Played my first show as a bassist. Question.

[sedan_dad]

There are no mistakes. Just Jazz notes.

 

[bassinplace]

How was the turnout? I spoke to Michelle a few months ago about playing bass for her, glad to see she got a solid line-up. As mentioned, it's not making mistakes that matters, it's how you play them off/cover them up that counts

Oh cool! Turnout was decent, considering we were the first act on a Wed night and we're from Orange County. We've brought a friend of mine in on guitar this week to play on the next gig this Sat. Should be fun!

 

[Mechanical]

I tell the guitarist that they are passing notes.

 

[xUptheIronsx]

I have seen Rush enough times that I have actually been there when Geddy made mistakes...including forgetting the words to the 2nd verse of The Analog Kid. What most professionals do though, is recover. Recovery is the key!

He recovered well on all counts, and the show went on...

I still vividly remember my first gig, and I know I made a mistake in every song!!! Still playing 30 something years later, it obviously did not adversely effect my "career"

the thing is to catalog what made the mistakes, and try not to repeat whatever that was. Lack of part knowledge, technique flubs,distraction...whatever...are things that you will learn how to deal with the more you prepare for, and then play out

 

[Bassisgood4U]

If I flub a note, it's because I'm not into it enough, or my head isn't focused on what it should be.

 

[MTBK]

Everybody flubs notes once in a while. After every show I make a post-show review in my phone. Basically write down in a notepad app what went well and what I could change or do differently. Any notes that I flubbed, which were significant enough to remember by then, I'll write down in the log too. Then add in a bit about why it happened (maybe something distracted me, w/e) that way when similar circumstances occur in the future I'll be more prepared.

It's rarely that a note is flubbed because I didn't practice the song enough. Almost always because something distracted me.

 

[interp]

Remember Mark Twain's two rules in life:

1. Never do anything you may have to apologize for later.

2. Never apologize.

 

[sedan_dad]

I don't flub. I have jazz moments.

 

[Bill G.]

U2 (one of my favorite bands) makes mistakes a lot, even on some of their studio recordings.

 

[Howlin' Hanson]

If the first note is right, and the last note is right, much in between can be forgiven.

 

[el murdoque]

It is relative too, the better you get, the more pedantic you get about right and wrong.

this is important.
there is a difference between playing the right note, but just a little bit too short or too long, or being in the wrong scale while still playing notes that pass as valid, which will be counted as a mistake by some here -
and launching that huge fill and getting into the chorus while the rest of the band plays the verse once more.


My basslines are made easy enough so i can play them if i'm not 100% in shape. If it takes my full concentration on my own part and someone else does a mistake, i drop out completely.

I realized that i was playing with less wrong notes in rehearsal when i was hungover or sick a few years back. That was due to focus. In a hungover state, i'm less likely to loose focus because i stick to the material, stay on the beat and my mind has no capacity left to wander.

Recreating that state of mind is sometimes possible for me in live or recording situations (without being sick or hungover), which can be a great help to get a solid gig.

 

[coop]

I find that most of my flubs come on songs that I've played forever. I seem to make a mistake much less often on newer material . I suppose it's because I am concentrating on the newer stuff, and kind of on autopilot for the familiar tunes.

It even goes a little further than that, if we are doing a new room as opposed to one of the clubs we have played for years. The whole band seems to be sharper with fewer flubs for everyone.

Also, we play much better for a hopping crowd than a club full of tables and chairs.

 

[Spent]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Made a few mistakes this night. She ended up on stage with us, quite a distraction. And we thought this was going to be a boring gig. We're playing a bachelororette party in the same venue next month. I expect to flub a few at that one.

 

[Betrayer_Bass]

I flub all the time, usually just play it off like I meant to do it or look at teh guitarist all mad like

 

[BargeOn]

Flubbing notes a.k.a clams: no problem
Lost your place: minor problem
Lose the beat, drop the groove: very big problem

 

[jimmybc91]

I believe people that say they have gone gigs without making a mistake, it is possible. I have done this a few times but given I was stiff as a rock and soley concentrating on my playing. When you are enjoying yourself most times you will make a mistake. Do not beat yourself up but also don't just accept it. Strive for perfection! Oh and also like groovyBoom said, do not lose the groove, playing bass is usually has to sides, the groove and keeping it in key, try not to lose both!

 

[dmac1961]

There are no wrong notes, just unfortunate note choices.

 

[electracoyote]

Which brings me to a question. How often do any of you flub notes on gigs? Does it bother you? Does anyone have any good methods for staying focused while on stage?

I haven't bowled a perfect 300 on stage for a long time. I usually play 60-70 songs a show. Getting through that much material without a single goof? Pretty tall order.

I have, however, learned over 35 years as a performing musician how to keep mistakes to a minimum and cover my tracks pretty damn quickly and effectively, so that only the sharpest ears on the stage catch it and no one else. That's probably as good as it gets for most of us.

 

[RDUB]

Groove is way more important than notes.

 

[ThatLowEnd]

Groove is way more important than notes.

+1 Wooten explains this perfectly in his groove workshop dvd.