How accurately should you learn songs?

[Watchootognbout]

Well enough so that no one notices any mistakes.
Well enough to satisfy yourself.

 

[byacey]

Make good basslines, do your own runs that fit and if they don't like it it's their loss. A very well known producer once told me "just be consistent with confidence. That will put you in the top 5%."

You have to be careful here; you might quickly find yourself with your bass in a rowboat adrift in the middle of the sea.

 

[GBBSbassist]

I personally prefer to learn a song as accurately as possible, before I decide to take any liberties. That said, it depends entirely on the band, the gig, or the function.

Tribute band? Learn it as recorded, or learn it the way THEY did it live.

Bar cover band? You'll be alright if you miss a fill here and there.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I personally prefer to learn a song as accurately as possible, before I decide to take any liberties. That said, it depends entirely on the band, the gig, or the function.

Tribute band? Learn it as recorded, or learn it the way THEY did it live.

Bar cover band? You'll be alright if you miss a fill here and there.

Totally on board with you here!

 

[SoonerBill]

I say this more as an audience member than a player. The first response said “It’s always better to underplay than to overplay”. Well said. Learn the songs as best you can from recordings and stick to the original. There are lots of transcriptions out there that are way more than the original player played.

 

[IamGroot]

I personally prefer to learn a song as accurately as possible, before I decide to take any liberties. That said, it depends entirely on the band, the gig, or the function.

Tribute band? Learn it as recorded, or learn it the way THEY did it live.

Bar cover band? You'll be alright if you miss a fill here and there.

I am also totally on board with this.
Learning to play something precisely and pick up every nuance improves musicianship.

 

[Russell L]

I also always try to learn covers verbatum like the recording. What's interesting is that after many years playing a song that way, so I thought, if I haven't heard it in a long time and then it comes on the radio I sometimes find that somehow I have morphed the part here and there in ways that are no longer just like the original. "Huh? Where'd I get that from, that's not on the record."

There are also things bands do in general that isn't like the original. Like, every band I know puts a stop in Under the Boardwalk where there isn't one.

 

[craigie]

My philosophy is to try and learn the songs as closely as possible when I’m first learning them, and try out finger style and pick to see what I like best (but usually keep it true to the recording). I then deviate from there and sometimes I’ll switch it up for a challenge or for fun or to keep it fresh.

Let’s use an example: the bass line for sweet Caroline is pretty boring. Elvis has a version that’s much more interesting. If you stole a bunch of stuff from that bass player you wouldn’t be playing the original note for note but it would probably sound a lot better. If you’re having fun and laying it down that’s what you’ll project to the audience.

You say yours ears aren’t great to pick up the details. Get what you can. As you go on you will pick up more stuff. By the time you have the 200 your ears will be way better at picking up the lines. Hit it hard (3 hours/day if you can). Make a list of all the songs and playlists and categorize into got it down/ needs more work/ needs lots of work (green/yellow/red). Work on the stuff that needs the most work. Skip parts that you know well. Learn the form for each song so you can transpose. You can do it!! Have fun! Even if that band doesn’t get a job on ship you can do it!

 

[SteveCS]

My philosophy is to try and learn the songs as closely as possible when I’m first learning them, and try out finger style and pick to see what I like best (but usually keep it true to the recording). I then deviate from there and sometimes I’ll switch it up for a challenge or for fun or to keep it fresh.

Let’s use an example: the bass line for sweet Caroline is pretty boring. Elvis has a version that’s much more interesting. If you stole a bunch of stuff from that bass player you wouldn’t be playing the original note for note but it would probably sound a lot better. If you’re having fun and laying it down that’s what you’ll project to the audience.

...

This. I try to listen to as many versions as possible and then come up with something that has 'references' to them. Sometimes the references are strong, sometimes subtle. Sometimes the references are from other instruments that we don't have, typically horns or strings. The result is something that is faithful in it's own way but has sufficient original flavour that I can execute or take liberties with it as if it's mine, which it is...