How do you play covers with many fills/variations live?

[noagreement]

Because it's the version that most people know and remember.

From my experience, not only does the audience not know the actual "true" bass part, but I guarantee that your two guitarists don't either! Play the main riffs and runs as they should be and everything else should be your own style and sound (unless the band's goal is to be note for note / tribute).

 

[sawzalot]

Realistically, 99.9% of the audience doesn't even know what a bass even is, let alone whether the bass line is note-for-note true to the record. The only time the crowd notices the bass is when the bass player stops playing in the middle of the song and they go "hm something doesn't quite sound right..."--but they have no idea what.

If I was in a tribute band I would worry about it. But I'm not. I never play a song the same way twice. I think most musicians are like that--the version that got captured on the record was just one take of many, and they are all probably slightly different. I know the progression and I know the important rhythmic figures to hit, and the rest is open to interpretation, and that's what makes music fun for me.


Tom

 

[ohskigod]

I'm in the school of, unless a bass line is very recognizable and iconic, no need to learn it exactly note for note as it is on the record (at least to start to make a song playable). I'll certainly look at the details as I learn it better and rob ideas from it of course.....that's how you learn

 

[ohskigod]

I'll also youtube cover versions to see what the bass player does as well sometimes to see how strict they are to the original, particular for songs that sit between "iconic bass line" and not.......the tweeners if you will.



And truth be told, where I can get away of doing some of my own thing, I do........just for fun or to adapt to a drummer possibly playing things a little different too.

 

[JRA]

people who learn a song loosely and then add "their flavor" are either at the genius level, or more likely, just lazy.

or possibly: just being creative!

from google:
"In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a previously recorded, commercially released song by someone other than the original artist or composer." italics are mine!

some would conceive of a 'note for note version' as the "just lazy" approach! because it's not new = no creativity!

 

[electracoyote]

some would conceive of a 'note for note version' as the "just lazy" approach! because it's not new = no creativity!

The typical mainstream audience member at a cover band show doesn't give a flip about creativity. They want their Big Mac served exactly the way they've had it a million times before.

 

[electracoyote]

Realistically, 99.9% of the audience doesn't even know what a bass even is, let alone whether the bass line is note-for-note true to the record.

From my experience, not only does the audience not know the actual "true" bass part, but I guarantee that your two guitarists don't either!

My audiences and guitarists must be a lot smarter than yours.

In my area, the cover bands who assume their audiences are that clueless aren't doing very well. Hands down the best mainstream pop cover bands playing the best rooms and making the best money on a routine basis are like tribute bands in following the most popular hit recorded version as closely as they can.

Audience members don't provide elaborate critiques of your cover of their favorite songs very often, but that doesn't mean they are not judging based on what they are most familiar with or that they don't know when something is off. Assuming audiences don't know any better has kept a lot of cover bands wading in mediocrity in my area.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I always strive to learn a song note for note, normally I won't play it at practice unless it's close to 90%, and live close closer to 95%. Once I feel it's as close to 100% as possible, and only then, occasionally I will take some liberties with it I feel may enhance it or at least make it more fun to play. IMHO and IME, people who learn a song loosely and then add "their flavor" are either at the genius level, or more likely, just lazy.

Some would say that those who have to learn it note for note have no creativity.

 

[Thumper]

After playing 45+ and gigging 30+, I don't have to learn note for note, I choose to. And some people can't learn note for note, lack of ability prohibits it. I've played in Hard Rock, Classic Rock, Top 40 and Classic Country bands. I'll be the first to admit, I am not creative enough for top notch Jazz.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

After playing 45+ and gigging 30+, I don't have to learn note for note, I choose to. And some people can't learn note for note, lack of ability prohibits it. I've played in Hard Rock, Classic Rock, Top 40 and Classic Country bands. I'll be the first to admit, I am not creative enough for top notch Jazz.

That's fine. But your posts came off as condescending. I've been gigging for 52 years. I can, I choose not to.

 

[Pilgrim]

Play the basic line and any hooks, don't worry about the rest. You're the bass player, so make yourself happy.

 

[electracoyote]

The poor-to-mediocre struggling cover bands I've seen share a common issue: More than one member thinks they should be "creative" and re-write their part. It's not just the bass player, now it's also the guitarist, or the drummer, or keys player, or singer. And why not? What's good for one is good for all, right?

Except the pieces no longer fit together the way they did on that mega-hit recording arrangement that is etched into the minds of the typical audience member. Now the song is disjointed, like puzzle pieces that don't fit together, and the image is like looking into a funhouse mirror. The arrangement is all wonky, like five musicians pulling the song in separate and incompatible directions. It's slightly disorienting. The Big Mac tastes strange now.

Do audiences discriminate between cover bands that put awkward spins on their favorite songs versus cover bands that play them "correctly"? Based on the evidence in my area and after 37 years of doing this, I believe they most definitely do.

 

[electracoyote]

Some would say that those who have to learn it note for note have no creativity.

