Playing the part versus playing the record part

[MrLenny1]

Learn both and give them the choice.

 

[Bass-ball]

Make sure to run it by the person who's paying you first, but if it were me, I'd only "do the record" for bass parts that are distinct to the song. So, for example, if you started off playing "Billie Jean" some other way, nobody would recognize it as "Billie Jean" even though you are still in the right key and all that. Then once the song gets going and people's minds are in familiar territory with the whole ensemble, maybe then play it "your way" vs "do the record." That's how I usually roll.

 

[AltGrendel]

I’d like to know what they said when you asked.

 

[ctmullins]

From a business perspective, do what makes your customer happy.

From a musical perspective, play what fits the song best. My artistic perspective is: If you want to be a robot, replicate the recorded line; if you want to be a musician, play whatever elevates the song.

 

[Moe Town]

This tune grooves so hard. The time feel and rhythm section are so locked in. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s simple but a real test of the rhythm section’s ability and internal time.

I’d imagine the drummer has no choice but to lay down 4 on the floor disco style so that should give room to modify the charted bassline without disturbing it too much. If it requires you go more staccato and add in muted notes (presumably that’s what the chart doesn’t have that the original does) they have to be locked in super tight, it will groove hard and I think the band will feel it too. I say go original and show how a tight bass can elevate a song.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Wasn't sure which forum to post this in... Mods, please feel free to move.

I have a gig coming up and there's charts and click tracks and all that which is fantastic. One of the songs has a simplified bassline of a song. I was learning it and was instantly struck with how it wasn't the part from the record. Went back and listened and was correct. I don't blame them, they're a touring group who hires people local and do an act in Vegas. Makes sense to do this and the part is fine if I did play it as written but doesn't quite have the exact thing as the record.

My question is... Would you play it as written or substitute the original line as long as it doesn't interfere with their arrangement of the tune? I've done it in the past and with my last gig they were surprised and elated I knew the actual part.

As an arranger myself, I'd be happy if they did the recorded part to enhance it and blended it into the arrangement and specific parts that needed to be as written. Thoughts?

i don’t want to paint this with a broad brush, for me playing with performance tracks is like reading charts where you play the ink or somebody else may go off the track.

As for subbing the original part for the one the track, as long as there are no musical conflicts, I doubt anybody would notice. JMO

Sounds like a cool gig. Enjoy!

 

[sawzalot]

If you're one of the local musicians they hire for their local dates, then they're probably looking for basic tracks that don't get in the way of their act. I tend to use my own musical sensibilities for every song, so I'd be unlikely to stick to any track as recorded, but I will try to stick to the spirit of the song to serve the band best. The idea is that I'm trying to make the band sound good vs getting myself noticed.

 

[smittybass33]

In my experience:
That chart has probably been played badly and wrong many times before. Be a pro, but don’t anguish too much.
Singers in shows often rely on hearing certain things to make them feel comfortable. If you go too out (or off page) they may get uncomfortable.
Try to figure this out at rehearsal using your eyes, ears and intuition. Keep the questions to a minimum (if possible).
Don’t make a big deal out of the charts accuracy. Sometimes the person who wrote it is there…and proud of their work. Just make it sound great without too much drama. I’ve even had to correct wrong notes on some charts, but no one need to know or even cares.

To be honest, I'm not worried. I just thought this was a fun topic to discuss. All great advice. I'm not one to make a fuss. Let's do what we can to make the gig happen, the music great, and the crowd happy! Thanks for your thoughtfulness.

Tough call, and I agree with the others. Ask them.

I'd ask too if they have any of that bass in the tracks. With newer music, that's not uncommon. If so, I'd be real cautious of your volume (and place) in those tunes. I've been in situations where there were HUGE subs, bass in the track, bass coming out of me, and bass coming out of the keys. It can be downright painful.

This is a great point. Funny enough, other tunes have this type of stuff happening with extra subs and bass happening lightly in the track but this one does not. All great stuff, appreciate it.

To those who are saying ask them, not talkbass... I already addressed this and messaged them in an earlier post. Waiting to hear back. I made this post as more of discussion among us for this type of scenario which has been fruitful. Appreciate everyone's contributions to the discussion!

 

[halcyo]

Often enough, I find that the recorded line of some songs just doesn’t translate the same way in a live situation, and even many original acts play their songs a bit differently live.

