Learning lots of songs fast

[Avigdor]

For me an important part is song structure, esp. if the band plays "interpretations" of originals (Sounds like great fun, actually ). There's nothing worse than missing a stop or starting the bridge after the wrong verse or not expecting that doubled chorus on the last verse. Those are the only places most audiences have a chance to notice. So I'd ask the band if for any of the songs there are significant alterations of the structure compared to the original record (even ask which version do they go off - there is a lot of room for misunderstanding), and clarify the keys they play. Then on the night be in full and constant communication with the rest of the band (I'm sure that you'd do this anyway) and have fun!

 

[andare]

For me an important part is song structure, esp. if the band plays "interpretations" of originals (Sounds like great fun, actually ). There's nothing worse than missing a stop or starting the bridge after the wrong verse or not expecting that doubled chorus on the last verse. Those are the only places most audiences have a chance to notice. So I'd ask the band if for any of the songs there are significant alterations of the structure compared to the original record (even ask which version do they go off - there is a lot of room for misunderstanding), and clarify the keys they play. Then on the night be in full and constant communication with the rest of the band (I'm sure that you'd do this anyway) and have fun!

I hate it when the singer arbitarily changes a song's structure, I don't have clairvoyance so I miss a beat and we all look like chumps on stage.

 

[tothemax]

The band I joined about 6 months ago sounds similar, only they tend to like to keep things closer to the originals. I've always been in jam bands with a bit of "artistic license" so I had to put in a fair amount woodshed time. I try to knock out the easy ones quickly, just make sure that you can play them through. Then put your time on the more complicated songs, focusing on the ones the band does well. Better to shine on the good stuff and have a few bumps on the less popular tunes (with a basic understanding of the structure). That's where cliff notes can come in handy...

While I hate having music stand on stage, I was in your position with a 60 songs to learn in about 3 weeks for a gig. I kept the stand low and basically had my cliff notes in the margins for any of the tricky parts (this band does a few Steely Dan and Traffic songs that while I knew the songs had never played them and they needed to be played correctly). That way I could basically focus on the performance and have a cheat sheet if I needed it.

In the past I've been able to add a few notes to the setlist and work from that, either on the floor or on a monitor.

You'll get there... break a leg!

Cheers,

 

[ELG60]

I had to do this for a 3 set gig.last Saturday. I concur with the majority . . . Chord charts first, but I like to note rudimentary signature patterns in a basic Nashville number system as well, depending upon the individual song. It may not be the most efficient method, but it works for.me.

Next I run through the songs I'm totally unfamiliar with first until I have a good, working feel for them, incorporate those with which I'm familiar, and finally, those I know cold.

Then I'll go through them.at random if it's a non-formalized setlist to be prepared for them in any order.

In the case of this group, I had videos of them playing so I followed along with the idiosyncratic details of alternate keys and structures.

Worked for me, and just got the call for an additional gig with them next month, even though I can't sing and play at the same time . . . Something which I must change.

 

[CT Corvette]

Lot of listening. In the car, at work, eating, turn off your phone, cancel Netflix. And dedicated as much brain power as you can safely spare to predicting the structure of the songs. Make the most of your time away from your bass.

I don't know your domestic situation, but you might need to spend your first paycheck on flowers and a dinner.

Fortunately my wife is super supportive. In fact, a few days before the audition I was passing her in the hallway with my bass after some quiet early morning practice and I said "I think I can pull these tunes off for Sunday..." She replied, "Pull them off! You think they want a bassist who can pull them off! Get back in that room and do a little better than pulling them off, ok!?"

Thank all of you, too, for the encouragement!

 

[CT Corvette]

The band I joined about 6 months ago sounds similar, only they tend to like to keep things closer to the originals. I've always been in jam bands with a bit of "artistic license" so I had to put in a fair amount woodshed time. I try to knock out the easy ones quickly, just make sure that you can play them through. Then put your time on the more complicated songs, focusing on the ones the band does well. Better to shine on the good stuff and have a few bumps on the less popular tunes (with a basic understanding of the structure). That's where cliff notes can come in handy...

While I hate having music stand on stage, I was in your position with a 60 songs to learn in about 3 weeks for a gig. I kept the stand low and basically had my cliff notes in the margins for any of the tricky parts (this band does a few Steely Dan and Traffic songs that while I knew the songs had never played them and they needed to be played correctly). That way I could basically focus on the performance and have a cheat sheet if I needed it.

In the past I've been able to add a few notes to the setlist and work from that, either on the floor or on a monitor.

You'll get there... break a leg!

Cheers,

The few bands I've played with have all had an improvisational element too, so the songs were longer. This band keeps the tunes short, they really focus on the song so beginnings, stops, endings, etc. are important. Once I get past this first gig, I look forward to working with a group that thinks being super tight with that stuff is important.

 

[moon-bass]

First of all - you got this! Three weeks is plenty of time!

Other than that, I don't have much to add except that you are getting some good advice. I've been put in situations where I've had a day to learn a bunch of songs, and the strategies here are sound -

1) Make a playlist and get familiar with the songs
2) Write out chord charts (even better - see if you can find chord charts/tab on the internet)
3) Learn any signature licks/runs/vital parts of the song
4) Start high level, play along with the songs with the chord charts, focus on the changes and notable parts

Repeat as necessary!

It's been proven to work for me!

 

[corinpills]

At the risk of being super obvious, the trick to this is to really pay attention to the chord patterns and functions in each song. Don’t try to remember G to Bm to Em to whatever. Break it down to the 1 chord to the 3 minor to the 6 minor, etc. The function of the chords will guide you and then you have to know the form.

