehearsing, I've come to believe that at some point in a musicians life, rehearsals are essential. It takes a lot of practice to be able to play well with other musicians. Once someone has paid their dues however, and has lots of stage experience, all that's necessary is that the band can depend upon each other to do their homework. If communication is clear and everyone is learning songs from the same files - experienced musicians do NOT have to rehearse in order to play tightly, and perfectly together.

Original bands are a different story.

You are likely talking about some serious musicians though, not the weekend warriors. I could easily show up to gigs without rehearsing, because I am diligent about doing my homework. But it all depends on the others doing theirs, and most of the time, that doesnt happen.

 

[MrLenny1]

It happens a lot. My last gig the B/L did the same thing. Hang in there and ride it out. It never lasts too long.

 

[Michael Milner]

As long as it's working, why rock the boat?

 

[BigCarl]

we call that the 'sink or swim school of music'
i love those gigs. BL calls out a song, and I'll find a guitar or keyboard player's left hand to watch to get the changes. sometimes i'll have enough time to look up the chords on the ipad before the song starts, other times you hope for the best. but I find that exciting.

my main band focuses on original music- formed in 1979 and we're working on our 7th LP. rehearsals are focused on original material but every once in a while we'll learn a new cover. we get together just about every tuesday night for practice.

i've been in bands that over practice and it burns me out. there's no sense in practicing songs everybody already knows IMO.

 

[Frampton]

Regular, paid gigs? Rock on.

 

[pmatz2]

Question to the OP - Besides making the band tighter, what will practice get you. Can you charge more per gig? Do you think you'll get more gigs (thus making the time invested in rehearsal worth it?). If not, based on your description of the BL's schedule it's probably a non starter. Figure out a way to increase your comfort level with the situation.

 

[OogieWaWa]

Given as often as you folks play, and if the repertoire is limited to say 70 core and maybe up to 120-ish songs and rotated occasionally, I wouldn't think much rehearsal would be needed, ever, except for new stuff. Hopefully you're not doing the same 40 songs every time! And knowing each other well and what to expect from each other helps a LOT, sometimes as much as rehearsing!

As for occasionally playing something you have not played before - sounds like fun, need a sub? Someone must trust you - a lot - and there's probably a reason for that. I really like it, but not everyone is like that!!!!

Ear Training is a powerful skill. Knowing guitar and keyboard chord shapes to look for helps. Knowing a lot of genre-based progressions helps. Is it a "box song"? Root, four five six, and eight on the top? 8, 12 or16 bar, with a quick change or not, chorus on the 4, stay on the 5?

But all those are skills; and skills need to be developed. My learning style is non-traditional; let doing guide the learning. For fun over many of my early years (at 50, lol) I'd just put on a radio and try to play everything that came up, for hours. That paid off a lot. At the jam nights where I first learned my chops, the all-semi-pro house band BL would call out familiar songs he knew I DIDN'T know; a quick mention of the key and progression, and away we went! He could play, sing, and still make the shapes of the first 7 letters of the alphabet with his right hand, a handy thing, so I could follow. After a while that was just for the first verse, chorus and maybe the bridge. After a while, I thought it was actually, well, normal, heh. But what a great way to learn; I could play real songs NOW. Then I'd go home and get better at them.

Hey, at least as a bass player it's not like we have to worry much about those pesky major/minor/7th/Aug things so much.

EDIT: And think of it this way; you play that often, and you're not bored. Ever! Keeps you on your toes.

 

[GWGuitar]

I played in a band with a married couple. The female singer/keyboardist made midi filed and sent out the arrangements so we knew where any key changes, modulations, breaks, etc. would happen. We developed our parts at home and then played them live. There was never any jamming. Everything had to be note-for-note. We played to a click track that went to the drummer and we followed him. It was a tight band, very professional. We did a lot of corporate gigs.