Prioritizing and rehearsal time

[micguy]

I do church gigs - currently I have 6 locations where I'm playing. At this time (due to Covid concerns), most of the gigs are show up and play on Sunday morning - you come in prepared, we have a rehearsal before the congregation arrives, and then we do a couple of services. However, one of the places has a mid week rehearsal before the actual gig (this is more normal, and where things will be when things open up), and I have had a few mid-week gigs recently.

The way I approach things, if there is a rehearsal, I treat that as the gig in terms of the target for learning all the songs - if I don't have time to be prepared for that rehearsal (knowing everything else in my schedule), I decline the gig. Rehearsals are there to make sure everyone is prepared, and iron out small issues with everyone playing together. If you can't practice enough beforehand, then the point of the rehearsal is lost.

It's great to agree to every gig you can, but when you get to the point where you don't have enough time to prep for the gig and/or rehearsal, you're overcommitted. Do as many gigs as you can do well, but no more.

 

[mrcbass]

I make notes, but the best way for me to really learn this stuff is by pounding it into my brain through repetition. And the singing/playing makes everything take twice as long. How's my phrasing? We all agreed to practice the phrasing on the record. How are they doing it on the record? My personal practice space is set up for that kind of practice.

One of the best things I ever did for myself is the creation of my shorthand notes system. In building the chart, I start worming stuff in to my brain. Then I use the shorthand to practice against and eventually it becomes unnecessary. Until I need to refresh myself on a song I learned years ago.

I do have to know the song for it work, but I have used it on stage when subbing and even occasionally with new songs for a band to help remind me of trip hazards and lyrics. As you well know, when you're rapid fire learning material - especially stuff you've never heard before - it's hard to even remember the key or the groove just by the song title. So having little reminders is huge to getting through a situation where I don't really have time to internalize everything.

I have one of those little Vox headphone amps that I can plug an input source to groove against if I need to practice quietly away from my home work station. Songs on my phone and my notes on a tablet - all very portable. I can't work tone issues out with this, but working our parts - you bet.

When I was commuting to the office, I got a lot of learning value just listening to stuff in headphones to help lock in the nuances - when It's not a technical issue, you don't really even need a bass in your hand to learn parts. I have burned in a lot of songs using my air bass.

I get the additional time required when singing becomes part of the equation - I easily spend 3x or 4x time working out vocals than I do on bass lines in most cases. But again, a lot can be accomplished with just listening while doing other things.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I've done both and am fine with learning a new song in the rehearsal room, but I push back on a list of more than a half dozen new songs to be rehearsed within less than a week. I also push back on someone adding more songs to the list a day or two before rehearsing. If the song needs more than a single rundown to ID any problems and then maybe 2 more passes to nail it, it's impossible to properly rehearse more than a half dozen songs in a typical 3 hour rehearsal anyway.

Oh, yeah. Lately, we've been rehearsing once a week, because our BL wants to update the set list. She's not a player, so she doesn't quite get that a Steely Dan song takes a bit more work than "You Shook Me All Night Long." We are ostensibly there to pick up three songs a session, but if we get a finished product of two, that's a freakin' miracle. I should add that while we are all jolly on stage ("You guys look like you're having a really good time" we hear all the time) that's because we do all our fighting in rehearsal.

 

[LBS-bass]

I've done both and am fine with learning a new song in the rehearsal room, but I push back on a list of more than a half dozen new songs to be rehearsed within less than a week.

The one band that is giving me the most trouble has a set of 10 songs that I normally don't play with them. The one song that I do normally play with other bands they do differently than the record but they think they are doing it correctly.

They want to put them all into a specialty set for a Halloween show. At one point there was a long text string happening where people were tossing out song after song after song that they thought we could do. At that point I did put my foot down to tell them I didn't have time to learn all those songs and that we need to focus.

Another band that I'm doing a one-off performance with is doing four songs for a Halloween show, but prepping five in case they are asked to play longer. That is actually going to be a fun show and I'm looking forward to playing with them. All of these performances are on the 30th and 31st of October.

