When I do such a spur of the moment thing I sometimes mess up after it, not because I did something difficult, but because I actually pulled it off. I get so surprised that I kind of forget to keep playing. 
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Do you ever mess up?
- Thread starter milkman-27
- Start date
Sure you do. They are the same guys that never got fired from a band, never sold a bass for less than they bought it for, always play everything note-for-note, never played for less than $100 a gig, their wife knows Bono's wife, and are always ready to share their 'advice.'
I think we all know guys like that.
The song I most consistently mess up is one that seems easy at first but actually has some interesting changes- Billy Idol White Wedding- in the part before the end where it just hangs on the B forever, while he does the "Nothing Pure in this world"- well where it changes back to the other chords just fries my brain, not sure I have ever switched to that E-chord at the right time in the dozens of times I have played the song with bands.
Count it out, man. Math is your friend.
I actually count out loud while I'm playing.
"Money," Pink Floyd. Instrumental section before the 4/4 jam. As I finish the vocal, "and I think I need a Lear jet," I play the iconic bass phrase twice, and then I say, "One." Each time it comes back around, I say "Two, Three," etc, until I get to seven. I don't need to say "Eight," because I know it's eight, and I know I'm going to the key change.
I used to count the sections that went 12 times during the 4/4 jam, but I've been playing it so long, that I stopped needing to.
But you'd be shocked how many times, in seemingly simple songs, I am the one counting, and so I am the one to give a VERY confident nod, shake of the headstock, or some other cue to guitar and drums that it's time for a change.
I make a very accurate Musical Director, because I count.
When Arthur (lead guitar) is the Musical Director, it's basically, "I've played as much solo as I want, and now I'll give a 'change' cue."
That's why Arthur has mostly lost the Musical Director job. There are still one or two songs where he thinks he's cueing us, but generally, we were already planning on changing there, such as "Freebird." "Freebird is set in stone, and we play the rhythm parts EXACTLY the same very single time we play it. And it's all counted in sets of four. I count, on 12 string. My wife counts, on bass. And the drummer counts.
And do you know what feedback we get a lot? "You guys are tight."
That's why we rehearse, and that's why we count.
I had to put a lot of effort into talking the more experienced players into counting. They felt they were above it.
NO ONE IS ABOVE COUNTING.
Last night, I went see my old drummer filling in for another band and the guys all know me and ask me to sit it. I look down at the set list and see white wedding and in my mind it registers Billy Idol... I start to play Rebel Yell at the 4 count and then soon realize I do not know White Wedding. I know it starts on B has some Ds, Es and As in it.... I never stop playing until the end and the crowd danced. Luckily I redeemed myself on the next 2 tunes. I felt dopey but no one lost an eye.
According to some guy named Victor Wooten, there are no wrong notes as long as you make them sound good. If you get the feel right you can play any note and it will sound good. This is a must see for anyone that may make a mistake while playing a gig.
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Those people that don't make mistakes should not watch
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Those people that don't make mistakes should not watch
Actually, there are MANY wrong notes you can hit. For example, if you're doing a rehearsed line and you hit a note not in that rehearsed line, it's a wrong note and no zen philosophy changes that.
And despite being a working pro for 35 years, I hit wrong notes all the time, and so do all folks in every band I've ever been in. We try to not do it, but sometimes it just happens. Anyone who claims not to make mistakes is delusional. Some make way fewer than others, that's about it.
And despite being a working pro for 35 years, I hit wrong notes all the time, and so do all folks in every band I've ever been in. We try to not do it, but sometimes it just happens. Anyone who claims not to make mistakes is delusional. Some make way fewer than others, that's about it.
In a larger sense, NOT telegraphing that you made a mistake is the best way to cover it. Most people are not paying that close attention to all aspects of the song. if you wince and look silly after you make a mistake, however, they will see it and then they'll know.
My old guitarist used to get on our Youtubes after a show and agonize over his every mistake or wildly slam the performance. I got rid of him partly for that reason (and the fact that most of those mistakes were due to his inability to control his alcohol).
TL;DR: Don't Show It When You Blow It
Very true. I have live shows of bands i like and on pretty much every of them, in time, i got to identify parts where someone messed up. Some of them it took me 20 viewings or more before i noticed. Why? Because they didn't show it and even then i wasn't paying attention closely enough. I mean sure if you play the wrong chord for like 4 seconds, everyone will notice, but one note here and there quickly recovered,no problem.
Back in the 90's with two metal bands I played every day at home and three times a week at practice plus gigs. I was at the top of my game and don't recall ever making any mistakes. Not even missing any notes.
Edit, That is unless it was a new song still being written Etc.
Edit, That is unless it was a new song still being written Etc.
Wait a minute. Do they talk about how great their old bassist was in front of you often ? If so, I'd tell them to get him back and give them the finger. That's just plain rude.
Sure you do. They are the same guys that never got fired from a band, never sold a bass for less than they bought it for, always play everything note-for-note, never played for less than $100 a gig, their wife knows Bono's wife, and are always ready to share their 'advice.'
I think we all know guys like that.
Lol ! I thought you were serious at first.
One time I left out an entire verse of a song at a show. It was funny though.. Nobody even noticed and the rest of the band followed right along.
Different show, but I also forgot to tune back up for one song and played the first few bars a full step down & then had to adjust to playing the song "correctly" in drop tuning.
Different show, but I also forgot to tune back up for one song and played the first few bars a full step down & then had to adjust to playing the song "correctly" in drop tuning.
He comes in here and says the goofiest things about his mullet of yesteryear... and yet, he still puts the foundation of musicality in such a succinctness that leaves the rest of us with so little to say.
Right on. We all know a wrong note when we hear it. And right on to the second part of your post. EVERYONE makes mistakes
