Practice project 30 in 30.

I've been playing bass for a number of years at this point. I'm sort of in a rut. I'm have a pretty extensive amount of experience playing blues and jazz. I also have a lot of experience in original bands as main bass player, ghosting, writing and even some experience engineering.

In all this time I've never had a need or desire to be in a cover band. With the recent dissolution of one of my main projects I find myself with some time on my hand and for the first time ever actually a desire to join a band and play some covers. Mostly want to do it for the fun and to break out of the box of what I've been playing recently. I find that periodically trying a completely different style of music gives me a new perspective and always gives me something to take with me to my other projects. ( any knowledge is good and all that )

So that brings me to the crux of the issue. I know probably a few dozen covers that I learned at various times over the last few years. That being said 30-40 random songs from random styles does not a cover artist make.

Seems to me I need to learn a good set of songs to make myself marketable to a gigging cover band.

I've decided to approach it like anything else that takes a long long time and a lot of hard work. Like losing weight for instance. And set up a plan to get started that is not so hard and then keep at the plan over time and ramp up the difficulty as I go.

My initial plan is to learn 30 songs in 30 days. One song a day seems like a pretty attainable goal to start with. If it goes well maybe do 60 in 30 next month. If not then go 15 in 30 or maybe keep it 30/30.

Here is where I need you. I've approached a friend of mine that is in a similar situation ( and also a bass player) and we are going to each come up with 10 songs to put in our 30/30 plan. And we agreed to get another 10 from here on talk bass.

So that is your assignment. Give us a list of 10 songs that are 1) Likely to be played by a gigging cover band, 2) generally in the rock/pop/crossover country genre probably focusing on but not exclusively to 1960's-1970's time period.

Not looking for fancy or complex or simple or anything specific other than "extremely commonly played". The kind of songs that any cover band would likely have on their B list at least. Mainstays/Most requested, etc.

If your in a cover band and want to post your set list that would be helpful. If you just want to participate 1 song at a time that is cool. If you want to wait for the official 30in30 we select to be announced and learn along with us that is groovy also.

If there is an interest in this thread I'll keep you all up to date at each stage so you can play along including our set learning method for how we play to commit them to muscle memory, tabs / sheet music we use and anything else that rears its head in the process.

Thanks for your time. Lets hear what you have in mind song wise

-Rav

 

Hey no complaints those are good ones. My guide was just that a starting point.

Still looking for a lot more input. Very soon going to post the official list from the suggestions and start the 30 day clock.

 

I can read sheet music, charts and transposition is not a problem.
That being said when was the last time you saw a cover band with sheet music on stage?

There is definitely an expectation to know songs to be in a cover band.

-Rav