Sometimes in a live show, as a bassist, you’re not just providing notes, but you’re needed to provide IMPACT, weight, movement, etc, which sometimes requires shifting octaves, playing fills that weren’t there before, and even sometimes just simplifying a part to provide a more steady pulse in a less than stellar acoustic environment where a fancy busy line might not speak clearly.

 

[smittybass33]

This tune grooves so hard. The time feel and rhythm section are so locked in. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s simple but a real test of the rhythm section’s ability and internal time.

I’d imagine the drummer has no choice but to lay down 4 on the floor disco style so that should give room to modify the charted bassline without disturbing it too much. If it requires you go more staccato and add in muted notes (presumably that’s what the chart doesn’t have that the original does) they have to be locked in super tight, it will groove hard and I think the band will feel it too. I say go original and show how a tight bass can elevate a song.

For sure! I think someone else had mentioned about the drums too. If the drums and I don't lock in it won't matter. Or if the drums do something else that works against the line and that is simplified it'll be an issue as well. I have no doubts the drummer on the gig will be able to do it and we'll be able to lock. Haven't played with the cat but I heard great things from the person who suggested him.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Unless you're specifically a tribute band, play whatever serves the songs with your own touch.

 

[waveman]

So they're both playing it wrong?

That is the wrong way to think about it, lol. They are playing their interpretation of it. Even pros don't follow their own recordings note for note live, lol

 

[waveman]

What's so funny about playing it like the record?

As I responded to another person, everyone plays their own interpretation of a piece of music...no two people play the same piece of music exactly the same way hardly ever. I think make it sound like the record is more accurate. Heck, even the pros that are playing their own songs do an interpretation live verses what was recorded.

 

[Nightman]

It’s there dime! Play the chart you were given, else you could be overlooked the next time they need a bass player.

 

[LBS-bass]

Sidebar: Rehearsal last night. I'm playing a song that I learned several years ago. I know I'm playing the part pretty close to the record because I have played this song A LOT. It's not an easy song to learn/play and even harder on the others than on me. Lots of weird jazzy chords. They're still learning it; I am not.

We play through it with the recording (or try to) several times. I need to leave the room for a minute, so I say "hey guys, I'm going to put this recording on again and, since I already know it, I'm going to go take care of something and I'll be right back."

As I'm walking out of the room I hear all sorts of clashy stuff with the bassline. I'm like WT#? I've played this a million times and I've never heard anything clashing like that and start to worry that I've learned it wrong. Then I realized one of the guitarists is doubling the bassline but playing some bad notes.

So yeah, to fix that I have two choices. Get him to play it like the record, or change what I play to accommodate him.

When I came back in, he says "OK, I get it now. My part is the same as your part right there; but I need to learn it better by listening to the bass." That's the answer I wanted to hear. But if these were songs a MD had handed us charts to, the simpler thing might be both of us playing what's written to keep those two lines in sync, even if they're wrong.

I write this to illustrate just how easy it would be for this to go badly if people aren't listening to each other or just take it upon themselves to play whatever they want. I didn't really hear the clashy stuff until I stopped playing because I was louder than he was where I was sitting.

 

[pepj]

I'd just play a part that I thought fitted well.
Thats what they want...

 

[groovepump]

What version is "the" recorded one? If you listen to a "live" version of any song, it usually differs greatly from the initial studio release of the same song. Ask the band if they want the written part done note for note or if it's just a guide for the song structure. (check Average White Band "Pick up the pieces" album version compared to the
"Live at Montreux 1977" version. Vastly different.
Ask if you're being paid to read off the sheet.

 

[LBS-bass]

What version is "the" recorded one?

My go to when someone says "as recorded" is the studio version that was played on the radio. Suggesting some other version means people have to unlearn whatever it is they have in their head, which is needless extra work.

 

[groovepump]

it's appropriate to clarify with the act, of course, but your 'instinct' is probably correct. it'll be interesting to see/hear what develops! good luck with the gig!


i'd want to play the best part(s) for the act that i could muster. i'm not uncomfortable going 'off script' if i think i'm adding something to the quality of the playdown or otherwise enhancing the performance....and it's easy enough falling back to what's written.

I agree about going off-script. He could ask to run through it his own way at rehearsal to see what the band thinks overall. They may like the fresh approach better than the boxed-in "chart".

 

[Aussie Player]

I always learn as close to the record part as i can. Sometimes I go further and add a little extra to make it mine.
Never get complaints and never got sacked from a band.