On the 30th I have three earlier sets with another band that somehow I ended up getting dragged into. Then I have to pack up and drive downtown to do the fun show. This three-set thing is with a band that used to only play once a month, pre-Covid, with no rehearsals and we'd all just show up with our tablets and do an easy, low-key, high dollar gig. Now that Covid is over this guy is booking harder shows and wanting to rehearse, and I really never agreed to do more than that easy, monthly, well-paid show with him but, once again, he's a nice guy and I have a hard time putting my foot down so I agreed to one rehearsal with him. But that is one situation that needs to be addressed. I can't keep that one on my plate moving forward because it really adds nothing to my life.

And just to give you some perspective on how this all looks from my end, I have nothing on the books for November at all. It's all getting squeezed into the next few weeks.

 

[LBS-bass]

a Steely Dan song takes a bit more work

I have two SD songs on my setlist for the show next weekend, along with a bunch of other complicated stuff.

 

[mrcbass]

and I really never agreed to do more than that easy, monthly, well-paid show with him but, once again, he's a nice guy and I have a hard time putting my foot down so I agreed to one rehearsal with him.

This is the tough one. You need to get some sort of agreement in place for this project. It's hard disappointing a friend, but better to deal with it before all of the nerves are frayed: "Sorry, but these are the conditions that need to be in place for of me being able to help you."

 

[Bass4Gsus]

Yeah, but are my standards too high because I have time? That's what I'm struggling with. Someone pushed back at me today when I sent some charts and notes out, saying that she was buried with work and doesn't have time to look at it. I never asked her to look at it. My intent was not to put pressure on, just to provide useful tools for the next rehearsal.

Someone last night told me he was shocked I was so well prepared, though he appreciated it. Another person in that same band (I've never worked with them before so it was my first rehearsal with them) seemed nervous to be playing with me, like my presence there was intimidating or something.

Never apologize for your skill, competence, preparedness, dedication, standards, providing resources, or flexibility etc. You did not acquire these when you "retired" you were this way all along. If others can't keep up that is not your fault. People always have time (exceptions of course for deadlines and emergencies), and they choose how to spend it. They are making choices all the time. And emergencies and deadlines generally are not a problem if people are prepared. Of course if they wait for the last minute there are tons of emergencies etc.

When my kids where young my life was very different. When they got older my wife and I had more time for us and our hobbies. We did not get involved in things that required "sitters", it was family and work. Realistically that was all we had time for.

Their problems and their choices are theirs, if they can't keep up they need to make changes. You need to do what will insure that you are prepared. They need to do the same and if that means more time in the woodshed practicing then so be it. Rehearsal is getting ready for the gig after in depth practicing at home. Rehearsal is NOT practice, it's not a place to waste other people's time. If rehearsal times change because other's choose to change it I am generally not available. We pick a time we should stick with it. It's amazing how suddenly they make that time work after all.

You don't need to be a pro musician. I'm a pro at my day job and a real amateur bass player but I still apply the "pro" attitude to my bass playing, and the most important is being prepared and ready to go.

You already know what to do to be ready for the gig, lead by quiet example. That will have a long term impact.

 

[LBS-bass]

This is the tough one. You need to get some sort of agreement in place for this project. It's hard disappointing a friend, but better to deal with it before all of the nerves are frayed: "Sorry, but these are the conditions that need to be in place for of me being able to help you."

The other side of this coin is that he's one of the few I can talk into doing just one or two rehearsals right before a show. But, just like this one, his shows take me out of commission for things that come up later I'd rather be doing. I almost turned down the four song set, and those are players I've wanted to get together with forever. Then they told me they are going on late, and the three-set gig ends early, so I agreed to it. But had it not been an early show, it would have been an even bigger pain in my rear.

 

[Bass Viking]

It's October, and every year at this time everyone wants to add a bunch of specialty songs for shows happening around Halloween.

LOL, I just imagined someone hellbent on adding Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein" to the set list and half the rehearsal being wasted because nobody bothered listening to it at home.