Sheesh. I don't play "Mustang Sally" to be a creative artist, and I feel sad for any mainstream pop cover band musician who perceives themselves that way. I play it to be an entertainer, it gets girls shaking their asses on the dance floor, sells food and beverages, and gets me the most money I can squeeze out of the venue owner. I think the bass player on the Wilson Pickett hit recording plays it just fine, I'm certainly no more "creative" than he was or I'd be getting calls to track my bass lines on hit records. It was also played well enough for the bass player on The Commitments hit version, and for the mainstream audience that has it pretty much memorized by now.

No, I don't have to learn "Mustang Sally" note-for-note by any means. I could Billy Sheehan Victor Wooten that thing up if I wanted to. I choose to play it faithful out of respect for the original line, what it brought to the arrangement on the hit recording, and the audience who isn't nearly as stupid as some people think.

 

[brianrost]

a reason to play it faithful to the version that most people know and remember:

Because it's the version that most people know and remember.

Listen to any number of live albums from any rock band and you'll hear lots of deviations from the studio versions.

The more the songs lend themselves to improvisation, then it becomes even less importnat to nail the record 100%. Jerry Jemmott played a different turnaround fill on every chorus of BB King's "Thrill Is Gone". That song is like six minutes long...noone in the audience can remember every single fill. BB put that song on every live album he did afterwards and every one is different...different bass players, slightly different bass lines. I doubt the audiences cared.

Sheesh. I don't play "Mustang Sally" to be a creative artist, and I feel sad for any mainstream pop cover band musician who perceives themselves that way.

No, I don't have to learn "Mustang Sally" note-for-note by any means.

I had a talk at a jam session once with a guitarist who actually backed up Sir Mack Rice (author of M.S.) at a festival gig. Since there was no pianist in the backup band but there was a second guitarist, he asked if he should play the piano licks. He told me Mack's face lit up when he played the licks for him. When we got up to play, someone asked for MS so we figured why not. He kept throwing in the piano licks and it put a wide grin on my face because I instantly recognized it and reminded me I hadn't actually heard anyone actually play it (on piano or not) before.

 

[Lobster11]

The issue with that is that I think it may feel a bit annoying to other band members not to know what may come next... I never got any complain so far but I am fairly new at playing in a band and I guess I am looking for some kind of best practice

If you're not sure, don't be afraid to just ask them. If there are particular songs that you are concerned about, point it out to them when you rehearse it and ask for their feedback. Or just discuss the issue generally with them before or after rehearsal, or during a break. It sounds like the way you're approaching it is probably fine, but I think it's better to ask and be sure than to just wait until someone complains.

 

[electracoyote]

Listen to any number of live albums from any rock band and you'll hear lots of deviations from the studio versions.

I learn from the version that is most familiar to my target audience, and that's always going to be the most popular hit recorded version that got played and heard the most.

You go ahead and learn from whatever Live at the Whiskey A Go Go 1983 version you feel like, that's your prerogative.

I know which version gets me gigs, cash, and repeat invitations.

What the original band does to their music live on stage is of no use to me, because it ain't about me, and my audience has little to no interest in or appreciation for re-mixes and live versions. They want the Big Mac the way they've had it a million times before.

Sometimes the original act does all nature of things to their music on stage, tempo changes, key changes, re-writes, totally re-worked arrangements. Having created the original version, they have that option and can approach their ticket-buying audience however they please.

I'm not rolling the dice like that with my target audience. We'll take liberties with intros and outros, and occasionally add an extra verse/chorus or solo to short songs. Once in awhile we do a segue or beat-matched medley. In my area, mashups are very hit or miss, usually miss, so we avoid them. The "creativity" is in the presentation, aesthetics, and audience interaction. Otherwise, the main body of our covers are very faithful and instantly recognizable, with details and sweeteners to match the most popular recorded version.

 

[gregouille23]

If you're not sure, don't be afraid to just ask them. If there are particular songs that you are concerned about, point it out to them when you rehearse it and ask for their feedback. Or just discuss the issue generally with them before or after rehearsal, or during a break. It sounds like the way you're approaching it is probably fine, but I think it's better to ask and be sure than to just wait until someone complains.

Yes, I agree. We get along quite well in the band, especially with the guitarists, and I do ask for feedback but I don't want to be asking feedback/opinion for every line I play either... There is a balance to be found and this is why I thought asking fellow bass players could be interesting. And it was for sure, thanks a lot for all the replies so far. It kind of confirms what I thought in the first place but it's great to get opinions from more experienced musicians!

 

[noagreement]

All of this talk about Big Macs is making me hungry ...

 

[JRA]

You go ahead and learn from whatever Live at the Whiskey A Go Go 1983 version you feel like, that's your prerogative.

electracoyote, sorry if i've helped instigate any defensiveness here: i thought we all chimed in on the OP's question. different experiences make for different kinds of advice. i know that your experiences are a valuable asset.

I'll be the first to admit, I am not creative enough for top notch Jazz.

And some people can't learn note for note, lack of ability prohibits it.

the jazz players i hang with can do note for note all day long: but they don't. ever! just sayin'.

 

[electracoyote]

electracoyote, sorry if i've helped instigate any defensiveness here: i thought we all chimed in on the OP's question. different experiences make for different kinds of advice. i know that your experiences are a valuable asset.

I'm not being defensive, and I'm not offended by others' opinions. I like presenting the other (and less popular) side of the coin.