Ramping Up With Your New (working) Band

[bluewine]

I'm curious with how you guys feel with the different protocols and the process a band gives a new member to get up to speed.

If you know my history, you know my position on the " here's our set list of 50 new covers you have 2 weeks to learn them for your 1 st gig with us". Can't be done, let me qualify that. It can be done, but not by my standards.

My new band provided me with 3 set lists all 15 songs each and a cd of them performing the each songs live.

My responsibility is to be ready by 11/26. They have rehearsed with me once per week and we cover a set at each rehearsal.

It has worked like a charm. I put the songs on my iPod, each set in a different play list.

Share any relevant methodology.

 

[Jarrett]

They send me a list of 50 songs, I learn them in less than two weeks. That's it. See Jive's thread on how to accomplish that task if you are not currently capable.

 

[bluewine]

They send me a list of 50 songs, I learn them in less than two weeks. That's it. See Jive's thread on how to accomplish that task if you are not currently capable.

Thanks for the response, however remember my qualifier:

"By my standards"

blue

 

[Jarrett]

Are you asking a group of unknown bass players how they go about learning songs to your standards? If so, you need to post a list of your standards.

 

[bluewine]

They send me a list of 50 songs, I learn them in less than two weeks. That's it. See Jive's thread on how to accomplish that task if you are not currently capable.

Jive's thread is great, especially for the new guys out there.

While it's a great thread very informative,I personally don't subscribe to that methodology.

 

[bluewine]

Are you asking a group of unknown bass players how they go about learning songs to your standards? If so, you need to post a list of your standards.

Performed note for note with the feel, rythem, drive and execution of the original artist recording with absolutely no error.

This is always a tough one because I don't believe anyone hardly about anything. It's just my nature.

However, what's important is what you believe. If you honestly believe you can do it, that's all that really matters.

 

[Factor88]

I think your method is fine. I might add that if you are going to be singing harmony vocal parts you might want to schedule a vocalists-only rehersal (assuming one of the voclists also plays guitar or keys in the band and will do so at the rehersal) to go over the songs where the harmony vocals are particularly crucial.

Come to think of it, one of the better bands I ever joined the only rehersals we had leading up to my first gig was with myself, the guitard, and the female lead vocalist (no drummer or keyboards). First few gigs had some rough spots, but nowhere near rough enough to have made it worthwhile to have had full band rehersals. Obviously, in this situation we were dealing with relatively simple songs, and almost a third of them I had already played in other bands.

 

[the yeti]

I'm curious with how you guys feel with the different protocols and the process a band gives a new member to get up to speed...

Share any relevant methodology.

While it's a great thread very informative,I personally don't subscribe to that methodology.

so what's the point of sharing if it needs to be something you subscribe to?

 

[DBCrocky]

Ok, you are saying that learning 50 songs (to your standards) in two weeks is not possible.

But you are finding a methodology for learning 45 songs in three weeks quite successful.

Sounds like a big argument over minor differences.

 

[bluewine]

I am actually looking for methods you guys have been given by bands.

This thread is really looking at this issue in another context.

 

[Febs]

Performed note for note with the feel, rythem, drive and execution of the original artist recording with absolutely no error.

Almost without exception, your time would be better spent learning to play all of the songs competently and effectively than learning to play a subset of the songs note-for-note.

 

[Jarrett]

Performed note for note with the feel, rythem, drive and execution of the original artist recording with absolutely no error.

Can you post a clip of a recording of you playing a bass line that you have learned to this standard so that we can see how its done?

 

[bluewine]

I think your method is fine. I might add that if you are going to be singing harmony vocal parts you might want to schedule a vocalists-only rehersal (assuming one of the voclists also plays guitar or keys in the band and will do so at the rehersal) to go over the songs where the harmony vocals are particularly crucial.

Come to think of it, one of the better bands I ever joined the only rehersals we had leading up to my first gig was with myself, the guitard, and the female lead vocalist (no drummer or keyboards). First few gigs had some rough spots, but nowhere near rough enough to have made it worthwhile to have had full band rehersals. Obviously, in this situation we were dealing with relatively simple songs, and almost a third of them I had already played in other bands.

I agree, I plan on tackling my background vocals after I own the material, meaning the bass parts.

I am a big fan of vocals only rehearsals.

blue

 

[the yeti]

I am actually looking for methods you guys have been given by bands.

This thread is really looking at this issue in another context.

the last time someone gave me a "method" to learn songs was in school when they'd pass out sheet music. i don't recall working with anyone that cares "how", the only thing people care about is success or failure.

 

[Jarrett]

I am actually looking for methods you guys have been given by bands.

The band gives me a list of 50 and says know it in two weeks or less and I do. It's not up them whether or not I learn the songs, its up to me.

 

[bluewine]

Can you post a clip of a recording of you playing a bass line that you have learned to this standard so that we can see how its done?

No, me personally I don't have that kind of ability.

It's my standard,but I am not close to being able to live up to it myself.

You, I believe, say you can do it.

Posting a clip of you playing something you have learned might be of benefit to those who are on the fence with this.

blue

 

[Factor88]

I agree, I plan on tackling my background vocals after I own the material, meaning the bass parts.

That is also a solid approach. AS a lead vocalist, nothing bugs me more than having the one of the guitards/backing vocalists land loudly on bad chords because they are paying attention on trying to cop the harmony part before they even nailed thier instrument part.

 

[the yeti]

Almost without exception, your time would be better spent learning to play all of the songs competently and effectively than learning to play a subset of the songs note-for-note.

i like that.

 

[SonicBlueJoe]

This.

so what's the point of sharing if it needs to be something you subscribe to?

And this...

Almost without exception, your time would be better spent learning to play all of the songs competently and effectively than learning to play a subset of the songs note-for-note.

And isn't this just a rehash of the thread that got you Temp'ed last week

 

[Jarrett]

No, me personally I don't have that kind of ability. It's my standard,but I am not close to being able to live up to it myself. You, I believe, say you can do it. Posting a clip of you playing something you have learned might be of benefit to those who are on the fence with this.

I hope this doesn't burst your bubble or anything, Blue, but you standards have no bearing on my life. What I said is I can (and have) learn 50 songs in two weeks. If you can't do that, how do you plan to play that gig coming up on Thanksgiving week?