Do you noodle on stage???

[Chewi Manilli]

I used to have a terrible habit of playing along with the house music in between sets, and then my wise band leader barked at me to "practice at home!". Haven't noodled since.

 

[PaulCISSA]

Play one quick note muted to see if you are on.

Anything more than one shake and you are performing self abuse.

Carefully stated within the "family friendly" site rules.

 

[PaulCISSA]

Our BL insures it doesn't happen. We're permitted our time after setup and during sound checks which are usually less than 5 minutes. But always before the patrons are in the room. On restaurant or dinner-theater gigs, there is NO music prior to going live. Tune silent and FOH sound is off. The drummer usually complains. Everyone else has it figured out.

 

[FollowMeDown]

I once played in a band that made a point of practicing super tight starts and ends. We also had a firm rule that any/all gaps between songs should be no longer than about 5 seconds, had to be dead silent, and there was strictly no noodling allowed anytime after the sound check. When you went on stage you were allowed one or two notes max just to confirm you were powered up. If you needed to tune between songs you had about 2 seconds to tell the singer to cover with some chat or you'd miss the window and the next song would start. When tuning you had to be muted so the audience couldn't hear it. The result was we sounded FAR more professional, and it was actually a lot more fun and rewarding playing like that than most bands I've been in where breaks between songs can be like 30 seconds and the guitarist or drummer cant help but see every break as another opportunity to guff around.

 

[mojomike001]

No noodling unless you’re playing a theme from a spaghetti western.

 

[whero]

Soundcheck is noodling time. Once the first set starts, just play the songs.

I do have one exception: I don't use a lot of effects, but my main band has a couple of songs where I use a bit more overdrive, or some chorus, or a defretted sound. These are programmed as patches in a multi-effect pedal, so when I switch from my normal "clean" stage sound to one of the patches I'll play (literally) two or three notes to check the sound is the right one and the volume level is right. It always is, because I'm prepared and the patches are arranged so it's just one or two clicks up or down on the pedal, but I feel better if I check first.

 

[growlypants]

Hey - GUILTY. (Back when I was in my 20's). Now, I know it's bad. I deeply apologize to all those who I offended.

 

[twinjet]

I watched a band this week where the guitarist and drummer noodled full vilume like they were in Guitar Center for 15 minutes after the appointed start time.

Am I the only one that thinks this is unbearably amateurish.


On a job, i get my sound settings in under 30 seconds. Not a sound further comes from my instrument until the first song. No noodling between numbers.

At jam sessions, I might make some groove or play along with the house sound at low volume. Or mimic what the guitarist plays.

No. I've seen pros in town do this. I don't think it looks good, so I don't do it. The only time I'm playing outside of a song is when I'm sound checking.

 

[Bassosaurus]

No. Not at practice either.

 

[Jason Hollar]

Never noodle!

 

[tedious1]

Yes.

I turn my volume knob all the way down and I tend to run through scales on my instrument and finger warmups. I do this in rehearsal as well. I noodle while listening to my band mates or holding a conversation - I'm not head-in-the-fretboard, checked out or not talking or participating; it's almost just something to do with my hands. It's generally not obnoxious (no volume, and I don't slap so it's not super clacky) but I suppose I could probably do it less.

This ^, particularly at rehearsal, everyone loves proper background music for a conversation, and what better than bass? More to the point, on more than one occasion (I play originals) someone in the conversation has stopped and said "Wait, what did you just play?".

On stage, no. If I have enough time to tune, wonderful, if I have more time than tuning takes, the singer is probably getting a swift kick, or he's being endearing, and wait for the cue, because it will come without warning.

 

[BassikBrad]

NEVER!!!!!!!!
I saw a band last week.....couldn't tell the difference between the songs & the noodling!?***.

 

[tminus10]

Who has time for noodling? I also hate when a bass player is doing a sound check and they start slapping like a mad man to show off and then none of their songs have slap. When I'm doing a sound check I actually play something from one of our songs. Makes sense to me.

 

[Copperhead]

Am I the only one that thinks this is unbearably amateurish.

Nope. Especially from people who make overtures of being ''pros ".

 

[IamGroot]

Hey - GUILTY. (Back when I was in my 20's). Now, I know it's bad. I deeply apologize to all those who I offended.

I was also a sinner.

 

[micguy]

I play something when the FOH person tells me to. If you call that noodling, then I do, but that's it. And it's 2 hours before the audience arrives.

 

[somebrains]

No, I like to tune my bass at full volume for 10 minutes while the guitar player spins his amp trying to find that perfect Van Halen tone and the drummer has tools out changing his heads.

Singer should full on narrate playing Candy Crush while explaining how the set is going to make them sound godlike.

 

[IamGroot]

One of the benefits of studying with a good teacher is that they also act as mentor and teach you how to conduct yourself as a professional. I was lucky and always had good teachers. There just was no question about whether you were going to learn to read music, read a chart, learn theory, play by ear, practice, be on time, own professional grade equipment, and many other things that are so ingrained in me I don't even think about them.

Today, kids watch a Youtube video and because they can put their finger on the right note at the right time, think they are ready for the big time. There is so much more to being a professional than just playing.

The right teacher can make a tremendous improvement in your bass playing. I studied with a fantastic saxophonist and instructor, Woody Witt. Even though he doesnt play bass, he x rayed in on several technique issues that needed correcting.

 

[Koshchei]

I watched a band this week where the guitarist and drummer noodled full vilume like they were in Guitar Center for 15 minutes after the appointed start time.

Am I the only one that thinks this is unbearably amateurish.


On a job, i get my sound settings in under 30 seconds. Not a sound further comes from my instrument until the first song. No noodling between numbers.

At jam sessions, I might make some groove or play along with the house sound at low volume. Or mimic what the guitarist plays.

I think it depends on context. In a band where freeform improvisation is de rigeur, then a bit of noodling is unavoidable, as it tends to evolve into the composition. In a tribute or cover band, it’s not acceptable, unless you’re covering John Zorn

 

[boombloom]

I hate it when people noodle on stage. Once we're all on stage ready to go our rhythm guitar/vocal guy spends an unspecified amount of time noodling for no apparent reason and then begins to play. Drives me nuts.