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I think there are definite merits to rehearsing as loud as you play live. For one thing, it can help you realize that you're playing too loud live. So the idea isn't to turn up at rehearsal, but to turn down live. As a bassist I like it so that I know I am bringing the right rig to a gig. A Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde drummer has surprised me in the past, playing a small cocktail kit very quietly in rehearsal and showing up for a gig with 4 toms and 6 cymbals, a huge bass drum and a big deep snare and then pounding the crap out of it. I was trying to make a go of it with a 112 rig, and I was not happy.
No band I play in rehearses like it plays. We play quietly, because excessive volume covers up mistakes. Also because if you can control dynamics at low volumes, you can be subtle about it. (You all do play softly on stage sometimes, don't you?) We stand/sit in a rough circle and look at each other, because eye contact is extremely useful when you're working out an arrangement. And what is this "always from the top" stuff? You work through the parts that aren't working. Waste of time to always play all the way through. When all the kinks are worked out, we might up the volume a little, but certainly not to the level we play on a gig.
The more Pro the musos, the less of these types of problems I encounter.
Later rehearsals focus on dynamics, intros/endings, speeding up transitions btw songs, plan guitar swaps, nailing harmonies, etc.
Later rehearsals focus on dynamics, intros/endings, speeding up transitions btw songs, plan guitar swaps, nailing harmonies, etc.
That's what we do....set up like we do on stage and work on transitions between songs. It has served us well.
How consistent is your stage setup? Ours (well, the gigging projects I have) tends to vary depending on how much stage area we have and size of the room and which PA configuration we're using. How consistent is the sound compared to live? I would think a 25' deep room is going to sound considerably different at the same level than a 70' deep room.
We don't do mock gigs during rehearsal, but my groups are all acoustic anyways. Would be a whole lot of effort to set up a PA for rehearsal when we don't even need the volume(we have no drummer to compete with). Really we just try to get the best stage sound possible on gigs and arrange the group so that everyone can hear each other well.
I was in a working band with a large rehearsal space. We treated each one as though we were at a gig, even when we were working up new songs. We had our stage PA, lights, and our amps arranged as we did on stage, and we did our set lists in order (we did four 45 minute sets at each job).
Now, I have a combo that has been breaking in a new keyboard player, and just last week we got to the point of being able to perform our entire set in order. We still need to refine our stage positions (we include my bass and amp, the keyboards and its amp, a set of congas, a snare and hi-hat and a singer); my rehearsal space (a bedroom in my house) doesn't allow us to spread out much. We'll tackle that soon.
My ideal is what someone earlier called a "dress rehearsal." One of the banes of my existence is watching an ill-prepared band in action.
Now, I have a combo that has been breaking in a new keyboard player, and just last week we got to the point of being able to perform our entire set in order. We still need to refine our stage positions (we include my bass and amp, the keyboards and its amp, a set of congas, a snare and hi-hat and a singer); my rehearsal space (a bedroom in my house) doesn't allow us to spread out much. We'll tackle that soon.
My ideal is what someone earlier called a "dress rehearsal." One of the banes of my existence is watching an ill-prepared band in action.
Exactly all of this. The only point of rehearsal is to work out arrangements, vocal parts and solos. No, you do NOT HAVE to play at Club volumes during rehearsals.
Practice at home.
Handle musical logistics at rehearsals.
Play the crap out of it live.
I have no time for the "If it's too loud you're too old" crowd. Now that many of them ARE old all they can hear is high pitch squeal 24-7.
If your drummer and guitar players can't keep it down during rehearsal because it doesn't "feel right" they are simply immature.
Now, if these guys just want to have "jam night" instead of poker night, that's a different story.....and those guys probably shouldn't play out live. It's just a club and the rehearsal spot is just a clubhouse to them. But rehearsal is just that.
I think there are lots of benefits to the concept of practicing as you would perform live. Maybe not for musicians who gig regularly. But, certainly for those who do not.
Many bands sound fine in rehearsal, with everyone facing each other and taking visual cues. But, put them on opposite sides of a stage when they can't see each other and it all goes south. And then there are the knob tweakers who spend the first 3-4 songs of the set and every break between them adjusting their volume and/or tone because it does not sound like it did in rehearsal. Stop the insanity!!!
If you have not performed with your group very often and you have a gig coming up, set up your gear just as you will for the gig. Rehearse at least once at what you envision will be your gig volume. Not stupid loud. But what you think will be required for the actual gig.
