Instrumentals to do while guitarist changes broken string

Why not just have a spare guitar on hand tuned up and ready to go?

 

+1000%

 

I have been looking for the vamp that the Dead Kennedys did when a string broke. Jello Biafra just started riffing about all kinds of things. It was fantastic.

 

4' 33" by John Cage

 

Tell him to buy one with his gig money. It doesn't have to be expensive, just something to get through the set.
He needs to step up and be a pro.

 

+1. One can get a serviceable backup guitar these days for $100 or so. It does not have to be a fantastic instrument as it only has to last until the set break.

 

Get a Fuzz Pedal, Iron Butterfly - In a Gadda De Vida

Four Top - Bernadette ..without the guitar of course, like anyone would notice

 

Barney Miller theme song?

 

He break strings that often? LOL

 

Get yourself an octave up pedal and jam Seven Nations Army.

 

Herbie Hancock's Chameleon!

 

Most ELP....

 

If he breaks strings that often something is seriously wrong with his guitar or his technique.

 

Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc. Its predominantly entirely drums and bass and most younger crowds will recognize it well enough. Worked for me once when my guitarist had to embarassigly restring after the first song.

Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes is also a solid choice. Again mostly drums and bass and if you have a fuzz you can totally get away with cranking it and playing the lead too.

 

Well, it kind of depends on the kind of music you play, to begin with.

I've actually been working on arrangements of pop songs, but kind of "simplified" for bass and vocals. A lot of it can be easily played on a 4-string, and with the right technique. I don't know what kind of techniques you utilise, but I play a lot of two-handed tapping, make use of a lot of drone notes, occasionally use a spider capo...some VERY light slap and a few other tricks up my sleeve. (I say very light because I'm not much into slap, but sometimes, it just makes the arrangement work).

 

To simplify things, you could just vamp on the first four.

Or YYZ.

Either one.

Oh, but I kid. Given that you do Cissy Strut, maybe similar groove tunes like I'll Take You There by Staple Singers or Brick House (since everyone knows that one), or if you wanna go for a slightly comical vibe, Super Freak.

 

Perhaps you could choose a fill-in that subtly makes a point to your guitarist to get it together, a "countdown" sort of number like the theme from Jeopardy?

I'd second the suggestions re Gorillaz or Brick House, or maybe try "I'll write the song, you sing for me", by Irving, which can be arranged w/o guitar.

Another option for danceable + comic relief is "Push It" by Salt n Pepa, which can be driven along in a rocked up version with just drums and bass. May trigger ironic singalong with the right audience.