 

[LBS-bass]

LOL, I just imagined someone hellbent on adding Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein" to the set list and half the rehearsal being wasted because nobody bothered listening to it at home.

You have just accurately described my life. Except it's Witchy Woman and Magic Man. Everyone thinks an Eagles song will be easy. It seems easy until you play through it with an accurate chart and realize just about every verse is different, every break is different, etc.

Magic Man is easy but it has a bunch of stuff that changes and needs to be counted, plus a bunch of stops and weird solo stuff. You have to actually know where all that stuff is.

Anyway, I'm about to embark on practice today, so better stop wasting time here.

 

[IamGroot]

Dialogue with someone who just saw me play.

Him: We have a couple of gigs coming up in October. Wanna play.
Me: What type of material, how many songs whats the pay?
Him: Classic rock covers, 40 songs, $100
ME: Ok, providing there is only one rehearsal. I only rehearse at low volumes and no noodling between songs.

PS Bring your own amp to the rehearsal... a really small amp.

 

[Bass4Gsus]

This probably goes against your grain, learn the material as well as they do, but no better. Enough to wing it will be fine. It isn't your responsibility to give 100% when they don't. I would suggest you stop sending them charts because if they really cared they would get prepared on their own.

Ime, there are two kinds of people when it comes to this stuff. Those who do their homework, and those who don't. They will not change.

Always give your best. Never decide to do a half-a job. You don't want a reputation as a winger not not capable of more.

However providing other people the material should only be done if you are the director / leader and you are making the decisions, or are asked to. If someone asks for help or guidance I always try to help. But unless I am the leader I let the leader do their job. I do ask questions, sometimes loaded questions, that might lead us into a certain direction or point out something that should be resolved or discussed. The leader or "group" decision then rules.

People don't generally change, so if they are not prepared they probably never will, and then begs another question. Stay or go.

 

[Bass Viking]

You have just accurately described my life. Except it's Witchy Woman and Magic Man. Everyone thinks an Eagles song will be easy. It seems easy until you play through it with an accurate chart and realize just about every verse is different, every break is different, etc.

Yes, it's easy if your goal is to do a half-assed version.

Magic Man is easy but it has a bunch of stuff that changes and needs to be counted, plus a bunch of stops and weird solo stuff. You have to actually know where all that stuff is.

Magic Man has all kinds of potential for trainwrecks. And you'd better have a good guitarist!

 

[mrcbass]

You have just accurately described my life. Except it's Witchy Woman and Magic Man. Everyone thinks an Eagles song will be easy. It seems easy until you play through it with an accurate chart and realize just about every verse is different, every break is different, etc.

Magic Man is easy but it has a bunch of stuff that changes and needs to be counted, plus a bunch of stops and weird solo stuff. You have to actually know where all that stuff is.

Anyway, I'm about to embark on practice today, so better stop wasting time here.

Eagles are kind of like the Beatles in that regard - it all sounds so easy, but there's a lot of subtle stuff to trip you up when you really get into it.

 

[Jefenator]

I've had to make peace with the fact that the rehearsal process with all of my bands has at least some degree of inefficiency. (I admire - sometimes envy - the way classical musicians organize & rehearse, but my place lies elsewhere...)
Each group is of course a little different. It's not my favorite way to roll when most of the others use our precious, scarce group time to listen to the audio and/or look at their chart for the very first time. But when I know for sure that's going to be the case, I won't sweat it as much beforehand. I'll get that bike ride in - or work on some other band's material! (Can at least salvage some efficiency in my own schedule.)
I will probably spend the rest of my playing life sometimes fighting and sometimes surrendering to garage band chaos. Unless I shift gears and join the symphony. (But I already know that gig would have its own frustrations - and their $75 per call might actually be a little less than what I currently get playing rock, country & jazz - sloppy rehearsals and all.)

 

[LBS-bass]

Here's a good chart for it, plus the video. Not something you can just blow through mindlessly.
Eagles - Witchy Woman (Chords)



Now, if you bother to play through the chart with the video as a bassist you'll also note that a lot of what the bass is doing isn't reflected on that chart in any way, even though the guitar chords are pretty accurate.

