Yeah I think you're idea is perfect. "I'm working on it. But let's spend some time on other stuff until I get up to speed on that one."
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Ok to table a song until ready?
- Thread starter baddarryl
- Start date
Yeah I think you're idea is perfect. "I'm working on it. But let's spend some time on other stuff until I get up to speed on that one."
Wear it out on your playlist and focus on it exclusively for a few days with emphasis on the parts causing you trouble but like others have mentioned, it’s a simple song that would sound fine without a lot of embellishment.
Not that you should be lazy and not work on bringing it, but don’t hold up progress over one song.
Not that you should be lazy and not work on bringing it, but don’t hold up progress over one song.
Of course! The other options is to simplify it. Can you simplify to a version that sounds close enough? If not, then delay it.
Yup!
If you're a Chef, you wouldn't present a dish to the public that was not correctly prepared.
Just don't use this as an excuse because you don't want to practice it. Decide NOW, how many days or weeks it will take to get that right and offer that when you tender your request to sideline the tune.
"A while" is not an answer, it's a dodge.
Woodshed this one intently and get through it!
Good Luck!
You need to memorize every note in your head first. The fingers will follow.
Yes, that’s a fair request.
Yes, that’s a fair request.
I always have a hard time shelving a song after the rest of the band has learned it. If it's a tough tune I either tell them to hold off till I get the part down and know I can do it justice, but if I committed, I do the best I can and suck it up.
Veto's should be used before time is spent on the song, after that, it becomes democratic. In other words, I ask the rest of the band for honest feedback if they can tell I'm having a rough time with something. If we ditch a song because of my shortcomings, I feel I owe the band an apology since they spent time learning the tune.
Veto's should be used before time is spent on the song, after that, it becomes democratic. In other words, I ask the rest of the band for honest feedback if they can tell I'm having a rough time with something. If we ditch a song because of my shortcomings, I feel I owe the band an apology since they spent time learning the tune.
Yes. The band that I was in for 25 years was able to play moderately complex songs such as some early Grand Funk, Yes, Jethro Tull, Dixie Dregs and stuff like that. The band that I'm in now has difficulty playing songs that are much more complicated than a basic blues in 4/4. I have tabled my desire to play anything slightly complicated (Radar Love, War Pigs, Dreams I'll Never See (Molly Hatchett) and stuff like that until I get into a more talented band.
Yes overall, but in this case, it's got some tricky bits but it's not crazy difficult, so I think you should woodshed it, but don't delay too much. The signature parts of this song are not in the bassline IMHO. 
Also to put it in perspective, just as an anecdotal data point: Many of us TalkBassers (myself included) have played gigs where we don't know the songs, and we "fake it" at the gig. There are TalkBassers who have the skill set to play songs like "My Kinda Party" without any rehearsal. Just putting it out there, that different players have different standards what is "acceptably prepared" for a gig. There are TalkBassers who would be perfectly comfortable just showing up unprepared for the gig and improvising "follow the leader" style. A lot of us have the ability to listen to a few bars of the guitar to grasp the chord progression; it's not a super-rare skill set.
Perfectly reasonable. And you have a few options. Work out the best one together.
1. You have stuff to work on - work on that and take a week or three (ut not forever!) to work on it. Make sure they are good with that. I'd be...
2. Play a simpler version of it. I know the "root note" solution is not great - but it IS a reasonable compromise if the rest of the band has other stuff to do that they want to and can work on.
3. Play what you can and simplify the parts you need to for the moment. As a guitarist not unusual to skip the solo and just play the rhythm part or to do a free form in the right key lead.
4. If it is too hard, and not critical - pick another song. What is more important? 40 songs, or THAT song?
You all need to work this out together. That is more important for the band than any song. If they have a problem with it, suggest a brutal drums/keys/vocals tune and show them how it feels.
1. You have stuff to work on - work on that and take a week or three (ut not forever!) to work on it. Make sure they are good with that. I'd be...
