Song changes key and u don't know it; what do u do?

[Jim Campbell]

Let say someone in the band throws out a song to play and it's chords are pretty basic. Such as, E A and B but the chorus or bridge does an entirely different key/chords. Is there a "safe" place or key to play in if you don't know where to play. For example, you are invited on stage to jam and you need to come up with something on the spot.

ear training for sure.....the other thing is
that guys who jam, a lot have played over standards so often they can anticipate the changes......a lot of the chord structures are similar.....listen to and play through standards as much as possible,and learn to recognize 2 5 1's in every key 2 5 1's come up often........

 

[greenboy]

Song changes key and u don't know it; what do u do?

Hmmm. Probably like text the guitar dude or the keyboard nerd and axe 'em what the hell.

 

[ryco]

Listen like a mo fo!

 

[greenboy]

Listen like a mo fo!

How quaint - r u shure that wood ent b cheeting? ; }

 

[ryco]

^^ weirdo!!

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Lastly,you can also do what we do in the jazz world: "When in doubt, lay out" !

In theory maybe....but in practice, Jazz bass players tend to keep going and laying down the groove/swing for most of the time. A guitarist or pianist can lay out and that happens a lot - but it's much rarer for the bass to stop.

Also - laying out doesn't mean that you can relax and rely on the others - you have to know where to come back in and this can be even harder if you stop - you start sweating on where the band are...

 

[jrklmx(Andrew)]

just listen
less is more

 

[tobie]

What I usually do is a combination of a few things I've read above: let's say the key change is higher. I'll first try playing a full step up (that's the most common jump in key changes where I come from). I'll then play (only) the root note of the I chord of the key I guess we're playing in (i.e. if I experiment playing in 'F' I'll play the F note only) with minimum sustain.

If it still does not sound right, I'll move half a step down - still playing the root note of the new key's I chord. Usually I've found the right key by then - and I'll start playing the other chords in that key. If not, I innocently grab one of the percussion instruments - can't go wrong with those!

 

[Tehrin Cole]

What laying out WILL allow you to do is listen! Ultimately,you want to go onstage with clarity,and confidence in a gig situation meaning,you know without a doubt,the tunes that are being played.

However,in this particular situation that the OP speaks of,he was sitting in and chose to jam on a tune that he didn't know all the way through thus, leaving him hanging,so to speak. So,"laying out" on that particular section would not have been such a bad thing,especially since there were no charts to speak of, or anyone calling out the changes to him. This would've given him a chance to hear it for himself,and catch it on the next pass!

That being said,here's a few tips for next time:

1.If you find yourself in this situation again, ask for a chart!

2.If there are no charts to speak of, request to play another tune,...preferrably something you, and everybody else in the band knows.

3.When you go home at the end of the night, learn that tune,...this way,you won't get caught out there like that,again!

I hope this information proves to be helpful, and good luck for the next time!

Peace!

 

[Vic Winters]

In a pinch these have worked for me.

1. Look at leader's fretting hand.
2. Drop volume to barely audible rumble and fake play.
3. Step on tuner pedal with a ***? look on your face. "Why is my bass all out of tune?" - Only to be used in absolute emergencies.

One time my guitarist launched into an acoustic version of Eric Clapton's "Change the World" and I just used my bass as a percussive tool to lay down a simple beat.