 

[Altitude]

I share your frustration. I had a wedding gig last weekend with a band I hadn't gigged with in two years.

They complimented me in a way by not asking for a rehearsal. Same set list as in the past. At the gig I was by far the best prepared; the guitarist kicked off the wrong song three times.

Someone said "afflicted by competence." Yes.

 

[pepj]

Top and tail at a get together. You cant really call it a rehearsal as such.

List
Song 1, key, groove, start, finish. Nod for un obvious changes like a m8 - and key check.
No one does a complete run through as too many songs to tick off, hence top and tail.
Next songs = same process.

Make required notes and good to go for 2 sets of standard tunes.

If you know the song because you've listened to it, you're good.
If you can't do that, get charts.

 

[Jefenator]

It was enlightening to me to learn how certain artists I cover flushed out their arrangements & achieved their group chemistry by spending an entire year to work up 9 relatively simple rock songs. I guess you get to do that when everyone is young, hungry and committed - then keep doing it more comfortably after some of the albums go gold.
I've always aspired to be like the session aces, cranking out publishable performances on the first take with unfamiliar, sometimes tricky charts.
My reality pretty much always falls somewhere in between the two extremes.

 

[IamGroot]

"The problem is that everyone wants to rehearse NOW and I don't have time to prepare new material for three different band's rehearsals this week. Three of these shows are not happening until the end of this month, but the one with the most complex material is next weekend. I need to be working on that right now. I need to prioritize upcoming shows over these other bands' desire to rehearse, but I am spending a lot of time this week prepping for rehearsals instead."

The calendar and advance discussion are your friend.

- Be honest about how fast you learn songs. If you can only learn 2 new songs at a sitting, thats fine. So if somebody hands you a 40 song set list of totally new material, thats 3 weeks . Plus you need digestion time of a few days.

- I use an Excel spreadsheet to track where I am at on individual songs.

