The lead guitarist/singer has a million songs in his head that no one else in the band knows anything about and then during a gig decides to just shoot off and play one in the middle of the set. Does that ever happen to anyone else?
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Does this ever happen to you...
- Thread starter jamescalvin
- Start date
- Apr 21, 2000
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- Gallien Krueger for the last 12 years!
he has told me to to learn songs like a half hour before we play. i dont complain that much because the songs he tells me to learn just stay on root notes. so its real easy to play after running through the song once or twice.
The first band I was in was with my dad (keys) and my uncle (drums) and a guitar player.
My dad and his brothers have played together since 1960ish. To say their catalogue of songs is extensive is rather an understatement.
Oh, we would start out with a set list. But inevitably about 5 songs into it, they would "read the crowd" and start pulling songs out of their a## that they hadn't played in 20 years let alone worked on in practice.
I can't even begin to enumerate my 'oh crap!' moments on stage in front of paying crowds when this would happen. The good news is that I credit this experience more than anything else with forcing me to develop my ear and ability to quickly determine ad hoc basslines on the fly.
My dad and his brothers have played together since 1960ish. To say their catalogue of songs is extensive is rather an understatement.
Oh, we would start out with a set list. But inevitably about 5 songs into it, they would "read the crowd" and start pulling songs out of their a## that they hadn't played in 20 years let alone worked on in practice.
I can't even begin to enumerate my 'oh crap!' moments on stage in front of paying crowds when this would happen. The good news is that I credit this experience more than anything else with forcing me to develop my ear and ability to quickly determine ad hoc basslines on the fly.
That's the thing, sometimes he'll just say "play A and G and then B and C for the chorus" (not those exact notes but you get my drift). That's cool sometimes, but it makes for boring set when that happens because you're sitting there waiting for the damn chorus to come, the drummer doesn't know what the deal is either so he can't really lead you into it. We just run with it, sometime it works, but sometimes it doesn't but it drives me nuts.
It's not professional, and I won't tolerate it at this point in my music "career."
We had a lead guitarist pull that crap during a show he had booked us to play. He flew into some Metallica song we'd never even discussed playing. After the show, we told him we weren't going to put up with that anymore. A few practices later, we had to can him, because of his typical "lead guitar syndrome."
I also briefly played in a worship band, where the band leader never found his way to getting me the music before the service. I've never been really familiar with contemporary Christian songs, so I had to learn everything pretty much on the fly. He'd at least give me sheets with the chords and words on them, but still...we could've been a whole lot better if he'd bother to get the songs to the band in advance. Oh well.
We had a lead guitarist pull that crap during a show he had booked us to play. He flew into some Metallica song we'd never even discussed playing. After the show, we told him we weren't going to put up with that anymore. A few practices later, we had to can him, because of his typical "lead guitar syndrome."
I also briefly played in a worship band, where the band leader never found his way to getting me the music before the service. I've never been really familiar with contemporary Christian songs, so I had to learn everything pretty much on the fly. He'd at least give me sheets with the chords and words on them, but still...we could've been a whole lot better if he'd bother to get the songs to the band in advance. Oh well.
I enjoy it when this happens, unless the chord pattern is non-intuitive. Then it can be a bit painful. But that's one of the good things about country music - most of the tunes are at least mostly logical. One thing that gets me - fiddle hoedowns, when the fiddler is the only one who knows it. I know quite a few, but by no means all of them. Many times I've wound up just vamping on the one, because there's nothing to suggest where else to go!B-NoteCowboy said:
Typical guitarist ignorance, they tend to think that as long as the chords and lyrics are there the song must be complete. They have no comprehension of form or rhythmical styling and seem to unable to get "the big picture" of a song.
It's sad really......
It's sad really......
I used to play with a guy who did that, but he was considerate enough to either choose songs the rest of the guys in the band knew or had heard before, so it never went too badly when it happened.
jamescalvin said:
Oh, sure! My old lead singer was like that. Didn't bother me much, so long as it was in the right place, at the right time. It usually was.
Made me a better bass player, actually. I had to learn to be able to pick up songs on the fly.
This singer had a bassist quit in disgust, in the middle of a set, because the singer pulled in a couple of un-rehearsed songs. I was asked to step up, played with a smile, and got the gig.
Cherie
The sign if a real pro is the ability to not only stay afloat in a situation like that, but to look like you know the song by heart.
That which does not kill you will only make you stronger.
I've lost count of how many pick-up gigs I did totally unrehearsed, having never heard most if not all of the tunes called. Yes, there are moments of sheer terror, but that's why you get PAID to be there.
That which does not kill you will only make you stronger.
I've lost count of how many pick-up gigs I did totally unrehearsed, having never heard most if not all of the tunes called. Yes, there are moments of sheer terror, but that's why you get PAID to be there.
... do i detect a subtle hint of sarcasm ?Woodchuck said:
i've done many , many gigs where i didn't know some of the songs
called out by the leader ...
no big deal .
- Oct 7, 2000
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
1st - I'll answer - yes - all the time.
2nd - I'll say I don't like it, but I deal with it.
3rd - I'll ask cuz I'm curious now - was that sarcasm was woodchuck?
2nd - I'll say I don't like it, but I deal with it.
3rd - I'll ask cuz I'm curious now - was that sarcasm was woodchuck?
B-NoteCowboy said:
I very envious..
sure wish I could change gears on-a-dime like this. Talk about building nerves of steel, or better yet; baptism of fire.. wow
Cream did this stuff lots in the 60's, but it was more improvised twenty minute solos in between a chorus and a verse of a song. But hey it worked!
There's a difference between playing in a jam band and a professional (or semi-pro) cover band, though. If you're in a jam band, a lot of improv is to be expected, and even encouraged.
Frankly, in a cover band, IMO, the set list should be pretty much set in stone for each gig, with a few backups and alternate songs to be used as a needed. Going off into songs on the fly that the band has never done, usually isn't going to net great results during a show.
Frankly, in a cover band, IMO, the set list should be pretty much set in stone for each gig, with a few backups and alternate songs to be used as a needed. Going off into songs on the fly that the band has never done, usually isn't going to net great results during a show.
invader, I dunno what cover bands you've seen/heard/been in, but when I did it in the situations that I'm referring to, the ONLY people that knew I didn't know the tune was...er...um...myself and maybe one or two of the other players on stage that noticed me watching their hands (guitar, piano/keys) for changes.
You probably have seen dozens of pro-level cover bands that have one or more players "faking" it on stage and you didn't even realize it.
You probably have seen dozens of pro-level cover bands that have one or more players "faking" it on stage and you didn't even realize it.
