A famous lead singer once told me "If you take a crap on stage, act like its the best crap anyone has ever taken on stage." LOL, keep going. Most people that even know the material will probably not notice.
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How many mistakes do you make on average per set, song ?
- Thread starter Huw Phillips
- Start date
I don't make mistakes. For example, if the correct song chord is C Major and I play a C# on the 1 - it is my band mates' faults if they don't follow me, which they should, out of respect, because I'm the oldest member of the band. 
One big long mistake from "...ana 1...ana 2" to "...good night and don't forget to tip your waitstaff!"
Riis
Riis
A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.
The first two years when every week was an entirely new set of songs, I didn't have that many fingers and toes to count that high. Even if I included my wife's. If it was a song that was completely new and I've never heard before, I'd just stay on the pentatonic. Cut the errors down too.
Therefore I was more dangerous if I thought I knew the song.
Therefore I was more dangerous if I thought I knew the song.
Mistakes happen. The severity and how you handle them is what matters.
A mistake that ruins the flow and energy of the song is truly unfortunate. One that flits by and only someone really zeroing in on your part would notice - not a problem as long as you don’t let it throw you. Be a goldfish.
I seldom play a perfect set, but it does happen. One band I played with years ago rehearsed the same sets over and over to prepare for some big festival gigs. I got in the zone that summer and played 7 gigs in a row without any mistakes. Some of them were very good, too - high energy, musical communication, flowing grooves.
It helped to play the same songs in the same order and reduce the number of different tunes to remember.
A mistake that ruins the flow and energy of the song is truly unfortunate. One that flits by and only someone really zeroing in on your part would notice - not a problem as long as you don’t let it throw you. Be a goldfish.
I seldom play a perfect set, but it does happen. One band I played with years ago rehearsed the same sets over and over to prepare for some big festival gigs. I got in the zone that summer and played 7 gigs in a row without any mistakes. Some of them were very good, too - high energy, musical communication, flowing grooves.
It helped to play the same songs in the same order and reduce the number of different tunes to remember.
Depends. Mistakes, like musical notes, exist hierarchically. There are little ones and there are big ones. And ones in between.
I'm with a few of you who have only had a perfect night a hand full of times in all the years I've been playing.
There are different types of mistakes. Maybe you are fiddling with knobs and taking to the guitar player or a guy who wants a request. It's a who cares thing. I worked with a singer who liked to come over and talk to me while the guitarist was wailing a way. One song I asked him noe to talk to me on was Good Morning Little School Girl. Because I had to concentrate on the riff and when the guitar Gawd was ripping I was the only one keeping the rif alive. Well...this was looked upon as a challenge by the lead singer and he would constantly try to trip me up on this song..all friendly, but still
Or maybe you get lost for some reason in which case you quickly find your place. There are a few songs we play where the vocals don't start on the one. When I first started with these guys it really threw me for a loop. Last night I kept getting lost in Sultan of Swing, a song that I've play a zillion times. But I was on tilt being frustrated with the boominess of the stage we were on. I did eventually get things dialed in so the show tonight show be good. In this current band our band leader/singer /guitarist makes more mistakes than any one. Some are very glaring.
There are different types of mistakes. Maybe you are fiddling with knobs and taking to the guitar player or a guy who wants a request. It's a who cares thing. I worked with a singer who liked to come over and talk to me while the guitarist was wailing a way. One song I asked him noe to talk to me on was Good Morning Little School Girl. Because I had to concentrate on the riff and when the guitar Gawd was ripping I was the only one keeping the rif alive. Well...this was looked upon as a challenge by the lead singer and he would constantly try to trip me up on this song..all friendly, but still
Or maybe you get lost for some reason in which case you quickly find your place. There are a few songs we play where the vocals don't start on the one. When I first started with these guys it really threw me for a loop. Last night I kept getting lost in Sultan of Swing, a song that I've play a zillion times. But I was on tilt being frustrated with the boominess of the stage we were on. I did eventually get things dialed in so the show tonight show be good. In this current band our band leader/singer /guitarist makes more mistakes than any one. Some are very glaring.
I make mistakes more often than I would like. The key is to be able to recover from them and continue the song without a gap in the timing. IMO, that takes more talent than actually playing the song itself, without flaw.
Joeykun
pronounced ジョーイくん
- Jun 22, 2007
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I make them often enough. Though, it's rarely a note based mistake. I have a bunch of nervous energy and it's like my fingers can't get out of their own way on both the plucking and fretting hand, at times
I'm working on it, though. That's all you or I can do about our shortcomings.
I'm working on it, though. That's all you or I can do about our shortcomings.
It all depends on the song. In our current set list there are songs I rarely make a mistake and others I have never nailed. I should clarify sometimes it's not notes that are out of key, it's more of not playing the part like the recording. So for someone that is listening they are not mistakes but are to me.
Of course throughout the night I do make a few blunders that I would always want to play differently.
Of course throughout the night I do make a few blunders that I would always want to play differently.
I used to worry about pickles. The more I thought about them, the worse they got. That was 25 years ago. I don't sweat it now and don't count.
Are you saying that you know songs, and have been playing them with a group for a while, but you just screw them up physically when it comes down to actually performing them? Or that you are having trouble reading music when practicing alone, i.e. finger lands on the wrong note?
If you are talking about actually putting the rubber to the road, and playing songs that you know, but screwing them up 2-3 times each, then that is, quite honestly, extremely sub-par.
If we are judging ourselves harshly and honestly, we all make "mistakes," or, rather "less than perfect" performances, every song, no matter how microscopic or inconsequential, or how unnoticed they go by anybody but ourselves. We aren't robots. These inconsistencies are what makes us sound different than robots. But "wrong note" during a performance is pretty much the last mistake any mildly competent musician should be making, and 2-3 times per song is extreme, to the point of incompetence or some sort of impairment.
If you are just talking about having trouble reading or remembering/learning songs when practicing alone, then you are looking at things the wrong way IMO. Fumbling around when learning things is quite normal.
If you are talking about actually putting the rubber to the road, and playing songs that you know, but screwing them up 2-3 times each, then that is, quite honestly, extremely sub-par.
If we are judging ourselves harshly and honestly, we all make "mistakes," or, rather "less than perfect" performances, every song, no matter how microscopic or inconsequential, or how unnoticed they go by anybody but ourselves. We aren't robots. These inconsistencies are what makes us sound different than robots. But "wrong note" during a performance is pretty much the last mistake any mildly competent musician should be making, and 2-3 times per song is extreme, to the point of incompetence or some sort of impairment.
If you are just talking about having trouble reading or remembering/learning songs when practicing alone, then you are looking at things the wrong way IMO. Fumbling around when learning things is quite normal.
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A local bass player told me once…
“It’s not a mistake if you have the ability to ignore it and play through it”….
“It’s not a mistake if you have the ability to ignore it and play through it”….
Same here...lol. In my younger days, I used to sweat over occasional flub ups. Now, I realize that the audience either never notices, or just doesn't care. As long as they are having a good time, and they see the band having fun, they don't care so why should I? I still try to play my best at all times mind you, but if I have a few brain farts here and there, I don't lose sleep over it. It happens to all of us.....whether we admit it or not...lol!How many mistakes do I make on average per set / per song?
Enough.
If it happens on a gig, just keep pedaling!!
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