Gig Set No. Category ARTIST PRO Song Key Tempo Time
DBR Rock 3 Doors Down B Be Like That – 3 Doors Down – Isolated Bass & Drums 0
DBR Rock 3 Doors Down B Kryptonite – 3 Doors Down – Isolated Bass & Drums B 0
DBR Rock 38 Special B Hold on Loosely E 128 0
DBR Rock AC/DC B Back In Black (1980) E 4.233333333
JH211018 Rock AC/DC A Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976) E 140 3.533333333
JH211018 Rock AC/DC B Have a Drink on Me (1980) A 120 3.966666667
JH211018 Rock AC/DC A Highway to Hell (1979) A 116 0
JH211018 Rock AC/DC A T.N.T. (1975) Eb Detune E 0
JH211018 Rock AC/DC A Thunderstruck (1990) 0
Tony 0 1 Rock AeroSmith A Sweet Emotion A 96 4.566666667
JH211018 Rock Alice in Chains A Man In a Box Eb Detune E 106 4.783333333
Tony 0 2 So. Rock Allman Brothers A Melissa (1972) E 83 3.933333333
Tony 0 3 So. Rock Allman Brothers A One Way Out A 107 4.933333333
Tony 0 4 So. Rock Allman Brothers A Stormy Monday G 82 8.8
Tony 3 11 Rock America E Sister Golden Hair 3.166666667
Tony 0 5 Rock Atlantic Rhythm Section A Spooky Em7/A13 mod to F 106 4.566666667
Tony 3 7 Rock Bad Company A Can't Get Enough (1974) C 126 4.266666667
Tony 0 6 Rock Band A The Weight (1968) C 72 4.55
JH211018 Rock Beastie Boys A Fight for your Right Ab A Detune 134 3.4
Tony 0 7 Rock Beatles A A Hard Day's Night G (C Maj) 140 2.566666667
DBR Rock Beatles B Act Naturally G 0
Tony 1 7 Rock Beatles A All my lovin E 156 4.333333333
Tony 0 8 Rock Beatles A Birthday A 140 2.716666667
Tony 2 8 Rock Beatles A Come Together Dm 80 4.3
Tony 0 9 Rock Beatles A Hey Jude F 74 7.183333333
Tony 3 10 Rock Beatles A I Saw Her Standing There E 160 2.9
DBR Rock Beatles B While My Guitar Gently Weeps 0
Dennis L. Country Bellamy Brothers B Old Hippie B 104 0
Tony 0 10 Rock Berry, Chuck A Johnny Be Good Bb 168 2.7
JH210818 Rock BLACK SABBATH A Paranoid Em 0
Tony 0 11 Rock Cars A Just What I Needed (1978) E 127 3.733333333
Tony 2 6 Country Cash, Johnny A Folsom Prison Blues F 220 2.716666667
Dennis L. COUNTRY Charlie Daniels B Long Haired Country Boy D 75 0
Tony 3 4 Rock Cheap Trick A I Want You to Want Me" A 108 3.633333333
Dennis L. Country Chris Stapleton B Tennessee Whiskey A 0
Tony 1 4 Reggae Clapton, Eric B I shot the sheriff Gm 96 4.4
Tony 0 12 Country Clapton, Eric A Lay Down Sally A 190 3.8
Tony 1 8 Rock Clash A Rock The Casbah Am 112 3.7
Tony 2 5 Rock Clash A Should I stay or should I go D 113 3
Tony 0 13 Rock Clash A Train in vain A 122 3.15
DBR Rock Cocker, Joe B "The Letter" Bb 181 0
Tony 3 6 Rock Cocker, Joe A Feelin Alright C 174 4.166666667
JH211018 Rock Collective Soul A Shine C#m 150 0
Tony 0 14 Rock Cream A Sunshine Of Your Love D 116 4.1
Tony 0 15 Rock Credence Clearwater Revival A Bad Moon Rising D 178 2.366666667
Tony 0 16 Rock Credence Clearwater Revival A Fortunate Son G 133 2.35
Tony 0 17 Rock Credence Clearwater Revival A Have You Ever Seen The Rain C 116 2.416666667
Tony 0 18 Rock CSNY A Ohio D 79 3.05
Tony 0 19 Rock Eagles A Already Gone (1974) G 144 4.25
Tony 0 20 Rock Eagles A Hotel California (1976) Bm 147 6.5
Tony 3 12 Rock Eagles A Take It Easy (1972) G 139 3.516666667
Tony 3 3 R&B Gaye, Marvin A What's Going On E 102 3.866666667
Tony 0 21 R&B Gaye, Marvin A Little Darling (i Need You) C (G) 135 2.583333333
Tony 0 22 R&B Gaye, Marvin A Mercy, Mercy Me (the Ecology) See Notes 93 3.266666667
Tony 3 8 Rock Georgia Satellites A Keep Your Hands to Yourself A 3.416666667
Tony 3 9 Rock Grateful Dead B Casey Jones 4.466666667
Tony 0 23 R&B Hall & Oates B Rich Girl (1976) F 80 2.383333333
