There is such a gizmo. The Marantz SuperScope.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Here's what you are looking for. I've had one for years and it's terrific.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
learning a set list
- Thread starter mntngrown
- Start date
There is such a gizmo. The Marantz SuperScope.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Here's what you are looking for. I've had one for years and it's terrific.
If you are playing classic rock/pop, it always pays to keep in mind the AABA structure of the vast majority of it.
The A part is generally verse-chorus
The B part is either a bridge, a lead, or both and mostly comes after the 2nd chorus.
Some songs have two verses before they go into the first chorus--some don't. Some songs do an extra chorus in the final section. Some don't. Some songs have a pre-chorus and chorus.
I find that keeping the basic AABA in mind and just identifying the differences/variations a new song has from the standard AABA helps me remember new material faster. 95% of the time the bridge should not be a surprise.
As you play more songs, it also helps to relate a new song structure to something you already know---it may be a different set of chords but it plays just like (fill in the blank). These are just mental shortcuts for drawing it out of memory.
The A part is generally verse-chorus
The B part is either a bridge, a lead, or both and mostly comes after the 2nd chorus.
Some songs have two verses before they go into the first chorus--some don't. Some songs do an extra chorus in the final section. Some don't. Some songs have a pre-chorus and chorus.
I find that keeping the basic AABA in mind and just identifying the differences/variations a new song has from the standard AABA helps me remember new material faster. 95% of the time the bridge should not be a surprise.
As you play more songs, it also helps to relate a new song structure to something you already know---it may be a different set of chords but it plays just like (fill in the blank). These are just mental shortcuts for drawing it out of memory.
I've never used charts for rock, pop or country situations. It's all by memory.
Just seems like an extra step your gonna have to ween yourself off of.
Jazz is a whole 'nother story. I've really been focusing and practicing to quit reading of off the piano player's charts, but I'm finding it very difficult! weird
Just seems like an extra step your gonna have to ween yourself off of.
Jazz is a whole 'nother story. I've really been focusing and practicing to quit reading of off the piano player's charts, but I'm finding it very difficult! weird
There is. It's called a computer.
Pretty much every media player out there has a pitch shift plug-in available.
I use Winamp with the PaceMaker plugin.
I use a Tascam Bass Trainer for this, also allows for easy looping of sections and easy control of the mix between your bass volume and the mp3/cd volume.
I don't hear the bass very well through my laptop so I think that that Tascam Bass Trainer might be the trick. I have got to get one of those things. Right now I am using a DigiTech RPx450 Modeling Guitar Processor with the jam along thing. I can plug the I Pod into that and then put the whole thing into the Ampeg.
The Amazing Slow Downer is a great tool that you can down load for about $48. Speed up, loop, slow down, change pitch etc. If you are having a hard time hearing the bass, raise the pitch and speed it up. Also I look for common song forms e.g. I- IV- Vs, ii- V- Is, I-vi-IV-Vs etc. A lot less to remember.
It is helpful to write out the songs as you are learning them. It helps you to remember them better. I will chart or make performance notes for rock and country songs. I don't use them on stage, but I will bring them to rehearsals and practice off of them. After listening to, charting and playing along with a song you pretty much have it memorized.
Each person learns in different ways.. I takew lots of short cuts now, I look at tabs while watching a youtube, this helps most of the way, but ultimately, I find I really have to know what is going on in the song, to play a good bass part. I don't hold myself to playing any part exactly, until I have all the chord changes down. Eventually, the bass part evolves into something much more grooving, rahter than me trying to duplicate the original part.
Same type of band.
Our set took us 4 weeks to be playable "tightly". Of those 4 weeks, I spent the most time on 2 blasted songs!
About 2 months for 99% of my basslines to be note perfect or improvised.
Mistake free? I'll let you know once I get there. I rock out and get distracted too much to be playing note perfect all night long. It's just a cover band
Same applies to the whole group I suppose.
mntngrown- no mistakes? My guess is forever, there will almost always be a mistake. That cute girl in the front just winked at you, whoops, wrong note. The really ugly girl in front winked at you, and while fighting back a dry heave, you missed a note.
A fight in the corner, a couple of wrong notes. The real question is can you play through those flubbed notes, or will they destroy you for the rest of the song?