Most importantly: no cargo shorts on stage.

 

[Zooberwerx]

First of all - you got this! Three weeks is plenty of time!

Other than that, I don't have much to add except that you are getting some good advice. I've been put in situations where I've had a day to learn a bunch of songs, and the strategies here are sound -

1) Make a playlist and get familiar with the songs
2) Write out chord charts (even better - see if you can find chord charts/tab on the internet)
3) Learn any signature licks/runs/vital parts of the song
4) Start high level, play along with the songs with the chord charts, focus on the changes and notable parts

Repeat as necessary!

It's been proven to work for me!

…only to find the balance of the band has been playing it incorrectly for years. Otherwise, spot-on.

I use a spiral bound steno pad and jot down the basic arrangement and signature riffs. Just keep flipping pages til it’s time to break-down. Leave your flash at the curb…there will be time for that later.

Riis

 

[moon-bass]

…only to find the balance of the band has been playing it incorrectly for years.

This is where improv skills come in handy

I've been in multiple situations where the band moulates and afterwards I get a "oh, forgot to tell you, we shift keys there" lol.

Which reminds me, another good idea is to get the keys that the band plays in, amd also if they tune down at all. It's not uncommon for a band to play a song in a in different key as the recording.

 

[Parzival]

Lots of good advice in this thread. The most efficient way for me is to get the chords, changes, and structure down first. Once I can play through the song well like this, I then get in the weeds with the actual note for note bassline and lastly work on any intricate/difficult parts. Just seems to me when you have the structure down, learning the actual parts comes faster than just starting note for note from the beginning of the song.

 

[tothemax]

CT Vette,

With the short time frame to get up to speed, my focus would be on learning the base songs. Arrangements and tightening up will require practice time with the band. Being familiar with the songs will get you a lot of latitude should you hit a bump... You're dead on with "starts, stops, and endings"... When off or lost my "run to mama" move has always been stick on the root and play lightly until your back in sync. But you know that already ...

Make the best of any practices you can get in before the gig. See if they have any practice recordings you can use to play along with.

I keep a Tascam DR 05 recorder in my gig bag, and record all of our practices. I just set it off to the side. Actually the band has me send out the recordings every week, for me its a carryover from the days with a cassette boombox in the back of the band room.

Good luck, let us know how the gig goes...

 

[Rayjay]

#1 - the best way to memorize songs is simply to listen to them over and over to the point that you can sing the tune in your head. Then it's just a matter of constantly being in a state of transcription. Memorizing chord changes or frets or notes is not realistic. At least 90% if not more of my practice time devoted to learned new songs is without a bass - listen at work, in the car, whenever you can. Immerse yourself in the sound. The rest will come naturally.

Pro tip - learn the lyrics of the songs - this will help you out a TON

#2 - learning the exact basslines will be a matter of weather or not the rest of the band is that detail oriented. I love playing with musicians who do learn the tune faithfully, but in my experience it's exceptionally rare. Drummers play a shorthand hack version of the beat (or just play any old beat), guitarists tend to be allergic to rhythm playing.....if everyone isn't doing pretty much the exact thing the record is doing, that perfectly learned bassline will stand out and not fit into the context of "pidgin playing." I'm not telling you to not learn the exact basslines - do definitely do that - but be prepared to make drastic adjustments if the rest of the band is playing a faked version of the song (95% is the time, that's what happens)

 

[joeLowB]

@CT Corvette - thanks for asking this question!

Everyone, thanks for the myriad of excellent ideas!

This is massively helpful to me in learning how to learn .

Thank you!

 

[CT Corvette]

Most importantly: no cargo shorts on stage.[/QUOTE]

Ha! I agree... No shorts at all for me (any more)...

 

[CT Corvette]

Pro tip - learn the lyrics of the songs - this will help you out a TON

I read this last night and took it to heart this morning. I was driving home from seeing Hiromi at the Blue Note last night (Hadrien Feraud on bass). Insane show, but that's another story. Anyway, I focused on the lyrics to the setlists and I think that's going to be super helpful for the songs I'm not familiar with.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Parzival]

Most importantly: no cargo shorts on stage.

Ha! I agree... No shorts at all for me (any more)...[/QUOTE]

I generally agree with this and always wear pants and a nice shirt to play. But, here in the summer, if its outside gig and the temps are between 90-100, I'm and wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I want to look decent and put on a good show, but I don't want to die either.

 

[bassdude51]

Get your band to do all of it's songs in either the key of E or A. And/or do only songs that are in the 1-4-5 chord pattern.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

Do a play through of each song, and identify the songs that have a defining bass groove or part that will turn heads if not played correctly.

Everything else should be charted with structure and changes. Ireal pro is a nice cheap and easy app, but paper and pencil work too.

The band will probably appreciate you more if you have the song structure and vibe down versus the exact recorded bass line…that is unless that bassline is iconic or singable by the public.

Don’t spend 85% of the time on .5% of the product. Breadth over depth in some cases.

 

[Beej]

It's really interesting hearing the different ways people prepare themselves for things like this. So many different approaches based on what works for you. My own approach for a quantity of new songs is to put them into a youtube playlist and then play along with them once through to make notes as to what I do and don't need to spend time on. There are plenty of songs that I can pick up via previous listening osmosis and a single run through. Those I mark off and only run them a time or two. Those that have signature parts, I spend time getting those parts down and run them until familiar. Those that are more complex I'll review playthrough videos of them or those that are more regionally famous and don't have a playthrough, I'll spend some woodshed time. The timeframe of the OP typically would be acceptable for a 'pop and classics' standards type setlist.