Tony 0 24 R&B Hall & Oates A You Make My Dreams (1980) F Major! 167 3.05
Tony 1 12 Rock Hendrix, Jimi A And The Wind Cries Mary F 80 3.3
Tony 0 25 Rock Hendrix, Jimi A Hey Joe G 8 3.783333333
Tony 0 26 Rock Hendrix, Jimi A Voodoo Child Em 88 5.233333333
Tony 1 11 Rock INXS A Never tear us apart Am 100 3.683333333
Tony 0 27 Rock James Gang A Funk 49 A 100 3.883333333
Tony 1 10 Rock Jimmy Buffet A Margaritaville G 4.133333333
Tony 2 7 Rock Johnny Cash B Walk The Line Starts in Bb 2.766666667
Tony 0 28 Blues King, Freddie A Going Down D 170 3.5
Tony 0 29 Rock Led Zeppelin B What Is And What Should Never Be (1969) E 75 5.016666667
Tony 2 2 Rock Loggins, Kenny B Footloose A 176 3.75
Tony 0 30 Rock Lynyrd Skynyrd B Gimme three steps D 132 4.45
Tony 3 1 Rock Lynyrd Skynyrd A Sweet home Alabama D 98 4.716666667
Tony 0 31 Rock Marshall Tucker A Can't you see G 164 3.35
Tony 0 32 Rock Mellencamp, John Cougar A Little pink houses G 115 4.666666667
Tony 0 33 Pop Men At Work A Land Down Under Bm / D 112 3.783333333
Tony 2 3 Rock Monkeys B I'm a Believer G 161 2.766666667
TONY 0 34 R&B Morrison, Van A Into The Mystic (1970) Eb 86 3.416666667
Tony 0 35 Jazz Morrison, Van B Moon Dance Am 123 4.6
JH211018 Rock Nugent, Ted A Cat Scratch Fever 0
Tony 1 5 Rock Petty, Tom B American Girl D 113 3.566666667
Tony 0 36 Rock Petty, Tom A Free Falling F 85 4.233333333
Tony 2 12 Rock Petty, Tom B Mary Jane's Last dance Am 86 4.533333333
Tony 0 37 Reggae Police B Roxanne Gm 135 3.166666667
Tony 1 6 Rock Queen B Crazy little thing called love D 155 2.9
Tony 0 38 Rock RHCP B Californication Am 96 5.35
Tony 0 39 Rock Rolling Stones B Beast Of Burden E 98 3.5
Tony 2 11 Rock Rolling Stones B Dead flowers D 116 4.066666667
Tony 1 2 Rock Rolling Stones B Honky tonk Woman G 121 3.033333333
Tony 0 40 Rock Rolling Stones B Start Me Up F 122 3.45
Tony 2 4 Rock Romantics B Talking in your sleep Am 129 3.866666667
Tony 0 41 Rock Romantics B What I like about you E 155 2.916666667
JH211018 Rock Runaways A Cherry Bomb 0
Tony 0 42 Latin Santana B Black Magic Woman (1970) Dm 125 5.35
JH211018 Rock Sheeran, Ed A Blow 0
Tony 3 5 Rock Simon, Paul B 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" Em 102 3.65
Tony 2 10 Rock Stealers Wheel B Stuck In The Middle With You D 124 3.466666667
Tony 0 43 Rock Steely Dan B Do It Again (1972) Gm 124 5.933333333
Tony 0 44 Rock Steely Dan B Reelin' In The Years (1972) A 135 4.583333333
Dennis L. Country Steve Earle B Copperhead Road D 163 4.5
Tony 0 45 Rock Steve Miller Band B Jet Airliner C 120 4.416666667
Tony 1 3 Rock Steve Miller Band B The Joker F 83 4.0
Tony 2 1 Rock Stray Cats B Stray cats strut Cm 136 3.333333333
DBR Rock Tommy TuTone B Jenny- Jenny - Tommy Tutone
JH211018 Rock Van Halen A You Really Got Me 0
DBR Rock Walsh, Joe B Walk Away 0
Tony 0 46 Funk Wild Cherry A Play That Funky Music" E 109 3.2
DBR Pop Withers, Bill B Use Me G 78 0
Tony 0 47 R&B Wonder, Stevie B Signed-Sealed-Delivered-im-yours Bb 109 2.633333333
Tony 0 48 Rock Young, Neil B Cinnamon Girl (1969) Dm 104 2.966666667
Tony 0 49 Rock Young, Neil B Harvest Moon (1992) D 113 5.066666667
Tony 0 50 Rock Young, Neil B Harvest (1972) D 110 3.183333333
Tony 0 51 Rock Young, Neil B Old Man (1972) C(Dm) 72 3.4
Tony 0 52 Rock Zach Brown Band B Chicken fried F# Detune G 170 3.25
Tony 1 9 Country Zach Brown Band B Toes B 130 4.266666667
Tony 3 2 Rock Zevon, Warren B Werewolves of London G 3.45
Tony 0 52 Rock ZZ Top B Gimme All Your Lovin' C 116 4.6
Tony 1 1 Rock ZZ Top B Tush G 146 2.283333333