The really ugly girl in front winked at you, and while fighting back a dry heave, you missed a note. A fight in the corner, a couple of wrong notes. The real question is can you play through those flubbed notes, or will they destroy you for the rest of the song?
mntngrown- no mistakes? My guess is forever, there will almost always be a mistake. That cute girl in the front just winked at you, whoops, wrong note.
+1, If you play thru, chances are nobody but YOU will notice, how long should it take? Depends on YOU. You need to devote concentrated effort to learn the songs. When I say concentrated I mean without distraction, for a specified pre- determined amount of time. Is this a paying gig? Then you need to consider this a job. 40 hours a week is what the majority of "jobs" entail, this job should be treated no different. You can not learn 30 songs by spending 2 hours per week "practicing" while you are also watching T.V., playing on the internet,playing video games etc...Again if this is a "job" practice the songs you need to learn from 9-5 Monday - Friday,or what ever hours you choose, but do not practice 30 min. watch T.V. practice 15 min. have a snack, practice 20 min. make a phone call,practice 35 min. play a video game... get the point? Also "practice" 40 hours on your own, then "rehearse" with the band. If this is not a paying gig=job,then treat it casually=who cares if you learn the songs or not, just go out there and whank away.
I agree with xgator4u, is this going to be a regular paying gig type of thing or just for fun? I think it's also going to depend on your bands ability level. Are you going to learn and play the songs like the recordings, or are going to have to change up your basslines to fit the way your band plays the songs. In the end only you can decide if you're learning fast enough or not, and if not, time to start practicing more.
record yourself
play standing up with a strap, cuz that is how the gig will be
print the lyrics, and play the bass only (after you listened to the song and practiced with the music a lot) and go thru the whole song
chart songs by counting four bars/measures at a time
play each groove thru the metronome...for a long time, to get it in your head.
you are playing alot......which is good.
try to play the song from the chart and with a metronome, and NO music....see how that goes.
because, when you play on the gig...there will be NO BASS to follow like if you are playing with a CD or MP3.....YOU are the bass, and you should know the changes....that is where the metronome / chart will make you anticipate and learn those changes.
break out parts aka....
intro goes like this
then verse like this
etc, and know the grooves for each of those parts.
another thing I do, is play along with the song, with my bass, and if I make a mistake, I will start over.....
then the part I missed, I dont care if I miss everything else, as long as I hit that "missed" part,,,,,,,
then, if I make a mistake, I go back to the beginning.
and, with the tascam bass trainer, you can speed the music up.
so , I will do that, then slow it down. Seems to make the song easier!
also, take a break! it will allow the music to sink in
hey, I have the same problem, and the only way to really learn a song is to play it live alot of times......
good luck!
good luck!
big al
play standing up with a strap, cuz that is how the gig will be
print the lyrics, and play the bass only (after you listened to the song and practiced with the music a lot) and go thru the whole song
chart songs by counting four bars/measures at a time
play each groove thru the metronome...for a long time, to get it in your head.
you are playing alot......which is good.
try to play the song from the chart and with a metronome, and NO music....see how that goes.
because, when you play on the gig...there will be NO BASS to follow like if you are playing with a CD or MP3.....YOU are the bass, and you should know the changes....that is where the metronome / chart will make you anticipate and learn those changes.
break out parts aka....
intro goes like this
then verse like this
etc, and know the grooves for each of those parts.
another thing I do, is play along with the song, with my bass, and if I make a mistake, I will start over.....
then the part I missed, I dont care if I miss everything else, as long as I hit that "missed" part,,,,,,,
then, if I make a mistake, I go back to the beginning.
and, with the tascam bass trainer, you can speed the music up.
so , I will do that, then slow it down. Seems to make the song easier!
also, take a break! it will allow the music to sink in
hey, I have the same problem, and the only way to really learn a song is to play it live alot of times......
good luck!
good luck!
big al
I ordered a bass trainer. I will let you know how it goes. If you watch Ebay you can pick up a used one with a AC adapter for about 50-60 bucks. I have been doing it just like Rokkitt said above and it seems to be working. The trainer should let me do clean up and get the ones we play in a different key.
