Playing note for note.

[Ric5]

So I found a band that looked interesting. They rehearse once a wekk and just play parties and open jams. I am thinking cool, I can play without putting in a lot of time. Well I get deeper into this and I find out they expect me to play the songs freaking note for note. It turns out they are the kind of musicians who really don't know how to jam or improvise at all. They only know how to learn songs note for note and they get flustered when someone deviates from the exact pattern. Then on top of that I am learning the songs from youtube and they tell me I am learning the wrong version of the song.

I freaking quit that band. I play be the feeling of the song. I learn the signature licks but quite often change up the bass parts to what I like to play. Most people never nitice because the songs sounds and feels the same. I learned to play this way in a blues band where I had to play that way because that is how the band was.

 

[snyderz]

80% of our songs are covers. 100% of our covers are not 'note for note'. They sound much better IMO.

 

[steven1068]

Ya people like this really annoy me too. One particular piano player I know would rather argue about Dorian mode for hours than play anything, and plays so soullessly. Some people really need to learn how to just jam

 

[mellowinman]

We start out with note for note, to get the proper feel and representation of the song. Then we improv where it's warranted.

There are some songs that are hard to improve on.

Some songs already have been improved on, in various live versions the original band played.

And some songs, you could do just about anything to.

What's funny about literal "note for note" players is, sometimes if you record them, and then compare their track to the track they're playing "note for note" it ISN'T note for note.

Oopsie!

 

[slaps76]

Unless you're a tribute to a band who has a lot of music geek fans(Rush, Tool, ect.), nobody in the bar is going to notice if a song is note for note. I can understand taking that approach on certain songs, but for the most part a lot of times you can do the song better by being creative.

That attitude also disqualifies a lot of covers...if you wanted to play some over-produced pop, there's no way you can duplicate a lot of it perfectly with guitar/bass/drums. Screw that band!

 

[lfmn16]

I agree; note for note is not my thing, but if someone wants to do that, have at it.

I play music because I have musical ideas that I'm trying to convey. To me playing note for note is like copying a book and saying you are writing. I want to use my own words. A song should say something; It's like a legend; it's the same everyone puts their own spin on it.

 

[winstonthecat]

I'm in a cover band, and I'm not a fan of the 100% note-for-note rule. Some songs, like "Billie Jean", you need to stick with the standard bass line, since it is the signature sound for the song. Other songs you can play around with a bit, or even a lot.

I think the only thing that really needs to be 100% note-for-note are the vocals.

 

[DanNowhere]

the biggest problem I've found with people I've played with that won't do covers note-for-note is because they're completely unable to.

 

[electracoyote]

I have never been in a band that played faithful, note-for-note versions and received criticism for it. Just the opposite, we usually get compliments for how we "nailed it."

I have, however, been in bands who thought is was cool to do our own re-writes of well-known crowd-pleasers and heard some less-than-favorable comments about how we "screwed up that song."

What's even worse is when the individual members are simply too lazy to learn the song faithfully, so everyone brings their own interpretation to the mix. That can be a most interesting experiment.

Bottom line: If your band is going to put its own spin on a well-known crowd-pleaser, it had better be good.

 

[4001]

Unless you're a tribute to a band who has a lot of music geek fans...

Exactly.

If you are playing music that is precise, you can't start throwing in your own notes because you just want to.
Tribute bands need to play the material as it was written unless their 'tribute' is in name only.

Otherwise, if you are in a garage/party band, who cares if you aren't exactly note-for-note?

Some of the party guests might want a refund??

 

[Devils Advocate]

the biggest problem I've found with people I've played with that won't do covers note-for-note is because they're completely unable to.

I agree. Or they're too lazy to.

I listened to your clips and it sounds like you're a very capable player. The attitude in your post though tells me you may very well blow a lot of opportunites. When joining an established band, 99% of the time people want to hear things note for note. Getting angry at a band for expecting that, and pointing fingers tells me deep down you know the deal also. They didn't do anything wrong. You might have just thought, "OK. This isn't a band for me", and moved on. But you didn't. You had to come here to get people to support you in your assumption that there's something wrong with them.

