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By the Record or " With Our Own Twist"?
- Thread starter Jarred Harris
- Start date
A tribute band needs to be as close to the recordings a s they can, but a Saturday night bar band, not so much. As long as the song is recognizable it usually works. In my experience, the crowd loves it when a band takes a dead horse like Mustang Sally and throws a new twist on it.
It's worth the effort if you're motivated to learn and have some integrity of playing a song correctly. If other band members are too lazy to learn their parts point out to them what sounds bad with your correct bass line. Never know who's in the audience listening! You could be in the next whatever. David Bowie discovered a local band in Ohio and put them on tour with his own tour. They went national. They were DEVO. NEVER know who's watching...........
I learn note for note and then interpret it from there. Unless it’s jazz; note for note jazz isn’t jazz. Even stock licks in jazz aren’t jazz. Jazz is being here and now, reacting to other musicians’ here and now.
Ultimately though, I play for me, not the audience.
Ultimately though, I play for me, not the audience.
This is pretty much how I do it. Most of it will be right on, but there will be some dickery on parts.
I’ll dick up whole pieces if I don’t like the original line. Other stuff, I’ll stick to canon. It depends on the context and what serves the melody.
If putting forth the energy and time to learn a particular song's bass line note for note will make you a better musician and bassist, then do it if you can. You can always play something else, when you perform with this group. If a song's bass lines don't really have anything special to them, or you already know the material, then it's not such a learning opportunity.
You have your band, and you have your own brand as a bassist. We all need to work and develop our own brand.
It's up to you.
- Oct 18, 2012
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I will respectfully disagree. I've seen bands all over the U.S. The most successful cover bands play as close to the original recording as possible. Most bands that I've seen doing their own interpretation typically do so because they either can't play the song the way it was written or they're too lazy to learn it. They have the "It's good enough" attitude.
When doing covers, usually there are musical touch stones along the way that need to be played note for note but not necessarily the whole song.
For instance back in the 70s I took my girlfriend to see Chicago. They played Does Anybody Know What Time It Is. The trumpet solo was completely different than the one on the record. It was totally an awesome solo. When he was done, and girlfriend (non-musical type) now recognizing the song once the vocal came in said, ‘Man, that was awful!”
There are certain cornerstones in most songs.
If they are missing, it's really not the same song, imo.
In my last band, the drummer never got even close to the song essence, which drove me crazy, because while I'd learn my part, it never sounded coherent. The guitar player could pound out very good solos, but was lazy. I had to be the one to say, "Hey Frank, there's G on the top of that chord", which sometimes would be the difference in a good cover and a bad one.
One night I just said "that's it, I'm done".
If they are missing, it's really not the same song, imo.
In my last band, the drummer never got even close to the song essence, which drove me crazy, because while I'd learn my part, it never sounded coherent. The guitar player could pound out very good solos, but was lazy. I had to be the one to say, "Hey Frank, there's G on the top of that chord", which sometimes would be the difference in a good cover and a bad one.
One night I just said "that's it, I'm done".
Two comments 1.) one of my pet peeves is when the guitar player, singer, band leader, etc. expects you to play note for note, as recorded, but they do not. 2.) Another peeve is when the guitar player tells you that what you learned note for note is wrong. Most times I just end up playing what ever the talent tells me, wrong or not. But I am in a situation now where it just doesn't sound right. But the guitar player, who also sings this song, insists it's right.
Answer to OP...it depends. As a former BL we did strive for authenticity. But at the same time we had to make songs fun and playable for an entire band. So some liberties are ok in my book. We have even dropped the chorus on a much requested song just so we could get thru it. People still loved it.
Answer to OP...it depends. As a former BL we did strive for authenticity. But at the same time we had to make songs fun and playable for an entire band. So some liberties are ok in my book. We have even dropped the chorus on a much requested song just so we could get thru it. People still loved it.
We try to get the songs as close to original as we can. We're a cover band and the bar owners tend to prefer that the bands at least try to get it close. I don't mind if we don't get it perfect except for the hooks. If you don't get the hooks correct then the audience won't get the same feeling like as if the original band did it.
I turned down a cover band because they wanted to play perfectly like off the recording. I politely said Im not who your looking for.
If note for note is a band’s aim, I’d just as soon hire a DJ and listen to the original recording. YMMV.
For educational purposes I can see learning some musician’s individual performance of a song note for note. Being able to play something exactly can make you a better musician. But to me it seems much like learning scales and chord triads. By all means learn and practice them. But please don’t perform them.
For educational purposes I can see learning some musician’s individual performance of a song note for note. Being able to play something exactly can make you a better musician. But to me it seems much like learning scales and chord triads. By all means learn and practice them. But please don’t perform them.
I like to make it our own while keeping the essence of the song and the feel. OR I like playing it note for note. OR I like making it completely our own with a completely original feel.
depends on the song and the situation. Usually we opt for number 1
I find the people who tell you they are playing it note for note, and while they may have the general pitches correct completely miss all subtlety of bends and timing, far more annoying.
I prefer to start with a note for note rendition of an agreed upon version, and adapt from there. I believe my signature, a quote from another TB member, says the same thing.
Added, in case it changes later:
Know what the exact part is, but change it as needed... SpazzTheBassist
Usually a bands "version" of song is a result of a lack of talent, a lack of rehearsal or just not caring enough put forth any effort. I'm there to sell alcohol like everyone else, but it doesn't say anywhere I can't be any a good band, too.
Added, in case it changes later:
Know what the exact part is, but change it as needed... SpazzTheBassist
Usually a bands "version" of song is a result of a lack of talent, a lack of rehearsal or just not caring enough put forth any effort. I'm there to sell alcohol like everyone else, but it doesn't say anywhere I can't be any a good band, too.
Original artists often don't play note for note. I like to tastefully deviate from the original, but maybe my taste isn't appealing to others. And when I go out to see local bands, I'd prefer to see a little twist in their playing. I can listen to 100% original on Spotify any time.
I have always tried to play songs note for note. I play mostly rock and pop covers. I have always looked it as a challenge to be able the bass parts and play them like the record. I also enjoy other bass players who do the same. Having said that, if someone can play an iconic song with their own personality and soul I'm totally down with that.
