How do I make learning 11 songs a week less painful?

[2cooltoolz]

The BL is the lead singer.

I saw THAT coming!!

Probably has a lyrics sheet in front of them, too. This person probably has no idea what's involved in actually learning a song for an instrument. Some gentle, respectful education is called for here.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Learn and write the chords down. Nothing wrong with cheat sheets.

 

[Donald Thompson]

In jazz, we often do that to accommodate the vocalist; there's an explainable reason.

Why does your BL do it?

Well, not everyone can sign comfortably in the same key as the original.

 

[Donald Thompson]

Learn and write the chords down. Nothing wrong with cheat sheets.

I do this, but some songs are like whole classical movements with to many parts.

 

[Donald Thompson]

Hmm, not sure what the issue is. I don't have any experience doing praise/worship material, but If you ever do much general subbing, it's not at all uncommon to be expected to learn 30-35 songs in a week or less (depends on when you get the sub call). I've done this alot during my playing career and it's really just a matter of digging into the material and making meaningful notes. It can be a bit of a challenge, but not impossible.

If transposing is the issue, you might try learning/using the Nashville Number system ... it can really help move things away from fixed keys.

good luck!

We're not provided sheet music, so we have to learn own our own, which takes up a lot of time.

 

[Egg250]

Hmm, not sure what the issue is. I don't have any experience doing praise/worship material, but If you ever do much general subbing, it's not at all uncommon to be expected to learn 30-35 songs in a week or less (depends on when you get the sub call). I've done this alot during my playing career and it's really just a matter of digging into the material and making meaningful notes. It can be a bit of a challenge, but not impossible.

If transposing is the issue, you might try learning/using the Nashville Number system ... it can really help move things away from fixed keys.

good luck!

Sure, but, I'm sure your sub gigs pay, not sure about the OP's situation. And, the OP is learning new songs each week. A sub is kind of expecting to hang on for the ride, a regular gig should have regular expectations. And, a sub isn't wasting their time learning songs that will be thrown out. For me, that is what is worst. The BL isn't respecting my time.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Yeesh...well if the BL isn't approachable, you may want to talk with the head of your church (Pastor or Minister, whichever) and bring the pianist too. Asking people to learn 11 songs and toss out all but 4 sounds like the BL is making this about themself and not about worship. BL can't expect people to show up like this is a backing band for Eric Clapton. Being respectful of VOLUNTEERS time is not asking too much IMO.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Well, not everyone can sign comfortably in the same key as the original.

That wouldn't preclude the BL from selecting the key in advance.

If a song were written/recorded in C, and the band leader is more comfortable with Eb, there's no reason he can't tell you that in advance, unless he's incapable, which would indicate he's unqualified for his job.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

We're not provided sheet music, so we have to learn own our own, which takes up a lot of time.

Grrr...

They have a License to play the music, leader has the sheet music available and can easily make it into any key.
Then they should be sharing it with everyone on Monday or Tuesday so everyone can be ready for Sunday.

When y'all get together it is found the key needs to go up or down a bit, that is fine.
BUUUT! Everyone should have the music to practice from beforehand.

 

[Jazzdogg]

We're not provided sheet music, so we have to learn own our own, which takes up a lot of time.

Run, Forrest, run!! Do not wait to pass go or collect $200. The situation you have described is, at best, amateur hour. Look elsewhere for people who know what they're doing and are a pleasure to make music with.

 

[tb-player]

I'm in church band. Band leader gives a set of songs to practice. After rehearsal, they decide which four songs out of the 11 they want to play on Sunday and the key they want to play in. This is really annoying sometimes as some songs are really weird to transpose,and those songs tend to take a bit to get down versus your generic 1 6 4 5 songs. Worst of all sheet music isn't always available.

Here's what you do...

Start a YouTube playlist of the 11 songs and listen, listen, listen. Once you've internalized the tunes, the basslines should come a bit more naturally. At worship practice, play the 11 songs with charts. When they pick 4, shorten your YouTube playlist and listen, listen, listen. Commit those to memory for Sunday.

Honestly, 11 worship songs is not a big deal. And if your church is like most other churches, those are 11 of maybe 15-20 songs you'll ever need to know. There aren't enough songs out there to have to learn 11 new songs every week. Eventually, the 11 won't stress you out because you're building an internal catalog. You'll basically know them all.

