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Playing note for note.

#141
When I think of note-for-note, I consider time as well. A rest does have a note value. The overall tempo and feel will have effects on the notes you play. Sometimes the energy is up, and the song is a little faster. Sometimes the mood is mellow, and the song reflects that. And sometimes it's good to cater the tempo and feel to the audience that's there.

Aside from time and feel, how about length of song. "Twist and Shout" is a 2 minute song, and most folks would be disappointed if you only played it for 2 minutes. We usually do it for at least 4 minutes, if not longer if the dance floor is packed. Good bands and good DJs know how to extend the length of a song for a dancefloor. Is an extended version considered note-for-note?

How about tonality? Does playing with a clean guitar instead of distorted keep it note-for-note? Or a female vocalist male songs? As far as I know Steve Perry and Bon Jovi are males, but there's tons of "note-for-note", "true to the recordings" cover bands with female singers covering them.
 
#142
As far as wedding/corporate bands, I agree that you want to play close to the radio version. IMO, the main reason is that they are paying lots of money and you want to play it safe in terms of their expectations. If they want to hear "I Will Survive" they will probably expect it to be a Disco groove, not Ska.

But, I don't consider the clientele to be sophisticated music buyers unless it's an agency. Most individual buyers will hire a band once or twice in their lives. On the other hand, bars and clubs hire bands often and have a better idea of the range of quality out there than the couple planning their wedding.
 
#144
I tend to learn things note for note initially, whether they remain that way further down the line is something I'll evolve later.

Picking apart by ear pays off big time in interval recognition and ear training. I also analyse left hand positions, picking combinations, tone, feel, timing, inflections, dynamics etc. Soak that stuff up and integrate it into my own style.

It's nice to show up for deps and auditions and everyone can hear that you have done the homework, which means more work ultimately.
 
#147
depends on the song really.
we do "persuasion" by santana. which version do you do? there are several, with several different arrangements.
"them changes" by buddy miles ? which one do you do, band of gypsies? santana?
"inner city blues"...do you do brian auger's version? do you do marvin's version?
we have ton's of music we do like this, where the original artist doesn't even do it the same way twice. Those are some of the more fun kinds of songs to play because you can make them your own, and they are still recognizable.
 
#148
lfmn16 said:
I hate it when I'm wrong. You just pointed out a great example of when a band SHOULD play very close to the record - wedding / corporate event band. This is one of the times when the audience can't vote with their feet. They are stuck at the event.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The audiences at my band's corporate events vote with their feet--they pack the floor, dance their asses off, sing along, and have a great time.
 
#149
Even if someone plays something "note-for-note", what does that mean? I played in a successful tribute band back in the day, and yes it was The Doors note for note, no, it did not sound like The Doors, quite honestly. (I believe it was successful because our Jim put on a good show...)

For example, if you listen to the tapes/cds that come with the Jamerson book, you are listening to the Jamerson notes note-for-note, and moste defeneitely the time, feel and vibe of every other bassist in there, neither of whom is and therefore, sounds like, James Jamerson.

And this is OK. James Jamerson is James Jamerson. You and me have the choice to be either you or me, or, at best, someone else's very vague shadow.
 
#152
On the flip side of the coin, there are countless covers where I prefer the cover to the originally recorded version. One artist who springs to mind is Linda Ronstadt. Most of her hits are re-worked recordings by other recording artists (not just songwriters). She had a crack production team and very talented studio cats working on her tracks. In that instance--where you have great arrangements, skilled producers, and versatile musicians, you can take even an average song and turn it into something special that will find an appreciative audience. Many bands and artists have built their entire careers around this philosophy.

Marilyn Manson broke it big with a re-worked cover version of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" by Eurythmics.

But IMHO, it takes a really special mix and impeccable taste to make that happen. IME, most bands at the local level don't have it.
 
#153
electracoyote said:
One artist who springs to mind is Linda Ronstadt. Most of her hits are re-worked recordings by other recording artists (not just songwriters). She had a crack production team and very talented studio cats working on her tracks....
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In her case, "The Section" composed of Danny Kortchmar, Craig Doerge, Leland Sklar, and Russ Kunkel often played on the original version and her version of songs...
 
#155
Turock said:
If I want to hear that, I'll stay home and put on the record.
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This is quickly becoming a line almost as cliche as, "whats the best bass for metal?" :)

If im seeing a cover band (which rarely happens any more), the closer to the record they play, the more im impressed. Unless they take it to an entirely different place.

If im seeing an original band, i like the opposite. Thats one of the things i love about the chili peppers.
 
#156
etoncrow said:
In her case, "The Section" composed of Danny Kortchmar, Craig Doerge, Leland Sklar, and Russ Kunkel often played on the original version and her version of songs...
Click to expand...

A few, like the Warren Zevon stuff, but most of her biggest hits did not feature any of those musicians in their original form.

She covered The Miracles, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison, and Elvis Costello, to name just a few. No members of "The Section" appear on most of the originals she covered.

EDIT: BTW, Lee Sklar and Waddy Wachtel were in the band for the Buddy Holly tribute on PBS recently. Aging hippies still got their chops. It was fun to watch. Stevie Nicks sang lead on "When Will I Be Loved" and...wait for it...

THEY SOUNDED JUST LIKE THE RECORD! NAILED IT!
 
#157
Obviously playing note-for-note is the only way to separate pros from the schmos! we play note-for-note every show, and If one person gets off, we start the song over again until it's perfect!!!! Thats what Zappa did...duh, if you wan't proof check out my band playing our sweet Pink floyd cover, note-for-F'n-note. Worst Band Ever Butchers Pink Floyd - YouTube If you cant dig this you're just lazy, untalented, or just un-not-creative.
 
#158
When we learn a song we hunt the live version on youtube most of the time I find that the bass player has either replaced the bassline with something easier than what was magic in the studio.We play the Restaurant & Lounge crowds which I find many musician hang in more than dive bars which we do not bother with. Since we play live version of the songs we hit the crowd with a show that leaves that with the feeling that just saw a concert light show fog machines, Lasers and me adding lead guitar riffs too on the bass standing along side the lead guitarist sharing the spot light. It works it is our edge in a very competitive market here in NJ. Do I think about the bass player in the crowd watching me sure I do but guess what I have never been approached by any player who had anything but good to say about my playing most are like is that bass line even in that song and I say no I wrote it myself.Is it better then the original? Maybe, maybe I am a better writer maybe that guy was writing bass lines after 1 year of playing and I write with 40+ years or maybe I'm more free to explore the places they could have taken it, but were held to eight note wonders by the song writer. Either way we keep packing the places we play, we have 87,964 hits on our webpage that has been up for 4 years, So I think note for note is a little over rated IME. Just keep rock'n the bottom people and whatever way you do it that brings them back for more every show you should be accepted as the way to Get 'er done! Hate me or love me as Frankie said "I did it my way!"
 
#159
Joe Nerve said:
This is quickly becoming a line almost as cliche as, "whats the best bass for metal?" :)

If im seeing a cover band (which rarely happens any more), the closer to the record they play, the more im impressed. Unless they take it to an entirely different place.

If im seeing an original band, i like the opposite. Thats one of the things i love about the chili peppers.
Click to expand...

Cliche or not, I get bored rather quickly with bands that are nothing more than human jukeboxes, and I would rather sit home and put on the record if I want "note for note".
 

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