I think you're limiting yourself bigtime if you hold onto your current attitude. Nobody is going to steal your creativity if you copy songs note for note. It's actually pretty beneficial to learning and expanding one's capabilities. If you disagree, then I'd suggest putting your own band together because you otherwise will have a very rocky road ahead. Especially if you're finding the fault in others and not yourself.

 

[armywalaby]

I agree. Or they're too lazy to.

I listened to your clips and it sounds like you're a very capable player. The attitude in your post though tells me you may very well blow a lot of opportunites. When joining an established band, 99% of the time people want to hear things note for note. Getting angry at a band for expecting that, and pointing fingers tells me deep down you know the deal also. They didn't do anything wrong. You might have just thought, "OK. This isn't a band for me", and moved on. But you didn't. You had to come here to get people to support you in your assumption that there's something wrong with them.

I think you're limiting yourself bigtime if you hold onto your current attitude. Nobody is going to steal your creativity if you copy songs note for note. It's actually pretty beneficial to learning and expanding one's capabilities. If you disagree, then I'd suggest putting your own band together because you otherwise will have a very rocky road ahead. Especially if you're finding the fault in others and not yourself.

+1

If the audience wanted to listen to the radio, they'd invite their friends over with a keg and put the radio on. Live music should be that - it should take up a life of its own, so to speak.

 

[bluewine]

Ya people like this really annoy me too. One particular piano player I know would rather argue about Dorian mode for hours than play anything, and plays so soullessly. Some people really need to learn how to just jam

What is the definition of "jam" these days. Back in the early 70s we would jam for hours on end.

Someone would come up with a riff or groove and we would improvise off of it or we would improvise off a 12 bar foundation.

We did so much of this I got tired of the format, however the experience definitely made me a better bass player.

To date I can improvise with the best of them, but I prefer not to.

Blue

 

[steven1068]

What is the definition of "jam" these days. Back in the early 70s we would jam for hours on end.

Someone would come up with a riff or groove and we would improvise off of it or we would improvise off a 12 bar foundation.

We did so much of this I got tired of the format, however the experience definitely made me a better bass player.

To date I can improvise with the best of them, but I prefer not to.

Blue

Jamming is exactly what you said, having fun improvising on a riff or song for hours. Too many times people spend hours arguing about notes instead of playing them

 

[leftiebass]

note for note is rote for rote - not music.
many of the great ones do not even play their OWN songs note for note when they play live!

 

[bluewine]

the biggest problem I've found with people I've played with that won't do covers note-for-note is because they're completely unable to.

Yes, and when we are talking about recordings with huge production values. Most cover bands don't have the resources or musical abilities to do it. So you must come up with a good scaled down and different arangement of the song.

A lot of those recording have multiple bass, guitar ansd vocal tracks you can't reproduce without the aid of a few lap tops.

*Some guys will use a 6 string baritone guitar for recording bass.

I think there are thongs you can do on a baritone that would be tough to replicate with a 4 or 5 string bass guitar.

 

[slaps76]

note for note is rote for rote - not music.
many of the great ones do not even play their OWN songs note for note when they play live!

Jeff Ament from Pearl Jam plays a great live show, he definitely doesn't follow the recorded tracks note for note.

 

[lfmn16]

Nobody is going to steal your creativity if you copy songs note for note.

I agree that no one can steal your creativity, but playing a song note for note gives your creativity away.

The easiest way to avoid these type of misunderstandings is to have the discussion before the audition. I always let people know that I don't play root and fifth, or note for note before I show up. This leads to a discussion about what they are expecting and what I intend to contribute. I don't get mad when someone is looking for a carbon copy of the record, it's just not my thing.

These threads always turn into a pissing contest between the "note for note" police and the side that wants to play their "own way." I guess I'll never understand how playing something exactly like someone else is creative.

 

[bluewine]

Jeff Ament from Pearl Jam plays a great live show, he definitely doesn't follow the recorded tracks note for note.

Yes, most pros have the sense to know that their recorded version won't be the best for live performance and the arange a version specifically for live performance.

 

[Dave W]

A lot of those recording have multiple bass, guitar ansd vocal tracks you can't reproduce without the aid of a few lap tops.

Can you provide any examples of popular cover band songs that have multiple bass tracks in the original recording that make it difficult to play the song?