Rant:. Please learn the songs, darn it

[LBS-bass]

I'm in the process of looking for a new band, and someone contacted me that's in need of a bassist for his cover band. He said they play "Allman Brothers, Hendrix, Clapton, ZZ Top, etc." I took a hard pass. I can't imagine trying to get them to update their setlist.

Those would be the songs to which I refer

 

[xbud]

take a deep breath...and lower your expectations: it's a hobby for everyone involved, right?

I think everyone forgets this.....and takes things way too serious. I have a band mate that likes to make faces when I play a wrong note, its not on purpose, it's just that I haven't been playing these songs for 30+ years and don't have the (new to me) list down to a science quite yet......anyway.....different strokes

 

[Chris Breese]

I'm always amazed when I see posts or hear about cover band musicians relying on charts or having lyrics written out. I have been gigging and touring for over 40 years, playing covers and originals and have never been in a band where anybody used charts or had the lyrics in front of them. You either know the song or you don't. With all the resources available to musicians, there is no reason to show up unprepared.

You've NEVER been in a band where people used charts or lyric sheets?

 

[3Liter]

I can't find the comment above, but someone talked about everyone learning on their own and the pieces don't fit together. We suffer that as well, some. The other guitar player, does try and work around me when I'm playing rhythm, but I think he over does it a bit. I feel like I try and make a bigger point of finding something different and minimal to do when he's "leading" the tune. So I shall not lose sleep over this.

I'm usually happy when we pull something off, but lately the bassist is getting more and more on my nerves.

This making a chart thing ticked me off. We really have been sharpening this up all summer. Other guitar player handed him a chart from a copyrighted book (so you know it's right). But that whole, "I guess I should make a chart..." drove me nuts...we're gonna play it on Saturday. Have you not listened to this at all on your own? Have you never HEARD it? I don't care if he uses a chart, he's in the back, but for crying out loud, please at least put in SOME effort. Drummer (who has his own issues) found a video of an 8 year old girl playing it. And he came in the next week knowing it much better!! So it's possible.

"What key" guy is the harp player, other singer who spends a lot of rehearsal managing his tanking law practice project fielding emails.

I have debated rolling the whole thing up and going back to playing more acoustic stuff, or hitting the jam circuit, but I have a pretty demanding job, live way out in the outer burbs, family, etc. So, this is sort of my lot in life until I retire or something else changes.

I put a big price on fun. I drink, but not a lot. Drummer used to drink 3 for every one I would drink at rehearsal...the others don't....he generally stopped since he saw nobody else really was. The music improved. The better we sound, the more fun it is. My next project, I really want to push myself a little more (or be pushed) but I can't seem to push others (at least at this point in the band's lifecycle...)

 

[Xjenrbcjsmsbfjw]

I'm ok with guys continuing to use a chart if they can play it perfectly from a chart (and it's gig appropriate, don't come to an energetic rock show with a music stand if you can help it). I used to use a chart on a lot of dinner theater gigs back in the day, but it got played dead on, and while I was visible, I wasn't the focus, so no one in the audience cared. I just wasn't interested in learning every song from a new musical every 6 weeks. Some did, some didn't.

 

[Kmonk]

You've NEVER been in a band where people used charts or lyric sheets?

That's correct. We learned the songs and remembered them.

 

[Ekulati]

I think this laziness when it comes to learning new material is one of the reasons why so many bands seem to play the same tired old songs.

And could it also be part of the reason that live music just doesn't have the same level of quality, and thus attraction as in years past? Too many dudes who own geetars just phoning it in.

 

[LBS-bass]

Drummer (who has his own issues) found a video of an 8 year old girl playing it.

Temporary thread hijack. I'm guessing it was this.

 

[LBS-bass]

I can't find the comment above, but someone talked about everyone learning on their own and the pieces don't fit together.

This happens a lot when people aren't specific about the version of a song they're learning. I've come into situations where someone learned a song in a key that some artist only did it once in a live version in the 80's. I always insist on getting links for anything I'm asked to learn nowadays.

 

[Bass Viking]

And could it also be part of the reason that live music just doesn't have the same level of quality, and thus attraction as in years past? Too many dudes who own geetars just phoning it in.

I concur!

 

[3Liter]

This happens a lot when people aren't specific about the version of a song they're learning. I've come into situations where someone learned a song in a key that some artist only did it once in a live version in the 80's. I always insist on getting links for anything I'm asked to learn nowadays.

Since we do a lot of blues, there's 900 versions out there. But sometimes you have to edit what you're doing to make it fit with everyone else. Bass seems to get the biggest pass on fitting it together as I have read here many times. Maybe a "rhythm" guitar depending on the song a close second.

