I can't even begin to tell you how many songs I've learned that I can't remember now, because of lack of real use for them. Those songs would surely end up in that category
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Learn 10 songs for an audition?
- Thread starter JimiLL
- Start date
There is no right or wrong answer for this question because there are a lot of variables that come into play. All I can say is that a band that expects me to learn 10 songs for an audition damn well better have their #$% together!
Hey I learned right around 100 tunes over the course of last summer. One band had me learning Zeppelin, Queensryche, Megadeth. The other was top 40 rock, CCR, John Cougar, Billy Joel.
The metal band ended up letting me go( bass players are not required to think, just play) which bummed me out but I came out of it a better player with far more confidence because I pushed myself and came to the conclusion that I'm a better player than I thought.
When did it become a waste of time educating yourself for the sake of self-improvement?
The metal band ended up letting me go( bass players are not required to think, just play) which bummed me out but I came out of it a better player with far more confidence because I pushed myself and came to the conclusion that I'm a better player than I thought.
When did it become a waste of time educating yourself for the sake of self-improvement?
MDBass
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Way excessive for me as a bandleader, never mind the players auditioning.
I usually know within a few bars of the first tune if the player is a good fit, so while I may ask for as many as four tunes if we're covering a lot of stylistic ground, I usually ask for two songs and am much more interested in getting a feel for the hang.
I recently did an audition for an originals band, learned about 5 songs in 5 days. Didn't get the gig, but at least I pushed myself to learn something quickly and creatively. Same with cover band auditions that I didn't get too. I learned 6 songs in 5 days for one of the bands I'm in now. In the end, it just helps me develop a system for learning a bunch of songs quickly. Like others have mentioned, if you're doing Yes and Rush covers it might get tricky, but it's always good to push the boundaries.
I once got a sub gig with one of the best Top40 dance party cover bands in town. Nothing but $$$, "A" rooms, private events. Bookings every weekend. A juicy gig from my perspective.
To get a foot in the door, I crammed their 50-song playlist in three days. Worked my balls off. Played the gig with a high degree of accuracy and competence.
Got a call for the next weekend. And the next. And the next. Got offered the slot full-time.
It comes down to A) how much do you appreciate the project and want to be part of it? and B) what are you willing to do to put yourself in a positive light and distance yourself from your competition?
To get a foot in the door, I crammed their 50-song playlist in three days. Worked my balls off. Played the gig with a high degree of accuracy and competence.
Got a call for the next weekend. And the next. And the next. Got offered the slot full-time.
It comes down to A) how much do you appreciate the project and want to be part of it? and B) what are you willing to do to put yourself in a positive light and distance yourself from your competition?
Want the gig? Jump through the hoop. If not, don't bother. Might be a little excessive for an audition, yes, but not unheard of. And it also may be a way for them to see how quickly you'll learn songs, too.
Since that band sounds Established 10 songs are not too many. They are looking I'm sure for a seasoned player one who will already have a large catalog of songs and allot of experience. I'm sure it weeds out the local "jam" guys. My last audition was 4 songs and ....I got the gig.
depends what it is...
I'll normally say 3 bass songs... 1 vocal songs... we'll fake through the rest.
I'll normally say 3 bass songs... 1 vocal songs... we'll fake through the rest.
Learn 10 originals? Not a chance. One or two would do. Learn 10 covers? Maybe, if they could prove to me (with recordings) that the band already knew them. Sucks to spend the time on new songs for an audition just to find out you know them better than the rest of the band!
On the flip side, my band just finished auditions for a guitarist. Our standard list was:
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Working For the Weekend
White Rabbit
Fortunate Son
After Midnight
Take Me To The River (Talking Heads Version)
I can't tell you how many guitarists called and/or auditioned who never played cover band stuff, a couple hadn't even bothered to learn Working For the Weekend or at least try out the solo in HMWYBS. The last guy we auditioned had most of them nailed (I forgot to write down Working for the Weekend) and then us and him just started throwing riffs and songs out and did like another 5 songs. He got the gig.
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Working For the Weekend
White Rabbit
Fortunate Son
After Midnight
Take Me To The River (Talking Heads Version)
I can't tell you how many guitarists called and/or auditioned who never played cover band stuff, a couple hadn't even bothered to learn Working For the Weekend or at least try out the solo in HMWYBS. The last guy we auditioned had most of them nailed (I forgot to write down Working for the Weekend) and then us and him just started throwing riffs and songs out and did like another 5 songs. He got the gig.
You should do your homework BEFORE you learn even one song.
97.6% of all rage quits occur because the bass player didn't ask all of the right questions before the audition.
FWIW, most times I've been in charge of an audition I'll give the person a list of six or seven songs in advance. And when we do the audition I'll let the candidate select their best two to do and then I'll pick one additional song at random.
If they tell me they're not really ready with that song, I'll pick another. If they're not good with that one either, I'll end the audition at that point. Not to say that automatically means they blew it. It's just it usually goes down hill from there because they're nervous at that point.
If I liked what we already heard I'll ask them to come back in a week or thereabouts. But most times I can tell within the first two songs if it's going to work out anyway - as can most people who have been in a few bands and have been playing for awhile. So my asking for a third or forth song is more to see how quickly they pick things up and how well prepared they are. Because I've already got a pretty good idea of how well they can play and how well their sound and style will fit in with the rest of the group or project.
I can't guarantee every audition is going to be conducted this way. But virtually every professional engagement I've ever auditioned for went down along very similar lines. (Which is where I learned how to conduct my own.)
If they tell me they're not really ready with that song, I'll pick another. If they're not good with that one either, I'll end the audition at that point. Not to say that automatically means they blew it. It's just it usually goes down hill from there because they're nervous at that point.
If I liked what we already heard I'll ask them to come back in a week or thereabouts. But most times I can tell within the first two songs if it's going to work out anyway - as can most people who have been in a few bands and have been playing for awhile. So my asking for a third or forth song is more to see how quickly they pick things up and how well prepared they are. Because I've already got a pretty good idea of how well they can play and how well their sound and style will fit in with the rest of the group or project.
I can't guarantee every audition is going to be conducted this way. But virtually every professional engagement I've ever auditioned for went down along very similar lines. (Which is where I learned how to conduct my own.)
Totally agree.
Although I got the gig for the band I'm in with a one day notice that rehearal was the following night. They gave me a few songs that I didn't have time to learn, so I just showed up to see what would happen. A couple I already knew and just winged the rest and it was fine.
Every band I've auditioned for is different. The real audition really begins for some bands AFTER you join. In other words the initial audition is for whether or not they'll give you the real audition which happens over time.
I'm doing Christmas services at a church. 7 new songs for the services, about a dozen other songs for in between services - playing in the lobby. About a week to not only learn them, but be ready to play them for an audience. So, 10 covers in a week or two? Not too bad.