As a bass player, it's not necessarily your place to correct the Worship Leader's method. Nothing wrong with letting him know it's stressing you out. But don't get your feelings hurt if you get replaced with someone who is willing/able to learn the tunes. If the environment is not open to effective communication, it's toxic and you should run for the hills.

 

[Egg250]

As a bass player, it's not necessarily your place to correct the Worship Leader's method. Nothing wrong with letting him know it's stressing you out.

As a member of the band it is important to be able to freely express concerns to the BL and not have to be worried about being replaced. I get the feeling the BL has no idea what stress they are causing to the band. I also get the feeling there isn't a robust que of musicians waiting in the wings for a volunteer to be fired.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

27564209[/URL], member: 380227"]Having to learn 11 songs only to have them chuck 2/3's of them sounds a bit squirrely to me.
Unrealistic expectations much? I think that BL needs to focus a bit.

yeah, really. total waste of time IMO. Pick 4 tunes, learn those,done. unless the pay is absolutely outstanding, I'd bail on this so fast

 

[tb-player]

As a member of the band it is important to be able to freely express concerns to the BL and not have to be worried about being replaced. I get the feeling the BL has no idea what stress they are causing to the band. I also get the feeling there isn't a robust que of musicians waiting in the wings for a volunteer to be fired.

I wish you were right. But I've been around church circles most of my life. They don't see it that way.

 

[gln1955]

Here's what you do...

Start a YouTube playlist of the 11 songs and listen, listen, listen. Once you've internalized the tunes, the basslines should come a bit more naturally. At worship practice, play the 11 songs with charts. When they pick 4, shorten your YouTube playlist and listen, listen, listen. Commit those to memory for Sunday.

Honestly, 11 worship songs is not a big deal. And if your church is like most other churches, those are 11 of maybe 15-20 songs you'll ever need to know. There aren't enough songs out there to have to learn 11 new songs every week. Eventually, the 11 won't stress you out because you're building an internal catalog. You'll basically know them all.

As a bass player, it's not necessarily your place to correct the Worship Leader's method. Nothing wrong with letting him know it's stressing you out. But don't get your feelings hurt if you get replaced with someone who is willing/able to learn the tunes. If the environment is not open to effective communication, it's toxic and you should run for the hills.

I don't think you have any idea how many P&W songs are out there. It's Christian pop music and there are new songs added to catalog every week. Eleven new songs to learn every week isn't unreasonable if they actually played them in the service. Learning songs that may never be played is a waste of everyone's time.

Why can't the bass player express concerns to the WL, unless this is one those churches where Thou Shalt Not Question Authority. If the OP gets replaced over this nonsense, he should consider it a blessing.

 

[Egg250]

I wish you were right. But I've been around church circles most of my life. They don't see it that way.

Not disparaging religion, but that seems a bit unchristianlike.

 

[g-dude]

I'm in church band. Band leader gives a set of songs to practice. After rehearsal, they decide which four songs out of the 11 they want to play on Sunday and the key they want to play in. This is really annoying sometimes as some songs are really weird to transpose,and those songs tend to take a bit to get down versus your generic 1 6 4 5 songs. Worst of all sheet music isn't always available.

This is unprofessional, and just plain disrespectful to everyone who volunteers.

 

[g-dude]

How do I have that talk with the band leader? Me and the pianist are pretty new, and they're hard on the pianist for messing up chords. I don't want to seem like I'm just whining.

You straight up say, "I'm sorry, but this way of doing things is counterproductive and is resulting in a lot of unnecessary time and effort. I would love to work with you to come up with something more productive, but if you are set on this course, then it would be better for me to step back."

 

[TroyK]

Sounds like torture to me, BUT...man what a good opportunity for you. If you can do this until it becomes easy, it will make you a much better musician.

This is essentially what up and coming jazz musicians go through. It's a tough hill to climb, but people who reach the top are untouchable.

 

[g-dude]

I wish you were right. But I've been around church circles most of my life. They don't see it that way.

I've been a part of several different denominations. You are 100% spot on with regards to some of them, but it thankfully isn't universal.

I won't say what the common denominator appears to be in my experience, unless someone wants to PM me and ask.