 

[LBS-bass]

Since we do a lot of blues, there's 900 versions out there. But sometimes you have to edit what you're doing to make it fit with everyone else. Bass seems to get the biggest pass on fitting it together as I have read here many times. Maybe a "rhythm" guitar depending on the song a close second.

Right. 900 versions is why I'd say something like "Albert King's studio version." Because it's so easy for people to lose sight of the form. I do get that blues is an improvisational genre but at least having a sense of the correct basic structure is a good starting point.

 

[PWRL]

In the band I was in for 15 years, I learned about 30 songs when I started (as a by-ear player) in 2 weeks. This I did with a full-time job. By the time I quit and moved, we'd degenerated to playing about 6 songs in 3 hours of sitting around BSing. The only reason I kept going was because they were close friends and it got me out of the house, but I'd long since moved on to other creative endeavors with people who genuinely wanted to play.

 

[HardNHeavy]

ugh...definitely one of my pet-peeves about being in bands...Practice at home and bring it to rehearsal..That way no time is wasted.

 

[redwood]

I am also in my 50s and can relate but only to a point. Even though I have been playing for over 40 years and have toured, I have also had very stressful jobs including some time as a VP and Director in a billion dollar bank and as a bank auditor. I have never been in a band that had any members relying on charts or having the lyrics written out when playing gigs. We've used them at rehearsal but would never play a song at a gig if we needed some sort of reference to remember our parts. However, I did have a lead singer who would occasionally ask me for the next line in a song. I guess I was his cheat sheet.

I was in a bad car accident last December and am still recovering. It was recently discovered that I have 2 small tears in ligaments in my left wrist. I also have 4 bulging discs in my back, pain in my right hip, leg and foot. None of this has improved in several months. I also suffered a severe concussion which has resulted in short term memory loss, severe headaches and permanent tinnitus. I have recently found when learning new songs that I am having more difficulty remembering parts than I had before the accident. I can remember songs that I played before the accident but trying to learn new songs has been a challenge. As a result, I may have to resort to using cheat sheets at gigs.

Here's to hoping that you don't suffer permanent effects from your accident. Wishing you the best.
However if you do ever have to revert to using a "helper" while performing, please know that no one really notices, as long as you're not staring. I've had people come up to the stage at a break and ask me what's on my mic stand. When I tell them they are quite surprised. This includes some musicians.
They also ask where the light tech is. They're REALLY surprised when I tell them I run it with my feet.
What is it magicians say? People rarely see what's right in front of them?

 

[Machiavelli]

I had a singer that couldn't even bring her own lyrics to rehearsal, she always took my charts for lyrics.
It forced me to learn all songs by heart so I stopped bringing charts
After that she was singing and reading lyrics from a mobile phone
After some time I quit and now have much better bandmates without issues.

Ugh, lyrics from the phone is the absolute worst, imo.

 

[Chris Breese]

I don’t know. If you play music for a living, I suppose memorization could be expected. Maybe.
I’ve seen plenty of pros use a teleprompter on stage. Geddy Lee comes to mind (I’m not a pro, nor am I comparing myself to Geddy the great).
I am fortunate enough to play music on the weekends (almost 30 years now) where I live in as many as 4 different bands currently, and I regularly read lyrics from my ipad when I have to do a great deal of singing.
As I read this back, I’m wondering why I feel the need to explain myself. I don’t know any of you people! (Not hating!)
If you have the time it takes to memorize every note and lyric cold, that really is fantastic, but that’s a luxury I don’t have - I’m pushing 50 years old with two mortgages, a 45+ hour a week job with an hour and a half commute every day, wife and kids and grand kids.
But expecting everyone else in the band (unless you are a true pro - only source of income! And not living with your parents...) to memorize every note, lyric, by the first rehearsal just seems elitist and unrealistic.
Just trying to keep it real. If you all are professional musicians, please disregard this post.

 

[Stranger Danger]

take a deep breath...and lower your expectations: it's a hobby for everyone involved, right?

It’s more fun when it doesn’t suck though

 

[Bboopbennie]

Its very hard to get everyone with the same disciplines. When the music is tight and your ready to perform, many want to be full time players. Others in the band have real jobs? Always a problem finding players that are at the same level you are. When it all comes together its magic and like your first love, it can have a hollow ending.

 

[Tim de Martino]

With all my obligations, I am time poor so usually grab the bare bones of what I need for a project or new material and bluff the rest until it's deep in my brain (normally a couple rehearsals/performances or so). Without fail, I go in thinking that I have done nowhere near enough homework.

That being said, I am usually blown away by the compliments I get about how well prepared I am. Sure, it's nice to feel like a big fish but are the musicians I am associating with really that careless to be so unprepared??

I'm not talking about weekend warriors here either.....