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Playing note for note.

#303
wideload said:
I can nail the note-for-note covers all day long. I just can't get the fade-out at the end of the recordings to match perfectly. :)
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I know what you mean. Seems like everybody does "Don't Stop Believing" but no-one nails the fade at the end, drunks dancing, singing along and other forms of "getting into it" notwithstanding. Too bad they don't any better. ;)
 
#304
fep said:
I'm just surprised about all this discussions about being creative in a cover band playing pop music? To me it's a craft more than an art, we are talking cover bands.
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Sometimes the "art" is taking the situation you're in and the constraints it has and making it so that those become assets when playing material that is designed in a manner that virtually requires the full breadth of a studio and high-end players to make it work.

At the end of the night neither the bar owner who sells drinks nor the patrons that consume them care that you altered a riff for the sake of functionality.

But then I also approach playing in a band differently than most. I see it as something between a business and a scam. It HAS to be run like a business for the sake of consistency and results. Love of playing only goes so far when there's fatigue and a financially-losing setup going on. A band becomes a whole lot tolerable when the expectations are known and the results are consistent.

I tend to view it as a bit of a scam in that it's doing something that I love doing and at times have done it for free or even less.
 
#305
The only reason to play note for note is :
1. if you are playing in a wrapped tight Tribute band.
2. Playing with the original artist playing the original song, And even then 99% of the time they want you to stretch out somewhat within a set guideline. Never note for note, nuance for nuance 100%
3. there are a few artists the require it exact note for note but they usually have some real weird ego thing happening which covers to thing on and off stage... IMO
 
#306
fep said:
The bassist role in pop or classic rock is (almost always) not to impress anyone, it's to lay down a solid foundation. Right?

It's the groove, right?

I'm just surprised about all this discussions about being creative in a cover band playing pop music? To me it's a craft more than an art, we are talking cover bands.
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I think one of the reasons that this thread has gone on for so long is that most people are arguing for the approach that fulfills their own goals. I think that when it comes to playing note-for-note, your goals should dictate the approach.

If your primary goal is to make money in a cover band, I think most people would agree that the closer you play to note-for-note, the better your chances of getting a good-paying gig.

If your primary goal is to express your musical vision, even when playing covers, then I think that playing note-for-note is optional. You should be more concerned with playing what you think fits, rather than what the original bass player played.

If I'm trying to make money, I don't care if you think I sound like a jukebox. If I'm trying to express myself musically, I don't care if you don't like what I'm playing.

Rather than tell the each other what the other guy (or gal) has to play, maybe we should support the other guy playing whatever they need to in order to reach their musical goals.
 
#308
svtb15 said:
The only reason to play note for note is :
1. if you are playing in a wrapped tight Tribute band.
2. Playing with the original artist playing the original song, And even then 99% of the time they want you to stretch out somewhat within a set guideline. Never note for note, nuance for nuance 100%
3. there are a few artists the require it exact note for note but they usually have some real weird ego thing happening which covers to thing on and off stage... IMO
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Speaking of #1, check this baby out. Here's 1st call session players who give a significant justification for N.F.N. :D
HAPPY NEW YEAR bros!
B.
The Fab Faux - Abbey Road Side 2 (mostly) on Vimeo
 
#315
There are some songs that totally require a note for note approach. Not playing the riff in "Sweet Emotion" note for note means it's no longer "Sweet Emotion." And I have heard bands with bass players who get all notey with AC/DC songs, and I just want to punch them in the spleen and take the bass out of their hands.

Most songs, though, have some leeway and don't require a note for note approach. Rare is the song I'll play note for note unless not playing it note for note ruins the song. However, when I play something, whether it's note for note or completely different from the original, I make it my own when I play it. And that is the important thing...to own whatever you're playing and make it sound like every note is the most important note you will ever hear.
 
#316
How about both?

As in-push yourself through the roof on some songs to play the absolute best (you can) note-for-note. Sometimes each style of playing is appropriate. Both note-for-note, and improvising have their merits.

How about 'not' knocking technical follow-through just because you're not motivated to work your tail off to be consistent in the delivery on certain tunes?

I've had my share of exposure to soulless musicians, too. However, that is a separate topic, IMO...

^ JimmyM's post lends an excellent perspective.
 
#317
If I'm playing in a cover band, I'm a note-for-note player because that's what I personally enjoy doing and that is what I think the audience wants to hear. I always challenge myself to learn the notes just the way the original artist played them. I never read charts or tabs. I just memorize the material from the CD. That's how I've done it for the past 40 years of playing bass, and I love every minute of it!

One of the bands I was in was a YES tribute. Until I come up with a better series of bass lines for Close to the Edge over what Squire came up with, I will continue to play it note for note. To be candid, I can't imagine saying to myself "yeah, Squire didn't play that part right so I made it better." If I decided to "add my own stuff" to that song, and also "add my own stuff" to the 25 other songs in our YES setlist, all of the songs would start to sound the same because they would sound more like me instead of like YES.

For those bassists who enjoy "ad libbing" when playing cover songs, I say go for it! Do what makes you happy. Playing note for note isn't everyone's cup of tea, which is cool.

Based on my conversations with audience members after a show (not my band's show but some other band's show), I have found that, more often than not, the audience was more impressed with the bands who nailed the material just like the recording as compared to those bands who didn't. I'm not saying that's right or wrong or which is better. I am only passing along to you fine TB'ers what comments I have heard from audience members.
 
#318
SactoBass said:
Based on my conversations with audience members after a show (not my band's show but some other band's show), I have found that, more often than not, the audience was more impressed with the bands who nailed the material just like the recording as compared to those bands who didn't. I'm not saying that's right or wrong or which is better. I am only passing along to you fine TB'ers what comments I have heard from audience members.
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Exactly. Audiences listen for little nuances in the different parts. They like to hear that familiar lick. I love getting that, "Man, you guys nail those songs" comment when we go on break. Some players can't figure out the hooks, so they play something within the chord structure that doesn't suck, but doesn't convey what the composer had in mind. They excuse their ineptitude by playing the "creativity" card.

We're in the entertainment business. I like to give the audience what they want to hear. I'm not interested in hearing someone noodle in someone else's music.
 
#319
I learnt Crossroads by Cream practically note for note but my new lead guitarist hates me doing it, he says it puts him off his solo, so I just play the main riff not to confuse the poor fella and insist on a bass solo as I love the song :D

Sometimes I cant do note for note as my fingers dont move that fast :crying::)
 
#320
Munjibunga said:
Exactly. Audiences listen for little nuances in the different parts.
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I couldn't disagree more. Audiences are there to have a good time, talk with their friends, get drunk, get laid, and oh yea, there's a band here too!

As musicians we tend to see things through our eyes, but I don't believe that most civilians could tell the difference between the record and 50% correct, as long as you did the signature licks mostly right.

I'm not trying to tell anyone not to learn a song note for not, but let's be honest - we do it for ourselves, not for the audience. I've even had band members tell me I nailed something when it was no more than 80-90% like the record.

My humble opinion, not to be confused with irrefutable fact!
 

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