2. Play a simpler version of it. I know the "root note" solution is not great - but it IS a reasonable compromise if the rest of the band has other stuff to do that they want to and can work on.
3. Play what you can and simplify the parts you need to for the moment. As a guitarist not unusual to skip the solo and just play the rhythm part or to do a free form in the right key lead.
4. If it is too hard, and not critical - pick another song. What is more important? 40 songs, or THAT song?
You all need to work this out together. That is more important for the band than any song. If they have a problem with it, suggest a brutal drums/keys/vocals tune and show them how it feels.
The saying we have in my band (which we have to remind ourselves once in a while when one of the guys is overly excited to play something new that isn’t quite there yet) is “a magician never reveals their tricks”.
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I think it depends on your band and relationship with the members much more than on our opinions. How will they accept your needing more time to learn a tune? Will it lead them to believe you're not capable, not at their level, unable to play the things they want to play - or will it be respected?
I think you have 3 options:
I'll add that for me its important what the stakes are, also. There are some bands I've played in where I'd go WAY above and beyond to learn songs. If it took me 8 hours a day, I'd do it. And there have been bands where I flat out said, "I'm not learning that. Its not worth the time I'd have to put into it (usually for some ridiculously difficult obscure tune)." I rarely say no however, because i like the challenge... but there was one particular band that wanted to do some Rush tunes that I just wasn't down for putting the time into. Not when I knew there were much more popular songs we could add.
I think you have 3 options:
1. Do as you suggest and tell them you need to shelf it. I would do this as opposed to telling them you "want" to shelf it, because I learned the latter implies you CAN do the work necessary, just don't want to.
2. Simplify the song until you nail it. Just play the roots or do whatever you need to do in order to make it work.
3. Play the song like crap, and make yourself and the band look bad.
2. Simplify the song until you nail it. Just play the roots or do whatever you need to do in order to make it work.
3. Play the song like crap, and make yourself and the band look bad.
I'll add that for me its important what the stakes are, also. There are some bands I've played in where I'd go WAY above and beyond to learn songs. If it took me 8 hours a day, I'd do it. And there have been bands where I flat out said, "I'm not learning that. Its not worth the time I'd have to put into it (usually for some ridiculously difficult obscure tune)." I rarely say no however, because i like the challenge... but there was one particular band that wanted to do some Rush tunes that I just wasn't down for putting the time into. Not when I knew there were much more popular songs we could add.
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If you can't simplify your part enough to to get through the song then ask them if it's ok to sideline. Depending on the personalities and dynamics of the band you could be replaced. I know it sounds harsh but I have played in projects where some musicians would not tolerate waiting for one person to "catch" up.
In our band we do some moderately difficult songs. We are good friends and have had to drop some songs due to someone not being able to pull it off. In our situation, its totally cool. Our view is that there 1000's or more cover songs we can tackle.
What song is it? Maybe someone here can help you with the parts. Good luck.
In our band we do some moderately difficult songs. We are good friends and have had to drop some songs due to someone not being able to pull it off. In our situation, its totally cool. Our view is that there 1000's or more cover songs we can tackle.
What song is it? Maybe someone here can help you with the parts. Good luck.
Oh yeah, Joe! I'm generally up for, say, 1 or 2 "b-sides" per gig, as long as I think the potential return on investment is high. Every so often someone will suggest an obscure and difficult tune that screams "low ROI likely" and makes you think "even if we nail this song, will anyone care?"
Hi guys. OP here. I have been working on it some and realizing where I can cheat some and as I develop parts add them in. We played it the other night and I was able adapt where it sounded good and the band liked it. More will be revealed. Thanks everyone.
Excellent.
Don't say "cheat" - It is your personal musical interpretation based on your own creative process that captures the spirit and intent of the part melodically or harmonically while remaining true to your own inner muse.
Don't say "cheat" - It is your personal musical interpretation based on your own creative process that captures the spirit and intent of the part melodically or harmonically while remaining true to your own inner muse.
My main band tends to table anything that isn’t good after two rehearsals. Sometimes they come back, sometimes not