Rehearse your show. Get used to moving with your instrument. Learn how to avoid standing in someone else's space and allowing soloists to be in the spotlight.
If you are playing in a dark club, try rehearsing in a dark room. Can you still see your pedals? Your set list? Most folks don't even think about this until its too late.
For working pros (and even weekend warriors that gig regularly), this will not be an issue. They can rehearse in any configuration and still show up ready for the gig. But, if you are not used to gigging, do yourself a favor and bring the concept of practice as you would perform into the rehearsal room well before you take the stage. It will only make you more prepared to have a great show.
Many bands sound fine in rehearsal, with everyone facing each other and taking visual cues. But, put them on opposite sides of a stage when they can't see each other and it all goes south. And then there are the knob tweakers who spend the first 3-4 songs of the set and every break between them adjusting their volume and/or tone because it does not sound like it did in rehearsal. Stop the insanity!!!
If you have not performed with your group very often and you have a gig coming up, set up your gear just as you will for the gig. Rehearse at least once at what you envision will be your gig volume. Not stupid loud. But what you think will be required for the actual gig.
Rehearse your show. Get used to moving with your instrument. Learn how to avoid standing in someone else's space and allowing soloists to be in the spotlight.
If you are playing in a dark club, try rehearsing in a dark room. Can you still see your pedals? Your set list? Most folks don't even think about this until its too late.
For working pros (and even weekend warriors that gig regularly), this will not be an issue. They can rehearse in any configuration and still show up ready for the gig. But, if you are not used to gigging, do yourself a favor and bring the concept of practice as you would perform into the rehearsal room well before you take the stage. It will only make you more prepared to have a great show.
This particular lineup really more of a jam night right now (still early in the process, no push to gig yet), but I still want to put a stop to the excessive volume unless there is a legitimate argument that it holds some benefit. Thanks everyone for the feedback, I feel more confident now addressing the issue from the standpoint that there is no need for those levels from a preparation standpoint.
Full gig volume is not necessary, but I do believe my current band's practice of having *some* rehearsals with our live rigs and at a decent enough volume to get a reasonably approximation of our live tones (particularly the tube guitar amps) is one reason why we frequently get complimented on the interplay between the live tones of our two guitarists and myself, as it allows us to be vigilant about setting up EQ and other aspects of our rigs and instruments to keep each of us in our own separate but complimentary space (particularly after someone switches to a new main guitar or distortion pedal, etc.).
+1
If you don't know how to get your tone at stage volume, figure it out on your own time.
When I play guitar I use a Marshall 1/2 stack. When I rehearse with the band I use a 35 watt Fender, volume usually on 1 1/2. I don't need to blow out anyones ears at rehearsal OR on stage to get my tone.
We've gone as far as shining bright lights into our faces so we wouldn't be thrown off by them.
People do that?
The great commandment entreats us "Thou shalt not fsck up the groove. Fsck up the notes if thou must, but never the groove."
I once dropped a band because we were only practicing the first 90 seconds of each tune before someone would screw it up. Just play the dmmn music, guys.
I don't understand what is meant to be learned by cranking full volume in a practice room even with amps lined in a row and everyone performing at the same wall. The wall is just going to reflect the sound back at you and the tiny room you are in is not going to sound remotely close to a club or even less like an outdoor gig.
You are just hurting your ears if you don't have earplugs and that's certainly not going to help you in the future.
Now turning down and focussing on having your parts worked out cold and trusting the sound guy to do his job. THAT might be productive.
You are just hurting your ears if you don't have earplugs and that's certainly not going to help you in the future.
Now turning down and focussing on having your parts worked out cold and trusting the sound guy to do his job. THAT might be productive.
This one is very important. I seem to attract guitar players who love to bring different pedalboard set ups, or amps, to every rehearsal. Something always sounds bad, doesn't work, or they don't know how to use it properly yet.
MDBass
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Every single professional band rehearses like they perform, but that doesn't have anything to do with playing louder than normal.
Ideally, there are three stages before a performance:
1. Practice - everyone learning the songs and all of their parts at home.
2. Rehearsing songs - playing the same song repeatedly, stopping at the end each time to discuss any details that still need fine tuning, until perfected.
3. Rehearsing a performance (ie "dress rehearsal") - playing the entire set front to back, with the exact stage movements, song transitions and talking points as you will live, until the entire show flows seamlessly and effortlessly.
